A few more lizards

[Short Fuse]

Did another run up to Donnybrook this morning. Ran into a light shower of rain as I passed the Mission Point camping area, and was wondering if I had made the smart choice in not staying in bed.

The tide charts had this mornings low as being a 0.27m low, which should have drained a lot of water out of the gutter, concentrating the fish in the area I intended to fish, but when I anchored up, there was lots more water over the flats than there should have been and it never did fall to the levels that it should have. As a result, the fishing was a bit tough, and it was a fair while between hits on the plastics. I managed 4 fish between 33 and 51cms on the Zman Curly Tailz, and they were all returned wearing yellow tags.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s25/Short_Fuse1/DSC_2538_zps028f5377.jpg (http://s148.photobucket.com/user/Short_Fuse1/media/DSC_2538_zps028f5377.jpg.html)

Once the tide had begun to run in, the water levels rose very quickly, so I swapped to the small minnows and trolled north with the incoming tide. I managed another 3 fish on the troll ranging from 30cms to the biggest fish at 62cms and again sent them back wearing yellow.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s25/Short_Fuse1/DSC_2543_zps127ef254.jpg (http://s148.photobucket.com/user/Short_Fuse1/media/DSC_2543_zps127ef254.jpg.html)

By just after 11, I had had enough, and the thoughts of a hot coffee had me heading back to the ramp. A pretty good morning considering the conditions.

cheers

Jeff

[uripper]

Well done Jeff, nice plan, followed through, good result. BIG congrats on the yellow tags.
MalM

[bermo82]

Nice work mate!

I'm heading up that way this weekend to chase some lizards, i'll let you know if I see any yellow tags.

Cheers
Bermo

[johnverano]

well done on the tags
mate i would love to tag flathead where do you get the tags from. i hardly keep aby flathead great fish

[Short Fuse]

Hi John.

The tagging program is owned by the Queensland Branch of the Australian National Sportfishing Association, and is called Suntag. To be an active tagger, you need to be a member of the Association either by joining one of the existing ANSA Queensland clubs, or you can join as an individual under the Suntagger membership if not interested in getting involved in a club. The tagging program is run by Bill and Shirley Sawynok of Infofish Australia in Rockhampton (Phone 1800 077 001).

They would be only too happy to provide you with any information on getting involved in tagging. I certainly recommend it as a great way to contribute something back to the sport we all enjoy. We are currently in the process or organising a tagging information evening to be held in the near future at the Tackleland Sandgate store, for those people in the Brisbane area who may wish to attend, and find out more information. I will place a post on the forum as soon as we finalise the night.

Happy to try to answer any questions people may have as well.

cheers

Jeff

[Mike Delisser]

Thanks for the report Jeff, I'll heading up to Donybrook with Bermo this Sat morn.
Did you come across much snot weed?
Cheers

[Short Fuse]

Mike.

Almost no weed at all there yesterday. The water has dirtied up a bit over the previous trip as well thanks to the couple of days of strong winds. Still a good colour for lure fishing though.

I will most likely head up again tomorrow. Will either try Glasshouse Creek area, or head right up to around the mouth of Hussey to see if there are any fish in that area as well.

cheers

Jeff

[alleycat]

Gday jeff, you use an anchor?, im wondering why you don't just drift along the section where your targeting flathead?, I never touch my anchor myself, and have you come across many squire I the area? in certain spots they can be a regular bycatch..

[Short Fuse]

Alleycat.

The gutter I was fishing yesterday has a nice little drop off along one edge at the mouth of it, and lots of very shallow flats around. Drifting quickly puts you up in the skinny water so I anchor to fish it. At times, this gutter holds an incredible number of fish - a mate and I tagged 43 flathead there in one morning last year. At a couple of other spots I fish in the passage, I just use the Water Snake to slow my drift down by slowly motoring into the current while I cast at the edges of the weed banks. I also use the Leccy at times to troll if there is little wind, but on the windy days the 60hp Yammie does the work.

I have caught a few small snapper in the southern part of the passage (from about Toorbul, and south to the bridge) but have not caught any north of Elimbah Creek.

Cheers

Jeff

[Funchy]

Thanks for the report Jeff, I'll heading up to Donybrook with Bermo this Sat morn.
Did you come across much snot weed?
Cheers

Hi Mike.
FYI...We are getting a lot up the Caloundra end of the passage this year. I suppose it had to happen sooner or later, last couple of years it has been pretty good.

[Short Fuse]

Another dozen fish over the last two days wearing tags.

There is a distinct lack of bait in the water up around the Hussey Creek area, and the fishing was tough there yesterday, but my brother and I eventually managed to catch 8 flathead, ranging in size from 32cms to 45cms. They all went back with tags in place.

This morning I decided to try Glass Mountain Creek. There is a lot of snot weed in the creek, up above the first rock bar, and it was quite difficult keeping the lures in the water. I did manage 4 flathead, with the biggest going 57cms. Again, all were tagged and released. Then just on the start of the incoming tide, the wind came through. Some of the gusts were incredible, and I spent more time trying to get the boat off the mud banks than I did trolling, so I gave it away and made a run for the boat ramp before the tide got up too high. At least I was able to keep close to exposed banks for the run back, and that kept the water conditions reasonable.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s25/Short_Fuse1/DSC_2551_zpsb3dfc940.jpg (http://s148.photobucket.com/user/Short_Fuse1/media/DSC_2551_zpsb3dfc940.jpg.html)

Hope the wind backs off a bit for those going fishing over the weekend.

cheers

Jeff