Donnybrook trip.

[Short Fuse]

My previous two fishing trips did not return any great results - a Brisbane River donut and two undersized snapper from Scarborough, so I made the decision to hit the old faithful spot at Donnybrook, chasing a few flathead.

There were a couple of reasons not to go, with a 0.7 metre low tide meaning the water would not completely fall off the banks, being unsure of water clarity due to the recent rain, and the main reason being a Sunday, with the resultant traffic that would bring. The other option was to stay home and mow the lawn, so I went fishing.

I arrived at the Donnybrook ramp just on 6am, and there were certainly plenty of boats already on the water judging by the number of empty trailers in the parking bays. I played dodge the crab pot float as I headed north, and ended up fishing the area around the mouth of Hussey Creek. Water colour was marginal but I persisted and it took around 15 minutes to connect to the first lizard. The first couple of fish caught were all small, but they went back wearing tags. As the tide neared low, I was getting quite a few solid bumps, but the fish were not holding on to the plastic and I dropped a couple of good sized fish due to hooks pulling out during the fight.

I managed a 50cm fish, tagged it and on the next cast in the same area took another fish at 52cms for the best of the trip.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s25/Short_Fuse1/DSC_3081_zpsf7efe196.jpg (http://s148.photobucket.com/user/Short_Fuse1/media/DSC_3081_zpsf7efe196.jpg.html)

Once the tide started to flood, the water rose onto the flats quite quickly, and fishing went very slow with lots of casts between hits. Just as I was about to call it a morning, I hooked up and landed this 40cm flathead.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s25/Short_Fuse1/Recapture_zpsaeec3a53.jpg (http://s148.photobucket.com/user/Short_Fuse1/media/Recapture_zpsaeec3a53.jpg.html)

On checking the tag, I realised it was one in the series that I have been using, but on contacting Bill Sawynok to report the recapture, got some great news. My brother Ray caught the fish initially back in September 2014. It was then recaptured in early November by another angler who released it, and then I recaptured it on Sunday to make it the third time the fish has been caught in 4 months. I released the fish after recording all the details so it is still out there waiting for the next angler to come along.

It was starting to look like the heavens were about to open, so I headed for the ramp, but this time, the elements won, and I got soaked in the last couple of kilometres. The tally for the morning was 9 flathead caught and tagged, so all told, it was a very successful morning. Unfortunately, the lawn still needs to be mowed.

cheers

Jeff

[Funchy]

Well done as usual Jeff

Great to hear about the recaptures. 3 in 4 months is pretty amazing. Goes to show if we all practice good handling processes when we intend to return our flattys that they have a good chance of surviving.

Sing out next time you head towards Hussey / Coochin and I will look to catch up (might even show you a spot or two up my way) :thumbsup:

[Back In Black]

Too wet to mow anyway Jeff!!

[Feral]

All in the same area? They say the taggign data shows they hardly move about at all. I have only ever tagged one flattie, it was caught 10 months later by another fisho on the same bank! (Unfortunately for the flattie, it was the second fisho's dinner)

[Short Fuse]

Thanks Luke. I will definitely catch with you for a fish in the near future. Been trying to organize a couple of days up off Fraser in the cat, and was planning for the middle of this week, but I think the weather gods are turning against me. Boat has not had a big trip since the week of the Breaksea trip in mid November. Might have to get the crab pots out the way the rain is outside just now. Gotta be a few muddies on the move by now.

Tony - I agree, it is too wet to mow. Mind you, I can think of numerous other excuses as well. Too dry, too hot, cold, windy etc. Even when conditions are perfect for mowing, then a fishing trip always takes preference.

cheers

Jeff

[Agrav8_and_Lulu]

Thanks for report, how does one obtain these tags?

[Moonlighter]

You should be ashamed. How could you go fishing when that lawn is begging to be mowed?

Disgraceful stuff.::)

[Short Fuse]

Hi Feral. Lately, I have been fishing one stretch of bank that covers around a kilometre in length, but the majority of the fish I have been tagging are coming from one spot that covers around 200 metres or so, and we have caught and tagged over 100 fish there since September last year. We have now recaptured 5 of those fish ourselves and two have been caught by other anglers including the one shown above. Most are recaptured fairly close to where they have been tagged. My record for this is one tagged in Hayes Inlet at Redcliffe which was recaptured 5 years later in the same area. There has been a number of fish tagged in the Moreton Bay area that were recaptured along Fraser Island (both inside and along the surf beach) so when they do move it is a fair distance.

A & L. The tagging program is run by the Queensland Branch of the Australian National Sportfishing Association. To be able to participate in it, you need to be an ANSA Qld. member. You can do this by joining one of the existing sportfishing clubs, or by joining as an individual member (Qld Sportfisher). The closest clubs to your area would be the Ipswich United Sportfishing Club, or the Moretag Club. If you want to find out any more information, you can find it on the ANSA Qld website, or the Infofish Australia website. Also happy to provide any further information by PM if you want.

Grant. I was feeling slightly ashamed about neglecting the lawn, until I read Tony's comments above. Seeing that he is a fellow cat owner proves he is a gentleman of exceptional style and good taste, and therefore his opinions are valid and well worth listening to. Therefore, the lawn can wait.... I'm going fishing.

cheers

Jeff