theVan
26-02-2006, 10:37 AM
Hello all.
This is my first report and thankfully , I have something to actually talk about.
Just returned from a week at Kingfisher bay resort with plenty of fishing done.
I spent the first couple of days on the jetty with my nephews. There were good schools of herring and hardy heads holding at the jetty as usual, but nothing much feeding on them. There were some large longtoms smashing through occasionally , but that was all.
We were able to land some just legal bream on strips of herring I had got with the cast net but the best fish was a 90cm plus Flatty on live herring on the second day. I got this on my Daiwa spin outfit loaded with 12pd mono and 10pd flourocarbon trace with a 1/2 ounce jig head. I was quite surpriced how quickly she tired after only two mighty runs. My nephew was convinced I had a stingray and when he saw the fish still thought this was the case. She was truley a magnificent beast. One of the staff at the Jetty hut was able to climb down on the rocks and cradle her out of the water (Thanks James). She looked like a small child in his arms! She had swallowed the lot so we just cut the line and lowered her back into the water. It is so clear there at the moment we were able to see her lieing there for a good 20 mins before she kicked back into gear and glided away.
I know what you are all going to say.... where is the pic!!!!!! >:(
Well my lovely lady thought she would get more use out of the camera around the pool. I think she wanted to photographically document the cocktails she consumed!!!
Sufice to say my overdue phone upgrade will include a camera!!!!
Third day in I was fortunate enough to get an invite with my good mate Jack to check out Hervey bay in his 4.4m ocean cylinder tinny. We set out early and were chasing the birds by 6.30 am. There was schools of scad working near Little woody Is so we kept moving north.
Out from Wathumba and the Bikinis we found a lot of schools woking the surface. There was definately Spotted macs in amongst them but would spook very easily . We were chasing a longtail for sashimi, but only managed to boat five good size mac tuna. Only kept one for strip baits and the rest went back. Unfortunately the SE picked up and we had a bumpy trip back to Kingfisher. :(
The next bit of success I had was chasing the calamari squid. Pulled up some good ones off the jetty with any time of the day a possibility. With the water so clear it was all sight casting. I did find however that I had to change up the colours quite a bit. The best success was with the Skewer jig I picked up from my mates at the Tackle shop at Carseldine. The bigger squid would only hit the herring , not the jigs. OHHH nad what a feed those squid make.
There were quite a few jetty rats out at night trying for the big one. The plan of attck seemed to be catching one of the pencil squid(smaller thinner variety) and live baiting this straight under the end of the Jetty. It was then just a case of hold on. I had one almighty run using my bottom bashing outfit with Penn senator holding 40 plb mono........and thought I would be spooled. NOt any chance of stopping it . Eventually the hook pulled and the monster lived to fight another day.
There was a small bull shark landed with some larger shadows circleing under the bait schools.
The other amasing thing was the Barra I spotlighted in the shallows. I fist thought I was looking at a jew but the red eyes and body shape were unmistakeable. The locals say it has been around for years.
Last morning of my trip I was able to go out with Jack again chasing some Flatties. We went to Jacks spot 'X' up the coast and withing three casts of my pink snapback, I had a 74cm speciman. This time We got the pic before she was released. (see attached).
We got hit a couple of other times but nothing else boated.
Overall it was beautiful up there as always, with abundant wildlife and picturesque sunsets daily. The Almanac said it wouldnt be too magnificent, but no complaints from me.
Cant wait tilll the next trip up. :)
Cheers
Shane 8-)
This is my first report and thankfully , I have something to actually talk about.
Just returned from a week at Kingfisher bay resort with plenty of fishing done.
I spent the first couple of days on the jetty with my nephews. There were good schools of herring and hardy heads holding at the jetty as usual, but nothing much feeding on them. There were some large longtoms smashing through occasionally , but that was all.
We were able to land some just legal bream on strips of herring I had got with the cast net but the best fish was a 90cm plus Flatty on live herring on the second day. I got this on my Daiwa spin outfit loaded with 12pd mono and 10pd flourocarbon trace with a 1/2 ounce jig head. I was quite surpriced how quickly she tired after only two mighty runs. My nephew was convinced I had a stingray and when he saw the fish still thought this was the case. She was truley a magnificent beast. One of the staff at the Jetty hut was able to climb down on the rocks and cradle her out of the water (Thanks James). She looked like a small child in his arms! She had swallowed the lot so we just cut the line and lowered her back into the water. It is so clear there at the moment we were able to see her lieing there for a good 20 mins before she kicked back into gear and glided away.
I know what you are all going to say.... where is the pic!!!!!! >:(
Well my lovely lady thought she would get more use out of the camera around the pool. I think she wanted to photographically document the cocktails she consumed!!!
Sufice to say my overdue phone upgrade will include a camera!!!!
Third day in I was fortunate enough to get an invite with my good mate Jack to check out Hervey bay in his 4.4m ocean cylinder tinny. We set out early and were chasing the birds by 6.30 am. There was schools of scad working near Little woody Is so we kept moving north.
Out from Wathumba and the Bikinis we found a lot of schools woking the surface. There was definately Spotted macs in amongst them but would spook very easily . We were chasing a longtail for sashimi, but only managed to boat five good size mac tuna. Only kept one for strip baits and the rest went back. Unfortunately the SE picked up and we had a bumpy trip back to Kingfisher. :(
The next bit of success I had was chasing the calamari squid. Pulled up some good ones off the jetty with any time of the day a possibility. With the water so clear it was all sight casting. I did find however that I had to change up the colours quite a bit. The best success was with the Skewer jig I picked up from my mates at the Tackle shop at Carseldine. The bigger squid would only hit the herring , not the jigs. OHHH nad what a feed those squid make.
There were quite a few jetty rats out at night trying for the big one. The plan of attck seemed to be catching one of the pencil squid(smaller thinner variety) and live baiting this straight under the end of the Jetty. It was then just a case of hold on. I had one almighty run using my bottom bashing outfit with Penn senator holding 40 plb mono........and thought I would be spooled. NOt any chance of stopping it . Eventually the hook pulled and the monster lived to fight another day.
There was a small bull shark landed with some larger shadows circleing under the bait schools.
The other amasing thing was the Barra I spotlighted in the shallows. I fist thought I was looking at a jew but the red eyes and body shape were unmistakeable. The locals say it has been around for years.
Last morning of my trip I was able to go out with Jack again chasing some Flatties. We went to Jacks spot 'X' up the coast and withing three casts of my pink snapback, I had a 74cm speciman. This time We got the pic before she was released. (see attached).
We got hit a couple of other times but nothing else boated.
Overall it was beautiful up there as always, with abundant wildlife and picturesque sunsets daily. The Almanac said it wouldnt be too magnificent, but no complaints from me.
Cant wait tilll the next trip up. :)
Cheers
Shane 8-)