Commodore
01-09-2005, 12:33 PM
Sorry for the delay in my report, but had a week to catch up on from work. :-?
I’ll keep this sharp and simple and post a couple of pics.
The trip overall was fantastic and would recommend to any keen fisho who gets the opportunity to do a trip like this, do it.
Departed Mackay Sunday 21st 8:30pm (2nd #½ of crew was late on plane), had to have a few rumbo's at the pub at end of wharf whist waiting, great spot :). Cruised all night with fantastic conditions and arrived at 1st reef 5am.
Day 2 : started fishing immediately, with some bits and pieces, lipper, trout, reefies.
Moved a couple of times heading NE during the day, weather held, found 1st anchorage, fished until 4am, 23 hrs straight. #::) :P
Day 3: wind came in which changed the plan of attack :( as we where going to head wide and chase the big stuff in the deeper channels. So for the rest of the trip (Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat) we where restricted to chasing trout and lipper ;) in the protected reefs, still managed to get about 180km out. Sounds as it was bad, but learnt a heap about catching the little tasty buggers, and caught quite a few, taking the yellow jersey on day 5 and runner up for biggest fish overall (beaten by 100g). :D
Also caught a few pelagic's, my best was a 12lbs sharky mackerel caught on a bottom bashing rig, 1 ft 80lbs mono leader and a 6 0, very lucky to get him in. :o Headed back to port Sat lunch time with 30-40knt winds and up to 5 m seas :-/, not easy to make a rum and coke in these conditions and very difficult to retrieve the ice from upper level but managed a few and game of cards ;). The boat (Wyllaway) and crew where great and the trip was worth every cent. Hope to do it again next year. The older boys will be looking for the trophy which has its first recorded date in 1969.
Couple of other interesting things:
Big barracuda (ate my trout) >:(
Big squid (heads for bait and rest cooked fresh for snack at beer o’clock) :P
Whales
Lots of sharks
Beautiful reef
I don’t want to be a pro trouter, those guys are mad. :-X
Dory’s can float when full of water :-[
There are some really big things in the water you can’t stop on 500yards of 50lbs :o line
You don’t get hangovers while fishing 24/7 ;D
Cheers,
Matt
(my version of sharp and simple)
I’ll keep this sharp and simple and post a couple of pics.
The trip overall was fantastic and would recommend to any keen fisho who gets the opportunity to do a trip like this, do it.
Departed Mackay Sunday 21st 8:30pm (2nd #½ of crew was late on plane), had to have a few rumbo's at the pub at end of wharf whist waiting, great spot :). Cruised all night with fantastic conditions and arrived at 1st reef 5am.
Day 2 : started fishing immediately, with some bits and pieces, lipper, trout, reefies.
Moved a couple of times heading NE during the day, weather held, found 1st anchorage, fished until 4am, 23 hrs straight. #::) :P
Day 3: wind came in which changed the plan of attack :( as we where going to head wide and chase the big stuff in the deeper channels. So for the rest of the trip (Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat) we where restricted to chasing trout and lipper ;) in the protected reefs, still managed to get about 180km out. Sounds as it was bad, but learnt a heap about catching the little tasty buggers, and caught quite a few, taking the yellow jersey on day 5 and runner up for biggest fish overall (beaten by 100g). :D
Also caught a few pelagic's, my best was a 12lbs sharky mackerel caught on a bottom bashing rig, 1 ft 80lbs mono leader and a 6 0, very lucky to get him in. :o Headed back to port Sat lunch time with 30-40knt winds and up to 5 m seas :-/, not easy to make a rum and coke in these conditions and very difficult to retrieve the ice from upper level but managed a few and game of cards ;). The boat (Wyllaway) and crew where great and the trip was worth every cent. Hope to do it again next year. The older boys will be looking for the trophy which has its first recorded date in 1969.
Couple of other interesting things:
Big barracuda (ate my trout) >:(
Big squid (heads for bait and rest cooked fresh for snack at beer o’clock) :P
Whales
Lots of sharks
Beautiful reef
I don’t want to be a pro trouter, those guys are mad. :-X
Dory’s can float when full of water :-[
There are some really big things in the water you can’t stop on 500yards of 50lbs :o line
You don’t get hangovers while fishing 24/7 ;D
Cheers,
Matt
(my version of sharp and simple)