Jumpinpin houseboat trip report

[Jeremy]

Brisbane SFC trip to Jumpinpin this year on a houseboat. Moored in Pimpana River. Had 11 members and guests in 7 boats fishing.

Weather was fantastic Saturday, but a bit windy Sunday. Weed was a problem in some places and on some tides, but not a problem in other places.

I fished down towards the pin bar on Saturday with hunderds of other boats. Kalinga bank was a parking lot. I was casting soft plastics and caught 4 fish and lost another, all on 1 kg line. Had a fish around 1.5 kg on which took a couple of short runs, but it broke the line when it surged again nearly within netting distance. This was a blessing in disguise, as I backed off my drag a little after that and an hour later landed an 84 cm flathead which was weighted live at 4.25 kg, photo taken (on film, not digital) and released of course.

Others also caught 5-6 fish each for the day. Pretty chilly night but good fun on ther houseboat. Sunday I headed down towards the Coomera river and Crab Is but found the weed a problem and lots of boat activity. Only had a single hit on the plastics and didn't land a fish. Met up with Matty from ausfish for a chat and a bit of a fish which was fun. Other club members fished closer to the Pimpana again and all got another 5-6 fish each.

Jeremy

[Cheech]

Funny that it was busy at Kalinga Bank this weekend when last weekend would be been a much better weekend to fish it (was there with Touchy last week), but when we were there it was pretty quiet. Have noticed that other times as well that it is sometimes busy when I expect to be quite.

[Jeremy]

Cheech,

why do you say that last weekend would have been a much better weekend to fish it?

I think the reason it was so busy is that it was such a nice day and everyone decided to go. Has the school hollidays started?

Jeremy

[flattymattyb]

Hi Jeremy,

Good to catch up pity there weren't many fish around for us, I ended up getting a couple not long after you left me anchored just off that bridge 1 around 55cm and another that I think was trying mate with the lure it was that small. headed home not long after that and got to the boat ramp just as the wind really picked up. Forgot to ask are you fishing the flatty classic at all?

Matty
P.S first photo on my new digi camera

[Jeremy]

So maybe the fish were in deeper water than what I was working. Good to hear you got a couple. I am not fishing the flathead classic. Bit XC for me and midweek and all.

Cheers,

Jeremy

[Cheech]

Jeremy,

Can I withdraw what I said.

I was out in the bay on Saturday and it was really lumpy and reasonably windy (at least for my boat). I just pictured it being not the greatest everywhere so pictured it being unpleasant trying to drift the bank, but of course that is not the case. In fact with the northerly wind it would have been very sheltered along the bank. The previous week when I was there, there was almost no wind and very little current which made it relatively easy to drift the bank. And that there were very few there had surprised me. Have been there at new and full moon and found it difficult to get any sort of a drift happening without running aground or getting too far away.

Anyway, comment withdrawn due to basically being wrong.

Cheech

[CHRIS_aka_GWH]

Cheech,

why do you say that last weekend would have been a much better weekend to fish it?



i think cheech's comment was ok

lowtide an hour after the sun kisses the horizon wasn't it - that reads flathead in this little mans head.

chris

[Cloud_9]

i like the first of the run out for the flatties. water running out of ther drains and all.

Cheers Cloud 9

[Touchy - R.I.P.]

Jeremy,Cheech was on the money re the bigger flattie tho' 2 weeks ago was still a bit early for them at the bank, 4kilo plus fish (which are around the 9/10 year old mark) dont get to that age by eating all day I have the theory that daybreak & dusk is their main meal times(of course they can be caught outside these times)& bouncing a well presented franger passed it a few times during the daywill certainly wake it from its slumber & just p*ss it off enough to strike :o,Coincide the above times with the first of the run in/out at the bank(like the w/end Cheech & I went for a look around) & you should be fishing prime time(always helps too if the fishing predictor bite time happens then plus the percentage is above 50/60 %.Cheers Touchy.><> ><> ><>.

[Jeremy]

Cheeck,

no problems. I was just interested in an explanation of why you thought last weekend would have been better.

I agree with the other opinions that dusk and especially dawn would be prime times, but tide is even more important and the effect the tide has on the specific location you are fishing more important again.

First of the runout is good in some places, bottom of the tide in others. Top of the tide fish will be spread out on the banks and harder to find. Anyway, we couldn't schedule a club trip last weekend due to the boat show.

FWIW I got my fish right on the predicted solunar peak on Saturday!

One other thing, drifting is good if you can get the right direction and speed, but I like to drop my new lead anchor ;D in a likely looking spot and give it a thorough work over before moving on.

Cheers,

Jeremy

[Jeremy]

Finally a photo

[Brenno]

bloody great looking fish