One perfect day

[Salty2]

I haven't been able to wipe the grin off my face all day. I took my 18 year old son out for his first real reef trip yesterday and the good Lord was smiling on us. We actually tried to get out on wednesday but a sudden bout of seasickness off Pt cartwright cut that day short. Kwells are hard to buy at 4am. We left Thursday at the gentlemen's hour of 8am and head down to Caloundra 9 mile on a 15-20 knot forecast. Arriving 35 mins later, due to only a 5 knot SW, we set about finding some fish for dinner.

Things started slowly but we did manage to get 3 keepers in the esky by 11 am. I told the son to take another kwell as we might be here for a while to get at least ten fish. The wind swung violently to the east at a steady 2kts and stayed like that for the rest of the day which kept our lines and boat in the one direction.

I moved to another spot x nearby and through out some snapback blue glimmer plastics and just put the rods in the holders. We started getting some big mauri cod and parrot on the bottom dongers then the plastics started going off. A double hookup on 3kg squire and we were starting to grin. Every time we put the plastics out they kept us worried as we continued to pull nice sweetlip and fingermark on the bottom. The big squire just kept hitting the plastics every ten minutes or so and we were fast approaching our bag limit.

All this action took place between 11.30am and 1.30pm, when things are usually dead quiet. We never saw another boat on the whole 12mile area and a large cargo ship sat still nearby all day without an anchor.

As we were doing a quick count and fin chop the three soft plastic rods all bent over together and we finished with three solid snapper. We didn't drop a fish all day and descided to finish while on top and gave each other a high five.

I let the young fellow know that it isn't always like this and this is as close to fishing heaven as it gets.

We finished with 25 fish, a new species - purple/grass tuskfish, and were home by 3pm in time to clean the fish and cook tea for mum.

[jtpython]

You lucky BUGGAR
Weather is shocking here
Good stuff
JT

[ON-THE-CHEW]

Looks like you had a good day out. Good to see someone get out between all of this wind and even better catch some fish. It is not unusual to catch fish in the middle of the day, wednesdays peek bite period was about 12.30 so this might explain this.

Another fishing addict that relies on sea sick tablet, its just not right, I cant go outside unless I have my travel calms otherwise it is usually a very short trip.

Andrew

[snapperbug]

Well done mate.
I'm hanging to get out again, it's been too long.
Hearing ya about the travacalms, even when there's not much swell i need them.
PS Gotta love the snapbacks

[ffejsmada]

That's a good haul mate, well done.
They're a great looking fish those tuskies aren't they???? and bloody good on the tooth too!!!!

Jeff.

[Salty2]

Where did you look up the peek bite period info?

[Fishing_Freddy]

Great looking catch, if only all fishing trips were that good.
Ken

[ON-THE-CHEW]

I have a programme that predicts peek bite periods for thousands of locations around the world. The amount of times it has been spot on is pretty amazing. I don't just go by it but if I can get out at all its a good day for me.

Andrew

[Deiter]

Nice fish mate. Glad the young bloke enjoyed himself.

Nugget (Dave Downey) also has peak bite periods listed on his website. There is a link to it at the top of the Ausfish menu's, "Weather and Tides" - "Nuggets Predictions". Pick out the day you want to check on the calendar and bob's your aunty. Though, he has been a bit slack about updating it of late. C'mon Dave, pull your finger out!!!

Damo

[polky]

Well done bud If Iam not fishing its good to see others are getting into them.

[Cobia Kid]

Well done, a good hawl overall i suppose,
When is the best season to catch snapper, Ive never caught one and am eager to hook up.
Cheers,
Jamie

[seapup]

Nice work mate! At least u have got out in between this rough weather!
Cheers,
Benny.

[Salty2]

May, June, July, August but I have caught them all year round in close and out wide.