Fishing Rocky environs

[CreelReaper]

Hey all,
Heres a salute to 2008 . May all your fishing be fulfilling.
I am looking at going up to Rocky to visit the rellies for a week or two in early to mid February. My uncle keeps sending me some awesome piccies of the threadfin salmon and barra that are being caught at the moment. Whilst this is obviously going to be a target of mine I would also like to chase some reef species as well. I don't know the area at all and would like some advice on some likely spots for grassies, parrot etc. I have a 4m bluefin outlaw with a 30hp Yammie. I believe we will be looking at the Port Alma region as my uncle says it fishes a lot better when the river is in flood.
I assume that line class used in this area would not be much lower than 10kg and tidal movement and water depths would dictate a fairly hefty sinker and longish trace.
Any help would be appreciated. Oh.... and I am a beloved bottom basher and bait floater....haven't learnt the art of plastix yet!!!!

Shane

[fish_on]

hey shane ive fished the river a few times and its a really great system. its got lots of water pumping down it at the moment i hear. havnt done any offshore stuff but id recommend talking to the boys at barra jacks in rocky when you get up there or give them a call 07 4922 4833. they will help you. look forward to the photos mate

[ffejsmada]

Good stuff Ben, sound advice there mate.

Jeff

[Kev_McC]

Mate if the rain stops anytime soon then there will be great barra fishing in the Fitzroy, and you won't have to travel far to get into it. At the moment the river is running fresh and there is quite a bit of water coming down the system through the Nogoa/Comet and Isaac/Connors systems, so late Feb is looking better at the moment. Once it stops and the saltwater starts to push well upstream then it should be on for barra and salmon.
There are plenty of spots close offshore if you get nice enough weather. Make sure your first port of call is Barra Jacks. Buy some gear and don't leave until they've put a few marks on your map. PM me your email address and I'll send some marks etc
cheers

[CreelReaper]

Thanks heaps fish_on and ffejsmada, sounds like a plan. Kev_McC I will pm you shorlty (when I have worked out how)....any help once again is appreciated. My uncle fished the fitzy just before xmas and caught an absolute bagful in 2 or 3 days. 2 barra around 80cm and a heap of salmon the biggest going 106cm the highlights . Thats gotta be a heap of fun. And all caught right in the middle of town. Bring it on!!!!!
Shane

[freefish]

Heaps of good reef fishing in Keppel Bay. Outer Rock, Man & Wife, Barren, the Pinnacles & Findlays Reek as well as the Keppels themselves. Further afield there is the ferns & Flat & Perforated. Just watch the green zones. Heaps of maps available as well as info at any of the tackle stores.The secret with Keppel Bay is to pick your weather,go early, before dawn, & remember that it is very shallow, spots only a couple of metres deep (low tide) & so gets rough very quickly with any wind. Bill

[CreelReaper]

Hey freefish it sounds absolutely awesome......if it was just me and me son Dougie. The problem is my uncle is in his sixties and although an avid fisherman just can't handle the run out in a tinnie. Is there any places close to say the wharf at Port Alma that reefies are known to haunt????

Shane

[Local_Guy]

whats the condition of teh fitzroy at the moment . Would it be fishable at Greenbank.

[freefish]

Hi Shane, There is a flood warning out for the Fitzroy at the moment. Depending on how bad it gets the fishing could be a bit RS for a while. Much needed to fill the lagoons & move the barra around a bit. Port Alma is not very close to the reef but part of the Fitzroy delta with very good estuary style fishing in the creeks. It is possible to run to the southern part of Keppel Bay i.e. Liza Jane Shoals but just as far as the northern islands. North Keppel & Corrorrobee or Half Tide Rock are only 12 km out. As I said, go early & come home before the wind picks up. For mackeral try Iron Pot Island just off Kemp Beach. You'll see it on your way to Rosslyn Bay. TRoll or anchor & float a bait out. You can try the creeks Coorooman or Corio. The bait & tackle shops will give you pointers for these. Bill

[LINZ_74]

Hey watta,
i would head to Corio, it is good fishing with a big fish variety,and it is an easy boat ride for your old man too. Like freefish said, the river won't fish to well at the moment.

[CreelReaper]

Hey Guys,
Thanks heaps for the info......Hopefully I'll get some piccies to post. To Kev_McC many thanks for the heads up on some marks.