Monduran ( Land of a 1000 casts - & then some

[NAGG]

Hi Ausfishers ..... Just returned from a bit of R&R + C&R at Monduran & Awoonga.

Left home (Syd) after picking up the mighty Whitey last Tuesday morning for our long run up to Monduran ( arrived @ 12.30am / some 16 hours later) After spending more than a little time trying to work out how to erect a new tent ..... followed by a couple of arrival ales we managed to get some shut eye prior to our intended 6am start
After a bacon & egg breakfast ....saw us on the water ( early enough)
A quick intro to Eric & Deb ( Egrel rods) .... & bit of a chat at the ramp & we were away in deteriorating conditions (SE winds)
Moved into the cattle yard area ...... to start some casting ( water temps 23-23.5 Deg ... ) .... 3 uneventful hours had us going up to (D) to fish what was promising looking water ... some baitfish flicking & warmer 25 deg temps ........ Not too long before I hear "I'm on" ...... a few anxious moments & some fast manoeuvring on the leccy saw Whitey bag his first legal barra (73cm) ... a quick pic or two Attachment 23265 & off she swims ....... I'm really happy for him
Shortly .... after that .... I missed a large bass on the very first cast with my new Steez .....
As we motor out of the area ... Trev ( Awoonga) & his young protege ( Katie) pop over & introduce themselves ..... a bit of a chat & it was back to fishing
We continue to flog the water till dark! .............. for no reward
Later that evening Trev offers some assistance should we wish to take the drive up to Awoonga ( poor water quality , temps & conditions..... had us considering the offer)
Day two .... more of the same .... lots of casts for nothing bar being embarrassed watching Katies casting prowess when we bumped into them! ..... That certainly fired us up ( next cast in the trees!!!!)
As we neared the late afternoon , we moved into the White rock area to practice our casting ( a quick chat to Tony M) ...... saw us yahooing on each decent cast ( & trying to better it) Then Whitey strikes ! 2 catfish in 5 mins ( CATFISH WHITE !) More baitfish ( boney bream) start to ripple & splash ...... as we move through the bay Whitey fires a fairly long cast towards a bankside log ( good cast .... but short) ..... Not to be outdone I placed the heavier stiffy boney bream right on the money! ........ An instant smash ... sees a barra crash into an adjacent tree ....... Seeing that there was a lot of structure between the fish & the boat ..... I've quickly moved the boat forward on the leccy to cut off her opportunities...... a couple of jumps then she tries to stitch me up around a nearby standing tree ( fortunately this was broken 4 foot above the water & I was able to unwind her ...... then a jump or two & one last attempt to run between a narrow gap ...... & it was over ! .... Quickly netted, measured & photographed ..... then off she swam! (I was elated ..... my first Monduran barra @ 87cm)Attachment 23266

Later that evening we once again had a chat with Tony M ....... & with poor reports & water conditions decided to fish the morning & then accept the offer to fish Awoonga with Awoonga ( despite the forecast Hurricane).
Friday morning ...... nothing! ..... A quick pack up & we were off to Awoonga.

We most definitely saw Monduran in pretty poor condition ..... & was for sure a dam of a thousand casts + for us
But ........ We will be back! ( There is just too much prime looking real estate in the water)

Cheers

Nagg

[SeekingBarradise]

Hi Nagg good on you for getting up to Qld to attack the Barra Dams. It's great that you got to meet a lot of nice local Ausfisho's.

Thanks for the trip update. Have a good Easter.

Cheers Kel & Lyndon.

[Peter4]

Well done Nagg to get a couple in very tough conditions.

Hope you stayed positive despite my report from two weekends ago!

Maybe a winter trip is in order? Can't be any tougher than present conditions, can it?

Regs

Pete

[TonyM]

Hi Chris,

Was great to catch up with you guys (and drink your beer)

It's fantastic that both you and Whitey at least got one fish at Monduran as they sure were playing hard to get!

On friday I was getting desperate and tried anything and everything I could think of to raise a fish still without any action. I even tried trolling for about 100 metres! (before I started to fall asleep and went back to casting in the interest of public safety)

Cheers
Tony

[tiges]

Well done Nagg, look forward to the 2nd half of the report. I'm sure you'll do alright with Trev in your corner.

[BR65]

Good report mate, fish are still there for those putting in the hard yards.
Look foward to reading Awoonga

[wheezer]

good stuff...yes i hear the 2nd leg of your trip was a little better...

[NAGG]

Well done Nagg to get a couple in very tough conditions.

Hope you stayed positive despite my report from two weekends ago!

Maybe a winter trip is in order? Can't be any tougher than present conditions, can it?

Regs

Pete

Hmmm a winter trip! .... Dont tempt me

Nagg

[NAGG]

good stuff...yes i hear the 2nd leg of your trip was a little better...

Just a little bit better

[flyfisho]

Yes I too have been on the blower to Trev and look forward to the pics and report from the second leg good stuff Nagg.

[NAGG]

Yes I too have been on the blower to Trev and look forward to the pics and report from the second leg good stuff Nagg.

Hi Flyfisho ...... The Awoonga thread is now up

Cheers

Nagg

[Steve B]

Good work Chris, been a bit tough at Monduran lately. We will HAVE to catch up next time. I was in Brissy For that week on a course. Really enjoyed the Awoonga read. Definatley a worthwhile trip north for you guys....you will be back

cheers steve

[NAGG]

Good work Chris, been a bit tough at Monduran lately. We will HAVE to catch up next time. I was in Brissy For that week on a course. Really enjoyed the Awoonga read. Definatley a worthwhile trip north for you guys....you will be back

cheers steve

Without a doubt Steve ....... we are looking at Sept / Oct at this stage! & with Whitey not dismissive of Monduran because of all that lovely structure .... he is keen to spend a few more days there!
So it will be just a case of avoiding holidays , tournaments & finding a salt water destination ..... & it will be done
Mate .... we have to catch up ( I now officially look after Qld .... workwise & I'll be going up every couple months) ........ so if you have a spot , I'll arrange to stay a weekend ! ( gee that's a bit presumptuous )

Cheers

Chris

[Mark-P]

Great story Chris & well worth the read !! Must get up there one day & catch my 1st barra .....

Mark

[NAGG]

Great story Chris & well worth the read !! Must get up there one day & catch my 1st barra .....

Mark

Thanks Mark ........ Mate get up there & give it a crack ( just give it a little time for the water quality to improve ! ........ lots of rotting vegetation atm

Cheers

Chris