Dismal Day on Plastics

[Bluefin475]

Hit the water about 4:45 in the am jus to catch the sun poking up over straddie by the time we reached peel is. Got there and realised we forgot to charge the motorguide (good start). First plastics out and the hooks were set into a pair of nice legal arse fish (see pic). Decided there was better on offer so set them free. Lighter jigheads come into play and the next fish boated was a decent flounder(Jarrad) which went in the bin for dad. Next drift Todd boated his first Gold Spot Trevally. Rest of the day nothing went close exept a squire that went 33cm that didn't even stretch the 8lb fireline. Back in by 12 bored of the little pickers on offer at peel. Anyone else have a go at Peel today? Saw some scattered but reasonable schools of mac tuna bustin up and couldn't even get on to them. Pretty much somes up the day.
Signing off Todd and Jarrad

[Leighton]

Did well over there, left Peel about 7 to chase birds
1/8th Jig heads are all you need for most of Peel

[Coast Runner 540]

I had a less than serious session at Peel today with the kids, more intent on keeping them happy than fishing.

There were plenty of mac tuna breaking the surface on the north eastern side with plent on boat action to boot. No sooner than a school of fish break the surface, you think you have them to yourself than 3 or 4 boats are there driving thourgh your school. I still managed 1 hook up though, all good fun.

I'm very seriously thinking of taking a day off tomorrow for a go without Joe Public.

Johno

[plaztix]

Dont worry Jarrad, We had a shocker too but your day looks productive compared to ours.

Fished St Helena to the Southern end of Moreton and back to Mud for nothing more than a cobia sized grinner.

Johno - Is that a gillies pillie? and what size?

[Roo]

wow. to be honest.......I'm glad a few others had a tough day too. I thought it was just me.

we got to peel about 5.30am......noted the parking lot was full on the NE side so stayed further west.....a few shows on the sounder turned into tiny nibbles so we shifted over towards Wello for a while. the missus found a nice little squire willing to chomp her gulp grub, only 32cm so back for more growing. we both had a few hits but no more hookups, moved up to green...another carpark.....moved east of there and found some good bait shows but nothing but a few small nibbles and no hookups. moved back down to checkout a mark around SE Peel......carpark. had a drift in the channel on the east of peel, found a hungry bar tail flattie...too small too. decided to do a bit of exploring up the rainbow channel nothing there either, foated about over the grass and shallows looking for flathead, had one good size flattie have a go at my jerkshad, but after three hits he failed to find the hook and I couldn't convince him another to have a go. had a spot of lunch and headed over to harries......not a soul around......no not really, carpark. had a quick drift through there and headed back to cleveland....stopped to have a fling at some tuna....very flighty, no hookups...long drive home. after a 2.30am start and a lot of k's on road and water, all we got was a bit of sunburn, but a lovely day on the water.

cheers roo.

[reddybayfisher]

Like wise for me - very slow and uneventful day......but a great day on the water....

Started SW of Peel - couple bites nothing exciting.....could see the carpark to the NW - decided to avoid that area.....headed more South out from the rocks....caught a fish that was pinkish, yellow fins and had a black spot to the rear of it....any help with ID would be good...caught quite a few of them - so seem to be common for that area I presume.......headed over to Goat Island...on the way saw the birds and tuna going crazy.....wasn't set-up for them.....at Goat caught a decent size grunter - can they be eaten...what are they like to eat?
Headed to Macleay for a while - surprised not more boats there......the missus caught a bream and a few undersized squire....nothing to keep....all in all a great day on the water.....

[Leighton]

Moses Perch think the legal size is only 25cm?? Supposed to be good eating but a 25cm Moses Perch would not make much of a meal. Grunter are good to eat

[Outsider1]

Like wise for me - very slow and uneventful day......but a great day on the water....

Started SW of Peel - couple bites nothing exciting.....could see the carpark to the NW - decided to avoid that area.....headed more South out from the rocks....caught a fish that was pinkish, yellow fins and had a black spot to the rear of it....any help with ID would be good...caught quite a few of them - so seem to be common for that area I presume.......headed over to Goat Island...on the way saw the birds and tuna going crazy.....wasn't set-up for them.....at Goat caught a decent size grunter - can they be eaten...what are they like to eat?
Headed to Macleay for a while - surprised not more boats there......the missus caught a bream and a few undersized squire....nothing to keep....all in all a great day on the water.....

Grunter - delicious, one of the best. Legal size 30cm on the East Coast, no bag limit

The fish you described sounds like Mose Perch, check the photos here;

http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/fis.../lrusselli.htm

Another very good eating fish, close relative of Mangrove Jack, legal size 25cm and 5 bag limit I think (Sea Perch).

Cheers

Dave

[reddybayfisher]

Cheers for the stats and info. captain and outsider......

Could have had a nice meal tonight but ahh well...

Thinking back - caught two good size grunters and about 5 moses perch around the 26 - 28cm mark.....

Least I know for next time.....

[Outsider1]

They both put up a pretty good fight too. Moses Perch are aggressive little buggas!, and good fun on light gear.

Cheers

Dave

[BLOOEY]

I diddn't go to the bay but off mooloolaba but had a shocker aswell. Diddn't land a single fish on the plastics apart from a whiptail. A mate scored a nice grassy on bait and the tuna were not approachable because of 7 or more boats not having a clue and motoring straight into them. Ben

[Coast Runner 540]

Plaztix it is similar to a Gillies Pilchard, but not that. I can't remember what it was, more like a River 2 Sea and weighs about 25 grams.

I think anything would have done the job yesterday. With the strong winds predicted for the rest of the week I think everyone who went out on Sunday will remember the day more for the weather and conditions than the fish that were caught.

Thanks to Redlands Council I'm $50 wourse of courtesy of parking on the nature strip at the Marina. I knew I'de get caught but when there are people taking trailer car spaces what can you do. Worth it in the end, but still annoying.

Johno

[Bluefin475]

Wow i was starting to feel bad there but now i have realised that me and my brother werent the only ones to have a shocker...
And Roo my brother and i did the exact same trip as you except for the drift at harries...wayyyyyyy to many boats there.

[alleycat]

Lots of ordinary trips of late, to be honest in the last 12 months ive managed about 12 snapper in the bay and i fish mid week so the crowds cant be blamed, the previous 12 months from early 06 to early 07 i would have caught near 200 hundred snapper, from april last year through winter i blamed the clear water but the catch rates have not improved, anybody got any clues as to whats causing the poor fishing.?

[mickstar001]

Agree with you there alleycat, not much success here either in the past 12 months! Glad it's not just me!

Mickstar