Shipping Channel Townsville

[Scott nthQld]

Had plans to head out to the shipping channel casting slugs for macs. The original plan was to leave at 7, but after a night on the piss, that wasn't going to happen.

Once we woke at the gentleman's hour of 8am, when loaded the boat, fueled up and were on the water by about 9, greeted by great weather (and a dirty great trawler, netting all along the out side of the channel, "there go all the mackeral for the year" was my first thought), no where near the 15-20knt wind predicted. So I punched the boat through the minimal chop and after a few hard knock the deckies were complaining "Ow my back, ow I just bounced on my manhood, slow down" I slowed down, only because we'd reached the desired destination.

All 3 of us (Fishing_Dan, Taipan and I) started casting th first few beacons for no result, other than a little golden trev and a couple of small macs. Taipan was the first (and only one) to bring a decent mac aboard, a doggy, going about 60cm. We do a couple more drifts for no more results. Next beacon I managed to foul hook my self a live bait (literally, it would've been lucky to be 4 inches long), and we moved on again, in hindsight, we should've done a few more drifts past that beacon, as we all know, where there's bait there's predators.

We moved onto the next beacon a Corey hooks into something big, hoping it was a large grey like we'd seen a couple weeks earlier, Dan had the gaff at hand, only to switch to the net when a 90cm Queenie surfaced. A couple of pics and we had to swim it a bit for a safe release, he was buggered. Hoping for another good queenie or 2 we completed another couple of drifts with no result. On to the next beacon and Corey hooks up again (prick), another good fish, with the fight looking a lot tougher than the battle with the queenie, gaf at the ready, another change over to the net was done and with my superior netting skills a 80cm Gold spot trev was soon on board, another couple of pics and it was sent safely back into the briny. A few more drifts of this beacon an the others with no more fish and it was time to head in for the day.

A few pics of the queenie and trev below:

[horseboy]

I was thinking of heading out in the next day or 2 for a basjh around the channels. Just watch the coastgaurd ramp at the moment went down the othere night and ruined my cast net on low tide had a look on the ramp and found a big lump of cement with reo bar hanging out. supprised no has smaked a prop on it. i shifted it of the ramp ( itwas a big effort) it was deliberatly put there as i had trouble shifting it dont know if it was kids or some one trying to ruin the prawning. Are you fellas gonna head out tomorrow?
wade

[ronnien]

sounds like the 3 of u had a ball! like u said not as rough as the weather said it would b,did u's c any mackerel at all? options still open 4 tomorrow, got monday off. nice fish boys.

ron.

[Fisher4life]

Sounds like corey was on a roll... good to see a few townsvillians getting out. If only i still had the boat.....

Josh

[Scott nthQld]

Yeah there were a few around, some missed hits and bite offs the mackeral really made their presence felt.

Wade, I won't be taking my boat out tomorrow, but if you need a deckie give us a yell. Not too early though, big weekend, I'm exhausted.

[horseboy]

Plans changed scott the trouble and strife has put the kybosh on a day trip so just gotta hit the coastgaurd ramp for my monster tonight.

Wade

[levinge]

Thanks for the Report Scott, Guess who's working all Weekend including the PH on Monday, Yep ME!. Still going to make up for it when the Upgrade arrives, countdown has begun and getting itchy. Just got 2 new reels and rods for the boat. 2 Okuma Salina SA80 High Speed Reels and a 30-50lb Broomstick thick rod and a 10-15Kg Fast Taper Spin Rod. One for the Unstoppables and the other for Jigging. Both virgins at present, but that will change!!!!

[Scott nthQld]

Forgot to mention this was the first test of the new spin gear. A shimano Saragosa 5000F (27lb drag straight out of the box!) and a berkely pro tournament. I never even got to give it a test out, the only 'fish' I caught was the live bait and a baby mac, still waiting to hear that drag scream.

[Fishin_Dan]

Cheers again boys for the awesome weekend! Had a blast! Thanks also to Mr Bunnings

I did tell you I felt like a couple of drinks friday night, so you should've known it was gonna be a big one...

Unfortunately my total for the day was a little trevally & a undersize macky. All a good day but, so didn't really matter. There was one big mackeral that followed the slug, but didn't bite unfortunately... He would've been a good one...

Corey was definitely on the roll that day. I blame it on him drinking the "fancy" beer the night before!!!

[Canoedle]

NICE QUEENIE!
I bet that thing pulled like a freight train!
Dan, you should know better than to drink XXXX.

[Outsider1]

Forgot to mention this was the first test of the new spin gear. A shimano Saragosa 5000F (27lb drag straight out of the box!) and a berkely pro tournament. I never even got to give it a test out, the only 'fish' I caught was the live bait and a baby mac, still waiting to hear that drag scream.

That is an interesting reel Scott. As far as I am aware it is not available in Oz as yet, so I assume you bought it in from O/S.?

http://www.tackledirect.com/shimano-...ing-reels.html

and video bottom of page;

http://www.mahitackle.com/saragosa.html

plus an earlier mention here;

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/sho...d.php?t=125837

Cheers

Dave

[Taipan]

Haha, yes a big shout out to Mr Bunnings!!!

It was a great morning for some, some being me!! Yeah I don't know about making it a weekend ritual Dan, Ah yes I do, keep em coming...Wooooo

The Queenie pulled hard, but he did stay deep, would have been nice for him to put on an air show for us.

[Scott nthQld]

Outsider, no I bought it from a local tackle shop up here. They'd only just got them in stock a couple of days before hand. They're not even on the shimano Australia website yet.

[Outsider1]

Outsider, no I bought it from a local tackle shop up here. They'd only just got them in stock a couple of days before hand. They're not even on the shimano Australia website yet.

Thanks Scott,

will have to keep an eye out for them. What sort of price if you don't mind me asking? I have only seen the US market prices so far.

Cheers

Dave

[Scott nthQld]

RRP is about 390-400 but I got mine for $320, US prices are a little cheaper, but by the time you pay freight and then have to wait for it to arrive, I'd rather go support the local bloke and walk out with it there and then. Great reel can't wait to hook into something decent.