Capricorn Bunker Group?

[rat_catcher]

Over the June long weekend, I am thinking of doing a trip through the Capricorn Bunker Group east of Gladstone. I am based in Rockhampton so trailering the boat to a start/finish point is not a big deal for me. I will be taking an extra day off so will have four days in total and my father will drop us off and drive the trailer home and then drive to the pickup location to collect us four days later.

What I am looking for are suggestions people might have around places not to miss from a fishing, snorkelling and general cruising perspective. This will not be a hardcore fishing trip and I will have my two sons aged 13 and 11 with me. However we will want to do some bottom bashing and trolling. The boat is a Signature 702L with a Suzuki DF250 on the back. We carry 335 litres of fuel onboard for a safe cruising range of around 200 Nautical Miles.

I have a paper chart out plotting courses and measuring distances, but was just interested in any experiences or suggestions others that have done this might like to provide.

At this stage I am considering departing from 1770 and heading to Lady Musgrave for the first overnighter. This would be followed by a run up to Fitzroy Reef for the next overnighter. From there I am thinking a trip to Sykes for some fishing followed by a run past Heron Island (no landing I know) but from there I am not sure whether to overnight at North West Island or Masthead Island.

After that it would then either be a run into Rosslyn Bay or Gladstone depending on fuel, but I still have to calculate the total distance to know for sure. The choice between Masthead and North West will also come down to distance and whether I am heading into Gladstone or to Rosslyn Bay.

I have Noel Patrick's Curtis Coast book, so I have a good reference for planning purposes and I have purposely chosen to start at the Southern end and head generally North West so that I am running with the prevailing South Easterly winds.

Anybody have any thoughts on doing this in a Signature 702L and anything I might have missed that would be good to see?

Of course I will be keeping a close eye on the weather before we depart and also when at sea, as well I have all of the necessary safety gear on board and know all about travelling around coral reefs during the day when you can see through the water and ensuring you are anchored up for the night early.

Any other tips or suggestions?

[ifishcq1]

Have you thought about leaving from Yeppoon, from here to north west 93km Heron only 102km more shelter coming home from prevailing soueaster

SL

[nitroburner]

Gday mate , one tip for you , it will be busy on the water i would say on the long weekend . The Boyne Tannum Hookup is on the same weekend , so take care.

[jtpython]

I was out with Rat catcher at a spot east of Douglas Scott lynch and it was 93 km to harbour from there so must be a little furtherto Northwest
That fistroy reef sounds good Rat catcher if you PM Newby he goes to the lagoon a bit try some suggestions off of him buddy
JT

[ifishcq1]

Hi JT I just got it up on the GPS and it is 93.6 km from outside the harbour to the edge of the cay


SL

[MY ALIBI]

hi rat catcher i often go o fitzroy reef very good fishing, snorkel n lagoons some big tiger sharks out there around drop offs though.
id go to easern side douglas or johnsons if goin to yeppoon, a stay at masthead hard to resist . hope ya have a good safe trip.

[rat_catcher]

Have you thought about leaving from Yeppoon, from here to north west 93km Heron only 102km more shelter coming home from prevailing soueaster

SL

I was thinking the opposite. If I start at the bottom end and travel generally North West then I am running with the prevailing South Easterly. I have done the run from Rosslyn Bay to North West before, but never ventured any further into the group.

When you say more shelter coming home, do you mean if I travel from North West back to Rosslyn Bay, rather than Gladstone, I will have more shelter from Curtis Island?

[rat_catcher]

Gday mate , one tip for you , it will be busy on the water i would say on the long weekend . The Boyne Tannum Hookup is on the same weekend , so take care.

Yes I am aware of the Boyne Tannum Hookup as JT has told me all about it. That was one of the reasons I was thinking that weekend as there should be plenty of other vessels around rather than being out all alone. I won't be travelling at night in that area anyway so should be pretty safe from other vessels anyway.

[rat_catcher]

That fistroy reef sounds good Rat catcher if you PM Newby he goes to the lagoon a bit try some suggestions off of him buddy
JT

Sounds good. I have always liked the sound of anchoring up inside a lagoon and I have heard good things about Fitzroy. I have absolutely no marks for out that way so was just going to have a look around with the sounder and see how I went. It won't be too much of a fishing trip anyway, but I WILL be taking the rods!

[rat_catcher]

hi rat catcher i often go o fitzroy reef very good fishing, snorkel n lagoons some big tiger sharks out there around drop offs though.
id go to easern side douglas or johnsons if goin to yeppoon, a stay at masthead hard to resist . hope ya have a good safe trip.

Hey mate, do you own the boat 'My Alibi' that is a plate alloy rig painted black that is kept down Thozet Road?

I have seen it when I drive down that way and the name of it matches your username.

Anyway can you tell me a bit more about Masthead Island?

[ifishcq1]

I was thinking the opposite. If I start at the bottom end and travel generally North West then I am running with the prevailing South Easterly. I have done the run from Rosslyn Bay to North West before, but never ventured any further into the group.

When you say more shelter coming home, do you mean if I travel from North West back to Rosslyn Bay, rather than Gladstone, I will have more shelter from Curtis Island?

Yes RC if it turns south east while you are out you can come home with it at your back and get shelter from Curtis on the way back...Heading back to Gladstone from Herron or NorthWest can be rotten if a southeasterly gets up... Depends on how your boat likes to run in a sea.. Your rig is a good one so I don't think you would have any trouble anyway...If you get dropped off in Gladstone start south and work your way north your dad could even pick you up at Rosslyn Bay , I never thought of that way befor...either way You have a couple of options and the weather that weekend will probably dictate the best one... I hope it goes well I recon you will have a ball


SL

[rat_catcher]

...either way You have a couple of options and the weather that weekend will probably dictate the best one... I hope it goes well I recon you will have a ball

Thanks mate. I agree it should be a great trip and I have been thinking a lot about it.

I have decided I am going to launch at 1770 as it is a lot closer to Lady Musgrave than Gladstone is.

I have pretty much decided on the following route;

Depart 1770
Overnight Lady Musgrave
Overnight Fitzroy Reef
Overnight Masthead Island
Return to Port Alma

Each day I will use the time to have a poke around some of the intersting areas and do a bit of trolling as I travel, then anchor up early so we can do some snorkeling and go ashore at Lady Musgrave and Masthead.

If you had to choose one spot for serious bottom fishing, where would it be? Sykes Reef?

How about trolling? Any specific locations? I was going to just troll lures when traveling as the distances I need to cover each day are not great, so I can go a bit slower.

If you had to choose one spot for snorkeling, where would it be? Lady Musgrave?

If you had to choose one sport to go ashore with the best beach where would it be? Masthead Island?

How about throwing some poppers around bombies for GT's? Fitzroy Reef?

I think that should just about cover everything I want to do!

[ifishcq1]

Lucky, lucky bas...d, that's a trip that you will never forget

Enjoy

SL

[THE FLY]

Hey mate,
don't know much about the other area's but I fished N/W Island twice for 2 weeks at a time. Great fishing for trout/red throat/macks/tuna/trevs/reds ect. ect.
The divers amongst us pulled a few crays too. Great spot but you need time to explore.

[jtpython]

Sounds like a awesome trip Scott
Will try and catch you up on the water during the hook up mate
JT