Exmouth 2009

[DazSamFishing]

G'Day,

It's been a long time since I last posted a report. I've since moved from Brissie to Perth & the only exciting fishing is by travelling 15hrs north to Exmouth above the 26th Parallel. It was my second trip to Exmouth, so I was still quite unfamiliar with the area.

To all you easterners'; it's a pristine but isolated area lined by Ningaloo reef (similar to the barrier reef. The reef is closer to shore & not as wide spread). The fishing is exceptional.

We fished poppers throughout the day, casting around feeding tuna schools & over rugged reef. We'd usually trolled from A to B & fished with unweighted baits on handlines at night within the reef for spanglies & other reefies.

Our popping outfits were stella FA & SW's spooled with 50 & 80lb braid. On custom carbon & graphite rods. We threw R2S Dunbells, roosters, haymakers & cubera 100 & 125's.

Unfortunately, my mates sounder packed it in on day 1, so we fished 'blind' for the rest of the week.

We had a ball throwing poppers at spaniards, GT's, gold spot trevs, jobfish & a host of other species. Most spaniards would be mauled by sharks within moments - the macks would be jumping 6ft out of the water in a attempt to outrun the sharks. I only hooked 1 monster GT & unfortunately, I was unable to land him... he was big, very big. Next time, we'll fish specifically for the G's.

Some pics are attached.
Daz.

[groverwa]

Yeah, Exmouth spoilt me for fishing - lived there for 5yrs but been out for 20 yrs.

Before swimming with the whale sharks became popular we used to follow the whale sharks outside on the west side where you were and get cobia as the cobes swim under them and I for one would not swim with the whale sharks as there are bloody big noahs out there

We did a lot of our fishing in the shallows inside the reef north of Tantabiddy but that is all closed now.

Next time you go up there remember that there are shoals in the gulf that fish well for GT, blue bone, trout, span mack etc - back then we did not have GPS and had to use landmarks, compass and sounder

Lighthouse bay/ NW Reef area is a good spot also but tide can be a bit strong

Mike

[Smithy]

Good report, good fishing, good Jobby! Bet he went hard off the surface.