Mud Island Shallows

[Horse]

I knocked off work a bit early today and caught a ride with Chris (bayfisher) to check out some of the shallow ground around Mud. The wind was up a bit stronger than expected but we set up a drift in close and before too long Chris got a hit on a small HB and after a short tussle he lands a nice 55cm Lizard.
We move on a bit further under the power of the bow mount electric before it throws in the towel. While Chris is trying to sort out the problem I get a nice strike and the fish takes a strong run. After a couple of minutes I'm starting to wonder whats on the end of my line as I'm only making slow progress. Eventually I get the fish to the boat and find a very nice Chopper that is foul hooked in the side. After a bit of a struggle to bring him into netting range we finally boat the fish and he goes 55cm as well. Thats a fair chpper for the area and was good fun on spin gear.
Things went downhill a bit from there with no electric and sounder problems.
Sorry about the pic. Its off my phone in a rocking boat so the quality is pretty ordinary

Neil

[charleville]

That's a nice couple of fish, Horse. Especially the chopper. Well done!

Was going to go out there myself tonight but some flu-like symptoms discouraged me. Now that I look at the winds at the Inner beacon, I am glad that I stayed home. Not dangerous winds but not comfortable all the same...


Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch



.

[T1]

Thanks for the report Neil!

I'm taking some pillies with me in the morning now...

Take Care T

[MickThe]

What were you targetting Neil? With small hb's i'm thinking bream?

THey are still hitting surface lures, i got onto a few yesterday in the bay, as well as some tailor and trevs.

I don't think anyone on here is too interested in reports that don't involve chasing snapper though it seems. :huh:

Mick.

[bayfisher]

That was the plan mick ,though im sure Neil would never admit to it :tongue:. No bream for us though as we really didn't get to play around in the shallows very long before the electric played up.

[MickThe]

Damn electric motors always play up at the vital moments don't they !

Just a tip for anyone else doing the whole hb thing around the bay islands.....

I have seen some cracking size squire from the deeper reef areas of Redcliffe and southern bay island areas early morning (as bream by-catch) on lures like Jackall Squirell 61 and 67 jerkbaits.

You can get cheaper versions in R2sea and Cultiva, which may be important if bigger tailor are around, i have learnt pretty quick that 6 pound leaders last a millisecond as does your $25 lure :cry:

If one of you throws a small bream size hb to the shallows, or a surface lure, and one of you casts parallel to boat or deeper side with a deep diving jerkbait, you may be surprised at the bycatch. Grassies and good cod will smash hb's in 8-10 feet, though cod will drop off a bit as it cools down.

HB's that are slender in the 60-70cm range are not too big at all for bream, i've been getting just unders/just legals in the river on a Jackall Squirrell 61.

Let us know how you go next time.

Mick.

[Horse]

Yea Mick, Chris likes to chase his Bream but I have to be honest, I can't get real interested in them unless they are Jumbo specimens. I was fishing a Bomber Long 15A so definitly not Bream gear:grin: . I did throw a small deep diver for a while but wide of the edge to try and keep clear of those pesky Bream:wink:

[ddobson]

well done horse with a chopper that size. I have been hit with some good sized ones of green late at night but taking all my single hooks and with no gangs i only landed a few but nt that big. Two works i am starting to hate is boat maintanance eh. Damb things have a way of playing up when the fishing is good. Cheers