The Catwalk - 1770

[Mullet Musketeer]

Monday - 1770

I decided it was time to look for some serious fish. This area is a ‘Mecca’ for land based fisherman looking to catch big pelagic species. The one place that everyone heads for when they are up here is the ‘Catwalk’.

The ‘Catwalk’ on the eastern side of 1770 headland is strictly a heavy gear fishing location. It is one of the best land based fishing spots on the east coast of Australia. This is because it is one of the few places where the East Australian Current comes within casting distance of the shore. On a clear, calm day you can see the current line snaking straight past the foot of the rocks. When the pods of Tuna break the surface they are almost always swimming near or along the current line, chasing the bait schools that move with it. This doesn’t mean catching fish here is easy. For one thing most of the fish on offer are big – 10kg and above. This means you need patience, heavy gear and a good gaff, to stand a chance of landing something. The food chain is also highly developed, there are plenty of lazy sharks around who will happily rob you of your fish, as you bring it in and if they don’t get it, the two or three enormous resident Groper will regularly snaffle big fish at the foot of the rocks.
My thanks to the various locals who fish these rocks – particularly Dennis and George who are always willing to give me an update on what has been happening and which lures, baits, tides are working best. When I arrived on the Catwalk this week, there had been plenty of big fish hook ups but not many successful captures. The Tuna had arrived in the second week of September and some big Spanish Mackerel had also been wreaking havoc. On the Sunday of my visit George had landed a monster 25kg Giant Trevally which he had snared with a 130mm fluorescent yellow, bibless minnow, cranked along just below the surface. The Spanish Mackerel had been grabbing poppers, slugs and bait and the best bite time seemed to be sunrise through to about 9.00 am.

On the morning I fished the Catwalk there was an experienced crew of land based fisherman from Byron Bay down there and a few others. Just after first light, one guy hooked up with what appeared to be a good sized Spanish Mackerel. He had been casting and retrieving a silvery blue, 140mm surface popper. He played it for a few minutes and began to make some headway. Then suddenly the line went slack as a shark swallowed the fish whole and bit clean through the wire trace.

We all started casting again – slugs, poppers and bibless minnow lures. Then the guys at the top of the rocks shouted that a pod of Blue Fin Tuna were heading our way. As they went by we all timed our casts and let rip. Six of us cast into the pod – one guy hooked up. He had a solid connection with a fish and after a few big initial runs, he started to put some pressure on it. It had headed back towards the mouth of Round Hill Creek. It was clearly a big fish as his attempts to get back line where met with more blistering runs. Unfortunately, it was now heading in shore over the rocky and reefy area directly north of the Catwalk. Suddenly the line went slack – the fish was gone – Shark? Rocks? We will never know.

I rigged a small soft plastic and caught a tiny Trevally which one of the Byron crew put out under a balloon. After 20 minutes or so, no more than 4 metres from the shore there was a huge swirl in the water as a Mackerel hit the live bait and almost simultaneously, was swallowed by a sizeable Shark. Miraculously the livebait was intact, but with a neat triangular Mackerel bite on its side.

After a couple more hours of casting, there had been no more hook ups so I decided to try some of the land based fishing opportunities in Round Hill Creek. I headed down a four wheel drive track to the edge of Toms Creek a small mangrove lined tributary on the south side of Round Hill Creek. There are a few openings in the mangroves where you can fish the creek. It is a shallow system with a strong tidal flow, so it is best to fish it around the high tide, when the water slows.

I arrived about noon and rigged a Gulp 3” Minnow soft plastic on a 1/8th 1 jighead. There were already plenty of midges around so I covered my head and gave myself a good coating of insect repellent. The submerged rocks and mangrove roots looked like good hiding places for Mangrove Jacks, but I suspect the water was not yet warm enough for them.

I fished across the sandy/ muddy bottom of the creek, occasionally getting snagged on submerged rocks and water logged branches. I caught Moses Perch, Bream, Whiting, a few grunter Bream and tiny Trevally, none where big enough to keep but I decided this was definitely a spot to return at dawn or dusk, when the tides were right.

For more reports, photographs and fishy yarns - read the blog at http://landangler.wordpress.com/

[the baker]

That is the best land based spot I have fished, I fished there for about 5 years solid when I lived in Agnes Water. I have seen some massive fish come off the stones there, memories that will last a lifetime and fished with some top people as well. And I have seen some gear disappear at high speed over that ledge too, it really is gods country..... awesome place.

Dave.

[nathank]

most deffo didnt look like that on the weekend just gone damn I was there from wed last week till sat and didnt get to swim a lure... ahh well next time.. nice report though mate.

[Lucky_Phill]

'tis a great spot alright.

There is or was a loxcal Grouper that hung around the Catwalk and if yuo were not quick enough gaffing ya fish, it was grouper dinner.

Dave, yes, apparently one can get spooled on NEW ( birthday present ) braid from the Catwalk doh ! say g'day to 'shell

cheers Phill

ps. a small black marlin was landed from the catwalk about 4 years ago on a silver halco slug, from memory. many a big fish hooked, very few landed.


.

[the baker]

Here are some pics of the Catwalk when it is angry

[mattooty]

Those boys from Byron are pretty top lads. Was Sam there? A blonde bloke with a big tat on his shoulder/top of his chest? They're been getting some footage lately for a little show they're wanting to put together. Shall be interesting!
I've fished LBG for a few years now and that's been a spot I've been itching to get to, but just never had a plan fall into place.

[the baker]

'tis a great spot alright.

There is or was a loxcal Grouper that hung around the Catwalk and if yuo were not quick enough gaffing ya fish, it was grouper dinner.

Dave, yes, apparently one can get spooled on NEW ( birthday present ) braid from the Catwalk doh ! say g'day to 'shell

cheers Phill

ps. a small black marlin was landed from the catwalk about 4 years ago on a silver halco slug, from memory. many a big fish hooked, very few landed.


.

Yes Phil I was not going to mention about that braid, thanks old mate the wife still gives me a bad look about that.... Michelle says hi, that little black was about 10-15kg

[Mullet Musketeer]

They had an underwater cam on the gaff - we were all a bit concerned the Groper might eat it!!

[the baker]

Here a GT I got off the Catwalk Quite a few years ago now

[deepfried]

That's the first time I have read a post about this place of which there have been many that someone has actually named it.

[the baker]

It has had the name for at least 10+ years that I know of

[deepfried]

yup and no one has put that name on a public thread. Just saying thats all. mustnt be your local anymore hey

[the baker]

yup and no one has put that name on a public thread. Just saying thats all. mustnt be your local anymore hey

No not any more a bit of a bummer but got to go where the money is

[Mullet Musketeer]

The only other 'Catwalk' I know is a Bar in Manila. You can catch plenty in there as well but probably not things I could talk about here. Apologies for naming the spot - to those who mind.

[nathank]

For those who fish LBG... everyone knows what its called anyway and where it is.. like ya said mullet.. its a mecca for LBG. Making the effort to get there and spending the $ on the gear and lures etc.. will always make it a spot that not everyone will make the effort to fish.