Popped my popper cherry : )

[Funchy]

Had an invite to go fishing so got the Yak and my gear ready and went to bed nice and early. Woke at 2am and headed off. Was in the water by about 2:15 and drifted with the run in tide towards Gemini Towers. Conditions were like glass and there was a fair amount of surface action but I couldn't get a hookup. I was using the HB I had been having some success on but there was too much weed. (Will be trying poppers from now on though after getting some tips today!)

So I got down to the beacons around 4am and was straight onto a 25cm flattie. Kept casting and about 30mins later got a 43cm flattie on a Gulp Minnow 4inch. Kept casting around as the sun came up and was joined by Tunaticer for a fish.

We headed over to Bribie side of the passage and I was introduced to the world of light rods, thin braid and poppers . I knew I was new to fishing and had a bit to learn but this bloke knows his stuff. Very generous with his time, information, gear and patience. Well we cast about and there was a lot of surface action once again but little willing to hit a lure. Tunaticer got a bream ealry on but I was yet to score anything. The tide had changed and was running out by this stage and we drifted back toward the Caloundra end. Eventually I scored my first fish on a popper. Was a flattie that went 48cm just as it started to bucket down. Very happy!!


Well we continued to drift and cast and then anchor and cast and drift and cast..... Not much going on. I got a whack from a flatty that I hooked but dropped. Tunaticer got a whiting and small flatty.

We ended up at the bottom of the tide in a very fishing looking spot that had bait fish jumping everywhere so we fished that for a while. Tunaticer scored another small flatty and so did I. (Got it on a squidgy 65mm)

Then the wind came up. It was close to 1pm so we headed in. I am now buggered but happy with having managed my 1st fish on a popper.


Interesting to see the lighter coloured flatty was caught in my spot in the sand, the other with a darker coloured bottom.

Big thankyou to Tunaticer for great company and excellent advice and some jigheads. Very appreciative mate and will be hitting up the minister for war and finance for a new rod and some paulus braid!!!

Well that was day 1 of my holidays, only 15 to go!!!

[BillyT2382]

Woohoo nice funchy with the popper mate, i too have been using the poppers aswell but nothing hooked yet, but will persist..nice looking the fish mate love it.

Cheers
Billy

[MudRiverDan]

Good one.

It is surprising how many good size (50-60 cm+) flathead I have caught in the cast net in 40cm of water.
They are voracious hunters, nice to see you managed one on a popper.

Dan

[Fillet`n`Release]

I was at the southern end of the passage this morning just on sunrise with my first attempt at little surface poppers for a bit of fun. Lots of surface bait and some big longtoms buzzing around. No fish *yet* but practice makes perfect ! All this yak talk has my mind ticking over B) Grats on the lizard action, want some of that !

[tunaticer]

Hey Funchy, was a good morning to be on the water despite the weather. Thoroughly enjoyed the time and the company and look forwards to another session in the future.

[Chas & Clarry]

Sounds like a great day with good company. Always great to hear of people sharing their knowledge.

I've been flicking the poppers a bit but with no luck to date, will be interested to hear how that works out for you in the coming days (mmmmmmmmm holidays).

...it is pouring here in Bris as I type this, so not sure if we will in fact make the trip to Caloundra tomorrow as previously discussed (I'm keen...Trace less so).

The different colour of fish from different environments always fascinates me.

[Funchy]

It has been raining heavily for the last hour here Tim. Just eased up now.

Thanks for the kind words!

[Axl]

Top way to start your holidays Funchy well done.

[Chas & Clarry]

It has been raining heavily for the last hour here Tim. Just eased up now.
:

Yep, we've ditched the plan now, sounds like the passage got a drenching most of the afternoon, so hope to catch you some other weekend. Might bump into Shawn on the Pine instead!

[chop]

I drove up to Calaoundra this morning to the jetty area and got out of the car and looked at the water and felt the wind and my phone kept ringing so I got back in the car and went home. I wasn't too happy.

[Agrav8_and_Lulu]

Great work Funchy, there's a couple of nice fish to take home, and congrats on the first fish on the pop.

[Shawn 66]

Yep, we've ditched the plan now, sounds like the passage got a drenching most of the afternoon, so hope to catch you some other weekend. Might bump into Shawn on the Pine instead!

You very well might Tim , if this bloody rain stops . I hopefully will be hanging around opposite the mouth of Bald Hills Creek . Might go and pinch another hours shuteye before I go .Was out yesterday , and the water was surprisingly pretty clear.
Hope to see both of you out there .
Shawn

[Chas & Clarry]

You very well might Tim , if this bloody rain stops . I hopefully will be hanging around opposite the mouth of Bald Hills Creek . Might go and pinch another hours shuteye before I go .Was out yesterday , and the water was surprisingly pretty clear.
Hope to see both of you out there .
Shawn

Sorry to hijack the thread but all I can say is thank god you had your camera Shawn