Ooglies of the deep.

[TREVELLY]

Hi Lucas,

Nearly all of boat repairs is now paid, as of last week, so should be painted in next week or two - it is a slow process. In the meantime I am preparing preparing new space in front yard to park it - destroying some garden area and shovelling dirt after work - it is good exercise and therapy these days.

The shelf is close on a calm day and eternity on a rough day - heading straight East is short going NE so much further.

You showed yourself pretty smart for a donkey returning as things weren't quite working as they should.

[lucee81]

No use putting yourself and your deckie at risk for a fish. Had they tank and fuel monitor been working I would probably be in a world of hurt today.

[Vitamin Sea]

Mate you did the right thing, you have to be 100% confident in the boat, motor, etc before heading out wide. The sounder/transducer thing would have been enough to put me off, fishermen are a superstitious lot, starts bad, finishes bad.

Next time

VS

[nezevic99]

We've given this two cracks now since you guys started this thread. The first one was mildly successful but not in the super deep water. We headed to 300m due east of Cape Moreton and dropped a handline (2mm VB) to the bottom with a 4.5kg weight. Snagged up almost immediately and spent 30mins trying to break the "light" 50lb dropper to the sinker. The VB cord acted as an elastic band. Dropped a second one down for about 40min without a touch. Pulling 4.5kg back by hand from 300m was tough. Be stuffed if i want to do it with 15kg of fish on the other end. We came back in to a mark in 180m (shallow!) and fished the same rigs but with big rubbers and squid on 30lb braid with about 1kg of lead. Picked up a 4.5kg pearly amongst the snapper and leatherjackets. Was a great day.

Second trip out was a bit rougher and the old boy got the wind up when i put a green wave over the bow into the cockpit. We called it quits at that point without putting a bait in the water. Keep up the good work. You'll get there eventually!!

[TREVELLY]

Yep I reckon if I was out wide and put a green wave over the front I would get all superstitous too and call it a day or at least head for safer calmer waters.

My trip will be in conditions favourable to water skiing when it happens - ideally second half of the day into dark - ramp will be quieter and so should offshore with the morning rush over.

I don't expect to be spending a heap of time motoring back up to the drop etc as i will more than likely at short notice be a solo run.

[nezevic99]

Yeah the second day was less than favourable. The forecast was out and the wind 10kts stronger than predicted. It was an easy 25kts by the time we got to the marks and the wave period really short. I swung the boat into the swell to motor up from the mark, dropped off the back of the first wave and plowed straight through the second. This all happened at about 6-8kts of forward motion. Luckily our boat sheds water well or it could have been a different story. At that point we decided it was easier to come home. Insult to injury though... it glassed off in the bay and came home at 30kts .

The first day was totally different... glassy and slow rolling swell.

[Oceanranger24]

I'm with you vitamin sea. Everthing hs to be right. My mate calls it ADVENTURE FISHING. You come up with a hair brained idea and then steadily work towards it. My first attempt also saw me turn round with no fish after a dodgy sounder. The second, I left late- about 9am and just aimed to go.... The weather on day 2 was a nice 10knots and i wobbled my way out trolling a couple of lures for two silly stripy tuna and a nice 10kg dollie, a pod of about 200 dolphins and another pod of about 50 pilot whales?? Eventually the sounder was at 400m and I lucked on couple of nice 20 m ledges. Down went my new alvey reef king with 1000m 200lb braid and 2kg weight. waiting waiting, 10 minutes... bump Bump BUmp BUMp BUMP goes the rod tip.... slowly, gently i wind, he pulls - hard, wind some more - pleeeaase don't fall off. My first blue eye at 14kg. You may have heard me screaming with joy.

There done it. I didn't need to catch another that day. the satisfaction of working towards a goal was great. Had a great cruise home, a nice slab of fish on the table to feed the wife and three hungry teenagers.

BUT THE OOOGLIE BUG HAD BITTEN ME

[lucee81]

Hair brained idea??? I would say genius idea if it wasn't Anthony's. September may see another crack at the title but probably more October at this rate as I won't get 2 leave passes for September and I dot really want 2 as I only get 6 days with the family.

[Oceanranger24]

Have a look out a bit wider 160km east of straddie

Now that looks like a real adventure!!!tablemount2.jpg

Anybody up for it?

[Back In Black]

Your boat or mine!
Tony

[lucee81]

Mine...... That will separate the men from the ladies.

[Mossy247]

Mine...... That will separate the men from the ladies.

When you back next mate? I'm on the out at the end of this week and keen to fish.

[Oceanranger24]

Hey Tony,
you got two donks. iv'e only got one. Round trip from Bris river is 400km not including prospecting and drifts..........fuel?

IMG_7973 cropped2.jpg

[WalrusLike]

......I don't expect to be spending a heap of time motoring back up to the drop etc as i will more than likely at short notice be a solo run.

Trev I don't know how you get a pass to do that.... My missus doesn't like it when I am single handed inside the bay.

Do you go single for preference or just how it works out? I really enjoy the quiet and the freedom of being alone in the boat. Doesn't happen often enough...

[Muddy Toes]

I'm watching you Lucas.