Where do I start!
After, 100 odd text messages, PM's, Emails, phone calls, and a planning meeting, boat loading, unloading and re-loading we were finally ready for the Ausfish Hervey Bay M&G.
So, thursday morning bright and early saw Murf, the Magic Deckie, and I heading north bound for Urangan Boat Harbour, Hervey Bay. Black Magic, a Seaswirl Striper 2101 WA in tow.
A mere 9 hours later, we arrived and started the process of fueling up, getting bait and ice and prepping the boat to hit the water. We logged on with VMR 466 Hervey Bay and headed out of the Boat Harbour. Holy theme park ride, there was a northerly screeming down the bay and the sea state was less than favourable. To make matters worse the Simrads were playing up after downloading a software upgrade.One wasn't recognising the thru hull sounder and the other wasn't talking to the radar. Ohh well, between going up and down like a yoyo in the sloppy waves we managed to get enough info on the screens to get underway. Maybe should've stayed at the ramp and waited for the prawns to arrive.
Dusk, saw us anchored at Rooney's Point having dinner and a few drinks while catching Yakkas that were hanging around the boat. The wind had dropped and the anchorage was calm.
Dawn saw us top up the fuel tank with 60 L from the Jerry cans and head out to a bait mark, but all we caught there was baby squire (who's mark was that Murf?). We got out of there and trolled some lures around the edge of the green zone at Roonies for no takers.
A decision was made to head out through the 4 Mile Crossing of Breaksea Spit, even though we were now well into the run out tide.So we get there, log on with VMR and find that the "starter marks" we had for the crossing were a little out. It was a case of picking the deeper water and avoiding the breaking waves. A bit of spray over the top of the boat, but all in all not too bad.
We went to some marks out from the 4 Mile and started doing drifts and trying for some Reef Fish. We'll the fish weren't playing the game and we were losing bucket loads of tackle on the prickly bottom. If we did hook something decent the sharks were getting it!
After a couple of hours I asked Murf if he was concerned about our fuel usage. He looked at the guage which read 270 Litres and said that it was good considering we had only used 30 Litres. I reminded him that it was a 400 Litre tank that was full in the morning!It seems that the Verado really chews the fuel if it is below 18 Knots (like trolling or bashing through sloppy seas at 12 -14 Knots). We stopped fishing and headed back through the 4 Mile to Sandy Cape where we anchored and had some lunch.
Murf the Magic Deckie contemplating the long paddle home if we run out of fuel.
After Lunch we hiked back to Urangan Boat Harbour at warp speed to refuel.A mere 130 Km round trip there and back to Rooney's Point.
Arriving at Rooney's we were greeted with the sight of a massed armada of Ausfish Boats! We came alongside a raft up of fine looking fibregalss fishing machines and tied up to Gina Marie. Well, well, Gina Marie was crewed by the Wallay Front Row! Ohh, hang on no, its Bull1, Cobiaman and Horse. We unburden our woes of electronic disfunction, no fish and humungous fuel consumption issues. Cobiaman, very sympathetic of our plight, gestures to all those around and states "Everyone here caught Marlin!". Very comforting words - thanks Graham.
Soon enough, a couple of the plate boats left 'tin can alley' and joined the fortress of floating fibreglass as it dragged anchor away from the spit. All up a great evening was had, with many a tale of fish landed and experiences had.
Murf and I up anchored early the next day and headed back across the 4 Mile to do battle with some Wahoo at a mark given to us by Marvin. Well, you know it's a good day when you've landed 3 Wahoo by 7.00 am! Thanks Marvin! My First Wahoo and 2 (the smaller 2) caught by Murf.
With fish in the tub we headed off for a day of bottom bashing and ended up with a healty tally of Maori Cod, Tusk Fish, Red Throat Emperor and a Coronation Trout. Late in the afternoon we were joined by Beeracuda (2IC and Tropicrows) and The boat formerly known as Dimples? (Fishfeeder and Tangles). at 4.30 pm (well, it was actually 4.34 pm but someone had to have on last drift?!) we headed off in convoy following Beeracuda across the 13 Mile crossing and back to Rooney's Point.
We arrived at Rooneys Point and there was not one Ausfish boat in sight.
The morning saw us heading back to Urangan and then on to the Trailers. Robtar was at the ramp for a catch up. We loaded the boat, topped up the ice and said farewell to Hervey Bay and the other stayers from the M&G.
A mere 9 hours later, we arrived back at Coffs Harbour! Murf, the Magic Deckie, said he'd take care of the fish, seeing how I was going to be cleaning the boat at my place!
Tub of Reef Fish and Wahoo (the Hoo look a bit battered from the trip home in the ice slurry, rubbing up next to the scaly reef fish).
I arrived home to find that my wife was sick and needed to go to the doctors the next day, the dog was crook too and had been to the vet but needed to go back to the vets. Also, while away, the Mother In Law appeard to have moved in.
A tanker load of fuel, 23 Hours on the Verado! What a weekend! What a Meet and Greet! What are we doing next!!!
Thanks;
A big shout out to the following people:
Murf, the Magic Deckie. Constantly hosing the deck clean, bleeding and icing the fish, keeping everything clean and tidy. Chasing up GPS Marks and information and being gerneral allround good company. Top effort, you are always welcome aboard Black Magic.
Horse and Chong. Big thanks for suggesting, organising and advising on this M&G.
Lucky Phill. For all your information and advise on the Bay and it's fishing reports, general knowledge and boating conditions.
Marvin. For all your advice on the Breaksea area, GPS Marks, tips and tricks. You are a very generous man. Thank you.
VMR 466 Marince Rescue Hervey Bay. Thanks for your radio coverage and weather reports.
Everyone that Attended the M&G! Yes, all those that attended, those that wanted to go but couldn't due to other commitments and all those Ausfisher out there who have read these reports and wished they could have been there. Thank you guys and girls! You are the people who make Ausfish the great place it is!!
Until next time ..... Black Magic Out.
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Soembody's got to work.
, for those interested our stats for the trip were friday after a late start 3.2.2 blacks and a 15kg cabia , saturday 21.15.10 black marlin and a 10kg dollie and a sailfish . sunday morning 6.3.3 black marlin and 1 sailfish what a trip .
Originally Posted by Humdinger
