Offshore Caloundra

[Herm]

Hi Guys

We are headed to Caloundra for the weekend, and with the way Seabreeze is looking 5-10 knots (it will probably change for the worse by then) , we thought maybe it was time to try going out to 3 Mile or 5 Mile.

As it will be our maiden voyage outside, any tips (or GPS marks I will keep them a secret You can PM me! would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers
Janine

[Poodroo]

Hi there Herm. I hope you and Peter have a great and successful time there. I can't help you with any GPS marks but I do know that my uncle fishes there regularly. You can PM me or Scalem for his contact details as I am sure he would not mind helping you out with locations although he may be a little protective over his GPS marks.

Poodroo

[Jeremy]

should be good numbers of school mackerel on the close reefs at present. You can slow troll pilchards or live baits for these, or fish live baits or pilchards in a burley trail at anchor.
Should also be plenty of grass sweetlip around as usual.

I will PM you my number as I don't have my marks on me at present if you want to call me.

Jeremy

[Jitlands]

From the "black bouy" off Caloundra sound towards Brays Reef, you should fine a ledge runing north south.

Once again, from the Black Bouy sound south and you should come across some gravelly rises, sweetlip early am.

Head south from the bar in the shipping channel and line up Gemini Towers on Mt Mellum, Sound on this line towards Bribie you should come across a 6m lift about one K off shore.
This is where the Anro Asia was parked years ago.
Squire, sweeties, tarwine, fish light

[Herm]

Thanks for your replies so far!

I do hope that we have some luck, but I don't want to get too excited like we were for our first trips to Mud that resulted in a very disapointing result

Cheers
Janine

[Big_Ren]

Hi Janine

I'm sure you and Peter will do well. As Jeremy said, there should be plenty of school macks around on the close reefs, we did well 3 weeks ago and probably will do the same this weekend. Slow trolled pillies or drifting is the go.

Are you putting in at Caloundra or Mooloolaba?

Cheers
Paul

[Herm]

Hi Big_Ren

Not so sure about this!

I'm sure you and Peter will do well.

We can only hope! Thanks for your positive thoughts!

Have fished the passage for 30 odd years and have been keen to get outside for a try and now we have a suitable boat!

Paul - where do you head out from? Because we are staying at Golden Beach, we are looking to head out over the Caloundra Bar - do you have any tips?

Thanks again
Janine

P.S. Have just had another look at Seabreeze and the forecast is getting worse See what happens when I try to "plan" a trip in advance!!!!

[Jeremy]

The Caloundra bar is not too bad as far as bar crossings go, but all bars can be dangerous and should always be treated with respect and caution. it is shallow and you can expect waves to break all the way across even in a small swell, so you will need to negotiate some white water.

Do you have much experience or training in crossing bars?

I haven't been out thru Caloundra since earlier this year, but the main channel has been close to the Bribie side for several years now. Make sure the track back functin on your GPS is turned on or take a couple of marks as you go out thru the bar so you can find the channel back in again.

Jeremy

[Big_Ren]

Hi Janine

Ditto to what Jeremy said.

We are only up the road from the Kawana ramp but I actually find the Coastguard ramp across the river at Mooloolaba to be much more user friendly.........plenty of car/trailer parking, right next to the Coastguard (good security ) and two well maintained ramps.

If you are not confident about the bar at Caloundra, it really is only 15 minutes up the road to the Kawana ramp....not much in the big scheme of things. The bar entrance to the Mooloolah River is usually trouble-free as it faces north in the lee of Point Cartwright and those south-east swells.

Occasionally, it can break across the entrance, either because of severe silting/shallowing because of a sand build up, or due to extremely unfavourable weather conditions. When this occurs, you will find most boats aren't going out anyway. The empty car park at the boat ramp will be the give away

That is rarely the case however and it is considered one of the safer "bar" entrances along the eastern seaboard, although every one of them needs to be treated with the utmost respect.

In the case of this "bar" though, there is an oft repeated saying: "If you can't go out of the Mooloolaba bar rowing backwards in a row boat, then don't go". It probably holds true

Cheers
Paul

[gunna]

I went for a walk down to the end of the Mooloolah wall yesterday arvo. Gee the winds and swell will want to come down a fair bit. It was very wild water outside.

[Foolish_Chicken]

Janine, sent pm once, possibly twice.

Mike

[Herm]

Thanks Mike!

If we get out, I will let know know how we go!

Cheers
Janine

[Great_White]

Thanks for the advice Jeremy

Peter

[Herm]

Bloody weather!!!

Janine

[Jeremy]

Peter and Janine,

I am looking at going up there the following weekend, probably Sat the 23rd. If you don't get out this weekend and are keen for the next, let me know and we might be able to hook up.

Jeremy