Whale Riding

[Scallywag]

This is my first season of fishing offshore out of Mooloolaba. I mainly fish the close reefs i.e. Murphy's by myself. Because it is my first season I have had no experience with whales. Are the whales a risk. Is there any risk that you can hit them when travelling, especially when travelling in the dark?

[jeffo]

the whales are definately there... just gotta be carefull and you will be fine.

[basserman]

not too much of a chance of hitting them while moveing as they are pretty good with the noise of a outboard inboard however there is a risk that one my hit you while siting under anchor all quite like
but even this is rare

[agnes_jack]

Worst thing I have heard of
was a bloke who had one hook his anchor line with its pectoral fin!!!
He apparently had to cut the rope quick smart.
Scary!!!!!

Regards, Tony

[mal-laurie]

came with in 5m of running one over last season i just came up in front of me between the 2m swell nealy s#^t my self. always on the lookout now as there seems to be a lot more about.

may need to cull if the population gets much bigger.
just joking about the culling,they are the most amazing creachers i have ever seen.
cheers mal

[devocean]

Scallywag if you do hit one I know a nation that you can sell it to

[Bearded_Clam]

only a problem if they hit your live bait rig

[Angla]

I've heard the story about the one that got an anchor rope. Best not to anchor when the are actively close. Believe you also have to stop if they come within 150 metres
of you when travelling.

What is the best way to fillet them if you do get one boated accidentally? Not

More of them this year, 8% aparrently

Angla

[Angla]

Looking forward to an eye ball session with one as I think they are just stunning

Angla

[Angla]

Probably S&^t my pants when that happens too

Angla

[SeaSaw]

I have had one hit my anchor rope when anchored up at sunshine reef off Noosa. It bounced the boat around a bit but didn't actually hook up on the rope, so wasn't a real drama ..... except for the brown stain in my dacks

Have also had them swim straight under the boat, which is a real worry ??? Being in a small boat (6.8m) you realise how insignificant you are when they are just underneath you.

Mark

[Pwoida]

Didn't someone hit a whale off Byron a couple of days ago? I thought I heard something in the news?

[redlipper]

We were travelling at an easy 20 knots and happened on a pod of whales as they were surfacing...this is a true story and my gelcoat still shows the scratches from the barnacles.

We had scuba tanks on board tied upright to to the sides and unfortunately were travelling in exactly the same direction as the whales.

Maybe whales dont hear as well from behind.
We were suddenly lifted up and tossed backwards [the whole boat..1.5 ton of 6 metre Cruisecraft]

We had run up the back of a large humpback as it was surfacing, and the whales reaction from our numerous discussions of the event was to try and get rid of the annoying thing running up its back.

All I remember is us being flung up in the air, like hitting a big wave and the boat landing ass first and what really panicked us was 2 of the scuba tanks breaking loose and smashing the top valves and spinning around with a loud hissing noise in the bottom of a boat full of water.

When we realised we were still afloat and hitting twin bilge pumps to clear a foot of water we realised what had happened when another whale blew near us.

The gelcoat scars from the barnacles are our legacy and yes I am bloody lucky we landed hull first and not upside down.

[redlipper]

Pwoida..is that a Reef Ranger in your ID pic or a Savage ??

[Pwoida]

Redlipper, Its a Sportsman Craft. I've had others think its a Bertram, Cruisecraft, Pride, Savage, and now Reef Ranger. Me thinks there was a universal mould made at some stage that a few companies put their badge on.