Hi Everyone.
I thought Id let you know about our 2 weeks in Iluka. We had a great holiday, though not quite what we had anticipated.
Let me first say, i am aware that many of my fishing reports are a bit negative, its hard to put a good spin on not catching anything, but please dont think I moaning I will one day be beating the chest.
My holiday plans took an unexpected turn when my office manager went into labour a month early and delivered a healthy baby girl on january 1st.
Our plan was to be in Iluka on the 2nd. A quick scramble and plan B was devised and we departed on the 3rd.
On the 2nd, in the middle of arranging a contingency plan to keep the office running I got a call from Roz saying she had "just taken the turnoff to Iluka and what directions to our camp site?"
Sorry Roz!! I hope the rest of your trip wasn't mucked up.!
I went down stairs early morning on the third to hook up the trailer ( Id left myself two hours packing to do in one hour) & found the car wound'nt start. Flat Battery!!' Must have left an Interior light on while packing last night, BUGGER.
Went to the next door nieghbour for jumper-leads ( the jump starter battery pack was at the bottom of the trailer). Car starts , cant back up to the tow ball,I'd parked the trailer in a convenient covered possy for packing but cant get the car at the right angle to pull it out.
Tried to push the trailer out but one wheel is in a divot and the bloody thing wont move( Im feeling like one of the Keystone cops about now )
Spot the other next door nieghbour on his back verandah and he lends me a pound or two, we're hooked up.
Bit more packing and we are driving out the gate and the mobile rings. My brother down at Nobby's " Can I please drop off the camp stove he gave me as his son wants to go camping"
I dont need it so a detour is factored in.
Arrived at Iluka four hours later than planned and stopped at the office to sign in & pay. Returned to the car,
Car wont start!!!!
What The???? The battery proved to be dead as a doornail, hadnt charged in three hours driving
call NRMA , wait 1/2 hour to get going , drive 200 metres to our site and begin setting up camp, just as the thunder begins to roll ominously , lightning too.
Now this is where the holiday starts to get good!!!. Nieghbours on three sides rush to our assistance (6 in all) One of whom, has a business erecting commercial Marquees for wedddings and things. Up goes the tarp, up goes the tent (I go down in a screaming heap literally, when the floating piece of cartilage in my knee pops out the side of the knee joint when i squat down to drive in a peg). Down comes the rain and wind ... everything stays put,
no problem,,, out come the coldies" thanks guys Im Rob, Happy New Year!!!"
Well it rained and blew for another 10 days, Revs57 was going to catch up with me down at Minnie Water, but the weather defeated our plan.
Too much wind and sweep to fish the beaches, The seas were up so the rocks were too dangerous. so the breakwall was the only option.
Suffice to say I didnt do too well. Unlike last easter, there was no bait anywhere on the wall, and any one that I spoke to while fishing had little success, a lot of catfish and Rays seem to predominate.
I met a bloke at the camp groud from the Gold coast,(James) and we had a couple of good weather fishing days towards the end. James was prety good at his craft, and managed to hook three good sized school Jewies but he couldnt land them on light line in the rough water. he lost them all in the rocks.
So my plans for lots of fishing turned into, reading three books, playing 500, and just hanging out with the family . IT WAS GREAT!.
Number two daughter(5yrs) was persuaded to abandon her trainer wheels & is now gaining confidence and control,,, and ,lost her fear of waves and now has to be watched every second as she tests her new limits in the surf
We are booked in again at easter maybe thats when I'll catch a whopper.
The total for all my fishing effort was 2 dart, a gummy shark & an undersize cobia,(releasd) and one run(jewie) on a live dart but no hook up.
I hope you all had a nice christmas/ new year. Sorry to rabbit on so long.
See Ya
rando
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, but there is always next time. Weather can be unforgiving down there 
. I’m heading down for 4 days next week; hope we get better weather and same for the fishing. 
