Broadwater Soft Plastics

[trolz]

Went on a houseboat holiday last week in the Broadwater. Unfortunately probably not the best time to be out on the water, in a houseboat with 40 knot winds.

We anchored up in Tipplers Passage to try and get some relief from the wind. Earlier in the week conditions were quite good and I manged to raise more than 40 bream, trevally and some fingermark on my trusty old soft plastics. Even managed to snare a couple of baby threadfin salmon.

Highlight of the trip was catching a 3ft plus stingray on a Berkley 3" minnow on my ultralight bream gear on 4lb Fireline with 4lb Vanish Transitions trace. It was the first time on the trip that I'd used a softy at night. First cast, second twitch and I was hooked up. About 15 mins in, I looked down at my little Pfluger reel and the Fireline was gone and I was into the 4lb mono backing. The ray continued to strip line from the reel until I saw the knot attaching the mono to the spool. As if by a miracle the ray turned and I was able to regain valuable line. As I slowly managed to put more line onto the reel, my partner handed me the landing net. I looked at her in disbelief. There was no way a stingray that BIG was going to fit into my little landing net. I coaxed him up to the marlin board on the houseboat. He sat there for about 5 seconds with his massive flaps undulating until he dove straight under the boat. Not wanting to risk snapping my new rod I whipped out my braid scissors and cut the line. Although it was only a ray, it was certainly a good test of my tackle and my knots. I was one very proud fisherman.

[Lone_Wolf]

Trolz,

Great story mate, you got a good feed at least. Interested in what it's like on a houseboat in 40+ knot winds as I am having a holiday on one later this year.

[turley]

Sounds like you had a pritty good tip, pitty about the weather that came through for you though! Plastics at night I think is a HUGELY under utilised technique, especially fishing in busy water such as the gold coast. They still feel and smell the same and even with a seemingly actionless SP like a bass minnow, the fish still pick them up with gusto! It's always a bit scary when you see the line disappearing on a little bream outfit as you realise there is nothing you can do but hope that the fish decides to turn around!

[jackash]

Awesome stuff. You know your doing well when u land something big and powerful on the light gear. 40 bream and trevally... top trip!!!
Cheers
JAckash

[john_steward]

sounds like a good trip, must have been a bit of an experience in a house boat in that weather. sounds like you got some quailty fishing time in between