CQ Christmas

[Custaro]

Home to Rocky for Christmas with the family and what a bloody stinker. When will these Northerlies bugger off? My wish was to get out fishing around the Keppel’s in the time I was there and luckily it came true. I did give the Fitzroy a bash while there. Took some crab pots, cast net and a few rods down to Nerimbera to brave the midday heat and fish the bottom of the tide on Monday. Unfortunately…for the fishing at the moment at least, the barrage gates have been open and water tasted very fresh. No harm in trying though. So nothing to report from there. Signs are looking good for a bumper new year.

Tuesday morning and after a dreaded Northerly howling when we hit the sack we were given a window of opportunity to hit the bay. Left Rosslyn Bay at 4:30am and headed into a solid northerly swell to Findlay’s. Second cast with my new TSS4 (thanks Santa I was hooked up to a good fish. A nice 8kg Grey Mack was soon on deck. With dad sorting him out, I wasn’t waiting and another cast and another hookup, this time a small doggie. Things were looking good! However, many more casts and we couldn’t temp another fish. The top of the tide seemed to turn them off and surface activity was almost non existent for that are this time of year.

The swell had dropped out enough to make a comfy ride over to Conical. First cast over there, I boated another small doggie. I was also giving my Dad, Brother-in-law and missus the sh!ts with hooking all the fish. I kept telling them to wind faster!! A few more casts and my lure was yet again smashed with something a little better, a small Spanish mackerel only a few cm’s short of legal. After that I was going for the royal flush with the mackerel species. Still yet to be done.

With the fish not touching lures or drifted pillies, Dad put the diving gear on and jumped over to see what was happening under all the bait. There was no offer for me to go in as I didn’t have my gear there and he wasn’t going to give me any opportunity to let me extend the lead. Before he had his gun loaded two big greys cruised straight under him. It wasn’t long before he spotted some more and was diving down. Miss. Another go…pulled fish. Another go...miss. Another go…couldn’t get close. He kept at it though and still no offer for me to have a go. I told him he needs to start wearing contacts or get a prescription mask. Back to the boat when the water vis had dropped and the greys were well and truly spooked. Off to another bommie that usually holds good bait and the grey mackerel. We got there and the water vis was still good but no sign of baitfish and looking very lifeless. I was then offered a loan of his dive gear to go check it out. On a spec dive off a deeper edge I spotted a good size doggie cruising in the distance. My shot was pretty crappy and hit him half way back. Back out and I found a large school of bait which I hung off. A Spanish cruised passed and looked borderline for size so I let him keep going on his way. On return to surface a good size grey was came under me from behind and I was able to grab quick breath and dive back down and he turned straight away and left me a tail to shoot at, a quick look to the right and three of his mates were flanking me. I hit one in the side but not a good shot and he was tearing off into the deep. I got him back to the boat where Dad was having a power nap. Didn’t take him long to spring back to life and I couldn’t be a prick and not let him have his gear back. After telling him where the bait was holding he was soon into action with a couple more misses and eventually he brought one back to the boat. Both were around the 8kg mark.

The bait and grey mackerel should hang around up there till Easter so hopefully a few road trips with the dive gear should see some full ice boxes.

Also my younger sister Sam wasn’t able to get home for Christmas as she is now settled happily in Vanuatu. Missed ya heaps Sam. She didn’t miss out on the fishing and her Christmas wish was a blue marlin. Her first day off on Christmas eve, she was out chasing them and landed one going 19kg on 15kg line.

Happy New Year to everyone,

Clayton

[Custaro]

1st Grey Mackeral for day on 40g Knight slug.

[Custaro]

Doggie on spear. My 1st speared fish for long 18mths.

[Custaro]

Grey Mackeral on spear. Looking at the lean on the boat I need to get back on the bike and work off more than just Christmas dinner!

[Custaro]

Dad finally gets one.

[Custaro]

The days catch in the snap. A tray of fillets and the two speared Greys. Bugger..and I just remembered the container of marinating fillets that were supposed to go in the smoker for an early dinner before flying home tonight. I'm sure someone will be having a nice lunch tomorrow

[Custaro]

Sam's Blue Marlin from Vanuatu.

[Needmorerum]

Good report there Clayton. Turned out to be a nice day out by the looks of it. Always keep telling myself I gotta get up to the Keppels area again. Don't do enough running around up there.
Also keep telling myself I should go over the side and go for a swim. Every time I nearly talk my way into it, something happens and I see a big shark or something. One day I'll take the plunge.

Well Done,

Cheers
Corry

[juicyfruit]

Your 1st Grey Mackeral for day is a nice looking fish.

The look in your and your dad's eyes says it all.

Juicy

[CQ_Fisher]

Hey Vic, how you been mate? My efforts over Christmas were pretty piss weak, i got down to my uncles hut at Coorooman Creek for 2 days before Christmas and came home empty handed. I had good intentions to get out for a fish at other times but when left with the choice of sitting in the sun in Rocky's heat or staying at the in-laws fully airconditioned house and drinking piss all day i chose the latter I gotta get my priorities right.

Drewy

[Needmorerum]

Gees JD, that wouldn't be like you would it. At least your fishing efforts for the holidays were the same as mine. And here I was thinking that you were a good luck charm.
Wish the family well for the NY for me, talk to you soon.

Corry

[Custaro]

Yeah been good Drewy! It is hard to get motivated in that heat. I don't get up there enough these days so I'm like a bull at a gate ready to go. You boys should get up there though. Those Grey's are THICK!! Dad got back out last Thursday and got 4 with spear. PM for some marks if your going to do a trip.