forgot to mention one of the tiinies was swammped on a high tide we where able to save the boat drag it up & remove the sand in the morning but it was one of the highlights of the trip, the motor went third pull after the cleanup
when 17th - 24th July
where North West Island
10 blokes
50ft charter boat
3 centre consoles in tow
We left the boat harbour at Hervey Bay at 5am in high spirits although the weather forecast was not looking good. With beer in hand all day it was quite an enjoyable trip, with the bad weather looming a fish at Fitzroy was ruled out & straight to North West was the call by the Skipper. Arriving there about 10pm approximately (i'm not sure i was well & truly commatised by then). Monday Morning saw us unloading the ship into the tinnies ferrying it ashore & setting up our camp, this took until 12.30pm. We then got on the charter boat & went to a spot nw of the island we caught plenty of hussar, red throat, maori cod, & a good 5kg trout. The Skipper pulled the pin after an hour or so saying it was impossible to hold on the spot cause of the run nearing full moon.
Tuesday The wind pushed well above 30kn we fished around the island in the tinnies for little result red throat, parrot, baldy bream & hussar.
Wednesday we went for the charter boat as the conditions where still worsening, we where limited to the shelter of the island the swells outside of that where at least 2m, same catch as the day before.
Thursday & Friday where spent at camp playing golf & drinking, walked around the islnad also when on the exposed side it was a struggle to stand. Saturday saw us pack up & steaming of by 10am.
The main worry was towing the tinnies back with the swell being up i'd say to 3.5 metres. With the tinnies taking spray often the call was made to go into 1770 & get people to pick us up & the tinnies reaching there at about 8pm slow trip >.
the charter boat didn't get to Hervey Bay until 6pm Sunday night i'm glad we were of the boat.
also on the island was a year 11 marine biology class & 2 other small camps they where to be picked up saturday but i am sure the barge would have been cancelled.
will post pick later, only 1 fish pick of the trout was waiting for some good fish we never got them
i'm already thinking about going again.
kleiny
forgot to mention one of the tiinies was swammped on a high tide we where able to save the boat drag it up & remove the sand in the morning but it was one of the highlights of the trip, the motor went third pull after the cleanup
one of the boats was a poly
what it was like most of the time.
Certainly looks pretty wild and wooly out there. Bad luck with the weather.
Tough trip Kleiny, better luck next time hey
Garry
Garry
Retired Honda Master Tech
thanks guys been kicking myself since i got back the weathers been perfect. always the way
kleiny
Kleiny looks familiar >
I'm also planning a return trip, weather can't always be crap ???
Steve
I think there's a curse on Ausfish members visiting that place.
I'm guessing you didn't get to hit any of the good northern marks Tim. Shame cause there is plenty of fish there.
You guys may have even had it worse than us.
Bloody Central Queensland
Bugman
Kleiny, bugger about the weather.
Mate, a little thought for you to ponder before you plan another expensive trip. I learnt a long time ago NEVER EVER EVER arrange a big trip like that around a full or new moon, I have been fishing for the last 34 years and from keeping a fishing diary since 1986 I have learnt that the weather patterns at that time of the month are way too unstable and unpredictable to take a chance on, if your proposed fishing destination is local and you can go at the drop of a hat then fantastic, but if it is a planned trip then chances are the weather will be s**t.
You would be better off organising the next planned expensive trip around the quarters of the moon where historically the weather patterns are much more fisherman friendly.
Just a thought
thanks liltuffy the skipper of the charter boat more or less said the same thing. but nothing was said prior to the trip only whilst on it. at least i know for next time.
cheers kleiny