Christmas at Turkey Beach

[perko]

Just got back from 10 days at Turkey. Towed the sailfish up there and got some good weather to use it. Christmas day we headed out to the wreck of the Nautilis. First few cast with 60gr raiders were biten on the drop by trevally. Landed giants, tea leaf and bludgers up to 20lb. Got sick of the hard work so we started fishing higher up the water column and got plenty of spanish. Some on raiders, some on floating pillies. We got our bag limit easily so we headed out to the shoals for some reef fishing. We were flying blind without to many marks so we stoppped and dropped on any shows on sounder. We got some nice trout, a couple of red throat and plenty of parrott. Top start to the holiday.
Boxing day I took a couple of inlaws out to the wreck, but an unexpected southerly about 20 knots blew up. Fish turned off with the change and only managed a few trevors and 2 spaniards.
Monday we were back out to the shoals area and we sifted through the iodine bream for an average catch of red throat, hussar, parrott and one lonely trout. Fuel pump died on the right motor 30 mile from the ramp so we had to pump the primer bulb up every 10 seconds to get home.
Hit the wreck again Tuesday in the 4.55 poly and had a ball on trevally and a few spaniards. Got blown away a couple of times by unstoppables. Got some tuna on the way home for bait for the next reef trip. Top day in the small boat.
Wind blew until sunday which gave us time to get a fuel pump organised. Sunday we headed wide to a couple of trawler hookup marks that have produced in the past. Fish bit consistently all day with a hot bite around high tide in the middle of the day. Ended up with a top catch of trout, redthroat, hussar, moses perch, spanish flag, parrot, mario cod, mackeral and one yellowfin that ended up the hot bait. Got blown away by big trout on the floaters regularly, and had a school of big spainards at the back of the boat biting us off on our mono leaders. Top trip home with glassy seas.
Spent Monday cleaning fish and the boat and headed for home with the terrible thoughts of work Tuesday. Can't wait to get back up there.

Dad with a couple of trout.

[perko]

Brother in law with his first decent fish ever.

[perko]

Myself with a trout

[perko]

and another

[philip_thomson]

sounds like an awesome trip with plenty of quality fish and variety. there are some good photos there. Turkey Beach sounds like an awesome place to visit

cheers phil

[vertico]

nice fish good work!

[Smithy]

So some of those marks were OK or did you fish the spot from last time? What sort of stuff? Little Pinnacles or big bits of reef? Any size to the Spanish? There will be a little bit of reading for you to do on Ausfish to catch up on what everyone has caught. Reef and Pelagics going nuts and all over the place. Have to start taking the computer up with you.

[bugman]

Perko,

How far is the run out to the reef there at Turkey Beach. Always driven past it heading north but have been turned off by a few reports of below average fishing. My guess is those reports have been more in the creek and surrounds.

Regards

Bugman

[perko]

Smithy, we fished the same hookup mark that we did well on last year. Checked a few of the other ones but wern't as good. Got a few more local contacts this trip and a some more marks that produced a few fish. The spanish were only up to 10kg, but we didn't target any big ones.
Bugman, the reefs start at around 20 mile out from the tip of rods peninsula, with the islands around a 40 mile run. We are fishing most areas that 1770 guys fish. The creeks can be a bit quiet for the average fisho, but the locals still do well. But the reefs fish very well and hold a huge variety. Tony.

[predator]

ahhhhhh......

Thats good news - cause I will be up at Turkey in 2 weeks!!!





Great conditions and some Nice fish!

[windancer]

Top trout cant waite to get up that way again
Regards David.

[Lucky_Phill]

Yes Perko, bloody nice Trout, and ya wouldn't want much bigger anyway.

The Shoals are a funny place eh ? Those Red Throats can be in plague proportions sometimes, and ya just can't get away from them, but, jeez they are good chewing, especially round the 2-3kg mark.

People told me before I went up that way that the mozzies and sandies would carry me away, but I never had any trouble, but that was at Easter, how did you fair with those critters ?

I also stayed at the Blydes, in their air/con units !

Cheers Phill

[perko]

Phil, the sandies were pretty thick when the wind wasn't blowing, but that was when we were outside fishing. Our house is up pretty high and is one of the better spots. The bities keep the crowds away as does the dirt road in. But the peace and quiet suits me just fine. Tony.

[craigie]

G'day Perko,

Good to see Turkey and the Shoals turn it on for you 8)

Got a report from a friend (Turkey Beach Resident) who did two trips to the "Rock Cods" over Christmas and cleaned up !!
Plenty of Red Throat, Parrot, and some Quality Coral Trout, sounds like similar results to yourself. Mud Crabs were in good supply by all reports.

I've got a few GPS marks for the close rocks and reefs out from Turkey, as well as a wreck about 10 mile out (I think it's the one that appears on the charts), would it be the one that you pulled the Spaniards off ??

Did you go down to the huge New Years party down the front, crowd was around 500 !!

I'm heading for Turkey for 5 days leading up to Australia Day, as well as a week over Easter. Will be looking out for the "Sailfish" and the "Polly"

Regards
Craig.S.

[perko]

Craig, the mark you have for the wreck would be the same one I fish. I go there a fair bit in the poly and have some top days. Didn't make the new years party as we were keen to make the most of the good weather on New Years day. Doesn't look like we will going up there this Australia Day but we will be there for Easter. Don't know were they were getting muddies over Christmas as we struggled to get any. Bring on Easter. Tony