"Dingoes" and "Great Whites" o

[craigie]

Well our much awaited "warm-up" trip to 1770 prior to next years M & G, has come and gone

As the title above suggest, the local wildlife left a marked impression and provide the highlights from the trip.
Thought I was back on Fraser Island for a while there as the odd Dingo wandered around the place, even met up with a very talented dingo by the name of "Ernie", he walked very tall and spoke a very cheeky brand of English !!
If you hadn't guessed it was Ernie Dingo from channel 7's "Getaway" program doing a story on the place. Ran into him a couple of times, overheard him in the Agnes Newsagent asking if it was a "one stubby trip from there to the tavern"

Apart from Ernie, the other big highlight was the Great White Shark that swam up to meet us out near Fitzroy Reef.
It was a big arse shark of 5m +, we actually thought it was a whale shark at first glance. It had the girth of a small car and an extensive entourage of Sucker fish. As it got closer there was no doubting it's real identity, it was a 100% "Man Eater" !!!

The week we were in 1770 was infested with windy weather. It blew 20 -25knots North East, then swung around to blow the same strength from the South East.

We had one small window of opportunity mid week when things calmed off, so we did a mad dash for the shoals out near Fitzroy Reef. As it turned out it was a magic day and we stitched up a feed of mixed reefies to top it off. Mainly Husser, but a few Red Throat and Parrot and a Red Emperor. Undersize Reds were there in big numbers. Must have thrown back a dozen between 45 and 53cm.
The guys jumped over for a snorkel in the shallows beside the lagoon and were rewarded with a beautiful Crayfish. Bloody good chewing on the B-B-Q a couple of days later .

Tony (Agnes Jack) was kind enough to give us a few tips and locations to help us find a few fish which was most welcome, Thanks Tony

Even with the slop being whipped up by the strong winds, we were still able to sneek out through the bar to cast and troll lures around the rocky headland in front of 1770.
Mack Tuna were thick as flees on a dog and the "Lucky-Phill Mackmauller Slug" just brained them. You could catch as many as you wanted (didn't want too many) and ranged in size from 3 - 6 kg's, great fun on light spin gear !!!

Also landed a few Doggie Macks and Phil got one lone spotty on the troll. Spaniards were in the area as a local had got a couple off the rocks one morning while we were trolling, but we were not so fortunate.

Regardless of the weather it was still a great trip and gave us a taste of what to expect for the upcoming m&g.

Special thanks again to Tony for his directions and advice, and to the bugman for a couple of handy GPS Marks.

Cheers
Craig.

[craigie]

Phil and Spotty

[craigie]

Danny with one of the many "Torpedos" that ate the "Lucky-Phill specials"

[craigie]

Red Emperor, How good do they look !!!

[mini696]

Sounds like an awesome trip. Cant wait until Feb.

[spaniard]

Good work lads.
you may not have had much time fishin but as long as you have fun.

Just wondered if earnie was wearing shoes?
I seen him at a cricket match at the gabba out beneath the stands, beer in one hand smoke in the other, dress shirt and pants and no bloody shoes.

[mackmauler]

Craig, about time we heard from you, thought you had stowed away in tonys shed lol, to bad with the weather, but a few options that produced, one of the good things up there.

The big shark sounds exciting, how close did it come, always wanted to see a big white, plenty of giant tigers around, howd you make the ID anyway. and did you keep fishn

cheers Rob

[agnes_jack]

Sounds like you had a good time Craigie, Weather considered
I'm going to chase the pelagics in the morning, The weather hasn't improved all that much since you were here, we'll see how we go.

Good to meet you guys, Regards, Tony

[dfox]

Good report!! Awsome animal those whites, keep swimming around in your seal suit rob and ya may see one reel close mate. lol. Water looks great in the back ground !
Robs slugs strike again!! ...foxy

[craigie]

Spaniard,

Ernie was without doubt "Shoeless", it was the second thing I noticed about him after his height, shit he's tall !!

Rob,

Was waiting to get the photos back before posting, still in the stoneage without a digi.
Yep mate, lots of options up there. We fished the sunken trawler for a brief session one night. The "Trevors" were thick and quality fighters. Did a couple of quick drifts for 3, 4kg Trevs, 2 Grunter Bream and one Moses. The sounder was smothered in fish, it was amazing.

Oh the shark, spine tingling stuff see that monster appear behind the boat. At first we were thinking " Big Tiger", but the Pointy head and lack of stripes soon ruled that out.
The size of this thing was just awesome and without a photo my description will never do it justice. Just picture a gantry with a world record White hanging off it and you will get some perspective on this thing.
I fully expected it to hang around the boat a bit longer and didn't rush for the camera straight away.
It came within 20 feet of the transom and was just waiting for it to do a bit of paint stripping on the leg of the big Yammie.
The water was crystal clear (refer to photo of the Red Emperor as it was around this time that it all happened) with excellent Vis, also saw a free swimming Billy earlier that morning in the same area
At the exact moment when the shark arrived we had two fish hooked up down on the bottom. No boubt they would have emptied there gutz when the "Piscatorial Submarine" swam over their heads. Luckily they came up unmolestered, although we did wait till the shark had moved away a bit.

Tony,

Great to meet up with you mate, thanks again for the Tinnie offer, I was a bit concerned about doing your prop on a rock bar
Bring on the M & G !!!

Cheers
Craig.

[Sportfish_5]

Nice one Craig #

Anyone still going underwater to get a feed of crays up there #

You gettin some work done to the cyclone at Brendale by Justin #


Cheers

Greg

[bugman]

Greg,

They won't hurt you - just pat them on the head and send them off in the other direction

[mini696]

I am hoping to go over the side when I'm up there. Even if I dont catch any crays.

[Mick]

I'll jump over with ya mini! But who's going to look out for anti spearo rock throwers? Don't forget your sling shot!
Is there an invitation to the meet and greet or is it just a turn up thing and when is it happenning?

[mackmauler]

Mick, look here.

http://www.ausfish.com.au/cgi-ausfis...1036;start=0#0