From: sunshiner
Date: 18/06/2010 4:27 PM
Weather
Cloud cover: 5/10
Wind direction & speed: light and variable,
Sea state: 1.5m swell from ENE
If applicable (often at NSR): no current discernible
After Jaro's amazing catch yesterday it just HAD to be on again today, especially as the wind was forecast to be even lighter, then start howling over the weekend thus closing out fishing opportunities. And so it was that Jaro and I were groping sleepily around in the MG carpark in the pre-dawn gloom this morning. Our customary check of the surf break before committing resulted in a thumbs up so we were clear to go. Even so, when it came to launch time l-o-o-n-g before the sun's leading edge had peeped over the horizon, care had to be taken as there were a few whoppers rolling through and it was dead low tide.
0615hrs -- our exact planned launch time. Jaro gets ready to board. Blurring caused by movement and low shutter speed due to low light levels.
We knew that Harry was a starter also but hadn't seen him before we left the carpark for the beach. Harry has a VHF radio as we have and can paddle faster than any of us (he's a world champ, apparently -- in the seniors division) so we knew he'd probably catch us up later. Jaro and I picked our way out through the break -- my heart rate went up considerably when I fancied I could see a big wave approaching and reacted accordingly, head down, arse tensed, arms flailing like the paddle wheel of a nuclear powered paddle steamer. We got through OK, both with just a little dampness around the testicles (caused by waves, not leaking urine, in my case at least).
We'd agreed that, because there were so many tiddlers at Jew Shoal yesterday, we'd make the greater effort and go for Sunshine Reef today. Besides, the weather was great and we had the time so why not. The sun's ascent through the horizon line saw us paddling past Nationals where we encountered a couple of yak fishers on a double Hobie, drifting near the shark net there, setting up their gear. They were youngsters not yet forty with eagerness written all over their faces so we stopped to offer them some local advice. They were headed for Jew Shoal, and yes, they knew where it was. I wondered if they'd possibly been to Davo's tackle shop yesterday arvo and seen the eye-catching blackboard with 'Jaro', 'Jew Shoal' and 'Spanish mackerel, 18kg' scrawled on it in Greg Lacey's neatest handwriting.
Around Boiling Pot we deployed our Halco Laser Pro lures, waiting this long to try to avoid the worthless grinners which bugger up your trolling by attacking anything moving while contributing neither sport nor food. Then shortly afterward Harry showed up, rapidly overtaking us. Jaro, still pumped up as a result of his capture yesterday, insisted on paddling alongside on my starboard side (my good ear) so that he could tell me again how good was yesterday's encounter with his huge Spaniard. Soon we were clearing Hells Gates and entering the open ocean, next stop New Caledonia. By now the gannets were out and hunting, sweeping low over the swells so that they appeared without warning like miniature cruise missiles, clearing us by only a couple of metres but fortunately not clever enough to drop some recycled fish on these interlopers (which is what I'd do if I were a gannet). Gannets cannot resist targetting shallow running lures as this is how they make their living (albeit with fish, not lures). Sure enough, one swept past me and I saw that it had registered some movement behind me (wonder what that could be?) and altered course to better intercept breakfast. Time to take evasive action. The gannet flared to gain some height and, rolling out of a tight turn to be precisely lined up on my lure, it started its dive. I saw it coming and had my hand on the trolling rod (I've done this before, guys). Just before impact I heaved on the rod, bringing the lure and attached %$#*^ grinner churning to the surface and leaving the now damp gannet with a puzzled look on its face and no brekky. The grinner, only about twice the size of the lure and not big enough to trigger the drag ratchet, was dead and probably had been there for 30 minutes or so.
So it was in good order that the three of us arrived, after about 50 minutes' paddling, at our chosen fishing area, the close-in mark which all who have been out there know quite well by now. The drift was minimal and ideal for getting light weights down the 30m or so to near the bottom where the snapper and the sweetlip roam (depending, of course, on numerous arcane conditions coming together).
Within 30 minutes I had the first fish of the day beside the yak -- a very nice sweetlip. I reached for the gaff to ensure its demise when, with a sudden surface flurry, it was gone, my hook and attached lure and line flicking across to the opposite side of the yak. Never mind, as Jaro said, it gave some hope that the fish might be present and even better, might be hungry, and, as Harry said, "That's fishin". Then followed a quiet period which terminated in a hit on my soft plastic when it was down near the bottom. This fish clearly had some weight although it didn't fight very vigorously. I played it carefully and was delighted when I saw that I'd caught a fish which is highly prized for its eating qualities and above the legal limit and so a keeper.
Pearl perch (Glaucosoma scapulare). Min size 35cm. Bag limit 5. Superb eating. This one 42cm long and taken on a soft plastic.
Just before this happened, I noticed another kayak fisherman arriving at our spot. This was soon revealed to be Mark (AKFF: redracingski), a visitor to Noosa from Sydney who had been in touch with me before his holiday up here and who had been receiving our emails over the last couple of weeks.
Mark, in his Stealth yak, equipped with downrigger which allows him to troll baits or lures at depth and almost directly under the yak. This configuration is useful in his Sydney environment where he and his mates target yellowtail kingfish. That's Harry on the right and Alexandria Bay/Noosa NP in the background.
By 1030, with little further action, we three Noosa Yakkers were on our way home. Mark had left in the general direction of Jew Shoal an hour earlier. But just as Harry and I departed, Harry paddled over to show me an unusual catch for this part of the world.
Squid (species unknown to me). Prime bait and excellent tucker. Whalebait, being a squid-o-phile may be interested in this.
We trolled back, uneventfully. At the beach, although there were some very large swells coming through, there were fairly long 'quiet' periods between these sets. The incoming tide had also provided more depth than earlier in the channel next to the groyne and so we all got in without drama.
The Pearl Perch on the measure mat. It will provide two excellent fillets for dinner tomorrow night -- a bit of a change from various mackerel species which have dominated our home menu over the last few months!
Thanks for coming along Jaro and Harry and Mark. Mark, please let us know how you went after you left us [see Mark’s email below] and be aware that you're welcome to paddle with us any time.
Kev
Red & Yellow Espri, black paddle
VHF channel 09 or 22 (if alone), Call Sign: sunshiner
http://www.noosayakkers.blogspot.com/
From Mark
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Kev, thanks again.
It was not for want of trying but I came up with a donut.
Went to Jew shoal and there were shitloads of fish and not just bait about 500m south but I could not hookup tried everything.
Anyway look forward to reading your reports.
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