Pedro's Pelagics: 20 May 2015

TR by Tunny

Trip date: 20 May 2015

Participants: Pedro, Eyetag, Sunshiner, Paddlepara, Diesel, Schiffer, Tunny

Launch Site:  MG

Conditions: Low tide 3h40, high tide 9h20.  Wind less than 5 knots variable, swell 1.4 m
Keen Angler Program: NA

Sunshiner, Diesel, Paddlepara, Schiffer and I arrived at the car park at around 5.20 am and were ready to launch by 5.45 am.  The beach lauch was a little tricky give the combination of a 1.4 metre swell and the tide being fairly low.  But despite getting a bit wet we all made it out through the surf break.  Once set up we heard that Pedro and Eyetag were out at Little Halls.  But with a few birds heading out towards Jew Shoal we opted to head there first.

There was almost no bird activity and we all arrived at Jew Shoal fishless.  Pedro then came on the radio to announce he had caught a good size Spaniard on a trolled live Yakka.  At Jew Shoal we trolled hard bodied lures and tried bottom bashing with little success.  Diesel hooked two Grinners and a baby Flathead while the rest of us listened on in envy as Pedro announced he had caught a Longtail, also on a live Yakka.

Diesel's Grinner

With no other action at Jew Shoal Sunshiner headed home early while the rest of us headed over to Granite Bay and the Headland where a few birds were working.  Sunshiner came in close to high tide with a successful beach landing (see below):

We spent about an hour trolling around Granite Bay and the Headland with no success.  The bird action was sporadic and the bust ups did not last long, but Schiffer did spot Longtails amongst the bust-ups.  By 9.30 am the birds had disappeared and we decided to head over to Little Halls as that was the only area delivering the pelagics.  We trolled there with nothing caught, spent about half an hour bottom bashing then decided to head home.  Paddlepara and I were the last to leave Little Halls and on arrival at the river mouth we caught up with Pedro who was heading slowly back trolling a live Yakka. As I got within 30 metres of him his reel started screaming and he was into a decent fish.  I captured some of the action:

Pedro fighting his third fish of the day

Gaffing the fish

Pedro with his Longtail

Pedro decided he had caught enough so was heading back to MG.  I had also planned to call it a day when Pedro offered me the last of his live Yakkas.  So I cut off the Halco 120 and replaced it with one of Pedro's circle hooks and his live Yakka.  I slowly trolled for the next hour without success.

The beach landing was very tricky as by now the tide was going out and the swell was still 1.4 metres. Diesel caught a perfect wave which he rode in all the way to the beach but Schiffer, Pedro and Paddleparra all got rolled.  Pedro was paddling in with the last fish he caught stowed on deck and on being rolled held onto the tuna which according to Diesel acted as a sea anchor to slow the Hobie.  Paddlepara had the worst fall, unfortunately dislocating his elbow.  A lifesaver bandaged his arm while the other Noosa Yakkers helped load his kayak and gear before he headed off to the A&E at Noosa Hospital.  I came in about an hour later, sat behind the back line waiting for a lull between sets.  But a big wave unexpectedly built up behind me.  I tried turning the kayak to go back out but was not quick enough so got rolled.  But I was lucky - no damage done.

Paddlepara - We hope the injury is not too serious, wish you a speedy recovery and hope to see you back on the kayak soon!

Pedro's Spaniard

Pedro's Longtail Tuna

One happy Yakker