From: sunshiner
Date: 21/12/2010 11:42 AM
Weather
Cloud cover:, light cloud in the east and north
Wind direction & speed: calm initially, SE to 10 knots later
Sea state: almost no swell
If applicable (often at NSR): current direction & speed: 1.5kph upper layer current from SW to NE
Moonrise/set: full moon -- setting at sunrise
Participants: jaro, dugout, doctor dog, sunshiner
04:34. That's the lights of a trawler on the horizon
As you can see, launch was as easy as it gets. I paddled out first to encounter dugout waiting off the groyne -- he'd launched in his usual spot in the SE corner of the Bay. We three agreed that Jew Shoal was a suitable destination and set off in perfect conditions, although it was more like winter with an unusually low air temperature.
04:46. Dugout, left, and jaro about to set off for Jew Shoal.
Other than a few dolphin sightings, there was nothing of note visible or action-wise until we got to the Jew Shoal vicinity where there were several large patches of feeding mac tuna, accompanied by terns.
05:27. This was one such mac tuna patch of several which I trolled around, hoping that perhaps a spotty or Spaniard might be present.
Jaro opted to drift fish while dugout and I trolled for a while. Jaro reported a bit of action on bait and also a strong current. Once I tired of trolling I decided to try a bit of drift and SP fishing. The current was noteworthy. The drogue was hanging limply in the water -- no breeze. Nevertheless, my SP jig was being left behind by the movement of the yak. Checking my GPS I noted that we were travelling steadily at around 1.5kph in a NE direction. The water was the colour and opacity of thin pea soup. Usually if a current extends from surface to bottom in the water layer the jighead will act as if there is no current, as it and the kayak are being carried along at the same speed and in the same direction. The simplest explanation for today's phenomenon was that either there was a counter current at depth or that the current which was carrying the yak along was acting only in the upper layer. It's possible and plausible that this was also the reason why the water at the surface was murky -- it was probably less dense brackish water which had been discharged from the somewhat heavily-flushed Noosa River.
Anyway whatever the reason it was difficult to drift fish, with my quarter-ounce jig spending only a brief time in the deepest and possibly clearest water before it was swept back up toward the surface. A big old turtle allowed me to get close enough to take a pic.
05:37. Turtle with Mt Cooroy in background.
Doctor dog called up and asked where we were and indicated he was heading out to join us. By now jaro was happily reporting that he'd bagged a couple of nice sweetlip using bait and had returned two or three small but legal snapper to the deep. As there were still a few terns visible flocking in the distance I decided to return to trolling, especially as a SE breeze started to spring up. Dugout and I headed back toward shore where we soon encountered doctor dog out for his morning exercise. The breeze continued to strengthen so I headed back to Middle Groyne where I had the easiest of beach landings in a freshening and cool, no, cold, offshore breeze.
As far as I'm aware only jaro brought fish home but my 13km paddle and drift was great exercise in a superb setting. Jaro, please let us know your final result and dugout and doc dog please add observations/comments as appropriate. Looks like rain and easterly winds threatening (AGAIN!) for the next few days.
Have a great Christmas Noosa Yakkers and we'll see you on the water soon.
Kev
Red & white Stealth Supalite, black paddle
VHF channel 09 or 22 (if alone), Call Sign: sunshiner
http://www.noosayakkers.blogspot.com/
From jaro
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Hi Yakkers,
Not much to add to Kev's report except a photo of the two sweetlip I caught. One was 47cm and the other 40cm. I arrived back at MG at 10.30 after a very hard slog against the wind for about 1.25 hours. Very good exercise!!!
Cheers
Jaro
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From Ian
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I clicked the wrong button, sorry.
Ian
call sign;eye tag
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