Subject: fishing today -- 23Oct09
Date: Friday, 23 October 2009 3:01 PM
A few newbies today. In addition to Jaro and me, we had Alex Terrill, a uni student from Brisbane who'd got in touch with me through AKFF, and Tewantin yakkers Roger Hunt and Brian Gram, recent additions to NY.
The meeting time was 0445. I was ten minutes early but was shocked to find that I was last there and that Alex had already snaffled my favourite parking spot. The Tewantin guys had a huge operation going with their two big yaks on Brian's car, and two yak trolleys (made from a total of three SupaCheap Auto red steel trolleys) which had somehow fitted into the car. I was ready to go in a few minutes and headed down to the beach to await the arrival of the others as I wanted to make sure that they had a good start by not getting clobbered on their launch.
As I didn't know how much launch experience there was among the three newbies I asked Jaro if he'd demonstrate the recommended launch path and procedures while I stood on the beach explaining Jaro's actions to the three "students". There was a small wave running but nothing dangerous but nevertheless I could feel a bit of tension building in the trio as they watched Jaro's demonstration of a perfect launch. Then off they went to do it themselves, one at a time, with me last.
0513hrs. Alex, by far the yougest of the group at 21 tender years, crashes out through the break.
I watched the last of the trio, Roger, safely cross the break then launched and got comprehensively wet, with the chest cam running and mouth closed...
Splat at dawn! Just as well the water's warm! (Still from video)
So there we were, all safely out the back. Before long we were all headed toward our intended destination, Sunshine Reef. Jaro had got away first, shepherding Brian and Roger, while Alex and I hung back a bit as we weren't quite ready. Quite soon Jaro came up on the radio announcing that his trolled lure had been taken by a small pelagic. He described it to me and I though it most likely to be a leaping bonito. Barely had I started trolling when my lure was grabbed too. I reeled in a small school (or doggie) mackerel and released it. Probably this was what Jaro had caught and probably there will be some bigger specimens around soon (legal length: 50cm, bag limit: 10).
A current running from west to east aided our transit to the reef with the result that we were in our fishing location before 0630. All of us had opted to drift across the reef fishing with baits or soft plastics. Pretty soon I discovered that we were moving pretty quickly in the current but a lack of wind made this OK except that the current was taking us south and thus further away from our launch point. In the next couple of hours, these were the highlights:
>>Alex was first on the board with a very fine sweetlip;
>>Brian capsized his yak in the joggly conditions, did a fine job of getting back in very quickly (helped by mental images of sharks cruising below) but lost one rod/reel combo which was not tethered and was lucky to retain a second which became hooked onto the yak
>>Jaro caught a very nice snapper
>>Alex scored another sweetlip, then a snapper
>>Roger started to become seasick (very joggly out there today)
0830 hrs. Roger cruises past, Sunshine Beach in the background.
We saw no whales during this time and, having decided that we'd leave for home around 0900, we started to paddle off just as Jaro caught (and released) a small shark. On the way back, just over the shallow banks north of Hells Gates I saw a cobia eat a small baitfish which was vainly trying to escape by leaping out of the water. And then, paddling along with Alex, he spotted something floating in the bay. I paddled over to take a look and discovered that it was a sea snake, apparently dead. A prod with the paddle soon brought it back to life and for a while it swam along just under my drifting yak.
0952hrs. Sea snake in Laguna Bay.
Just after this Jaro reported that he'd hooked another school mackerel, but released it as undersized and so we hove to off the beach to perform our pre-landing preparations.
1011hrs. Kneeling Alex takes care to stow his fishing gear inside his Kingfisher, just in case... Very wise
Jaro went first, no problem, then I, then Alex. Whalebait and turtleboy met us on the beach (but didn't bring morning tea!!) as Jaro and Alex pulled out their fish in preparation for measure mat photos.
Brian and Roger had been leisurely in their return from the reef. Now they arrived off the beach. Brian came in first and encountered a small wave right at the end of his run through the surf zone.
Brian about to take out the rock wall with his polyethylene boat. He staggered away with dignity mostly intact. (Still from video).
The fish on the measure mat...
Jaro's snapper, taken on pilchard. 64cm.
Alex's nice bag: 2x47cm grass sweetlip, 1x43cm snapper. His best ever yak catch.
Then Roger came in, doing a fine job in the tiny but potentially tricky shore break...
Roger hits the beach, very glad to be back at the end of an approximately 14km ocean paddle. (Still from video).
VIDEO
We had a bit of fun at Middle Groyne yesterday (23Oct) and today (24Oct). Short video has just been created and posted. Warning: Some embarassment involved. And yes, Tewantin twins, you're both in it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2PXJTAXK4s
There followed much enjoyable discussion on the beach among the four veteran and three new members of Noosa Yakkers -- one of the great aspects of our pastime.
During the washup I couldn't help but take a photo of Brian's 4-wheeled yak trolley...
Resembles one of those medieval battering rams, doesn't it? Innovation has always been a strong point of kayak owners...
An enjoyable day for me, even though I caught nothing of significance (1xundersized maori cod, and 1 bite-off which cost me a jig head and SP). Hope to see you again soon, Roger, Brian, and Alex. Don't fret, it gradually gets easier on the body.
Good luck to those going tomorrow -- I think I need a break (but I may come down to the beach for your return, whalebait)
Kev
Red & Yellow Espri, black paddle
VHF channel 09 or 22 (if alone), Call Sign: sunshiner
http://noosayakers.blogspot.com
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