School Macks, Fish Heads and Sharks - 12Oct13

TR by Redwood

Participants: Redwood
Launch Site: MG
Destination: Little Halls
Conditions: Cloudy, light breeze, flat sea, mild current to the North

I arrived at MG car park just before 5am and after the email's from the previous evening it looked like I was on my own. The forecast looked pretty decent and the conditions didn't disappoint--they were almost perfect and the low swell allowed for a dry-bum launch. I pulled up 300 m past the surf zone to setup my trolling rig and flicked out a small River 2 Sea mullet minow and started paddling with the bail arm open letting the line out. Soon after I noticed that the line was no longer coming off the reel and I was no longer sure how much line was out so I started reeling in to start over when something took the end. Without too much resistance I got the fish to the boat and lifted it out the water to try and grab it but it thrashed about so fiercely that it wiggled itself free. I wasn't sure what the fish was but subsequent research (and help from Sunshiner) revealed it to be a school mackerel and with a 50cm minimum it's likely this one would have been border line. I put the line back in the water and started for Little Halls. Two minutes later the reel went off and I got another school mackerel to the boat and again as I lifted it out the water it thrashed itself free. At this point I was thinking I should have bought that net I was looking at. I postponed my plans for LH to troll up and down the beach hoping for another schoolie. This time I opened my hatch with the plan of dragging the fish into the hatch where it couldn't get away. Not long after I was on again with another schoolie and most unfortunately it ended the same way. I'm not sure what the issue was? Perhaps the hooks weren't set very well or perhaps the hyper thrashing was just an effective way of getting free, but the conclusion was that I either needed a net or some tips on landing these types of thrashers without one. I'm fairly sure all three of the school mackerel would have been South of 50cm in any case.

I was still keen to go to LH so I stopped doing laps off main beach and headed North. Not much action on the way except an odd 'thud' and when I got to LH I found my River 2 Sea was gone. Joining me at LH was a jet ski fisherman but he didn't stay very long, zooting off to JS to SR after 10 min with no action. Indeed there was very little bottom action. I landed a small reef fish, but that was really all besides a few nibbles.

View from Little Halls back to main beach

There was however a lot of surface action going on all around the reef with a lot of 10-20 cm fish jumping with what looked like long tail tuna in pursuit. I packed in the bottom bashing and rigged up a slug and a Halco LP and started trolling the area. I trolled for 15 min without any action before I had to head back. I decided to troll a new lure that Davo sold to me and also troll the slug. I found the going really tough going back and GPS confirmed I was going 1-2 kmph slower than usual, which I attributed to the large bib on the new lure so I pulled it in just trolled the slug.

Downsider Minow with bib that slowed paddling down by 1-2 kmph

Not long after the slug was hit and I stared reeling in what I suspected was a shark. As it came closer to the boat I could indeed see a shark, but then I also saw another three all fighting over something. The something turned out to be a very nice size bonito but by the time I got it to the boat only 1/3 was left. In the video below, I'm not moving the line, the bonito is still very much alive despite it's condition.


In my efforts to try and save the bonito from the sharks I had gotten my line wrapped around the tip of my Balistix Pro and in trying to undo the line broke yet another graphite rod. This reminded me why I started using Ugly Sticks in the first place. So I was down a rod and given that motion sickness was lurking I decided not to put the slug on the good rod and just troll the Halco LP back to MG. I flicked it in and not long after was it was hit, ironically by one of the sharks that eroded my bonito. I was keen to seek revenge, uh I mean, keep the shark as I'd not eaten shark before (knowingly) and also keen to use it as an opportunity to practice landing a biggish fish. I got the 1 meter shark to the side of the boat and tried to get it with my gaff but I found it very difficult to get through the shark's skin and I'm not sure if this is due to my gaff or the toughness of shark skin or both. Eventually I decide to do the usual and grab it behind the head and put it in the hatch and head for home. The surf return was a breeze.

Crime scene reconstruction

If anyone can ID this shark in the comments that would be appreciated

As you can see I took the bonito head home as my wife is quite fond of fish heads (guys from Cape Town, you can stop that right now) and the shark was pretty decent eating.

All-in-all probably my most eventful outing to date. Next time I'm hoping not so many get away.

Redwood.

Windy river session, 08Oct13

TR by eyetag

Wind: 10-15 knot S
Current: Run out tide
Launch Point: Noosa Heads Lions Park
Participants: Eyetag

I launched around 1.am and trolled to Ricky's, arriving without a touch. Things weren't quite as calm here being more exposed to the elements and as I started my first drift the wind and tide were pushing me down stream way too fast, I was almost at the sandbags when a small Big Eye Trevally took my Gladiator Prawn and by the time he was released I was only a couple of hundred metres from the river mouth. Not comfortable with this I headed back upstream and decided only to fish from Ricky's to the rock wall about 300 metres downstream. This was safer and after about a dozen drifts with a Gladiator Prawn I had a mixed bag consisting of small Big Eye, Flathead and Jew fish. All were released.

Now it was about 4.30 and I could see the first light appearing. Thinking this is prime time I decided to troll the Inner Woods Bay with a Gold Bomber and as I passed between the two Bays the Bomber got smashed by a hard running fish taking plenty of line and after a good 10 minute battle I landed a 52cm Jack. I trolled for another 30 minutes and didn't get a touch so I headed in.

Thanks for reading

eyetag

Whales, Rays and Cobia. 06Oct13

TR by Tunny

Participants:  Cybertech, Jaro, Sully, Redwood, Tunny
Launch Site:  MG
Destination:  Jew Shoal
Conditions:  No wind at launch, Light NW breeze of around 5 knots mid morning, strong current to the North

L2R - Jaro, Redwood, Sully, Tunny

 Cybertech was ready on the beach by 5.30am, just as the rest of us were arriving in the car park.  This was Sully’s “maiden voyage” in the ocean, so we had a quick photo shoot on the beach before heading out.

The shore break was tiny, making it a very easy launch.  Shortly after we started paddling for Jew Shoal Cybertech, who had already arrived there reported the presence of some whales.  We trawled hard bodied lures out to Jew Shoal but with no success.  While there was no surface action from either fish or birds, Jaro reported quite a lot of bait fish detected on his sounder.

Addition by Redwood: As I arrived at JS I paddled over to CyberTech to say g'day when 10 meters behind CyberTech a 1.5 metre ray launched itself 2 metres out of the air and almost landed on him!! One of the easier but more dangerous ways of catching a ray.

On arrival at Jew Shoal I packed away the hard bodied Rapala, and started jigging with a 5” soft plastic on a ½ Oz jig head, while at the same time drifted a lightly weighted prawn bait.  After around 20 minutes the soft plastic was hit hard, the line screamed off the reel and the fight was on.  My rig was a light snapper rod with a 4000 reel.  The initial burst of speed from the fish made me think I had a really big one, but eventually it slowed and I managed to gradually gain line.  As it got close to the Kayak I could see it was a Cobia / Black Kingfish.  The fish must have found the idea of joining me on-board unattractive, as it took one look at me then headed off, stripping another 30m of line.  But that  was the final burst and a few minutes later it was gaffed and happily housed in my fish hatch.  It must have been lonely in there as that was the only fish I got.

1 x Cobia in the hatch for Tunny 

Cybertech caught a small Yellowfin Tuna which he released.  Hopefully its older siblings will be around next time.  Other fish of note were a Grinner by Jaro and Trigger Fish by Redwood.

The highlight of the day for all of us out there was the whale activity.  Late in the morning Redwood came on the radio to let me know there was a whale heading my way.  It passed about 30m in front of my Kayak, arched its back before disappearing below surface.

Whale pops out 20m in front of Tunny - good thing he was given that new camera for his birthday.

On our way back to MG we passed another 2 whales. The beach landing was uneventful as conditions were still very calm.  On arrival we measured the Cobia.  At 103 cm it is 4cm shy of Pedro’s record.  Bugger – should have waited another month or two before catching him.

103cm Cobia caught by Tunny... 4cm short of the record

Hannah from New Zealand posing with 'Slimy' the Cobia

Thanks very much to David Irwin for sending this pic of his daughter Hannah holding the cobia. Tunny's pic of Hannah was unfortunately ruined due to water on the lens. However David looked up the trip report once he got back to New Zealand and saw the note about the smudgy pic and promptly sent his version from his phone camera. Thanks also to Hannah for holding what was one very slimy fish.

Trip report - 28Sep13

TR by Cybertech

Participants: Cybertech, Doctor Dog
Conditions: Run out tide, 5 knot winds

I decided to launch at weyba creek and take the tide out to the river mouth and follow it back in, has been a while since I launched at weyba creek on low tide. Don't think I will be doing it again for a while... Very shallow.

Launched around 8pm, didn't see much bait fish around and no boils at all. Very quiet fishing and decided to head back around midnight, on the way back I nailed this nice little estuary cod. Got me snagged real good but persistence and determination not to lose my only hookup paid off in the end.

Doctor Dog I believe also had a quiet night.

Dos, due, ni, zwei, èr, deux...two - 28Sep13

TR by Gemini

Participants:  Panno, DeeCee, Gemini
Launch Site: Strawberry Patch, Lake MacDonald
Conditions: Overcast, light-medium gusts


By the time I arrived this morning DeeCee was already on the water attacking the weeds alongside a stinky. Panno arrived shortly after me, and we quickly made our way onto the water to join in the fun.

The going was slow, and we barely had a touch before passing into Toga Bay. Here we separated a little and I pushed up towards the Palm Farm while the others hung back briefly, noting the stinky had bagged a nice bass along the northern bank.

A few casts into some lillies gave me my first decent strike of the day, but the little bugger ran with the lure and not the hooks, releasing seconds later. I cast again into the same lillies, and to my surprise I was rewarded with another strike, but this one held on.



After releasing the bass Panno caught up and started casting along the northern weed edge. I made my way over the southern edge to try my luck, as I hadn't tried that area for some time. Another missed strike here had my casting arm tingling. Not long after, a miss-cast directly into some lillies had my Jackal gobbled up off the surface by a hungry bass. I almost lost him to the weeds, and he pulled my yak around a little too, but I managed to keep him under control long enough to net him. Unfortunately, as I stashed my rod in the holder, the little bugger flopped his way free of the net and hook and bailed over the side! He was no record breaker, but a nice fish nonetheless. This is the best shot I have of him.



After making a few sad faces I started to cast my way back around to Toga Bay. Off in the distance I could see Panno working on his tackle against the bank, and I would later find out he had been snapped off by a rather frisky fish.

No more luck was had by the time I made the shore just before 9AM a short while later. As we compared notes on the bank, the discovery was made that we had all landed 2 fish a piece. The fishing Gods obviously saw us all worthy of equal treatment... :)


Additional by DeeCee

I arrived at the end of Grange Rd earlier than expected (5.10am) to a fair bit of surface action, so I rigged up and hit the water before the other guys showed up. I threw the popper around for 15 minutes just off the launch point but no had takers.

Andy & Matt arrived so I headed in to have a chat while they were rigging up. Once they were sorted we hit the water and headed north slowly. Lots of weed in this area and more often than not the lure came back all fouled up. I worked one side of the lake and then the other until I got up into the top corner and the first on my Bass for the day. A short little fight and it was in the yak.



A couple of casts later and I was hit again, this felt a lot bigger and put up a lot more of a fight before finally coming aboard.





No other hits (but plenty of weed foulups) and then it was time to go. I headed back to the launch point followed not far behind by Matt & Andy. We had a quick chat and we were on our way.

Childs Play - 23Sep13

TR by Gemini

Participants:  Sunshiner, Redwood, BeeJay, Pedro, Doctor Dog, Gemini
Conditions: Sunny, light-mid N/NNW breeze

A 5:15AM launch saw us all on the water with few problems (minus Doctor Dog, who appeared later in the morning), although the left side of the groin was a little hairy at times. On the incoming tide some quick building dumpers from the sand bar were present, so careful timing was needed to ensure a dry bum. Redwood and BeeJay opted to launch from the right side, and found it much easier.

As usual, I was the last to start the journey after rigging up, and I trailed the group out to Jew Shoal. Half way out the reports of whales in the vicinity came through, and the odd splash could be seen on the horizon. A call also came through from Sunshiner stating he had snapped a rod on a terribly unlucky turtle which had chomped his trolled line. The rod piece, turtle, and laser pro, were all irretrievable. I continued on trolling, but arrived at my destination strike free.

After checking in with Pedro and Sunshiner for an update on the fish situation (none), I got to work dropping my shopping bag and baiting my hook with a butchered pilchard. I cast, and just as it hit the bottom I had a strike. It was an undersized squire, and he quickly made his way back into the drink.



We drifted around for quite a while and fed the tiddlers, but without much luck. BeeJay was bemused by a legal bream which randomly jumped on his line, but it was quiet otherwise. At this stage Sunshiner announced his departure to do other things on shore, but was soon replaced by Doctor Dog tagging into his place. It was also around this time that Pedro decided to troll out to North Sunshine and try his luck there.

Sometime after I managed another hookup while bobbing along with Redwood for a drift, but it was only a nasty little grinner.



After a few more casts I decided to head back past the pinnacles and restart my drift. As I neared BeeJay on my way, an adult whale breached only a few hundred metres behind him out towards MG. I called it in to warn everyone to keep an eye out, as the whales were apparently behind us now too. I continued on to where Doctor Dog was drifting for a quick chat before I went to my mark, but I didn't get far past him. By then a pair of whales (mother and calf) were well on their way to our position. By their trajectory it appeared they were heading for BeeJay and Redwoods location, so I radioed to let them know. Of course, the whales swung hard and turned towards Doctor Dog and myself instead...

What happened then was a lot of back paddling, no fishing, and a lot of "ooh"'s and "ahh"'s, as the whales put on a show. Mum raised her tail a few times, but was otherwise happy to let junior have all the fun.

The following stills are from Doctor Dog...







...BeeJay...





...and video from me.



After the excitement was over and the whales had moved on (in Pedros direction), we continued our drift. We tried for a while, but there was no action, so everyone but BeeJay and Pedro pulled the pin. BeeJay followed along behind not long after.


Additional by Pedro





I made it to north sunshine and proceeded to drift fish with pilchard on the casting rod and let the trolled taylor I was using go deep. Nothing happened till around 12 when I hooked up (pilly) on a beauty that kept me busy for ten minutes before being cut off near the hooks. After this I headed back over the same ground and picked up 4 snapper and 1 grassie. All caught on pilchard.

Plenty of whales. I had a pod of five heading for me and slapping the hull seemed to make them pay attention and keep their distance.

Brekky for one. 22Sep13

TR by beejay

Participants: Beejay
Noosa River: Woods Bay and Munna Point.
Wind: 4 to 5 knots, N to SW
Low Tide: 4.54am

After Kev emailed that offshore did not look good on Sunday I decided to take a leaf out of eyetag’s book following his recent night river success. So, trundled the kayak through the park at the end of Hastings St for a 3.00am launch from first Woods Bay. Nice to try out the new homemade light pole which worked a treat.

Kayak ready for night launch

About half an hour later between Inner Woods Bay and Outer Woods Bay and I was onto my first (and only fish for the morning) – a trevally – great – breakfast (for one!).

Breakfast for one!

Continued enjoying having the river to myself and paddled over to the current line off Ricky’s hoping for fish on what was now low tide. Nothing happening so paddled around the point and to the bridge hoping the light might have attracted a few more trevally - hooked up to something and was almost immediately bitten off.

Went back to fishing the current line off Ricky’s till around 6.30am until the boat traffic (school holidays) and lack of any further action got the better of me. Headed back to inner Woods Bay where the early morning boat parking was at a premium. I arrived as the outrigger club were setting up for a breakfast function – maybe I could have joined in and offered to share my trevally!

Peak hour (7am) parking at inner Woods Bay.

Beejay