Brunswick Bash - SOO Prefish

[Scope]

G'day guys, just thought I'd give everyone a little teaser in the lead-up to State of Origin. Remember its only about 2 months away!

Got a good look at Brunswick Heads when we stopped for lunch on the way back from Ballina a couple of weeks ago. The sun was shining and the water was as clear as anything I've ever seen. Hired a kayak and took a paddle down the past the camp grounds and was amazed at the quantity, size and quality of fish! Plans were hastily made to plan a trip there.

[Scope]

Fast forward to last weekend - We arrived at the Ferry Reserve camp ground (event HQ) in the dark and set up the tent and tarp quickly.(Possibly too quickly)

After a lazy mid morning wake up on day one, we headed out from the boat ramp to one of the near-by oyster racks, with me chomping at the bit to try out my new electric motor. Conditions were favouring us with an overcast day, slightly lowering the water visibility. After about 10 casts with my damiki mu:sp apache (and some very dodgy driving on the watersnake ) I had a solid hit and, after a couple of short runs to test out my light gear, a 45cm flathead was in the boat.

After half an hour of casting with a few hits and one fish dropped, we headed back in for lunch.

[Scope]

The afternoon session saw me out on my lonesome, targeting various oyster racks again, with another 45plus flathead boated, this time on a gulp plastic. This session was soon cut short when I glanced back round at the campsite and noticed the tarp making its way west with the missus not looking too happy. :blush: -

Needless to say that was the end of my fishing for the day

[Scope]

After a fairly wet night, I headed out at the crack of dawn on day two, to try my luck for some bream. With the tide running out, I tried working various hardbodies around the racks again, but to no avail. I then switched to a natural looking plastic on a 1/16th jig head and began working various eddies formed as the water got lower.

After about 10 minutes I found myself directly across from the public boat ramp, working a nice patch of still water just out of the current. it wasn't long before my plastic was absolutely smashed by a bream, and I could tell straight away, he was no tiddler. After a short fight, he was netted and measured in just over 32cm. A new pb for me.

Sorry about pics - only had my phone with me and light wasn't the greatest

[Scope]

The afternoon session seemed alot harder, with the sun being high in the sky, the water seemed that much clearer and we could see the fish watching our lures with not much interest. After a change of tactics we began throwing lures up against the northen bank between the pacific highway bridge and the rockwall across from the public boat ramp, sticking to the shady areas. Several undersized flathead were caught and released, with a combination of mu:sp's and assorted natural looking plastics doing the damage.

A quick flick around the racks at dusk saw another small bream and flathead picked up, with nothing of any real substance coming my way.

[Scope]

The beach and the bar looked in top condition and there were plenty of reports of Jew, mackerel and tailor around for those favouring the beach and offshore categories of the comp.

Although I didn't get to do as much fishing as I wanted, all in all it was a great pre-fish for State of Origin and I was very impressed with the facilities at Event HQ.

Hope to see plenty of you there!

Thanks for reading - Jono

[ellicat]

I recognize that spot. Unfortunately you were at the wrong place. :dry:

[Scope]

ellicat wrote:

I recognize that spot. Unfortunately you were at the wrong place. :dry:

I cheated a bit - the sunny landcape photos were from the first trip there and were taken on the eastern side across from the pub :laugh:

Was definitley at the right place though

[Davo_Dinkum]

looks nice

[Damien2Rad]

I love Brunswick heads. I often head down by myself for a fish.

That last photo looks perfect for a few whiting.

[ellicat]

Scope wrote:

ellicat wrote:

I recognize that spot. Unfortunately you were at the wrong place. :dry:

I cheated a bit - the sunny landcape photos were from the first trip there and were taken on the eastern side across from the pub :laugh:

Was definitley at the right place though

.... was just stirring :side:

[Zim man]

great report mate, the new rig looks sweet

[dassa]

Yes scope it is a great spot and I'm looking forward to this one for sure got the cabin booked and payed for.Just remember you don't win the comp 2months early but you queenslanders might need a heads start

[Keen-as-fisho]

Looks like a good weekend Jono. Did you try and cross the bar?

[novrain]

fishy looking water in those pics jono

great effort

[Scope]

Keen-as-fisho wrote:

Looks like a good weekend Jono. Did you try and cross the bar?

haha nah mate - I'll leave that to people in the know. Could have crossed in on a bodyboard on the first day we were there - was flat as

[free2rome2]

Hey Jono,

Nice One!

Gd luck with the SOO...

Cheers, Jonathan

[Angus]

How good does the river look!

Angus