queensland Stanthorpe Cod trip!

[bersim]

We headed out for a few days of cod fishing up at Stanthorpe to try and catch my first ever cod. The first day we arrived it was 38C and the fish just weren't biting. We picked up a few D & S lures on the way there from Matt (Bommie) and Big Al. The lures looked fantastic and just looked fishy! At times when I was hungry I was tempted to have a bite :blush:

Day 2: We got up nice and early and hit one of the rivers to try and tempt a murray cod with some of the lures. After a bit of walking and wading we got to a likely looking spot to fish, where I saw a 70cm+ cod sunning himself and playing in the water thrashing his tail around. I was getting pretty excited by seeing this and just as I was going to throw in a lure Dad pulled in a very healthy 47cm cod on a purple D & S lure :woohoo: :woohoo:

I had to have a picture with it too

After that it went pretty slow so I changed to a kokoda lure with an annoying rattle and on my second cast at an over hanging willow tree the water exploded and I pulled in a 65cm monster!!!!!!!!! :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

All of the fish were released safely.

2 casts after that cod I did another cast in the same spot and 2 winds in and BOOM another cod is on!!!! This one measured in at 59cm and I was very happy!!!! He put up a much better fight than the fat log :silly: that I reeled in 2 casts earlier

They were both pulled from this over hanging willow tree

That was the end of that lure :pinch:

After that Bethany got a 45cm not so healthy yella on again, the purple D & S lure!

A few dud casts later I'm in the water retrieving Dad's lure that he cast straight over the river :pinch: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly:

Then Mum got one in the tree :pinch: :pinch: NOOOO

In the whole trip we didn't lose a single lure because the D & S ones were way too good to lose. On my trip into the water I spotted a baby platypus having a dip and then a..... red belly black snake :ohmy: :ohmy:

On the way home we stopped at Moogerah for a bit of a fish where Dad picked up 2 little bass and I got a tandan. The people next to us fishing said that the other day the got a decent yella which got us excited :woohoo:

This fella wanted some lunch too

Our dog val enjoying the rest at the river.

Thanks so much Tomca for all the tips on spots as well as tacklebox. Also those lures were amazing thanks Matt, I'll definitely be using them for the bass! Anyone thinking of chasing cod I would definitely recommend getting a few D & S lures. The total fish caught was Me: 2 cod on lures, 65cm and 59cm, Bethany: 2 cod and a yella, 58cm, 50cm, and 45cm on lures, Dad: 1 cod, 50cm on lures as well as a few bass, and Mum: 1 turtle on a lure It was a fantastic trip that wouldn't have been as good without the help from a few very helpful members.

James

[mick2me]

nice little unfinished report, congrats on the fish, good to see father and son getting out for a fish. by the way did your dad get a photo with your cod? looking forward for the rest of the report

Cheers.

(now that the whole report is up, nice fishing trip for the family... well done guys, looks like a trip you won't forget for a while)

[tomca]

those Kokoda's are good, until you have to put the hurt on. Looks like a cracker trip for the whole family

[muzz]

Good to see the family getting out and amongst it.

Congrats.

[rayke1938]

Congratulations on your first cod. There is really something special about green fish.

Also congrats on a well written and informative report.

Cheers

Ray

[Bommie]

what Ray said, well done,

with going into the water and your dad climbing a tree for snagged lures,,, is your family related to Ryan Young???????? :cheer:

[fishingnut]

Well done James you beat me to the cod ! Must make more of an effort this year

[fishingnut]

Well done James you beat me to the cod ! Must make more of an effort this year I'm jealous as hell.

Cheers

[Luvit]

Great report and photos as usual James,

I think they are good enough to be pulbished in a magazine. Surely someone from the fishing ferternity will snap you up soon. I'm envious that everyone in your family enjoys fishing, bit easier to get away for a flick. You are all guns by the look of it.

Just a small bit of advice, in my experience using those type of snap swivels may cost you a fish of a lifetime. I have seen and heard of them failing when the 1m plus cod demolish them. It's not a critisism, but the extra time to either tie each lure on is well worth it, or use some good quality stainless snaps (no swivel and a different design). Next time we meet I've got some goods ones that have not let me down yet you can have. Everyone has their own preference and mine is to tie lures on and re-tie a new leader when it gets to short.

I hope to get my boat sorted soon and head that way for a cod fix.

Congrats on you achieving your goal.

[samsteele115]

great stuff James, always knew you would get one!

Wanna come fishing on sunday?

Just gimme a text.

Sam

[Little Grey Men]

WOOHOO !! nice work young bloke, great report and some very cool photos. Just a little tip if I may, you obviously have a real interest in these fish. To keep damage to the fish to a minimum you may want to look at crushing the barbs on your lures.

[Manni79]

great stuff mate

[sweresy]

gratz, still on my hit list might just have to make the journey soon.... really enjoy your enthusiasm for the sport too mate, great to see

cheers

Sweresy

[big al]

you all had a great trip there james .nothing better than getting your first cod hey. :woohoo: :woohoo: gets the blood pumping . keep it up . al

[bersim]

Great report and photos as usual James,

I think they are good enough to be pulbished in a magazine. Surely someone from the fishing ferternity will snap you up soon. I'm envious that everyone in your family enjoys fishing, bit easier to get away for a flick. You are all guns by the look of it.

Just a small bit of advice, in my experience using those type of snap swivels may cost you a fish of a lifetime. I have seen and heard of them failing when the 1m plus cod demolish them. It's not a critisism, but the extra time to either tie each lure on is well worth it, or use some good quality stainless snaps (no swivel and a different design). Next time we meet I've got some goods ones that have not let me down yet you can have. Everyone has their own preference and mine is to tie lures on and re-tie a new leader when it gets to short.

I hope to get my boat sorted soon and head that way for a cod fix.

Congrats on you achieving your goal.

Thanks Wayne, I will definitely tie the line to the lure next time. I would hate to lose a 1m+ cod.

James

[Luvit]

No problems , mate.

[bersim]

WOOHOO !! nice work young bloke, great report and some very cool photos. Just a little tip if I may, you obviously have a real interest in these fish. To keep damage to the fish to a minimum you may want to look at crushing the barbs on your lures.

Thanks for the tip. I just had to catch one and land one first! I'll crush the barbs next time.

James

[Eug]

Top report James! Great to see all the tips/advice work out for you.

[Keen-as-fisho]

Well done to you and your family, great part of the world to be fishing

[EZY]

heading out that way next sat for couple of day's, i keep reading this report and start getting the twiches, can't wait :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Steely]

Great work James!!!!! That's so awesome, would've been so much fun

Keen to go out with the pro on sunday

[bersim]

Thanks Madi, I had a lot of help from other members though....

James

[Luvit]

Hi James,

Recieving some pointers from memebers is only one part of the equation. Listening, learning and doing is the other and your enthusiaum is a big factor. Your skill as an angler by reading the water, casting to the correct spot, using the correct depth lure/color and the speed of the retreive along with good knots/preparation and rod work work means you caught those fantastic fish. :cheer:

We are all continuing to learn about our common passion and the experience you are gaining rapidly will put in the top percentage of fishers in the near future. And yes you had some help but is was you that did it, don't under sell yourself.

Keep them coming.

cheers,

Wayne

[bersim]

Thanks for the very kind words Wayne.

James

[Bommie]

if it's something that James wants to do, we will be seeing his reports and photos in fishing magazines in the future I bet, :cheer: