queensland 1770 Reef Magic

[tugger]

Lance and I left Brisbane Sunday morning and headed up the highway rolling in to Agnes Waters just after 2pm. We fueled up and got plenty of ice launching by 3pm we pointed the boat towards our final destination.

 

The boat travelled over some very calm conditions with a forecast of mint weather for our 1st couple of days. We reached the reef we wanted to fish just after sunset but not much biting around dusk surprisingly.

 

We ended up moving over to our overnight anchorage and cooked a hot dinner. The sea was like glass and the stars had a mirror image on the water, going to bed you could not hear the water lapping on the hull.

 

After a perfect night sleep we were greeted to more of the same weather and the fish were hungry. The 1st area we targeted Red Emperor and both Lance and I lost a couple of big Reds blowing us away. I did hook a Red before they all shut down landing a 60cm Red beast.

 

Jumping down to the next spot was easy with the sea state and each new spot gave up some quality fish. Coral trout, Red throat emperor, Venus tuskfish, Hussar, Moari cod and Red Emperor were filling the box. By 3pm the box was nearly full as we got close to our baglimits so we anchored up for a well earned rest so we thought.

 

We cracked a few beers and I set a floating bait for any lurking pelagic. Well it didn't take long for a Spanish mackerel to hit peeling line at blistering speed. The gaff shot was made but this fish new how to fly jumping off the gaff and winning it's freedom.

 

No sooner I had set another floating slimie mackerel out the rod buckled again. Lance battled this Spanish calling it for a beast after a dogged fight even looking at 1 stage to running around the anchor rope it did turn and come back eventually coming into gaff range it hit the deck. This Spanaird was just under 140cm and around 18 to 20kg.

 

We even got coral trout while we were anchored while sinking a few coldies at the end of the day. The wind picked up after dark but we were tucked in on the Lee side of the reef. About 5am the wind swung around as forecast and it got a bit lumpy so we pulled the anchor and moved to the Lee side of the neighboring reef.

 

The next anchorage was perfect for the southerly wind which got up to 20 to 25knots. The sea was still flat where we were tucked in behind this reef and you know what there was fish to catch.

 

Setting another floating slimie mackerel the line was pulled out of my hands so I slammed the reel in gear and held on. The reel screaming another Spanish was to blame soon the Spanaird in the box had company.

 

The wind was strong through to midday but dropped right out giving us our freedom from behind the reef. The next area produced our last couple of fish for our total finfish bag. I got a good Maori cod but Lance landed our 2nd legal Red Emperor and last fish so we pointed the boat for home.

 

Getting to the ramp just after dark we stopped at a local caravan park for a sleep. The next day was a lot easier driving home well rested thanks Lance for a great trip and thanks Robbie with the help cleaning and bagging fish up.

[Drop Bear]

Cracking trip and great report. It is pretty amazing to see the good sized Spanish looking very tiny next to his big sister. 

Some fantastic fish in there too. 

I can't wait for September. 

[kmcrosby78]

Cracking haul and some nice variety there Mark, you two will be eating like kings for a while  

[jon]

Nice work on the reefies fellas, good Spanish aswell

[Luvit]

Great trip and fish as always.

Good to know in 25kts winds you can still fine shelter out there.

[straddiebrad]

some great fish guys waiting on the chance where everything lines up for me to get back up the good size rt there too

[tugger]

6 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

Cracking trip and great report. It is pretty amazing to see the good sized Spanish looking very tiny next to his big sister. 

Some fantastic fish in there too. 

I can't wait for September. 

Thanks Robbie september week up there will be fun should have a few boats

[tugger]

5 hours ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Cracking haul and some nice variety there Mark, you two will be eating like kings for a while  

Thanks Kelvin

[tugger]

5 hours ago, jon said:

Nice work on the reefies fellas, good Spanish aswell

Thanks Sef

[tugger]

5 hours ago, Luvit said:

Great trip and fish as always.

Good to know in 25kts winds you can still fine shelter out there.

Thanks Wayne there is always some where up there to get out of the ruff stuff

[tugger]

1 hour ago, straddiebrad said:

some great fish guys waiting on the chance where everything lines up for me to get back up the good size rt there too

Thanks Brad you will get your chance just need those moons to align

[aussie123]

This was an amazing trip with so many fish biting every where we went.

Thanks Mark for another top trip, it was such a shame that no one else could make it up this time with us.

Bring on the next trip.

[Drop Bear]

18 hours ago, aussie123 said:

This was an amazing trip with so many fish biting every where we went.

Thanks Mark for another top trip, it was such a shame that no one else could make it up this time with us.

Bring on the next trip.

hmmmm boat envy. 

[tugger]

18 hours ago, aussie123 said:

This was an amazing trip with so many fish biting every where we went.

Thanks Mark for another top trip, it was such a shame that no one else could make it up this time with us.

Bring on the next trip.

There is always another trip we can get a few boats up together hopefully sooner rather than later

[Ge_off]

Thanks tugger , Nice read, good pic's too, ,,,,,, "drools with envey" Some good eating in that bin. Cheers.

[tugger]

19 hours ago, Ge_off said:

Thanks tugger , Nice read, good pic's too, ,,,,,, "drools with envey" Some good eating in that bin. Cheers.

Thanks Geoff all my family eat fish and love it when anything red comes home

[aussie123]

Here's a couple of pics that I forgot to upload.

Thanks Robbie for dropping over and giving us a hand to clean the fish and also for taking away all of the frames afterwards.

[Drop Bear]

20 hours ago, aussie123 said:

Thanks Robbie for dropping over and giving us a hand to clean the fish and also for taking away all of the frames afterwards.

You are most welcome. I didn't even get cig from the giant Spanish. The pelicans had the feed of their lives. haha. 

I gave away a stack of frames to the locals for crab bait too so everyone was happy. 

[tugger]

On 04/06/2019 at 9:42 PM, aussie123 said:

Here's a couple of pics that I forgot to upload.

Thanks Robbie for dropping over and giving us a hand to clean the fish and also for taking away all of the frames afterwards.

Bloody big Spanaird and there was a few more of them lurking around 

[tugger]

14 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

You are most welcome. I didn't even get cig from the giant Spanish. The pelicans had the feed of their lives. haha. 

I gave away a stack of frames to the locals for crab bait too so everyone was happy. 

There was plenty frames should get a boat full of crabs with that lot

[Drop Bear]

On 06/06/2019 at 9:00 AM, tugger said:

There was plenty frames should get a boat full of crabs with that lot

Yep. I wonder what fishing at the boat ramp with frames would be like for sharks at high tide... One day I will give it a go. 

[tugger]

Just had some of the red emperor for dinner and it has to be my favorite fish to eat just perfect texture imo

[Ge_off]

I agree Tugger,red emperor are in the top 3 eaters on the planet, Good on ya mate. Cheers.

[Drop Bear]

I ran out of fillets a week ago  Time to wet a line. Planning a trip with @Old Scaley for Wednesday. Hopefully get some snapper for the fridge. 

[kmcrosby78]

36 minutes ago, Drop Bear said:

Planning a trip with @Old Scaley for Wednesday. Hopefully get some snapper for the fridge. 

 Luckily for you (two), grinner fillets make good snapper bait ........      Good luck tomorrow, looks a fabulous week to be on the water.

[Drop Bear]

7 hours ago, kmcrosby78 said:

 Luckily for you (two), grinner fillets make good snapper bait ........      Good luck tomorrow, looks a fabulous week to be on the water.

I dove on the Pumicestone on Monday, ate oysters on the lease today and fishing the wall Wednesday... I'm flogged. 

[tugger]

13 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

I ran out of fillets a week ago  Time to wet a line. Planning a trip with @Old Scaley for Wednesday. Hopefully get some snapper for the fridge. 

Good luck Robbie looks mint weather