queensland Moreton Island Oct 2019

[benno573]

Hi all,

 

Had an awesome week on Moreton last week.

 

Took the barge over on Saturday 19/10, weather was average at best, we even had hail on the way over!  The squalls moved out to sea just as we arrived and we quickly set up camp at north point before the next storm came through.  After the storm passed, the sun kind of came out and the ocean glassed off.  No time like the present – kayak was launched with the aim being to get a couple of dinners for the next few days.  Conditions were amazing and in short time 2 nice pan sized snapper and a school mackerel were on board and I was heading back to the beach before the next storm arrived.  A LOT of plastics were lost to school mackerel, at one point I was right in the middle of a bust up with a heap of schoolies, tailor, a few small sharks and even some snapper racing around smashing into the bait.  Awesome to watch.  Crumbed snapper for dinner followed.

 

Sunday morning presented a 30kn SSE so after a bit of a lie in, we headed down onto north point beach where the wind would be at our backs.  First spot wasn’t all that sheltered, however, the first flathead of the trip was landed – a nice mid-40’s model that was released as dinner was already well in hand.  A move to another spot provided both more shelter and more fish.  5 more flathead were landed and released, 3 of them going over 60cm long.  Awesome session, could easily have filled the freezer but was happy to release them to fight again another day.  Mackerel in a thai red curry for dinner was superb!

 

Monday the SSE was still up around 20kn but was forecast to drop through the day.  Another lazy start and a mosey down to North point beach showed the wind was up but the ocean was flat.  Kayaks were launched and a lovely paddle along the back of the surf break featuring dolphins, turtles and 1 nice 42cm snapper for me.  The rest of the day was spent relaxing on the beach, a few more flathead were landed and released.  We headed up to the lighthouse on sunset for happy hour.

 

Tuesday morning I awoke early and it was totally still.  We had a quick breakfast and launched the kayaks again in idyllic conditions.  We were greeted by a pod of dolphins, a few turtles and even a manta ray.  I landed one nice snapper but could barely get a plastic near the bottom without being snipped off by the school mackerel.  I put a slug on to have a bit of fun and caught 4, the last one was hooked up around the gills so wouldn’t release, I shared the fillets around the camp site that afternoon.

 

Wednesday I headed out kayaking early again, this time I bagged 3 nice snapper and another schoolie that was kept at the request of some neighbours.  We then jumped in the car and headed for Tangalooma for a snorkel, timing it with a tide change for best water clarity and least current.  Highlights were two wobbegongs and a huge blue parrot, generally a very good snorkel.  On the way back I found middle rd block by a fallen branch, when I picked this up to move it a squirrel glider jumped out of the end and climbed up a nearby tree and then glided away.  Can’t believe it stayed in the hollow during and then after the branch falling!

 

Thursday morning I elected to sleep in and we then headed over to our favourite spot on the island where I landed a very nice tailor off the rocks (released) and then spent a few hours looking in rock pools and relaxing on the otherwise deserted beach.  We headed back to camp for a late lunch, conditions were not perfect but I went for a final kayak and nabbed 3 nice snapper – should have been 4 but had to pay my taxes for the week which was a good bit of fun getting towed around for about 15 minutes before the teeth inevitably won out.

 

Friday morning I headed up to the north point rocks early and had a spin for tailor.  I landed 10.2 tailor, the 0.2 coming when a huge Spanish Mack decided to grab a hooked tailor, narrowly missing the treble on the back of the slug – part of me was disappointed, the other part quite relieved.  All tailor were released.  Friday afternoon we had a fish with some pippies for dart and landed a couple, pretty quiet as the northerly was ramping up by this point.

 

Saturday was pack up day – good thing too as the northerly was 20kn+ at sunrise and only set to increase.  We packed up and headed right down to the southern end of the island out of the wind a bit for a final swim, chill out and picnic lunch.  We watched a 2-2.5m hammerhead cruising in over a shallow bank and through the south passage bar – likely heading in to birth some pups.   Then all too soon, that was it, back up the beach and across middle rd and onto the barge home.

 

Some photos from the week are below, might throw some video footage up on the you tubes or grab some stills out of it and add them soon.

 

Cheers,

Benno <’><

[ellicat]

Great week of RnR, mate. The fishing was gooda than usual too.

The big question remains unanswered though - did you have deep fried Mars bars ?

[benno573]

Not this time mate... only crumbed and deep fried snapper fillets this time. Need you there to fully appreciate the mars bar option.

 

fishing generally was off the chain this trip. When I throw back 11 legal flathead you know it’s going well...

 

forgot to mention - managed the perfect trifecta of flatties on one morning with a dusky, sand and bar tail all landed and released within about 2 hrs. That was a first for me. 

[ellicat]

That's good multicultural angling.

[benno573]

1 hour ago, ellicat said:

That's good multicultural angling.

I like to think I’m an equal opportunity angler...  

[kmcrosby78]

Looks like a great week was had with plenty of fish caught @benno573 - well done mate.

[tugger]

What a great trip on the island that north point camp grounds is where the fishing shacks were I stayed at plenty of times in the late 80s early 90s. Top spot up there this has given me some inspiration to get back there myself benno.

[GregOug]

Yes. I used to go over there to North Point many years ago with the Hospitals fishing club. Great weekends! They had a ex army truck with aircraft tyres that took us fro: the barge to their camping area. They had generators, freezers, bunk beds and everything you needed for a comfortable weekend. We used to head to Harpers at Cape Moreton and fish for huge mulloway. You had to watch out for rogue waves though, which was difficult to do in the pitch black. Certainly got the adrenaline going! Not sure if the club is still going but I would recommend it if they still exist.