queensland Brisbane River Session #11

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi all

It was decided we would do a session at the river on the kayak today, so today we put that idea into action. It was a nice session on the river - a bit hot - and some surprises. 

Yesterday I had put in some shrimp traps so after we departed (at about 5:30AM) I pulled them up. I was hoping for some livies, but all I got was vermin. I think it was the fact we were using cooked chicken (it was off) instead of the raw, normal stuff. Despite that fact, the trap had 3 big catfish and a muddy - 

 

3 Forktails and a baby muddy filling up on my shrimp! Sorry it's not the best photo.

After that disappointment, we set sail on the water. Our first task was to collect some livies. We paddled for about 15 minutes, quite quickly as we were with the tide, to the first stop. Well, the tide was still a bit to low and my Dad wasn't letting me go onto the mud at first. We looked around and saw the perfect pontoon, so we had a quick throw. Turns out the current was ripping through there and way to much current means no bait . Our next spot was then to a rocky ledge. It was quite slippery and we did not see much (in terms of bait, fish busting up). Despite this, I had a throw but it turned out it was still to much in the current, and it was snaggy. We then moved  to the opposite mud banks, which were, well, muddy. I was pretty dirty by the end but it was worth every throw as I got a mix of river shrimp and banana prawns into the live bait tank. I was throwing a bit until I found where the bait was, and as well as this I got a big hole in my net that was un-stichable. I am still going to give it a crack though, and hopefully it still throws.

Our final destination to collect bait was the Fig Tree Pocket boat ramp (the park had the beaches we casted off). It was probably the most productive space, I found most bait was pushed up right against the wall. I had no photos of this one, but one thing I have noticed with all the prawns I have been getting was that they aren't big by any means (that doesn't mean they aren't good bait), but I might try and find a spot where they are a bit more consistent. I am still working on my techniques for livies in this part of the river, I will hopefully crack the code soon. 

Now, to the fishing scene. It was very quite overall but we still had a catch  After paddling to the boat ramp, we went to the opposite bend to do some bottom bashing and have a flick for bream. The largest live shrimp was put on a paternoster rig. The idea behind using this is that it will keep the vermin (i.e. catfish and pike) away from the bait as it is a bit higher in the water column. I also had the standard running sinker going as well. We drifted in the deep holes for about 45 minutes all up and in that time we had no luck. It was quite unfortunate as well, maybe due to the high tide the fish and bait were in the mangroves. 

It was only on the way back towards the next location we pulled up the line for a check. To my surprise, my Dad's line had a catfish on it. It didn't fight one bit though, and in fact, we barely noticed it on the retrieve. It was only a small one at about 30cm but I still got a photo.

It took a live prawn, and was released boat side.

After that, we went to a mud bank where I have caught a thready before. I assume it was because of the huge tide again, but there were no hits whatsoever. We drifted right down until we were about 45 degrees from the park, and then we started to paddle. The drift was probably the hottest part of the trip, as there wasn't any shade of that side of the river. I'm somewhat regretting not going on the other side as it was shaded. I reckon there might've been a bit more fish activity there.

We then paddled back to the park across the river, trolling out baits behind us. Nothing touched them, and we arrived back at the jetty. We then proceeded to unload the kayak, and the jetty was a bit more crowded than usual. Then, my Dad got a call from my mum saying she was sick so he left me down there for about another 45 minutes. In this time, apart from baking, I had a few touches. Otherwise, the later morning was a fish less session. 

The session I was fishing in on the pontoon was decent though. I must've flicked the bream lures for a good portion of the time, right in the snags. Next time I think we will certainly come back there, but we will know where to go and what to do.The day ended on pulling up the shrimp trap with a couple in it, but they were released as they were to small for any good bait. Here are the stats of the trip for anyone's reference - 

Statistics of the Trip:

Tide: Rising since 4:00AM, high at 9:30AM

Moon Phase: Waning Crescent Phase - growing smaller until the new moon.

Time fished: On the water at about 5:50AM

Rain in recent times: In the past week, there has been 0mm. In the past fortnight, there has been 15mm.

Bait caught: Banana Prawns and River Shrimp

Bait used: Live banana prawns and river shrimp

Fish caught: Catfish x 4, mud crab x 1

Tackle Used: 1000 size Shimano sienna, 14lb braid, 20lb leader, size 2 bean sinker, 2/o, 4/o, 6/o circle hooks, 30lb fluorocarbon leader, size 5 ball sinker, 650 Penn reel with 30lb braid, Rogue Firepoint 6'6" boat rod, Jarvis walker setup. 

Overall Success Rating: 60% - Found good spots for bait and learnt a bit about the river but no good fish came in  

Hope you enjoyed reading the report  

Cheers Hamish

 

 

Edited March 23, 2020 by AUS-BNE-FISHO

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi all

Here are some prawns I got this afternoon. I was using my ten footer, and surprisingly I could actually throw it. I am stoked about that and it means my Dad has to move back to his 12 footer  . The prawns in the middle reaches of the BR are pretty small at the moment as well, it was low tide and overcast when I was prawning/catching bait (the best time in my opinion). The reason I posted this on this thread is because it was at the local park, and that was the general location of this report.  

A glassy was decapitated in the process and will become a bream bait - 

The bait was salted and frozen.

Cheers Hamish  

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi all

I decided to go out again this afternoon/evening. I hope it won't be my last as well. 8 prawns and a frog mouth pilchard - I'm pretty happy with that  They were all caught in the cast net as well as a smallish catfish and a few tiny prawns (10 footer). THough, I might have to back off on the casting a bit as my arms/back hurts after a while (just when I'm pulling it up).

Cheers Hamish  

[rayke1938]

To stop the cattish getting into your opera house trap cable tie the top of a soft drink bottle into the entrance or just make a cross in the entrance with some heavy fishing line,

Keep up the good reports

Cheers Ray

Edited March 28, 2020 by rayke1938

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi rayke1938

Thanks for the tip, I will add it to my opera house traps a bit later today.  

Cheers Hamish