queensland Moreton Mania

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi all

As some of you may know, I was going out for a bay session in the yak today (well, I suppose it was hardly a bay session as I was pretty close to the ramp the whole time). It was a bit of everything, as we did some drifts, did some crabbing, I got wet and frozen and was my Dad's wind shield once the wind picked up. Overall though, we learnt how to use the sounder pretty well (but I'm not going to say how it is because we haven't actually got an idea to mount the thing on the end on the kayak, or we haven't gotten around to it yet). 

So, we decided to do any early morning session. Once I was woken, at about 5:30AM (so not to early) we got the kayak on the roof of the car, I got the bait I'd caught out of the freezer, and we set off. Since it is about a 40 minute drive, we arrived a bit before 7:00AM. We got there and no one was at the ramp except a guy throwing a cast net, so I had a go with my tiny 4 foot. The only problem was since it was so tiny, I could barely pull anything together. A herring, big glassy, and some prawns (which I didn't even catch, the guy gave them to me). By this time though, at about quarter past 7, it was time to set off. I baited the pots up with a mullet (caught in cast net) and some herring, and sat them on me to paddle out. Here I am at the start of the day - 

The first went to the first green marker, then the second went to the other side. We had one big blue one (even though it's a BCF cheapy, it works well) and a tiny orange one which I plan to replace (it's probably to small). After that, we decided to begin fishing. My dad had the rod I rigged with a two hook paternoster rig, which we had the top with a live herring and the bottom with a good fresh prawn (the ones caught in BR Session #18). Mine had a little live prawn on. With the help of the sounder, which we struggled to read at first but eventually got it going, we found some decently deep water. We paddled up and drifted back until it pushed us a bit too close to the bank. No touches, nothing. We proceeded to do this for a second time, but in a slightly deeper patch. This was a longer drift, and about half way through we saw some fish on the sounder. They didn't touch it though. Then, there was a huge eruption right in front of us! We couldn't believe our eyes. A massive fish of some description (we didn't get to lay eyes on it ) had just busted up in our faces. After the initial shock, and some colourful language, LOL, we got the lines back into the water. That fish had left us gaping, literally, so we went for a third drift. This time when we saw some fish on the sounder though, we were getting small nibbles. I felt them, and they weren't big by no means, but I reckon it might've been a decent bream. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to hook up, so after about 5 minutes of them having goes at our prawns, and us drifting towards shore, we were back.

Now, the wind had picked up considerably. There was a little bit of chop (probably not that much for most with boats but enough for me in the front of the yak to get soaked, as well as the reels). We were about 1KM away from the POB ramp, so we knew we should get back in to shelter. In a very rough, wet, windy, cold paddle, we made it to the sheltered (and probably shallowest part of the area). We tried doing another drift there, but it was a bit to rough and windy. The tide had also run out enough for us to see 4 big crab pots right on the beach, around from the boat ramp. We were a bit bewildered, as we knew this spot was probably overfished, and couldn't believe someone may put pots right there. Someone could've walked down and back with all four and got away in no time, not to mention whatever was in those pots would be high and dry in about an hour... 

We were back at the ramp after a bit more paddlin', and we offloaded the gear. The decision was made to call it due to the wind, because I was freezing.  We then went to get the pot on the other side, which was good because soon it would've been high and dry. We went over it and I thought I'd saw a crab, but then we I was pulling it to the sandbar (easier to balance than on a yak) I thought there was nothing. Then, my dad pipes up and says "Hamish! Big crab!". I was immediately excited because it would be great if we could get one keeper but on closer inspection it was a jenny. I was really sad, but we paddled back to the ramp to deal with it and released it after a quick video - 

Does the video actually work? Tell me if it doesn't because I'll just put a pic in. 

It scuttled off under the ramp and probably to some mangroves, hopefully it can make more muddies and I can catch them next time . After the pots were done with I threw the mullet and herring back into the drink to Mr Percival and his mates, the seagulls. The rods were away and the kayak was put back onto the roof just as the wind picked up even more. When I was back at the ramp, quite a few boats were coming in. I don't think anyone did the best, but some people I overheard said they'd gotten an OK feed of something and were scooping livies out back into the drink. 

Back at home, after warming up and having a rest I began the task of giving the reels a nice wipe and clean. I took them apart, made sure all the parts were clean, wiped off everything, wiped it with a cloth in freshwater, then dried it. I then proceeded to lube up the reels, so they are ready for next time. The rods were given a good wipe as was terminal gear (i.e. pliers, lip grips, etc). As I was putting the crab pots away though, I noticed one of the ropes was frayed. I realised how bloody lucky we'd been not to have lost it, because it was frayed well - 

I cut that off and it's in the bin now, but I think that was pretty lucky.

Here are the statistics of the trip - 

Statistics of trip:

Tide: 5:40AM High, 2.3M, 12:30PM Low, .6M. 

Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous, so more than 50% but not quite full

Weather: 18C, 15-20 knot winds later in the day, so winds building, sunny day.

Bait used: Herring, live, mullet and herring, crab bait, live prawns and fresh prawns. 

Bait caught: Herring, glassies, prawns

Fish caught: - 

Crustaceans caught (new category for when I'm crabbing and prawning ) : 1 Big jenny

Tackle Used: 14lb braid mainlines, 30lb braid mainline, 20 and 9lb leaders, size 1 teardrop sinker and size 2 ball and bean sinker, average size swivel, 50-75cm trace, 6"6' and 8" Ugly Stik rods, Rogue Firepoint 2M boat rod, size 2500 and size 1000 Shimano nasci and Sienna, size 650 Penn reel, size 2/o and 4/o circle hooks. 

Overall Success Rate: 75% - Crappy weather for the yak, but a good learning experience

Thanks for reading this report everyone, I hope you enjoyed. I hope they eventually ease off the restrictions of the virus so we can get out for more social gatherings, though I guess that won't be soon. Also, thanks to everyone who gave me a pointer about this area, it was really helpful. We would've been absolutely clueless otherwise!  I am going out tomorrow again with my friend for a fish, so if the results are really worth reporting on I'll put up BR Session #19.  

Cheers Hamish

[ellicat]

Vid works fine.

Shame the wind was up, would've been a nice day for it otherwise.

Both you and the crab were lucky the rope didn't fail.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi ellicat

Yes, if it wasn't as windy we probably could've been a bit more adventurous and gone a bit further.  Hopefully next time. I'm glad the rope didn't break too. I think the crab might've just nipped up my pot though, because it had already made a hole in the wire bait bag, LOL. 

Cheers Hamish

[Drop Bear]

Great report mate. Its fantastic that you are putting in the hours. 

I have caught some good bream and cod not far from where you are. If you head west towards the river there is a rock wall that runs to where the MiCat goes from. fish anywhere on that wall especially where the large drain meets the water. 

prawns, herring are great for the bream and small mullet great for cod. 

Good luck and thanks for a great read. 

[kmcrosby78]

Good first trip to POB Hamish and although the crab was a jenny, it is an encouraging sign for next time  You're more keen than me setting off at that hour with the wind (and cold that has been around this weekend ....  Brrrrrrrr!!!

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

4 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

Great report mate. Its fantastic that you are putting in the hours. 

I have caught some good bream and cod not far from where you are. If you head west towards the river there is a rock wall that runs to where the MiCat goes from. fish anywhere on that wall especially where the large drain meets the water. 

prawns, herring are great for the bream and small mullet great for cod. 

Good luck and thanks for a great read. 

Hey Drop Bear

Thanks for that, I figure if I keep fishing it I will eventually find a decent spot/way to catch fish/a feed. Next time, if the wind is down a bit, I'll try at that rock wall, I love eating cod so that would be a welcome capture . I hope the wind is down soon.

3 hours ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Good first trip to POB Hamish and although the crab was a jenny, it is an encouraging sign for next time  You're more keen than me setting off at that hour with the wind (and cold that has been around this weekend ....  Brrrrrrrr!!!

Hey kmcrosby78

Yes, it is encouraging that there may be more for the next. I think next time I might put a pot a bit higher in one of the creeks, and see if I can entice something on the run out. Only problem is I'm out of big mullet now, so unless I can get some soon I'll be using servo mullet. It was absolutely freezing once the wind picks up too, I can understand if you didn't want to go out!  

Cheers Hamish