queensland Brisbane River Session #59

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi all

Today I decided that after my basketball game I would go down to the local park and try my luck. I rigged up my rods and reels (my normal salmon reel is in for a service so I was using my Jarvis Walker Sovereign which is better anyway because wet weather isn't to good for reels and it is just a cheapy). By about 3:30PM, I was out of the house towing the cart through the park, and I had lines in and first throw of the cast net at approximately quarter to four. If you're wondering also, we won our basketball game 22-14. Yay! 

As I walked down, I noticed a water dragon basking in the mud which looked nice. This is the second one I have seen in two days so they must be on the move at the moment - 

Can you spot him?

There he is!

After that lizard, I got cast netting. My first couple throws were pretty good with the trusty ten footer, but alas, no bait was caught (except a decently big glassy). The lines were baited with herring from the last yakking trip, and I was sure hoping that keeping them in good nick would pay off. The herring we not touched, and the poddy mullet which was deployed on the salmon line had the same fate (untouched). I gave the lines bait checks in between cast netting, but as the tide was rising more I realised I would need to change something to get bait and fish. 

Before I started cast netting, the line that I was casting got stuck on my glove. Bye bye, Mr. Mullet! I started throwing the net in between two mangrove plants on a mud flat area I sussed out on the last low tide. The deeper water around the jetty never works on a high but it looks like I've found somewhere the does. The first cast I got a good sized bait prawn, then a glassy and small prawn, then another prawn - how good! 

It wasn't long before I got the first hit of the day - it was on two glassies and seemed to be OK. The rod buckled but unfortunately since I was netting i did not make it to the rod in time. When I pulled it in the baits were still intact and the line was slimed up, which is typical catfish. Lucky I didn't hook it... After some time I switched the bait on the line in structure to a live prawn to try and attract something since the dead herring wasn't going good at all. I caught a couple more prawns while waiting, but then decided to let the mud bank settle so more bait would come back. As I was walking, just about to sit down, the rod with the live prawn screamed off. I picked it up, set the drag tight, and the battle was on. The fish was going for some good runs, and I thought it was going to do some nice aerobatics at one point. I saw the shape of it's tail and immediately knew what it was. It dived back down though, and as I tried to keep it from going into any snags, someone walked by. This was a very good thing, as it meant I could grab my net! I was holding the spool to avoid letting the fish in the pylons, as most of the runs beforehand had been clean towards the surface. I quickly bent down though, scooped up the fish, and low and behold I landed my 7^th Threadfin Salmon. Yewww.

Pickin' him up

Classic Thready Shot

Mug Shot

I was stoked to land that salmon, and I would've gotten a brag mat photo but a big dog came down and I did not want the fish to get mauled or anything like that. It measured about 51.5CM, and after a good swimming it kicked off with a big splash. Unfortunately it had swallowed the 4/o suicide hook straight down it's gob, so i had to cut the line. I was so stoked after the release and capture I even gave the salmon a kiss on it's way back. It was about 5:00PM now, and it was nearly time to head home.

The rest of the session was uneventful. I tried a bit more netting but the bait seemed to be off now, and I departed for home with a successful day under my belt (and Domino's pizza awaiting me). I got home, told the big story to everyone at dinner, and after almost 30 sessions, caught another threadfin salmon!!  

I have a theory about salmon fishing on rainy days as well, and it is that when it is raining, threadies in shallow water will start actively feeding more. The silver fish look very good, and I sure hope to catch some more of them eventually. Thanks for reading the report now, I hope you enjoyed. Sorry for any errors in the report. Here are the stats of that trip - 

Stats of Trip - 

Tide: Low, 10:36AM, .6M, High, 5:30PM, 2M

Moon Phase: Waning Gibbous, 60% moon, so some run

Fish caught: Threadfin Salmon x 1

Bait caught: Prawns and Glassy

Bait used: Prawns, mullet, herring, glassy

Tackle used: 12lb, 14lb, 30lb braid mainlines, 20lb, 30lb fluorocarbon leaders, 80lb mono trace, size 4/o circle and suicide hooks, size 5000 Jarvis Walker Sovereign, Size 2500 Shimano Nasci, Size 2500 Diawa Shinobi, 8' Ugly Stik rod, 6'6" Abu Garcia Venotat rod, 2M Rogue Firepoint boar rod, size 2 ball and bean sinkers. 

Humidity: 93% - if it was Summer it would've been a good day for shark

Weather: Rainy, cloudy, showers

Rain: 37.6mm

Air Pressure: 1012.9

Overall Success Rate: 95%

Cheers Hamish

[Kat]

Great report Hamish.  I was on the edge of my seat.  Fantastic catch.  After watching the "Mangrove Snapper" video I have been dreaming about using live prawns for bait.  Don't think there is anywhere to cast for them down my way.  More research.

Cheers Kat

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

9 minutes ago, Kat said:

Great report Hamish.  I was on the edge of my seat.  Fantastic catch.  After watching the "Mangrove Snapper" video I have been dreaming about using live prawns for bait.  Don't think there is anywhere to cast for them down my way.  More research.

Cheers Kat

Hey Kat

Thanks for that, glad you found it exciting  

I hope you can find a spot down near you. Maybe somewhere up your creek that you fish in. Prawn season is coming up (well it's still a while away) so you will hopefully find somewhere to catch them. My advice though, if you find a prawn spot, make it Spot X. I don't think a spot on/around the GC where you get prawns would last for long!

Cheers Hamish

[GregOug]

Well done Hamish! Pardon my ignorance but what is a glassy?

[jon]

Nice work mate, those salmon can be hard work at times so really good to see you building up a tally well done.

[Junky]

Good work Hammish.

 

Pic 3 could be a front cover. 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

9 hours ago, GregOug said:

Well done Hamish! Pardon my ignorance but what is a glassy?

Hi Greg

Glassy is short for glass perch. I have only ever caught catfish on them and I loathe having to use them for bait but I will when there is nothing else on offer.

9 hours ago, jon said:

Nice work mate, those salmon can be hard work at times so really good to see you building up a tally well done.

Hi jon

Thank you, hopefully I can soon land another!

8 minutes ago, Junky said:

Good work Hammish.

 

Pic 3 could be a front cover. 

Thanks Junky, number three is sure good looking  

Cheers Hamish

[Old Scaley]

Your persistence and dedication has paid off again, Haimish.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

11 hours ago, Old Scaley said:

Your persistence and dedication has paid off again, Haimish.

Thanks Steve, I went out again this arvo for a big fat donut, I even had poddy mullet out the whole entire three hours for diddly squat.

I guess it'll be another 30 sessions before the next threadie. Lol.

Cheers Hamish  

[The Mad Hughesy]

Good stuff Hamish. Another thready to the tally

[Drop Bear]

Nice fish mate. Well done. You are going to be the king of Salmon if you keep this up. 

I look forward to seeing some horses brought in. 

[kmcrosby78]

Great work on the thready Hamish and good to see you've developed a theory on them - no doubt you'll soon work out how reliable it is, good fun .

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

11 hours ago, christophagus said:

Good stuff Hamish. Another thready to the tally

Hi Chris

Thanks for that - hopefully the next is soon.

11 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

Nice fish mate. Well done. You are going to be the king of Salmon if you keep this up. 

I look forward to seeing some horses brought in. 

Hi Robbie

I sure look forward to it too. If it ever happens  (hopefully)

8 hours ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Great work on the thready Hamish and good to see you've developed a theory on them - no doubt you'll soon work out how reliable it is, good fun .

Thanks KM, it could work out or it could be a dud, but I think it is more so overcast conditions or drizzle than storm because I had a live mullet out for three hours or so in yesterday's storms for nothing.

Cheers Hamish

[kmcrosby78]

50 minutes ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

Hi Chris

Thanks for that - hopefully the next is soon.

Hi Robbie

I sure look forward to it too. If it ever happens  (hopefully)

Thanks KM, it could work out or it could be a dud, but I think it is more so overcast conditions or drizzle than storm because I had a live mullet out for three hours or so in yesterday's storms for nothing.

Cheers Hamish

Surely you weren't actually fishing DURING those storms Hamish ......????  I would suspect you may prove your theory correct and it is probably no different to snapper, etc which are more likely to be caught in shallower water during the day if it is overcast, as compared to a bright sunny day. I guess it gives them a larger sense of security/safety.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

21 hours ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Surely you weren't actually fishing DURING those storms Hamish ......????  I would suspect you may prove your theory correct and it is probably no different to snapper, etc which are more likely to be caught in shallower water during the day if it is overcast, as compared to a bright sunny day. I guess it gives them a larger sense of security/safety.

Hi KM

On Sunday arvo I was down after the first big cell that hit me, but I got hit by the second cell where there was a bit of lightning and thunder (as well as some heavy rain). I sought refuge under the biggest mangrove tree and in the safe confines of my Kathmandu raincoat. Haha. 

I reckon the reason they bite better in the shallows during the day is something to do with the more baits that are there. Baits normally bust up and stay in shallower water early morning, late arvo, and night, so maybe overcast days help them go like that making the fish bite better.

Cheers Hamish

P.S. The reason I did not stay before is because I did not want a lecture from Greg on fishing with lightning, Lol.