queensland Fraser after boxing day

[WhyBA CREEK]

My 2 boys have come to me in the last 2hrs and said they want to go fishing. Yep, blown away, quick history, 25yr old & 19yr old, neither that keen on fishing but both wild. One a world champion downhill skateboarder & the other just a wild child. I want to go from Urangan boat harbour to Cowan ck or Wathumba. Camp for a night (or 2) and head back to Noosaville, dates would be about the 27 Dec to 29 Dec. (We have all the camping gear we need "I think") I'm looking at the weather and it looks like the winds are changing direction by then (physically and maybe metaphorically). This is a big ask but any advice to make this work would be well appreciated. I don't have any room on my boat but anyone is welcome to come in your boat. I can't keep up with them any more (but I try). Bit of planning in the winds, anyone with kids knows what I'm talking about. They're happy to go as long as I'm the friggin organiser (happy to do it, I think) 

I'm thinking Urangan boat ramp abou 5am-ish, 27/Dec then head out. 

Any tips, tricks, or advice (apart from "don't do it") welcome

Like I said, 2 nights 27-29 Dec

Cheers, Beers & bottletops

Tim

 

[WhyBA CREEK]

I live for this sort of thing, moments notice, just do it, laugh a lot. Freaks me out but trying to keep up keeps my mind young

[Old Scaley]

Looks like you will have an easterly wind, which is the best you can get for that area. It might be a bit bumpy from Urangan to Moon Point, but you will have a smooth run up the inside of the island. Leave as early as you can so you can catch the high tide (the entrance can be shallow and also it will be easier to unload from the boat). 

Don’t forget you need a camping permit, and a lockable dingo box for all your food and read the National Parks info on staying dingo safe. We used to take a length of conduit to whack on the ground to scare away any dingoes that got too close. Definitely no campfires. Try to get a camp spot on the northern spit, it is much nicer than the southern side.

That’s all I have. Enjoy your trip.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hey Tim

@Old Scaley has mentioned heaps and heaps I didn't even know off, but I just thought that it will be really busy then, seeing as though it's holiday time and just before New Years, so I'd be expecting some company in quite a few places. Have a good trip and I hope you manage a few.

Cheers Hamish

[WhyBA CREEK]

Thanks for the tips guys very much appreciated. Yeah, the thought of crowds is putting me off. Thanks for tips on the dingos and the permit. Totally forgot about that, it's been so long since I've been to Fraser. 

Apart from the dingos is it safe to leave your camping gear unattended? Sad question but it is a sign of the times? 

[WhyBA CREEK]

Another question....leaving the car & trailer at the boat ramp for a couple of days. Is that a safe thing to do or is there an option? I have a trailer lock but nothing is unbreakable

[ellicat]

Can't answer that question, but I got a Wheel lock for my trailer from Whitworths the other day for $99.90 for a bit of extra security.

https://www.whitworths.com.au/ultimate-wheel-lock

[kmcrosby78]

32 minutes ago, WhyBA CREEK said:

Another question....leaving the car & trailer at the boat ramp for a couple of days. Is that a safe thing to do or is there an option? I have a trailer lock but nothing is unbreakable

I'm not sure on the safety either, but hopefully you'll be OK, particularly with a lock. If you're really worried, I'm pretty sure @Luvit used to book a campsite at the caravan park (presumably right next door) to leave his car and trailer at. 

Good luck and stay safe - hope you have a ball with your sons, and some nice fish would be a bonus .

[Old Scaley]

51 minutes ago, WhyBA CREEK said:

Another question....leaving the car & trailer at the boat ramp for a couple of days. Is that a safe thing to do or is there an option? I have a trailer lock but nothing is unbreakable

It is a really big carpark. Your best bet is to park up near the Air Sea Rescue tower near the ramps. It is well lit and I think there might even be a camera in that area. There will also be lots of people moving around that part of the carpark at this time of the year. As @kmcrosby78 mentioned, there is a caravan park close to the ramp but you might struggle to get a booking at this late stage. 

[WhyBA CREEK]

Thanks for the tips.

[WhyBA CREEK]

Never got to Fraser. Good thing I feel too. The traffic here at Noosa has been nothing short of ugly, so I dare say it would be worse up there. Most of us just hunker down & only go out if absolutely necessary. 

Fishing update..... Left the house at 0448hrs this morning (not happy Jan). Trying to get kids out of bed(sorry, grown ups) can be challenging at times. Luckily the dirt boat ramp is literally 80m away. Got to the Noosa bar at 0515hrs, usually takes less time but the water boys are rampant here this time of year (and rightly so, it is ******** season),so 6 knts is legal everywhere. Trolled around northward towards the coloured sands for about 30kms (got nuthin') then headed to the headland out the front of Noosa & found the birds n boils. Flicked a 70g slug and got smacked. 40 minutes later I'm sweatin like a (let's just say "a lot"). Got it to the boat 3 times thinking he'd (or she'd) run out of puff. Not so dammit, anyway, stoopid me trying to catch a long-tailed tuna on 10lb line. After 40 minutes it got smoked by a VERY big shark right in front of us. 

Toes up and we headed in. Biggest shark any of the 3 of us had seen. (need a bigger boat). Disappointed but fun all the same

Came home, set-up everything with bigger n better, try again tomorrow. 

Not 1 bloody photo or video, I'll make sure they do tomorrow. 

[ellicat]

Bugger about the shark. The workout was probably a good thing after all the Christmas cheer.

At least it was way better than watching the cricket.

[WhyBA CREEK]

Could not agree with you more. Would rather have teeth pulled. Funny, I use to love cricket

[kmcrosby78]

Good luck for round 2 with the bigger gear  

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hey Tim

Better luck next time on the tuna. I reckon it still would've been great fun! 

Cheers Hamish

[WhyBA CREEK]

It was so much fun. It's always great to have your knots tested to the limit and rod n reel for that matter. The spool was actually getting pretty hot. Luckily I had the 2 boys in the boat with me so we could chase it but it was lumpy & at one point with me on the bow, a wave came right over. I screamed to hit the bilge pump and by the time the shark hit I looked up and it seemed like we were half way out to Norfolk Island. I put a long range tank in so one less thing to be concerned with. You get so focused on one thing it's easy to miss a blue giraffe standing next to you (so to speak). I think the difference between me getting a hit and the boys was that I was letting the slug sink before ripping it in. I reckon it got hit within the first 4 turns of the handle. 

It's blowing a gale here at Noosa (no offence meant Gail), squalls keep coming through, I'm sitting on the back deck watching 3 different weather apps and the Bom hoping there's a change. It's not worth going out in the river, there are sooooo many people in town. A case of hurry up n wait