queensland Brisbane River Session #78

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi all

Yesterday I was planning to go out for an early morning session, but seeing as though I stayed up late and slept in, I changed my plans. I was then going to ride to the newer spots, but since none of my mates wanted to come I just decided to have a bash of the local park. I rode my bike down and arrived a little past ten. It was chilly, wet, and overcast, but the tides were right for an OK session and I wanted to hook something alright. 

There was another person there when I arrived. He was called Michael and a good sort. I had seen him here before, so we told one another about recent captures, and then got fishing. He was using cubes of Frogmouth Pilchard (he said his brother or mate cast netted them, and they were the BIGGEST ones I've ever seen) and I was using Colmslie prawns and herring. I had also brought along the squid, so I could give that a crack. I had one rod still rigged with a 4 inch Pearl plastic, on a 3/8^th jighead. The heavy jighead was so I could do a better retrieve in stronger currents. I put two lines out in the normal possies; the salmon line baited with the squid and a lighter line with some prawn. Both were casted out and then the waiting game was on.

It wasn't long before I saw the salmon line bent right over. I ran down, but to my dismay nothing was on the end, except some squid. I threaded it back on and casted back out. I let in sink to the bottom and then let out about 5 metres of line. There seems to be a hole or some feature where all the fish hang out at my local park, and I normally get it in there by doing that. I got back up to the jetty and then kept fishing.

Chatting to Michael passed the time which was good, and sooner or later I saw lots of little nibbles on the lighter line. I turned the ratchet off, and tightened up the drag. In a short little fight, I got up one of the timid perch from the river. The fight was terrible, and I could hardly feel him. At least I was off the donut though! 

Perch

 I got the hook out in no time (for once the circle hook did it's job perfectly) and since he was still as lively as anything I just speared him back into the water from the height we were from. He kicked off just fine, which was good to see. I rebaited, this time with the tail half of a prawn, and started fishing in hope of something again. The salmon line went off now, and I thought there was a fish on. Unluckily, it was just the same thing. A fair strike but nothing hooking up. 

I decided to tie on a smaller hook, at a 4/o circle. This made putting the squid on a little better, and out it flew again. I hoped it would get something, but with my luck I figured it'd probably get pickered again. At that moment, the lighter line started twitching again. I picked it up, set the hook, and the fight was on. The fish fought like a perch until it was near surfacing. Then, it had some mad headshakes, like it was trying to shake the hook. A little tussle near the surface saw me landing an average size bream, at 27cm. That was a nice way to start the session... And I was very surprised too - a bream in the middle of the day. I figured it just must be due to the overcast conditions. 

Fair breambo

I got the hook out, which was jammed really good so certainly wasn't coming out due to being spat, and gave him a good swim. Michael would've kept him, but he was all fine with me releasing. I was about to pick him up out of the water, but then he kicked back off down below the jetty. I didn't see him floating up either, which was a good thing. Unfortunately, there were a heap of scales on the jetty. That made me pretty mad! If someone is going to scale one can they at least clean it up!

After that, there was another hit on the salmon line. There wasn't any hook up, so I'm guessing it may have been small bream or something like that pickering me. The squid seemed to go OK, so it may need to be a bait I persist with a bit more if I can ever have some success in catching them, of course! 

Michael then got a fish on his rod - I believe it had a bit of Frogmouth Pilly on it now. After a good little fight, he managed to land a nice catfish. He says he eats them and they taste good the way he cooks them up, so I cut the fishes throat for him and let it bleed out in a bucket of water. After a little while he was put into the esky, still alive then too!

Catfish

 After that catty, we kept fishing. I asked how the catfish were cooked and he explained he did it in some Vietnamese recipe. I can't remember what it's called and don't know if I'd be game to try it but think it would be OK... Out of a freshwater dam!

I was just going down to throw the cast net and check the salmon line (which still had a large herring on perfectly intact), but just as I was about to throw I realised Michael was on a biggun. It was bending his rod in half, and it was close to surfacing. Then, the line went slack! No! "What a bummer", we thought. It was hooked on a cube of Frogmouth Pilchard and was taking some big runs, so I figured it could be any of the following:

• Catty (jumbo)
• Salmon (probably medium as the runs weren't the fastest or longest)
• Shark (possibility)
• Bream (jumbo)

It probably could've been a few other things too, but those were the first that came to mind. The tide was near low now, so I figured there was an OK chance they'd start biting soon. Michael had a shrimp trap, so I showed him the best spot to put it (and gave him some extra rope as it wouldn't get to the bottom otherwise), and sooner or later he got a couple good River Shrimp. I gave the cast net a couple throws, and on one of them I managed to get a couple prawns, which was good. They were all deployed and then the waiting game was on. The skies were really nice for fishing, and it was great that it was nice and chilly. Much better than sitting in the hot sun all day!

I had this for all of today as well - no rain, just cloud.

There were a couple bites on Michael's line, but both times something just seemingly 'slurped' his bait in. That's a pretty big characteristic for catfish, so I assume it could've been one of them.  Sooner or later, while we were both on he wooden bit, Michael got another big hit. It pulled his rod over, but unfortunately the 3/o circle hook I'd given him did not hook up (we both downsized hooks in hope of more fish). Sooner or later, he got another hit, and after a little fight, up came another perch. The hook was out and the perch was speared back into the drink, swimming off all fine. 

Perch

After that one, we got back to fishing. It was around 1:00PM now, and I caught a couple more prawns for livies. The salmon line still had a big, whole herring on it, which had been untouched for the duration of the session. Things aren't looking good for the local park and the sharking comp - if they don't start biting soon I might be in a bit of trouble.  Regardless, more fishing was had and I hoped to entice something seeing as though I'd caught bugger all since the bream.

I gave the plastic a good flick and Michael let me use some fish scent for the plastic. Annoyingly, I flicked it right on top of the snag under the jetty after a few retrieves. Bye bye, jighead! 

Michael was telling me how he got a 43CM cod under the jetty on a low, so possibly something I might need to give a go. Cod are one of my favourite fish to catch and I haven't got one there in yonks, so a goodun would be... Well... Good! It wasn't long before some more prawns, but this time Michael gave the net a throw. He did it a slightly different way to me, kind of opening it more and giving it a massive flick when he got it done. He was good at it too - he said he's barely thrown a net and he was getting pretty good throws for someone's first ever try with a tenner! 

He hooked up to another perch, which was dehooked and released (speared back in again). He said he's tried eating them too, but no matter how much he tries cooking 'em in different ways, they always taste yucky and bitter. I know that many people ate them back in the older times, but I'm thinking it could even be something to do with the water and mud they live in?

(No picture)

After that perch, it was nearing pack up time for me, as it was about quarter to two, and I was there since a little past ten. I was packing everything away, had the rods in the cart, when I realised those bloomin' scales were still on the jetty. Seeing as though I couldn't be bothered to get a bucket I picked them off with my hand. I took one home for a scale comparison with a salmon (still got some in the garden from the biggun, haha) and they looked pretty similar. I wonder if someone hooked one here and cooked it up?

It's also worth mentioning that just before knocking off, Michael said he heard the drag going on the salmon line. I got down and reeled it in. At first it felt like a bit of a fish was on the line, but then it ended up being a piece of bark. I think there was a fish as it was a good hit to take the herring off with it!

Thanks for reading this report, and I hope you enjoyed. At least it is something to type up after for this lockdown. Here are the stats of the trip - 

Tide: 6:25AM, 1.9M, High, 12:30PM, .6M, Low, 6:21PM, 1.9M, High

Moon Phase: Waning Crescent, 27%, so not too much run

Weather: Overcast, little bitta drizzle. Fair bitta rain about too

Rain in the last week: 8.4mm

Bait caught: Prawns, Scat, Glassy

Bait used: Prawns, Herring, Shrimp (Live prawns and shrimp)

Fish Caught: Yellowfin Bream x 1, Catfish x 1 (Michael's), Perch x 3 

Tackle Used: 12lb, 20lb, 30lb braid mainlines, 20lb, 80lb, fluorocarbon and mono leaders, 3/o, 4/o, 6/o circle hooks, size 3 and 5 bean/ball sinkers, large-ish barrel swivel, normal barrel swivel, 6"6' Abu Garcia Veritas (3-5KG), Diawa Shinobi 2500, Ugly Stick on Abu Garcia Barra King 650, Rogue Firepoint Boat Rod 2M (5-8KG), Penn SSM 650. 

Time Fished: Around 10:15AM-3:00PM (gentleman's hours)

Overall Success Rate: 60% - not a donut

Cheers Hamish

[Brodie_S]

Lol it’s late imma sleep respond to the report tomorrow 

[ellicat]

Nice breambo.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

19 hours ago, Breaming with bro said:

Lol it’s late imma sleep respond to the report tomorrow 

Tomorrow?  

6 minutes ago, ellicat said:

Nice breambo.

Thanks Brian.

Cheers Hamish

[Brodie_S]

27 minutes ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

Tomorrow?  

Thanks Brian.

Cheers Hamish

Lmao yep thanks for the reminder there you go I responded lol

[Brodie_S]

Lol anyway seems like you’ve had a few decent sesh’s lately still waiting for another big salmon report though that would be good. Also when is the shark Comp starting

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

1 minute ago, Breaming with bro said:

Lol anyway seems like you’ve had a few decent sesh’s lately still waiting for another big salmon report though that would be good. Also when is the shark Comp starting

Hey Bro

Cheers - another good salmon would be good.

The sharking competition runs from the fifteenth of January to the fifteenth and February. It was moved ahead based on the suggestion holiday crowds may provide inconvenience for some. Thinking of that, I need to get my game on with the bullies at the local park!

Cheers Hamish

[kmcrosby78]

Nice session with a bit of action and good company Hamish, well done.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

6 minutes ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Nice session with a bit of action and good company Hamish, well done.

Thank you KM, was pretty good, that’s for sure. 

I’m raring to get back out there when we’re allowed again.

Cheers Hamish

[jon]

Nice session mate well done

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

15 minutes ago, jon said:

Nice session mate well done

Thanks jon. The one I had this arvo was a bit more successful.

Cheers Hamish