queensland Brisbane River Session #87, #88, and #89.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi all

Two of these reports are from a while back, and the third is a little bit more exciting. I haven't been fishing as much as I usually would lately due to school, and I already can't wait 'till the next holidays. The third was chasing Threadies on the yak, and it had a slight success (still a donut). Anyways, the first session was just at the local park - 

I got the gear ready, and got to the park a little before two in the arvo. My friend was meeting me there, and he said he had brought some of his other friends. I wasn't to phased, as I figured we'd all at least catch a catfish or two. I deployed the lines with prawn and half garfish and started the waiting game. 

Sooner or later, my friend got here. He seemed to have a little bit of gear, which was good. I kept my lines on the wooden part, and they had theirs on the jetty. I was giving a little Holt Prawn in White Flash (3 inch) a flick on a small jighead, which I eventually switched as there was no love given. The tide was fast rising, and the salmon line started getting some hits.

I could pretty much guarantee it was a catfish, but the surges on the line did not mean a fish. I think I pulled the hook, because I was briefly on then lost him. Blast! I kept fishing, and it was quiet for everyone. My friend's mates were making lots of noise stomping all around the jetty, but I didn't mind too much as I wasn't catching anything anyways. Lol. 

I can't remember all the fine details, but soon enough they headed off. I was tasked to mind their gear, so I wound it all in and left it neatly stacked on the edge of a chair on the jetty. It didn't take long for me to get a fish, and the 20LB overhead went off. A short fight ensured a very lightly hooked perch emerged from the depths. I dehooked him and sent him on his way.

Hardly Hooked

Now, I kid you not, the moment he was released, the salmon line went off. I got to the jetty and struck - I was on. it was heavy, and the fight was mainly a skull drag with headshakes except for a little run. I got a big catty up though, which was quite disappointing. I think big catfish just love the garfish, so I've stopped using the garfish at this spot. I got the 6/o hook out though, and sent the catty on his way.

After that one was dealt with I was glad I'd have something sizeable to show for my efforts. I redeployed the salmon line in hope of something more desirable and kept fishing. I stayed on my chair, and it was rather hot, but the line went off yet again. I was quite enjoying myself, as it was very quiet and they were biting. It was unluckily another catty, which was released away like his mate.

Cat

The others had come back now, and they had purchased all their food. So while I was fishing they were eating meat pies. Lucky them. Lol. My friend Sam had offered to get me a Chocolate Milk (I told him it didn't matter) but he came back with what he thought was a Chocolate Milk - instead, it was a Barista Iced Coffee . Haha. 

The bite went quiet again now, and there was really nothing happening. I gave the net a few throws for (if I remember correct) two or three prawns, so it wasn't the most productive cast net session ever. I gave the lines regular bait checks also, which didn't get me anywhere. The others left sooner or later, and I had one more hit on the line (most likely a perch). Dad also took my sister and her friend for a spin on the yak too; the sounder still wasn't working unfortunately. Thanks for reading that report, I hope you enjoyed. Here are the stats of the trip - 

Statistics of Trip:

Tide: 11:05AM, .9M, Low, 4:40PM, 1.5M, High, 11:00PM, .6M, Low.

Moon Phase:  Waning Crescent; 9%.

Bait Caught: A couple little prawns

Bait Used: Prawns, Garfish

Fish Caught: Catfish x 2, Perch x 1

Tackle Used: 12lb, 20lb, 30lb, braided mainlines, 10lb, 30lb, 80lb fluorocarbon and mono leaders and traces, 3/o, 6/o, 4/o, circle and suicide hooks, size 2 and 6 ball sinkers, large and small barrel swivels, FG and Albright Knots, Ugly Stik overhead rod, Abu Garcia Barra King 650, Rogue Firepoint Boat Rod, Penn SSM 650, Diawa Shinobi 2500, and an Abu Garcia Veritas. 

 

Time Fished: A bit before 2:00PM-5:15PM or so.

Overall Success Rate: 30% - Slow Day 

The next report takes place in a week's time, and was a little better. My normal fishing mate was down, and despite it not being the ideal temperature, it was a fun arvo. I got the lines in baited with prawns and began fishing for anything, really!

It was a real slow bite at first, with nothing whatsoever happening. I checked the tide for once when I left and it was falling, so I thought this would allow easy fishing. This gave me the false opinion that the run would be very slow... I casted out, and my 6 ball sinker was no match to sink the slab of Pike Eel put out for a Bull Shark. After a fair while of failing, and a tangle with the other line, I made a bit of a new rig.

Since I didn't have any star sinkers, (I plan to buy sinkers from a 3 bean up to a 5 star sinker for fishing the river) , I tied a swivel, two size six sinkers, a short trace, then another swivel to my trace. This got the bait down, but it still was getting overpowered by the tide! That was quite the surprise, that's for sure. The slab of Pike Eel really wasn't getting any love, which was disappointing. I was now starting to regret the decision not to keep the Freshwater Eel from last time . 

I whipped the overhead out yet again, and this time something bit on. It took the bait straight away when it hit the bottom, and up came a feisty little catfish. I dehooked him and my friend decided to throw him back. I forgot to warn him about the great slime though!

Small

We kept fishing for no joy, and we were just chatting most of the time to pass the time. I gave the cast net a throw on the mudflat for a couple prawns, so they were deployed. It was a bit later in the arvo now, and the overhead went off. It wasn't big, and the Group Leader from my Scout Group (I often see him) walked by too. It didn't feel like there was any fish on, but to my surprise an incy Small Eyed Gudgeon was landed. As the Group Leader put it, quite possibly the 'dumbest fish ever' - it hadn't even been hooked and was just holding onto the head of my live prawn, the greedy bugger! I got him off and put him back. I wonder if they'd be any good live bait for Threadies...

Normally these guys terrorise my shrimp pots!

After that, it was nearly knock off time, and with no more fish and my mum down at the park we decided to depart. My friend attacked me with a wet landing net, so I left chilly and wet (but in good spirits of course). While he was reeling in the salmon line, he somehow didn't notice the little catfish on the end. This greedy bugger had another swivel and trace in his mouth, and after being dealt with was safely released.

Cat #2

After that, we left for home. It was a good arvo, so here are the stats - 

Stats of Trip:

Tide: High, 2.5M, 11:45AM, 6:30PM, .3M, Low.

Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent, 20%

Bait Caught: Prawns

Fish Caught: Catfish, Small-Eyed Gudgeon

Bait Used: Prawns, live and dead, Pike Eel

Tackle Used: 12lb, 20lb, 30lb, braided mainlines, 10lb, 30lb, 80lb fluorocarbon and mono leaders and traces, 3/o, 6/o, 4/o, circle and suicide hooks, size 2 and 6 ball sinkers, large and small barrel swivels, FG and Albright Knots, Ugly Stik overhead rod, Abu Garcia Barra King 650, Rogue Firepoint Boat Rod, Penn SSM 650, Diawa Shinobi 2500, and an Abu Garcia Veritas. 

Time Fished: A bit past 2:00PM-5:30PM-ish.

Overall Success Rate: 60% - Good Arvo

OK, so now this is the report that gets interesting! I convinced Dad to take me out for a night session on the yak, chasing lure threadies in the river. It took us a while to get ready, and I was already quite knacked after a big tennis game (I won in a tiebreak by three-five). We ate dinner and had the yak in by about quarter to eight (crazy late for us to start!). Our objective was to learn a bit more about the habits of surface feeding threadies, and what attracts them.

Now, there is a big boat moored on the next jetty down from the park. I've lost big stuff there before, as a boy, who I became friends with, lived there and we fished there often. There was a perfect light there, facing right onto the water. I should also mention we had no bait, as we didn't bother cast netting, and a small prawn jumped out as we launched the yak. A bit more lively than last time. 

We lined up our first drift, and approached the jetty. 

"KA-BOOF"

"BANG"

Or that was what I heard, and also what made me nearly die of shock, on approach to the jetty. I fired my Holt Prawn in after the initial shock - it was a bit tricky to cast as there was a large rope going across mooring the boat where you'd normally cast, but it didn't stop me. I was pulling the lure along, in the area where the bait had just been smacked up. 

This drift proved fruitless, and after many casts we retreated. The tide was very weird here, and instead of pushing us straight it would go sideways. I kept firing away with casts, and on the next drift I switched to a hardbody on my Diawa Magforce. The same thing happened with the tide, and as we were paddling out there was another big BOOF. I kept flicking the 3 inch lure in White Flash colour, but there was no more love. The tide was very fast and we figured we'd spooked them here, so left and whizzed down to the next jetty.

The tide was really strong, and we were flying. The next jetty was a ways away, and three or four casts and no surface action ensured us moving along to the next one. This happened repeatedly, and I was experimenting with different retrieves. At every jetty I made an effort to use both the hardbody and plastic, to cover more bases. Fishing was tricky with so much run but we soldiered on.

We crossed the river now, and apart from heaps and heaps of ducks, there was no action. I kept flicking, but with no luck at all. We crossed back the river again, and started fishing three jetties all with lights in close vicinity of each other. They did not produce, and by now we were in range of a party full of teenage girls singing and dancing (who sounded like a dying cat I might say). We decided to stay at the end of these jetties, and quite rudely, they bellowed out, "OI, GET OFF THE JETTY YOU WEIRDOS".

Of course, we were probably seen as thieves, but little did we worry. They wouldn't shut up though, and of course I casted 10CM to far and it got snagged on the jetty meaning we had to go and retrieve it. We finally left and they shut up, which I was thankful for. The next new jetties with lights were casted at, but there wasn't any surface action or anything, really! We needed a rest break by now and in a few flicks time we were at my school jetty. A fifteen minute pit stop ensured I updated some mates on the night so far. 

School Jetty

We got back into the yak, and kept paddling. We gave the last few jetties with lights a flick before we got to Cobia Bridge, and it was interesting seeing which jetties had their crab pots out the front and which ones had owls on to scare the ducks (seemed to work well too). We shot straight under it, and by now the glassy conditions from the other part of the river had changed to a yucky choppy brown abyss. This part is rather wide, and always seems to get hit by the winds, so fair enough. I peppered all the jetties along here with casts, some good, some bad, and had no love. It was getting late now, so we made the call to begin to head back (still fishing jetties on the way back of course!). 

No more hits were had on the way back, and by the time we were at my school jetty I needed a toilet stop (again) and a back stretch. A shorter break was had and we set of on our way to hopefully bag a thready (or get off the donut). All the same jetties were fished for no result, and we were still slogging along against the tide. The chairs in the yak help, but the block life jacket I was wearing makes it uncomfortable. 

We kept slogging and stopping at the odd jetty to fish, and by the time we got back to the one that had the bust ups we were exhausted. I gave it two or three throws and then Dad made us set off. We arrived back at the local park at 10:30PM, which wasn't good enough for a thready. The plan next time is to:

1. Just get some livies. Mullet, herring, prawns, etc.

2. Tie a paver to the back of the yak with about 10-15M of rope. This will ensure our drift slows rapidly, but if we need to move we can do it fast by pulling up the paver.

3. Drift some livies and lures under that jetty.

4. If no success is had, switch to heavier jigheads and fish for a flatty.

So, that's the report done and dusted. Hope you enjoyed. Sorry for any typos throughout the report. They were all fun. Here are the stats of the trip for anyone interested - 

Statistics of Trip:

Tide: 4:35PM, 1.6M, High, 10:43PM, .5M, Low.

Moon Phase: Waning Gibbous, 75% face.

Bait Used: -

Bait Caught: -

Lures Used: A no-brand mullet imitation, around 3.5inches long, and a 3 inch Holt Productions Swim Prawn in White Flash. A 1/8^th jighead on a size #1 hook was used, 

Tackle Used: 12LB, 20LB, 15LB, braided mainlines, 30LB Black Magic Fluorocarbon Leader, 5/o circle hook, Abu Garcua Veritas 3-5KG on Diawa Shinobi 2500, Diawa Magforce on Shimano Cranx 5-8KG, Ugly Stik and Abu Garcia Barra King.

Fish Caught: -

Air Pressure: 1012

Weather: Cloudy

Humidity: 91% - a possible contributor to the bust ups?

Temp: Low, 22^oC, High, 24^oC

Time Fished: Around 7:50PM-10:30PM (not too long).

General Notes: The lights on the water must've attracted bait, which attracted the fish. Bigger lights = more bait = more fish???

Overall Success Rate: 65% - The bust up/prawns at light theory is true.

Cheers Hamish  

P.S. One last thing, what marine light does everyone use? If someone could recommend use a brand it would be much appreciated. 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

One thing I didn't mention -

My mate went to the POB on his tinny on the day of the first session. They did well on soft vibes, with a 60CM Flatty and 1.2M Thready landed! I totally wasn't jealous as!

The spot was the Cruise Terminal.

Cheers Hamish

[ellicat]

From Report 87

Nothing wrong with a Barista Brothers Iced coffee, but their Iced chocolate is by far the best out there.

[ellicat]

From Report 88

Haha, I bet he'll remember the slime next time.

Those little gudgeons are too cute for livebaiting.

[ellicat]

From Report 89.

You certainly gave the lures a good go. Shame you couldn't entice one at that jetty.

If you are wanting to install a permanent light you could have a look at the catalogue for whitworths.com.au. They will have a range that you should be able to find one suitable.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hey Brian

Thanks. Haha, I prefer Breaka Iced Coffee (probably due to a higher sugar content), and I don't think my mate will be willingly picking up a catfish again. I just thought, I've heard of some using similar looking things for Barra up North, so I thought they could possibly go OK. Like you said, I probably couldn't bring myself to use them as a livie either. 

Yeah, it was. We will be back out for more soon though, that's for sure! Thanks for the tip on the light. We will have to decide whether it will be worth it to install a permanent one. Simply because it's a pain in the bum to cast with an extra pole in the yak!

Cheers Hamish

[ellicat]

You've gotta have a light somewhere at night.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

1 minute ago, ellicat said:

You've gotta have a light somewhere at night.

Yes, but if it's permanent I assumed that means it can't be removed for day sessions. Which just makes it a pain as it's extra gear to lug around, etc.

Maybe they'd have a clip on and off option.

[ellicat]

Yes, you can get removable ones or ones that fold down out of the way.

[ellicat]

https://www.bcf.com.au/boating/boat-fit-out/boat-lighting

 

 

[GregOug]

Bloody hell Hamish! I’ve read shorter books. Including War and Peace. (Look it up) Lol. Great reports. Keep at it.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

53 minutes ago, ellicat said:

https://www.bcf.com.au/boating/boat-fit-out/boat-lighting

 

 

Thanks Brian. Will probably purchase that or one similar in the near future.

5 minutes ago, GregOug said:

Bloody hell Hamish! I’ve read shorter books. Including War and Peace. (Look it up) Lol. Great reports. Keep at it.

Haha, cheers Greg. Glad you enjoyed.

Any luck up at Tin Can Bay?

Hamish

[GregOug]

Just now, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

Thanks Brian. Will probably purchase that or one similar in the near future.

Haha, cheers Greg. Glad you enjoyed.

Any luck up at Tin Can Bay?

Hamish

Not really. We have tried just about everywhere. But finally, on our last try at spot number 647 this afternoon we found a spot with some actual live fish. Only one keeper, a grassie, but the bite was hectic, with many undersized cod, Moses perch, squire etc etc. We had a ball! My tan is ten shades darker and the boat looks like a abattoir, but overall a great trip.

[ellicat]

7 minutes ago, GregOug said:

Not really. We have tried just about everywhere. But finally, on our last try at spot number 647 this afternoon we found a spot with some actual live fish. Only one keeper, a grassie, but the bite was hectic, with many undersized cod, Moses perch, squire etc etc. We had a ball! My tan is ten shades darker and the boat looks like a abattoir, but overall a great trip.

Too late now, but for next time, this thread has some marks but you will need to convert to decimals first (Google is your friend here).

 

 

[GregOug]

22 hours ago, ellicat said:

Too late now, but for next time, this thread has some marks but you will need to convert to decimals first (Google is your friend here).

 

 

Just plotted those coordinates. Unfortunately they are all for one approximately three hundred metre stretch of a very unexciting, fish barren river bank, including one which is actually an anchorage. So for others who may follow in my stead, don’t waste the time needed to convert the coordinates.

[ellicat]

Oops. I hadn't checked them out. Sorry for the bum steer. At least you will have a handle on the conversion method next time.

[GregOug]

3 minutes ago, GregOug said:

Just plotted those coordinates. Unfortunately they are all for one approximately three hundred metre stretch of a very unexciting, fish barren river bank, including one which is actually an anchorage. So for others who may follow in my stead, don’t waste the time needed to convert the coordinates.

Not your fault Brian. Thanks for thinking of me.

[GregOug]

2 minutes ago, ellicat said:

Oops. I hadn't checked them out. Sorry for the bum steer. At least you will have a handle on the conversion method next time.

Oh, I’m an expert at those already. Hasn’t helped me much so far however. Lol.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

On 08/03/2021 at 8:56 PM, GregOug said:

Not really. We have tried just about everywhere. But finally, on our last try at spot number 647 this afternoon we found a spot with some actual live fish. Only one keeper, a grassie, but the bite was hectic, with many undersized cod, Moses perch, squire etc etc. We had a ball! My tan is ten shades darker and the boat looks like a abattoir, but overall a great trip.

Good job Greg. Glad you had fun.

Cheers Hamish

[Jimmyjack]

On 08/03/2021 at 7:48 PM, ellicat said:

Yes, you can get removable ones or ones that fold down out of the way.

Or get a railblaza one with a starport.

Alternatively a good headlight is the $50 rechargeable from Jaycar. Thrws a good beam and lasts an hour or so between recharges.

[Licespray]

Love these reports, so well written.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

On 16/03/2021 at 3:49 PM, Jimmyjack said:

Or get a railblaza one with a starport.

Alternatively a good headlight is the $50 rechargeable from Jaycar. Thrws a good beam and lasts an hour or so between recharges.

Thanks Jimmyjack.

On 17/03/2021 at 9:22 AM, Licespray said:

Love these reports, so well written.

Thank you Licespray. I'm glad you enojoyed.

Cheers Hamish

P.S. Sorry for late replies, I forgot about the thread .