queensland I see Red

[tugger]

Headed up to 1770 for a good weather window mid week and got out for a few days on the reef in the Bunker group. The weather was exceptional on Tuesday when we left the ramp at 5am with the wind not getting over 5 knots till 5 pm. 

The fish were hungry as we got tuskies and red throat emperor stretching the lines. Then my deckie got a good fish with a coral trout hitting the deck.

We kept moving to keep the fish biting hiting my marks and finding new ones along the way. The plan was to fish the red grounds on the tide turn just before lunch.

It all went to plan when my line come tight on a solid fish with big head shakes. These fish are always an epic battle and I wasn't disappointed finally I called for the net and a good red emperor was landed.

 

The red throat emperor are hard pulling fish and there were a few stonkers on this trip. They don't give up till they are lifted into the boat and just as good on the dinner plate. Also got plenty of big spangled emperor and big trevally all hard pulling fish.

The end of the day we went to anchor behind the reef on the lee side and enjoyed a few well earned beers. The night was calm and the next morning we started working our way along fresh marks. We found some new grounds that fished well and Adam hooked a good cod.

We lost many big fish to sharks and I got 1 large red emperor head back missing its back end. By lunch on Wednesday we had moved down to Fitzroy lagoon and hooked up to a mooring. A swim and a beer was the go here so why not at the same time.

From here I pointed the boat for home after a very successful trip. By the end we had caught red emperor, tuskies, red throat emperor, black spot estuary cod, Moses perch, Maori cod, coral trout coronation trout, trevally, spangled emperor and hussa.

 

[Old Scaley]

Nice fish, nice photos and nice report, Mark. You look like you might be enjoying that beer and swim.

[tugger]

51 minutes ago, Old Scaley said:

Nice fish, nice photos and nice report, Mark. You look like you might be enjoying that beer and swim.

Very much so Steve

[kmcrosby78]

Nice one Mark, congrats on the red and some nice fish in the box. Looks like you nailed the conditions .

[Kat]

Looks like an awesome trip.  Beautiful fish!

[tugger]

13 hours ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Nice one Mark, congrats on the red and some nice fish in the box. Looks like you nailed the conditions .

Thanks Kelvin always makes the trip having some red in the box

[tugger]

5 hours ago, Kat said:

Looks like an awesome trip.  Beautiful fish!

Thanks Kat looking forward to the next one already

[Kat]

11 minutes ago, tugger said:

Thanks Kat looking forward to the next one already

Cool.  Can I ask what sort of boat you have? Just wondering what I would need to buy if I wanted to go on similar trips?

[tugger]

24 minutes ago, Kat said:

Cool.  Can I ask what sort of boat you have? Just wondering what I would need to buy if I wanted to go on similar trips?

5.4m aluminium cuddy cab allycraft, it has a 100hp 4 stroke Yamaha. Definitely not the biggest boat that gets around up there but I put an extra fuel tank in to give it more range.

[Kat]

Cool.  What are the maximum wind conditions you would take it out in?  Sorry absolute newbie when it comes to boating and trying to learn as much as poss before I get the money to get my license and buy one

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Great job Mark. Looks like you had a good haul.

That cod is a ripper. And that's a serious reel for the big red! 80LB?

Cheers Hamish

[tugger]

8 hours ago, Kat said:

Cool.  What are the maximum wind conditions you would take it out in?  Sorry absolute newbie when it comes to boating and trying to learn as much as poss before I get the money to get my license and buy one

Up there you only want 5 to 10 max when crossing the paddock which is 60km of open water  before getting to the reef then the reef gives you a bit of protection and it always gets windy at night there but by then you are tucked in behind a big reef system. Alot of factors come in like my boat goes well in a following sea so I can sneek up there with a stronger southerly if I know the next couple of days it will drop out.

These things you will learn for your self, I have had my boat for 16 years and I worked on the water for the past 35 years so knowing sea conditions is second nature. Feel free to ask questions I'm happy to help that's how you learn as we all have to along the way.

[tugger]

24 minutes ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

Great job Mark. Looks like you had a good haul.

That cod is a ripper. And that's a serious reel for the big red! 80LB?

Cheers Hamish

Thanks Hamish the reel is a Shimano talica 12 with 40 lb braid 

[jon]

Another successful mission north mate. Got me itching to get back up there well done

[Drop Bear]

cracking trip mate. I wish my timing was better. 

So good to see quality fish coming on board. 

That beer looks so welcome... 

Well done and thanks for the report. 

[Drop Bear]

18 hours ago, Kat said:

Cool.  Can I ask what sort of boat you have? Just wondering what I would need to buy if I wanted to go on similar trips?

Buy one of these cat

https://www.barcrusher.com.au/models/780ht/

https://www.cruisecraft.com.au/showroom/cuddy_cabins/cruisecraft_explorer_720.php

Ill be your decky anytime

 

[Kat]

51 minutes ago, Drop Bear said:

 

Ill be your decky anytime

 

1.  I don't buy lotto tickets.

2. Even if I did I couldn't possibly have you decky for me until I see how capable you are...hint hint.  Lol.

Cheers Kat

P.s.  Not sure what the price is but pretty sure my family would Lynch me if I spent all of my son's insurance money on a boat!

 

[Drop Bear]

3 minutes ago, Kat said:

1.  I don't buy lotto tickets.

2. Even if I did I couldn't possibly have you decky for me until I see how capable you are...hint hint.  Lol.

Cheers Kat

P.s.  Not sure what the price is but pretty sure my family would Lynch me if I spent all of my son's insurance money on a boat!

 

Pfft they are cheap. that's why I have one... (I wish... only in my dreams)

Not much change from $120k... So in reality, I don't see me getting one any time soon. 

[Kat]

Me neither

[tugger]

5 hours ago, jon said:

Another successful mission north mate. Got me itching to get back up there well done

The little tinnie does it again

[tugger]

4 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

cracking trip mate. I wish my timing was better. 

So good to see quality fish coming on board. 

That beer looks so welcome... 

Well done and thanks for the report. 

Thanks Robbie fingers crossed we line up next time

[Meeuwissen]

Sweet write up. Heading up there today from Hervey bay. Only will have a little tinny with me but hopefully can find a couple of trout inshore

[tugger]

10 hours ago, Meeuwissen said:

Sweet write up. Heading up there today from Hervey bay. Only will have a little tinny with me but hopefully can find a couple of trout inshore

We got a few trout up at bustard head 

[Do$tylz]

Great trip Mark. How good is that visibly consistent weather. Your photos show how nice it is out there.

Do you also do the head up overnight and launch straight away and then come back to shore and drive home straight away as well? What's your tips on doing that safely considering not falling asleep at the wheel?

[tugger]

4 hours ago, Do$tylz said:

Great trip Mark. How good is that visibly consistent weather. Your photos show how nice it is out there.

Do you also do the head up overnight and launch straight away and then come back to shore and drive home straight away as well? What's your tips on doing that safely considering not falling asleep at the wheel?

Thanks Henry I do know a few crews who drive up and head straight out and do the same heading home. I have the luxury most times to stay in town to break up the trip. The trip from my house to 1770 is 6 hours on average by road then where we fish is 2.5 to 3 hours drive in the boat. Add the sea conditions fishing for 2 to 3 days and it can knock you around a bit then factor my age this is why I like to break it up. All possible but you will feel it.