queensland Pupil Free Days' are Best Spent in Moreton Bay!

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi all

The forecast for today was looking good... I had a pupil free day at school today... The dates and weather aligned perfectly, so Brian (@ellicat), Steve (@Old Scaley) and I planned a fishing trip in Moreton Bay. The gameplan was to fish in the Rous Channel for reefies (cod, tuskies, sweetlip, and more) and mackerel. It was a great day overall, with mint weather and a fair few fish caught as well!

We all met up at about quarter to seven, and we drove off to the Manly Boat Harbour Ramp. Gear was loaded up into Brian's boat, and the boat was launched into the pristine, chilly waters of Moreton Bay. We motored out of the harbour, and then picked up some serious velocity travelling to the Rous Channel. It was very calm, and while there was a tiny bit of chop, the boat handled it fine, and it was like a flat ride on the way over. 

I was in the back

Once we got there, we deployed between the two Rous spots. The best of both worlds, haha. Brian started off by floating a pilly out to see if there were any mackerel hanging about, and Steve and I started fishing the bottom. Straight away, we were getting pickered. The fish would nibble the bait, and I can only assume then narrowly miss the hook. Eventually, Steve got on the board with a little grassy - 

Twice the size would've be nice!

After that Grassy, we both continued to get pickered. I kept striking but failed to hook up to any fish. Soon, we had some pastries. While we were eating these, I put out a mackerel line, to see if anything would happen for me. I threw out my shiny pilchard in hope something would take it. It was just after this that I heard a reel screaming. Steve was on to something big! It had a couple good runs, and it was probably close to the boat, but at that moment the fish spat the hook. Blast! Steve proceeded to catch another grassy, about 25CM. 

It had gone a bit quiet for all of us, mainly because we could never hook any of those annoying pickers. Come on, bigguns! It's your time to bite... or at least that's what we all wanted. Just as I was rebaiting though, I heard the ratchet on my overhead reel clicking like no tomorrow! I picked up my rod, but unfortunately, it got tangled with Brian's line. It was a mess of knots, and looked like a jungle of braid. Brian handlined my so called 'mackerel' in, and the tension was building, especially since we thought we'd lost it (then we saw the float go under again). That is why it was really disappointing when we saw the infamous shape of a big, fat, toadfish. At least I was off the donut. Lol. 

 \

We got rid of him quick smart. 

After that fiasco (and a big thanks to Brian, he cut all his braid that was tangled and didn't touch mine once! ) we got back to fishing. The mackerel lines were deployed again, this time with a bit more thought put into the location and making sure they don't get caught up. We kept persisting at this spot, for a lot more pickers, and not many more hits. I was snagged, and busted off all my line, so I used a smaller hook to try and hook some. Brian had a bottom line and mackerel line in at one point as well, which probably gave us a decent chance at a bigger model. Steve also got snagged, and then changed to a little plastic.

To my surprise (I'm a very novice lure angler), Steve pulled in a Lancer, which was filleted and kept for bait, and a stripey, (also kept for bait), in quite a close time proximity to one another. Neither Brian or I had gotten any substantial hits on the mackerel line, though it is worth noting that when we had to deal with the tangle fiasco Brian's pilly had been mangled to bits. Everyone was getting annoyed at the pickers, and at this point, I brought some lollie snakes out. Around this time, I also heard another reel going off. I looked over at Brian's side of the boat, and the mackerel rod was bent over like a banana. There were no tell tale signs of a toadfish, so hopes were high. We got colour of the fish, and then sooner or later it was boatside. A nice tailor was landed, to get Brian off the donut. 

If only it was a couple centimetre's bigger; it would've been legal then. 

With a bit more hope going around the boat, everyone deployed lines back out. It was back to the waiting game now. Unfortunately for us, it seemed the pickers were getting smaller and smaller. We couldn't hook them at all, and while it was relentless action, none of it involved landing any fish! Eventually, after about 40 minutes odd, Steve hooked up to something big. The call was made early on that it was a bottom feeder, or ray, and after about 5 minutes later, we realised we were right (ish). A large Wobbegong Shark had been brought boatside, which was about 1.8 metres. Jeez!

3 metre flatty  

After that capture, the bites just got slower and slower. I was not getting as many pickers, and I don't think Brian and Steve were either. After another considerable time period, where turtles, and a possibly dugong was sighted breaching the surface, the call was made to move spots to a nearby location where we could drift. I pulled up the anchor (anchor duties for me, Lol) and Brian drove us to the new spot. 

Straight away, Steve was on. He fought it for a tiny bit, and up came a pinky. Man, we didn't even want a snapper, haha (close season). I shortly followed suite after missing a couple bites, with a slightly larger specimen. I believe Steve managed another, but this one was even smaller than the first. The spot was looking promising, with some OK shows on the sounder. Alas, no one hooked any fish here, which is what provoked us to move a bit more. 

First pinky in a while

We got to the next spot, and continued drifting. Nothing was interested in the mackerel lines, except a sea bird, which had a go at Brian's. While we were here, we decided that we would go to one of the weed/sand banks, and fish for some Winter Whiting. The reefies were not biting, but the new plan to move to Fisherman's Gutter seemed like a good one. Rods were re-rigged, and while we didn't exactly have the right gear we were close enough. 

We motored over nice and quick to the, now smaller, clump of boats. We lined up a drift, chopped up a few small bits of squid, and began fishing for the whiting. As we were just beginning we saw someone towing a scaling bag, so obviously someone was having success. To kick off our whiting campaign, I got a nice hit after about 10 minutes. I did not have the 'white' touch (get it ). I got about three more hits, but each time, I would feel my line go tight. Then, there would be a vigorous shaking. Then, there'd be nothing. Whether it was because I wasn't striking hard enough, or just plain bad luck, I don't know, but Steve and Brian eventually got in on the action too. Brian snuck a cast of to the right, Steve had one going out the left, and I had one straight out the middle. The two whiting warriors began getting a couple on board, which left the pressure on me. They were good fish too, and they were tugging the line alright (by the looks of it). 

Brian got a nice one (well, more like five)

Steve's Whiting, 29CM.

Anyways, while Brian and Steve continued to pull in whiting after whiting, I struggled to even get one to stay on the hook. I took their advice eventually, which was to change to a standard running ball sinker opposed to a paternoster rig. This worked a treat, and I pulled in my first ever sizeable Winter Whiting. Yay!

We finished this drift, and then decided that it was time to motor back up. Our next drift was a bit more quiet, and we struggled to get any nibbles. Brian did manage a toadfish though. Lol. As it neared 2:00PM, it was time to head back in. So we said bye to the Rous Channel, which had treated us kindly with mainly flat seas all day. The ride back in was comfy, and the majestic ocean swirled away as our boat glided across the surface, like it was ice. 

Eventually we were back at the ramp, so we loaded the whiting up (grand total - ten ) and got stuck into the packup. The boat was tied up, and while we were at the ramp I sussed the fish-ability. I was told it may be an OK spot for tailor, so when I get my surf reel/Alvey, I will need to try for them here! We drove back, and then said our goodbyes, until the next time we may go and see one another again. 

It was a great day on the bay! N vnbco one doughnuted, and courtesy of Steve and Brian I got to take home a nice feed of Winter Whiting. It was awesome fun chatting and fishing in the boat, so thanks for having me out guys!!! Also, thanks @Cavvy for letting me go!

If you are still here, I hope you enjoyed this report. Here are the stats of the trip - 

Statistics of Trip - 

Tide: 4:30AM, 1.95M, High, 11:00AM, .46M, Low, 5:40PM, 2.18M, High (according to WillyWeather)

Moon Phase: Around First Quarter Phase

Bait Caught: Stripey, Lancer

Bait Used: Prawns, pillies, squid, stripey, lancer

Tackle Used: I had a 15LB and 20LB braid mainline set up, and I believe Steve had 16LB, and Brian something similar. We were using 3/o-5/o circle hooks and suicide hooks, and gang hooks for the mackerel. Brian and I each had torpedo floats on. We had 15-30LB leaders for all lines, made out of fluorocarbon. Sinkers varied throughout the day, with a 3-6 ball being predominately used. Brian had a Shimano Symetre reel, I had a Shimano Stradic and Abu Garcia Barra King, Steve had a Shimano Stradic. I had a Shimano Raider Snapper, And Ugly Stik, and I do not know what everyone else had. 

Fish Caught: Pinky x 3, Grassy x 2, Tailor x 1, Toadfish x 2, Whiting x 10, Lancer x 1, Stripey x 1

Air Pressure: 1016-1019 mbar

Humidity: 54%-69%

Wind: 3 knots

Weather: 22^oC, Sunny. No squalls or rain in sight!

Overall Success Rate: 80% - we did not get any mackerel, but it was still a great day, and Plan B worked out marvellous! 
Cheers Hamish

[Allnighter]

Nice report Hamish

I was gunna head out this morning too for sum whiting, but too cold for me so went back to bed

[ellicat]

Good to have you out there, Hamish. A shame the macks are making themselves scarce this year. Might have to troll around a bit to see if our luck changes.

Thanks to @Cavvy for letting you come out with us. I enjoyed the day.

[Cavvy]

Looks like it was the perfect day to be out in the bay and enough action to keep things interesting.  Would have liked to have been there myself rather than in the office!

[Old Scaley]

It sure was a beautiful day to be on the water.  Shame that we couldn’t get you onto a trophy fish, Hamish, but at least you got a feed. And you get an A+ for your written expression. 

[Drop Bear]

Nice work lads. Glad you ended up scaping up a feed of delicious whiting! 

I was out there from about 12.30. It was one of the best days on the water I have seen! So good. 

[samsteele115]

17 hours ago, ellicat said:

Good to have you out there, Hamish. A shame the macks are making themselves scarce this year. Might have to troll around a bit to see if our luck changes.

Thanks to @Cavvy for letting you come out with us. I enjoyed the day.

I don't target schoolies much yet (0 from 6 from the last two efforts), but from all reports they seem to be in better numbers in the rainbow channel instead of Rous compared to previous years. 

[samsteele115]

Great report hamish! Enjoyed that, mate

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

21 hours ago, Allnighter said:

Nice report Hamish

I was gunna head out this morning too for sum whiting, but too cold for me so went back to bed

Hi Allnighter

 Thanks! It was pretty chilly to begin with but it actually got quite warm towards the end of the session.

21 hours ago, ellicat said:

Good to have you out there, Hamish. A shame the macks are making themselves scarce this year. Might have to troll around a bit to see if our luck changes.

Thanks to @Cavvy for letting you come out with us. I enjoyed the day.

Hey Brian

Thanks! Hopefully next year the mackerel season will be extra good. @Cavvy loved the whiting tonight, which I must say were worth filleting!

12 hours ago, Cavvy said:

Looks like it was the perfect day to be out in the bay and enough action to keep things interesting.  Would have liked to have been there myself rather than in the office!

Thanks. It was sure a good day.

7 hours ago, Old Scaley said:

It sure was a beautiful day to be on the water.  Shame that we couldn’t get you onto a trophy fish, Hamish, but at least you got a feed. And you get an A+ for your written expression. 

Heya Steve

Thanks, and yes, it was indeed. The whiting we still fun to catch. It is a shame that one you hooked at the start busted off. 

6 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

Nice work lads. Glad you ended up scaping up a feed of delicious whiting! 

I was out there from about 12.30. It was one of the best days on the water I have seen! So good. 

Hi Robbie 

Cheers. They were certainly very tasty. I know because it past my mum’s taste test! (She hardly ever is satisfied with the fish I eat, lol). 
 

4 hours ago, samsteele115 said:

I don't target schoolies much yet (0 from 6 from the last two efforts), but from all reports they seem to be in better numbers in the rainbow channel instead of Rous compared to previous years. 

 

4 hours ago, samsteele115 said:

Great report hamish! Enjoyed that, mate

Hi Sam

Thanks. It was a shame there were no mackerel but the whiting were still great fun. I’m glad you enjoyed the report.

Cheers Hamish

[Drop Bear]

On 20/07/2021 at 7:30 PM, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

he whiting were still great fun

Yum that looks good mate. Well done. 

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

2 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

Yum that looks good mate. Well done. 

Thanks. They sure were!