queensland Good 'Tings Were Happening

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Hi all

I was lucky enough to be invited out for the second time in the school holidays on Brian's ( @ellicat's ) boat, along with Steve ( @Old Scaley ). Kat ( @Kat ) was also coming along in her boat, and the plan was to meet at the ramp at about 7. It was a public holiday, so we did think it would be busy. After meeting up at 6 and driving to the ramp at Jacob's Well (and stopping at Gem Bait and Tackle for live worms) we were putting the boat in a bit before 7. We decided to head off and meet Kat on the water, so after a short boat ride through the vast expanse of mangrove lined saltwater we had arrived at the first chosen location. We all cut up some worm and lowered our baits into the water. 

This was the weather for the whole day. It was windy but that kept us cool at least!

After a short period of time and a few little nibbles, Steve began the day with a small whiting. I followed suite shortly after, and a bit more time passed. Brian nailed a little one now, as well. I gave my worm a big cast, and after about five minutes I had a better hit on my rod. This fish was pretty decent, and we were all happy to see a 41CM flatty surface beside the boat. After a bit of mucking after dehooking and brain spiking it, he was quickly released to the esky.

Yum!

I retied my hook and trace, and then got another bit of worm out. This time, my line was smashed! It was a good bite, but I called it for something little. That was until it got near the boat. My little 2500 sized reel began to feel the sheer strength of this large fish of some sort as it tugged hard on the end. It ran down deep and in it's desperate bid of freedom to escape almost tangled in the prop. Luckily, Brian expertly slid the net under the large whiting just before it could escape. We were all excited - it went 34CM on the measuring stick. That's a new PB for me. Woohoo!!!

Good Whiting

At this spot, we all got a couple more nibbles, and if my memory serves me correctly, Steve and Brian pulled in some more undersize whiting. It got pretty quiet here though, which was a bit of a bummer, but we moved on to a spot that had proved successful before. After a long and treacherous voyage where sandbars and anchored boats were treated like the balls in a game of dodge ball, we were there. The anchor was dropped and our worms were deployed. We were running low, so some of the frozen worms were used. Unfortunately, despite upping the sinker size, and braving it out in the wind, we could not entice any fish whatsoever. Around this time, Kat came along in her boat, and we met up. We all hatched a plan to go to a nearby spot where we could beach the boat. We drove here, had a quick chat, and planned the rest of the day. It was good to catch up Kat! And thanks for the delicious snacks

We managed to get to the next spot without drama, so we anchored up and deployed baits. The comp was on now - yabbies (on C-jay, Kat's boat), and live blood worms (on Ellicatch, Brian's boat). Now, this is where good 'tings started to happen. I believe Steve got the first keeper, which put up a fun fight once it saw the boat, followed by Brian. It was looking good for Brian when he pulled up a large whiting which almost made it to the 40CM mark, at 35.5CM! A great whiting! I eventually managed one too, a couple centimetres below this. They were all sizeable, but the bite was timid, and until they were really close to the boat, the fight was timid too. I believe at this point it was 3 all, to all of us, and the tide started to slow. Steve nailed another large whiting, which was a very similar size to Brian's big one. 

I think this biggun was 35.5CM. One of the biggest for the day!

Another biggun. 

One of mine

I cast my bait out towards the bank, and Brian and Steve kept theirs's out on the deeper side. I felt a little bite and before I knew it, I was winding in another slick silver ingot of whiting. This was one of the smallest for the day, at a mere 26CM. I also caught a small flatty at this spot, which was about 10CM (beyond me how I hooked it). After a little while longer Brian wound his line in and to our surprise a very sizeable whiting was residing on the end, which didn't even put a bend in the rod until it was in close. We were all happy with that!

After this, we stayed here a little bit longer. I began flicking a lure around but I had no luck, and the bait fishing was quiet. The decision was made to head over to the Tiger Mullet Channel, where we would continue our whiting quest. Kat followed us along and we both trolled a couple lures on the way other, for no fish. The sounder was showing a little bit of bait in certain spots, which looked promising at the beginning. At the TMC, the skipper of a larger boat flagged us down because he had hit the bottom. We did some reconnaissance to find the deepest area he could be in around the boat and then he was on his way back in the channel . At the chosen location, which was near a sandbar, I continued to flick my plastic around. A prawn imitation lure I was using got some nibbles, from a presumed whiting, but unfortunately, I did not catch anything. Steve and Brian, on the other hand, each managed catches of weed, and undersize whiting. Lol. 

The final spot of the day was on the opposite side of the TMC, and I resorted back to bait here. I hooked an even smaller flatty than before, which I couldn't even feel on the line, and apart from that it was quite quiet here. On my next cast, I flicked my line so hard that it snapped. It was tangled around my reel and I did not notice. That was annoying, but after that, I was tasked with pulling the anchor up and we were fast tracked to get back to the ramp. 

After retrieving the boat and the rather uneventful drive home, we divided up the fish. There were 13 keeper whiting and one keeper flatty in total. My share have all been filleted and are tomorrow night's tea.  

The final haul

My fillets. I did a very bad job (even in my books) so scooped out everything I'd missed. 

Thanks for having me out again Brian and Steve, I hope you didn't mind! Kat, it was good to catch up too! I hope everyone enjoyed this report as much as I enjoyed the day fishing!  

Stats of Trip - 

Tide: 2:42AM, .4M, Low, 8:20AM, 1.5M, High, 2:30PM, .3M, Low

Moon Phase: Waning Crescent, 5%

Bait Caught: -

Bait Used: Live Worms

Fish Caught: Whiting x 13 (keepers), Flathead x 1 (keepers)

TAckle Used: 12LB braid mainline, on a Ugly Stik Gold 2-5KG and Diawa Shinobi 2500 reel. I did not look at what Steve and Brian were using. We were using 6-10 pound leaders, with size 2-4 ball sinkers, small long shank hooks, live worms, and barrel swivels. 

Humidity: 32%

Temperature (air): 29 degree High 

Air Pressure: 1004

Overall Success Rate: 95% - a great day out!!!

Cheers Hamish

 

[Angry51]

Sounds like a good day was had by all.

That water looks nice, and the fish even better.

[Allnighter]

Nice report Hamish, and nice catch of whitings lads !!

What is Brian referring to with his thumb and forefinger?

Lol

[ellicat]

Good one Hamish. It was a good day and we actually caught some dinner ! Thanks for coming along.

 

[ellicat]

16 minutes ago, Allnighter said:

What is Brian referring to with his thumb and forefinger?

I was simply making the comparison between the size of Steve's and the size of mine. We did need to clarify this at the time.

[GregOug]

Well done all. A successful day out.

[Old Scaley]

Nice report @AUS-BNE-FISHO.  We didn’t fill the esky but the quality was there. See you next school holidays.

[kmcrosby78]

Great day out there team and a very well written report Hamish, well done all . How did @Kat go?

[Kat]

As for team C-Jay (name of boat) with the yabbies, the fishing was slow and hindered by 1. Putting stupid Bimini back on boat (hate it with a passion but apparently guests on board don't want their kids to get Melanoma); and 2. A six and ten year old who have a request or need every 10 seconds.  Tangling lines around anchor etc etc.

I was impressed that the almost 6 year old decided she wanted to pull anchor and so I stood next to her to give her a hand and she flatly refused any help and expertly and quite quickly pulled in the rope and 4 metres of heavy chain only requiring assistance once the anchor itself was caught on the bow and she couldn't reach far enough forward to lift it over.  I was stunned by her determination.  This little one caught a 57cm flattie all by herself a couple of weeks ago and was the first to land two fish in the boat on Monday!  Her dad is an avid fisho and very proud.

As to legal fish released to the Esky on Monday there was a stonker fat 34.5 cm whiting and a decent 30 cm one, a 44cm flattie and a smallish flounder. The former three listed were landed by the BF (outfished as usual).

A couple of legal sized Bream were released back to the water to annoy another angler in the future. There were some smaller Bream and Tarwhine also landed.  

The flattie and whiting are enough for me and the BF for tea so I suppose given my bait was free (as opposed to the $50.00 spent on worms) it was reasonably economical and a fun day other than my lack of actual fishing time.

Must also mention we were behind the competition from the get go as someone forgot to put the yabbies in the boat and we had to turn around about half way to the ramp to collect them.  So we got at least an hour's less time in the water.  Enough excuses?

It was fantastic to catch up with everyone again.  

Hamish must have shot up at least a foot since I saw him last probably about a year ago I think.  Time flies.

Cheers Kat

[ellicat]

You had some things going against team C-Jay. If I'd parked behind that boat at Kalinga bank and not suggested you tuck in behind them instead of us you would have been fishing our patch and the results may have been reversed. Impressive anchor pulling for the little one !

Your food supply could see you as a provider in high demand for future outings.

[Kat]

Awesome, more invites then!?

I actually made chocolate cupcakes the day before for the little ones Birthday dinner and they were divine - better than the carrot cake cupcakes if you like chocolate anyway.  

Have made so many Sandwhiches in the last few months that I think I am becoming a bit of an expert lol.  They are so easy for fishing and you can eat them for breakfast lunch or dinner depending on when you are out in the boat.

Now I need to find a couple of Gluten Free recipes for next trip with @GregOug.

 

[GregOug]

39 minutes ago, Kat said:

Now I need to find a couple of Gluten Free recipes for next trip with @GregOug.

 

Don’t bank on them being ‘divine’! Lol.

[tugger]

Great report and a nice feed of fish it's hard to beat whiting and flathead on the pan.

[benno573]

Nice one guys and gals. Cracker day out.

[Drop Bear]

Great trip and great report mate. 

Glad they were biting.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

On 05/10/2021 at 7:33 PM, Angry51 said:

Sounds like a good day was had by all.

That water looks nice, and the fish even better.

Thanks Angry. The whiting were delicious. 

On 05/10/2021 at 7:44 PM, Allnighter said:

Nice report Hamish, and nice catch of whitings lads !!

What is Brian referring to with his thumb and forefinger?

Lol

Cheers Allnighter

On 05/10/2021 at 8:00 PM, ellicat said:

Good one Hamish. It was a good day and we actually caught some dinner ! Thanks for coming along.

 

Thanks Brian, it was great being out there.

On 05/10/2021 at 11:50 PM, GregOug said:

Well done all. A successful day out.

Thank you Greg. 

On 06/10/2021 at 7:44 AM, Old Scaley said:

Nice report @AUS-BNE-FISHO.  We didn’t fill the esky but the quality was there. See you next school holidays.

Thanks Steve, there were some good whiting.

On 06/10/2021 at 8:07 AM, kmcrosby78 said:

Great day out there team and a very well written report Hamish, well done all . How did @Kat go?

Thanks KM. 

On 06/10/2021 at 8:29 AM, Kat said:

As for team C-Jay (name of boat) with the yabbies, the fishing was slow and hindered by 1. Putting stupid Bimini back on boat (hate it with a passion but apparently guests on board don't want their kids to get Melanoma); and 2. A six and ten year old who have a request or need every 10 seconds.  Tangling lines around anchor etc etc.

I was impressed that the almost 6 year old decided she wanted to pull anchor and so I stood next to her to give her a hand and she flatly refused any help and expertly and quite quickly pulled in the rope and 4 metres of heavy chain only requiring assistance once the anchor itself was caught on the bow and she couldn't reach far enough forward to lift it over.  I was stunned by her determination.  This little one caught a 57cm flattie all by herself a couple of weeks ago and was the first to land two fish in the boat on Monday!  Her dad is an avid fisho and very proud.

As to legal fish released to the Esky on Monday there was a stonker fat 34.5 cm whiting and a decent 30 cm one, a 44cm flattie and a smallish flounder. The former three listed were landed by the BF (outfished as usual).

A couple of legal sized Bream were released back to the water to annoy another angler in the future. There were some smaller Bream and Tarwhine also landed.  

The flattie and whiting are enough for me and the BF for tea so I suppose given my bait was free (as opposed to the $50.00 spent on worms) it was reasonably economical and a fun day other than my lack of actual fishing time.

Must also mention we were behind the competition from the get go as someone forgot to put the yabbies in the boat and we had to turn around about half way to the ramp to collect them.  So we got at least an hour's less time in the water.  Enough excuses?

It was fantastic to catch up with everyone again.  

Hamish must have shot up at least a foot since I saw him last probably about a year ago I think.  Time flies.

Cheers Kat

Thanks Kat. You still had a pretty good day. It was good to catch up again. I've sure been growing lots recently!

20 hours ago, tugger said:

Great report and a nice feed of fish it's hard to beat whiting and flathead on the pan.

Thanks tugger.

20 hours ago, benno573 said:

Nice one guys and gals. Cracker day out.

Thank you Benno.

4 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

Great trip and great report mate. 

Glad they were biting.

Thanks Robbie, it was good they were biting.

Cheers Hamish