queensland stanage bay trip.

[Leeroy]

HI Guys,

Was hoping the photo issue was solved before posting this trip but better late than never.

Left home early on the 4^th October and met mate a Nudgee and did the drive to the old stomping grounds of Hampo (also known as Rockhampton).

Met a mate with his 4.53 Territory Sea Jay, stocked up with ice and fuel and headed north to Stanage bay.

Road in was really good after hearing all the horror stories. 70km of bitumen and only 30km of dirt which had mostly been recently graded but pretty dry and dusty in some parts.

Set up camp late arvo and rigged up ready for the first time chasing barra. Excited was an understatement.

Now unfortunately due to the first night piss up we were up a little bit late the next morning and definitely a bit shady. Anyway we were off. Headed out the front for a jig on some rubble ground for no luck and a sea sick mate who had never been offshore, nothing to do with still being hungover.

Headed up the passage to the first creek and saw fish on the side scan straight away, second snag we fished and about half an hour in I hooked the first barra on a vibe in deep on the snag. Great hit and fight and landed my first barra at 75cm.

A few casts later on the same vibe I hooked a lot bigger one and lost it not long after. A mighty swirl is all I saw. Doh!

Change of spots and with lots of fish on the sounder tried the same vibe and hooked a 63cm grunter which gave me a bit of curry. PB and back she went.

Back to the first snag a little bit later later and a change of lure to a fat shad and I had annother 76cm Barra. A lot better fight and eventually in the net.

And then I lost the magic vibe on the snag, and as much as we tried we couldn’t get it back. I shed a tear or two I have to say. Didn’t get a bite on any other colour all trip.

Day two was very slow and bloody hot. The dog was not happy and we had to constantly wet him down.

Straight to the creeks and hit probably 20 creeks for a few fingermark biggest by my mate at 42cm. Missed a few bites on Texas rigged paddle tails and learnt a bit of respect after being dusted a few times.

Skipper got a 65cm barra at one of the last snags for the day. Back for more beers and snooze for me. The other two went out for a late arvo session with no luck on the ledge out the front.

Saturday was windy with 15 – 20kt SE blowing early but we’ll just go ‘around the corner’ my mate said. 60kms late we get back to the ramp broken, battered but with my mate getting a 76cm barra. Bugger only started fishing 6 months ago. I won’t forget that trip back in a hurry and either will my back.

Good feed at the pub that night and packed up camp in the morning for the drive back home.

Great trip with a couple of good mates and already planning the next one.

 https://imgur.com/gallery/clIm6RJ

[ellicat]

Sounds like a great way to tick off a barra from the list.

Top photos. You look very happy with yourself. Your dog looks bewildered. haha

[Old Scaley]

Thanks for sharing and congrats on your first Barra. That first night fever is a killer and highly contagious.

[mangajack]

Ahh Stanage....the place where we all learn rules the hard way.

I have had some good runs there and some where you just can't buy a bite.

It must be getting quite busy there these days to afford so much black top coming in.

[Neil Stratford]

Some nice fish there, well done .

[Rebel]

Great story.

Well done.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

Great report, sounds like a nice trip. 

[Bob9863]

That's why I usually have 3 of every lure in 3 or 4 different colours in my box, that way if one colour and style is working and I loose it, I've got two spares.

That practice has caught me a lot of fish that I otherwise wouldn't have caught when i lost a magic lure.

[Leeroy]

3 hours ago, Bob9863 said:

That's why I usually have 3 of every lure in 3 or 4 different colours in my box, that way if one colour and style is working and I loose it, I've got two spares.

That practice has caught me a lot of fish that I otherwise wouldn't have caught when i lost a magic lure.

I tried to get a couple before i left but it was the week of the flathead classic and couldn't find any anywhere local. Allready ordered a few more.

 

[Bob9863]

Then you should be set for next trip.

[GregOug]

Good report. Looks a place you don’t want to forget to pack your reef shoes.
 

Love the campfire! Who doesn’t?