The Mad Hughesy

I went out with a charter in Hervey Bay who did not believe on sneaking up on the schools. He literally drove right up to them every time and it did not scare them at all! Cant do that here
ive got a Quintrex 5m coast runner

I went out with a charter in Hervey Bay who did not believe on sneaking up on the schools. He literally drove right up to them every time and it did not scare them at all! Cant do that here
ive got a Quintrex 5m coast runner

Good to get out on the water and also get some boat ramp practice Chris. Something else I've realised lately when retrieving mine solo is the importance of how far I reverse the trailer into the water - too far and the boat doesn't sit/grip on the rear rollers and can float around in the water while I'm trying to get back to the winch. Take note of that next time and bit by bit you'll find it easier and easier 🙂 

Howdy all,
Got a big monkey off my back on the weekend, had my first solo trip! Launching was easy, retrieving is a different story! much harder to get the boat on the trailer straight...anyway
Arrived nice and late around 7:30am at Scarborough marina boat ramp to see only 3 trailer spots left. I had no real plan except for looking for bust ups and hitting some beacons. Found a few bust ups on the way over but couldnt hook up. Hit the 4 beacons for no fish ( id never seen so many boats!!!) Looking at my navionics app, i decided to go all the way to Tangalooma for a look and hoped to find some fish along the way. i spent the next 2 hours chasign down schools, casting 30g halco twistys, 20g, 15g, 5 inch plastics...nothing worked! i was lucky enough to score one very small mack tuna. I had tuna all around my boat at many stages and i could see them hitting bait next to my boat but not my lures. But that's Moreton Bay tuna for you! every variety, bonito, mack tuna and plenty big large long tails.   Schools of fish everywhere in the main shipping channel running along the wrecks. 
i was happy with one fish, the day for me was more about getting out solo and teahcing myself to launch the boat alone and really testing myself and my boat. Not something id like to do again lol much better with a fishing buddy. Also learnt that i can get to Moreton and back on a single tank...unsure on usage as i havent filled it up again yet. I now have curtin artificial on my mind...next time!  

Howdy all,
Got a big monkey off my back on the weekend, had my first solo trip! Launching was easy, retrieving is a different story! much harder to get the boat on the trailer straight...anyway
Arrived nice and late around 7:30am at Scarborough marina boat ramp to see only 3 trailer spots left. I had no real plan except for looking for bust ups and hitting some beacons. Found a few bust ups on the way over but couldnt hook up. Hit the 4 beacons for no fish ( id never seen so many boats!!!) Looking at my navionics app, i decided to go all the way to Tangalooma for a look and hoped to find some fish along the way. i spent the next 2 hours chasign down schools, casting 30g halco twistys, 20g, 15g, 5 inch plastics...nothing worked! i was lucky enough to score one very small mack tuna. I had tuna all around my boat at many stages and i could see them hitting bait next to my boat but not my lures. But that's Moreton Bay tuna for you! every variety, bonito, mack tuna and plenty big large long tails.   Schools of fish everywhere in the main shipping channel running along the wrecks. 
i was happy with one fish, the day for me was more about getting out solo and teahcing myself to launch the boat alone and really testing myself and my boat. Not something id like to do again lol much better with a fishing buddy. Also learnt that i can get to Moreton and back on a single tank...unsure on usage as i havent filled it up again yet. I now have curtin artificial on my mind...next time!  

never kept one to be honest, only ever caught a handful of them. Ive used them fresh before and whole. Unsure about the best way to keep them

great tip, thanks
No i threw it back actually! silly me should have kept it hah

let him go mate. would hae been a great small shark bait but i wanted to let him go as the tuna at the time were till all around my boat and i wanted a bigger one haha

great tip, thanks
No i threw it back actually! silly me should have kept it hah

let him go mate. would hae been a great small shark bait but i wanted to let him go as the tuna at the time were till all around my boat and i wanted a bigger one haha

Howdy all,
Got a big monkey off my back on the weekend, had my first solo trip! Launching was easy, retrieving is a different story! much harder to get the boat on the trailer straight...anyway
Arrived nice and late around 7:30am at Scarborough marina boat ramp to see only 3 trailer spots left. I had no real plan except for looking for bust ups and hitting some beacons. Found a few bust ups on the way over but couldnt hook up. Hit the 4 beacons for no fish ( id never seen so many boats!!!) Looking at my navionics app, i decided to go all the way to Tangalooma for a look and hoped to find some fish along the way. i spent the next 2 hours chasign down schools, casting 30g halco twistys, 20g, 15g, 5 inch plastics...nothing worked! i was lucky enough to score one very small mack tuna. I had tuna all around my boat at many stages and i could see them hitting bait next to my boat but not my lures. But that's Moreton Bay tuna for you! every variety, bonito, mack tuna and plenty big large long tails.   Schools of fish everywhere in the main shipping channel running along the wrecks. 
i was happy with one fish, the day for me was more about getting out solo and teahcing myself to launch the boat alone and really testing myself and my boat. Not something id like to do again lol much better with a fishing buddy. Also learnt that i can get to Moreton and back on a single tank...unsure on usage as i havent filled it up again yet. I now have curtin artificial on my mind...next time!  

Howdy all,
Got a big monkey off my back on the weekend, had my first solo trip! Launching was easy, retrieving is a different story! much harder to get the boat on the trailer straight...anyway
Arrived nice and late around 7:30am at Scarborough marina boat ramp to see only 3 trailer spots left. I had no real plan except for looking for bust ups and hitting some beacons. Found a few bust ups on the way over but couldnt hook up. Hit the 4 beacons for no fish ( id never seen so many boats!!!) Looking at my navionics app, i decided to go all the way to Tangalooma for a look and hoped to find some fish along the way. i spent the next 2 hours chasign down schools, casting 30g halco twistys, 20g, 15g, 5 inch plastics...nothing worked! i was lucky enough to score one very small mack tuna. I had tuna all around my boat at many stages and i could see them hitting bait next to my boat but not my lures. But that's Moreton Bay tuna for you! every variety, bonito, mack tuna and plenty big large long tails.   Schools of fish everywhere in the main shipping channel running along the wrecks. 
i was happy with one fish, the day for me was more about getting out solo and teahcing myself to launch the boat alone and really testing myself and my boat. Not something id like to do again lol much better with a fishing buddy. Also learnt that i can get to Moreton and back on a single tank...unsure on usage as i havent filled it up again yet. I now have curtin artificial on my mind...next time!  

well done mate. i just knew that your persistance would pay off. great fish

that eel is perfect bait for bullies! plus you will fin that not much else will take it. Catfish still will have a nibble but not as much compared to other baits. 

that eel is perfect bait for bullies! plus you will fin that not much else will take it. Catfish still will have a nibble but not as much compared to other baits. 

that eel is perfect bait for bullies! plus you will fin that not much else will take it. Catfish still will have a nibble but not as much compared to other baits. 

Hi christophagus
Yup, I am very happy. In fact, I have never had anything else take an eel bait alone. 🙂 
Cheers Hamish

that eel is perfect bait for bullies! plus you will fin that not much else will take it. Catfish still will have a nibble but not as much compared to other baits. 

it will do both of those things...but probably not the best option 
when you talk about chasing snapper, do you mean big snaps offshore or more bay sized snapper? id think a 4000 sized reel would be much better suited. i use 4000 for pelagics in the bay. 50lb braid is very heavy for the bay. My 4000 reels have 20lb and 30lb on them

it will do both of those things...but probably not the best option 
when you talk about chasing snapper, do you mean big snaps offshore or more bay sized snapper? id think a 4000 sized reel would be much better suited. i use 4000 for pelagics in the bay. 50lb braid is very heavy for the bay. My 4000 reels have 20lb and 30lb on them

So where does this leave the memberships for the PRFMA? it has had the same notice on the website for a while now. we have had alot of rain so far in 2020 to he point where NPD now hasto release water...will we see new permits available for purchase?

Peter Hansler just posted this on facebook so looks like some fish will go over. The bass that survive will be ok and can even movem to different rivers and can assist the genetic pool. Yellas cannot tolerate the salt so will either die or become bullie fodder. Hope SEQ water will be on the ball and translocate the lungies back into the dam. Cheers Ray

Give them a ring if you are desperate just be aware that you will be paying full amount for 4.5 months access.

yeah you can do, ive been stuck by cat fish spines before...they give a good tickle!! just a quick snap off with the pliers does the job.
 

I was part of a Facebook run kayak comp over the weekend. The target species was Mangrove jack (which no one managed to land)
We launched at about 6:30am from Banksia beach, and myself with a fair few other competitors headed straight up the canals.
I was hit by what I can assume was a jack very early in the day, it hit like a train at full speed and I never had a chance to get him out. He dusted me up in about 10 seconds…straight through 40lb leader! 
From there on it was a quiet day, I managed a small cod and a big eye trevally. Both caught on Zman Swimmerz in motor oil. There plenty of schools of trevally around, but they were hard catch, they weren’t taking much. I sounded out a lot of bait school with fishing surrounding the bait…my guess was more trevally. I trolled through them, threw paddle tails, jigged prawn lures….but could never get a touch.
Finished up around 12:30 when I was knackered from the belting heat.
Also ran into the nessy of the passage on the way home….he/she created a massive wave when it scurried away as I got closer. Vid below too
All in all it was a tough day fishing, 7 hours on the water for 2 fish but I must say, it was great fun to fish in a comp again…maybe the Moreton Bay or Bris River classic might make a come back on day…here’s hoping.
 

FullSizeRender.mov