tugger

Plenty of whales near us all morning surfacing and breaching all around us. A fishing and whale watching trip for Stefan.

There will be plenty of snapper there this time of year the Spanish will be heading north soon as the water cools.

Went out yesterday with Robbie (drop bear) and a friend of his from Germany. We headed out early and crossed south passage bar at 1st light then stopped at the bait grounds. Then once enough live bait was collected we anchored up off point lookout nth stradie. Conditions were a bit lumpy but smoothed off a bit behind the rock in and around the whirlpools made by the current. The snapper were patchy at 1st but got thicker as we got closer to the top of the tide. Then a shark took a liking to our live bait and Stefan played with this beast for 15 minutes or so before breaking him off. The next live bait didn't last long before a Spanish mackerel made the reel scream but again the fish won its freedom. The 3rd slimie mackerel again was out for only a couple of minutes before another Spanaird took off. Stefan was a bit seasick but it was not stopping him from fighting this fish. After a few blistering runs the mackerel doggedly went deep and used it's mass to slow the fisherman. Soon colour could be seen down deep and I called it for a Spanaird. Once I sunk the gaff and lifted it aboard Stefan high fives us both and I even got a cuddle from a very happy German. The snapper kept coming in just pan size from 38cm to 45cm with lots of little fish in between. Then at the top of the tide we caught a couple of snapper over 50cm to finish off the bag. The weather was getting betting through the morning so we got a great trip home. The run around peel island and over to Cleveland was like glass then a few beers went down while we cleaned the fish to top the day off. Thanks for crewing Robbie and I bet your friend will have a good fishing story to take back home.

Thanks Kelvin it is a top spot

We will have the great barrier reef off brisbane with global warming

It looks like a good spot for tailor

Nice bag Steve the old river produces still

Evans Head caravan park was dog friendly to that I visited earlier this year another beautiful spot

Stayed a week at Shaws Bay holiday park the weather was calm all week. I have never explored this coastal area what a beautiful part of the world. Went luderick fishing in my mates tinnie along a rock wall in the river. We caught 2 fish on cabbage nothing on weed all morning so gave up with it being quite. I fished the northern wall the next night but couldn't find any fish. Easy access to the wall from the park. Did a bit of sight seeing the next day along the coast up to Lenox heads. For starters this was my view from camp. This is flat rock between Ballina and Lenox Heads looks very fishy off the rocks was perfect weather to do some rock fishing as well The view from Lenox headland looking back south Fished the beach next to town just a short walk from the park where you can have the dogs offleash. Caught a few good whiting and bream with our dogs keen for each fish to come ashore. Fished the end of the breakwall again on the last night but could only manage a small black spot cod. It was a good week exploring and catching up with a mate I used to work with. The park is located next to the river and shaws bay OH did I mention it is next to the pub and fish and chip shop as well bonus.

Collect it

Good luck Robbie looks mint weather

Going to get some cabbage and green weed for the blackfish tommorow this winter chill should be getting the fish feeding bring on ballina

Just had some of the red emperor for dinner and it has to be my favorite fish to eat just perfect texture imo

If you don't want to cross any bars and fish some of these southern marks like Caloundra wide and shallower which are all excellent reefs you can leave from Sandgate or bribie island and head out through the top of the bay no bars required

Good luck Wayne and Luke tight lines

There was plenty frames should get a boat full of crabs with that lot

Bloody big Spanaird and there was a few more of them lurking around

Thanks Geoff all my family eat fish and love it when anything red comes home

There is always another trip we can get a few boats up together hopefully sooner rather than later

Thanks Brad you will get your chance just need those moons to align

Thanks Wayne there is always some where up there to get out of the ruff stuff

Thanks Sef

Thanks Kelvin

Thanks Robbie september week up there will be fun should have a few boats

Lance and I left Brisbane Sunday morning and headed up the highway rolling in to Agnes Waters just after 2pm. We fueled up and got plenty of ice launching by 3pm we pointed the boat towards our final destination. The boat travelled over some very calm conditions with a forecast of mint weather for our 1st couple of days. We reached the reef we wanted to fish just after sunset but not much biting around dusk surprisingly. We ended up moving over to our overnight anchorage and cooked a hot dinner. The sea was like glass and the stars had a mirror image on the water, going to bed you could not hear the water lapping on the hull. After a perfect night sleep we were greeted to more of the same weather and the fish were hungry. The 1st area we targeted Red Emperor and both Lance and I lost a couple of big Reds blowing us away. I did hook a Red before they all shut down landing a 60cm Red beast. Jumping down to the next spot was easy with the sea state and each new spot gave up some quality fish. Coral trout, Red throat emperor, Venus tuskfish, Hussar, Moari cod and Red Emperor were filling the box. By 3pm the box was nearly full as we got close to our baglimits so we anchored up for a well earned rest so we thought. We cracked a few beers and I set a floating bait for any lurking pelagic. Well it didn't take long for a Spanish mackerel to hit peeling line at blistering speed. The gaff shot was made but this fish new how to fly jumping off the gaff and winning it's freedom. No sooner I had set another floating slimie mackerel out the rod buckled again. Lance battled this Spanish calling it for a beast after a dogged fight even looking at 1 stage to running around the anchor rope it did turn and come back eventually coming into gaff range it hit the deck. This Spanaird was just under 140cm and around 18 to 20kg. We even got coral trout while we were anchored while sinking a few coldies at the end of the day. The wind picked up after dark but we were tucked in on the Lee side of the reef. About 5am the wind swung around as forecast and it got a bit lumpy so we pulled the anchor and moved to the Lee side of the neighboring reef. The next anchorage was perfect for the southerly wind which got up to 20 to 25knots. The sea was still flat where we were tucked in behind this reef and you know what there was fish to catch. Setting another floating slimie mackerel the line was pulled out of my hands so I slammed the reel in gear and held on. The reel screaming another Spanish was to blame soon the Spanaird in the box had company. The wind was strong through to midday but dropped right out giving us our freedom from behind the reef. The next area produced our last couple of fish for our total finfish bag. I got a good Maori cod but Lance landed our 2nd legal Red Emperor and last fish so we pointed the boat for home. Getting to the ramp just after dark we stopped at a local caravan park for a sleep. The next day was a lot easier driving home well rested thanks Lance for a great trip and thanks Robbie with the help cleaning and bagging fish up.