samsteele115

What a good report to drop back in on... cracking longy Greg! There's still plenty being caught, but as the water cools they tend to stay down deep more often hence giving anglers a nice surprise. They can be a little tricky to target through the winter months but there are a couple of usual haunts 1.25m is usually either side of 20kg. It's a good one! I think persistence creates the best memories when that next good fish is finally caught. You won't forget that one!

How good Mark?! Mmm trout. Love when the weather plays nice too

Hey guys, been a while since I popped in! Still fishing a lot. In terms of catching; not so much... lots of donuts lately! I ended up selling my stealth kayak. I couldn't quite get used to being offshore on it and by being on edge meant the enjoyment factor wasn't quite there. Oh well, I gave it a go! So last week I went halves in a boat with a long term fishing mate, Muzz. Quintrex renegade 440sc with 60hp yamaha. Many of you know how much I loved my 420 renegade, so I was super keen to get another one but this time a bit bigger and with a console as I mostly do bay and offshore duties. Plus it's small enough to launch off the beach at straddie which was a key point (residents can apply for a permit to do so). Blooded it last week (well, I didn't, the others on board did haha) but we had a good cookup nonetheless! been getting some nice landbased squid too Anyway, keen to have a read of people's reports! Sam

Yeah mate! Micro jigs seem to be my go to for kingies off the rocks. Long casts just like a slug, and they can't resist the action of a jig.

Not sure on the rod holders mate, it's my friend Murray's boat. Yep I know what you mean about being against instinct! Massive body of water and its hard to motivate to drive out further when in close to the island. That's why I like to take the wide route initially and cross that off. If it helps, I'd say at an average I find the most bait and fish 5-10km out unless there's been a persistent easterly for a few days. Strong easterlies can bring fish in closer (pelagics pushing bait against wind)

@HweebeYep! Tiny tiny. And when you find a school on large bait (found these like twice) it's fish after fish into the boat. Smart things being suss on anything unusual to what they are feeding on at the time! I didn't see anything less than 10km from Fraser this time. Its a good point you make... I've learnt to make a B line from Urangan to Rooneys or even wider to start the search. If no birds/fish on that wide route then venture in closer. Ive been faced with the inneficient prospect of starting a few km out and heading in only to find nothing and wonder if they are out wider. Get it out of the way early

Have caught golden on the artificial reefs out from the moon point area. Moon point itself and the flats and gutters nearby also seem to hold goldens on the reg. Alternatively if he doesn't mind a drive I've had best success dropping plastics or microjigs down under the tuna schools in the Platypus bay area. Also cast around rays (not Rayke) and dolphins as goldens follow them for a potential easy meal

G'day norm! Most of the action was a fair way out (10-12km) off arch cliffs. Sight cast at a nice black around a bait ball also some longies around too on tiny bait

But there's thousands of spotties

Thanks mate! Just been up there myself. Get any?

Amazing stuff mate! Great fish, excellent skill and persistence has lead to the first of many meteries

Weipa yep. Not nice

Probably, it ain't high end. I don't know lots about rods tbh haha all I cared about is it stopped fish!

I think the penn ocean assassin has been pretty nice to use mate, for its low price point!

I also think it's important to share "real" pictures. These are taken from the same spot. The plastic pollution problem up here isn't surprising but still very disappointing. We can all do better by minimising single-use conveniences especially now that there are a growing number of less harmful alternatives. Most common items: bottles and caps, cans, food packets, toothbrushes, cups.

Good point. Fishing light was out of the question. Fishing for me has become a lot more about sustainability and lower impact (than say buying commercially caught fish) and less about sport. I got reefed twice on the trip but would have been a lot more back in the day when I used to like catching big fish on light gear. Each to their own! But not for me anymore, I don't like the guilt of leaving lures on the reef or a whole spool of line and lure in a fishes mouth. Anyway, tangent. The gear used: 10000 shimano saragosa with 65lb J Braid and 100lb Varivas mono shock leader. On a shimano Terez 40-80lb rod. Tight drags! I now have a bent spool shaft because of it. Thanks Mr trout. I also used a topwater setup: Penn slammer III big size (forget actual size lol) with 80lb J Braid and 150lb Varivas mono shock leader on a PE 6-8 Penn ocean assassin popping rod. this was intended for a big GT but only managed small and medium ones this trip. And heaps of sharks!! Caught many on poppers which was weird and annoying. Kept one yesterday and it was quite a delicious change I must add

Been eating fish every day but keeping only 1 or 2 a day. Released these trout as they didn't come from too deep and weren't showing visible signs of barotrauma. Plus don't wanna risk ciguatera in the bigger reef fish

We got out to the outer reefs again today. Amazing conditions. Some big fish too!

Epic capture dude! That's a huge effort on light gear

It'll take ya a week easy haha. Plenty of spots along the way that offers amazing reef fishing without being in the middle of nowhere. I think there's camping 20km south

Had a quick go this morning. Caught tuna, trout, cod, GTs. This one sight cast on the flats Hehe angle just for laughs Just a medium one

Na they don't rent it out. I think there might be a rental here though from what I've heard. Worth checking out. It's all off grid and inaccessible for most of the year so not really much of market for tourism/Airbnb etc.. i just got lucky

Thanks mate! Didn't know that was the reason but usually do it anyway. No worries So far

Thanks guys! Having an enjoyable time that's for sure

Haha Thanks Kat! You'll make it happen when the time is right. Prefer ginger over wasabi!