Andrew_P

Downsize to a Stradic 1000, then select a 2 to 2.1m x 2-4kg rod about 30-45 ton graphite.
I have caught several jew to a metre and 3 threadies over a metre on my old stradic 1000 reels....not come close to being spooled....they hold about 180m of 10lb tasline braid.
I find 2500 size reels a bit oversized when chucking 50mm hard bodies for bream and flathead.
Stradic with a Veritas is a solid selection.
I have 3 Dobyns rods in the shed.....they are not any better than the veritas but 3 times the price.

Headed out with Darren (@Allnighter) today, and @Leosonfire tagged along in his new boat too. Got to my mark around 7am in time for the start of the run in. Things were looking crook when the first half a dozen fish were grinners. We were bottom fishing while waiting for the pillie under a float to entice a schoolie or two.
Soon enough the mack rod screamed off. I was playing it in when Darren's rod went off. He brought his in close enough to see it was vermin in the shape of a fairly hefty Leopard shark. Pretty fish, but it was in the macks way, so Darren tucked it out of the way and slid the net under the schoolie. 64cm. A good start to the esky deposits.
A few more grinners, then a decent grassie, then it went a bit quiet, so we shifted 50 metres or so. I was getting bites here, but not Darren. Then another schoolie came in. We shifted a little again and, down 3/Nil, Darren was onto something heavy. Up popped a 45cm Blackspot Tuskfish. Very well received and straight on ice.
Not long after he was on again. This one took him to the reef. After a patient 2 minutes or so it came back out and I slid the net under another bluey about the same size as the first. Then he caught another Leopard shark about 7 - 8 foot long!
I got another mackerel and another grassie for the esky before the toads chased us away. A quick stop back at my first mark and my line screamed off. It was no toad. Ended up being a 4-5 foot shovellie. A bit disappointing but it had me puffing for a bit. @Old Scaley dropped in and said g'day then anchored not far away. We left soon after.
Back to the ramp at 2, happy with a top day on the water. It's always beautiful at the Rous on a sunny day.
 
A couple of old fools - one on a mack, one on a Leopard shark -
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNZg3pijBjwQGyGZCu5K5t_C9VillVOhVsjALmyOfIHF9KCGXZ-LCN_adCwq4BjJw/photo/AF1QipOucbZUE7yfTHu5R-cDPoy2PY21HznliEY3i99h?key=Mm1JY0RtVXZ5Z0JCc1MySV9ZTDR4Y0hjQThJaFpR
 
Darren's first bluey -
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNZg3pijBjwQGyGZCu5K5t_C9VillVOhVsjALmyOfIHF9KCGXZ-LCN_adCwq4BjJw/photo/AF1QipOSTUYR1n3hDszSx2GIJA5FZVoUNCxJ8PJKwQvo?key=Mm1JY0RtVXZ5Z0JCc1MySV9ZTDR4Y0hjQThJaFpR
 
Leo in his shiny new boat -
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNZg3pijBjwQGyGZCu5K5t_C9VillVOhVsjALmyOfIHF9KCGXZ-LCN_adCwq4BjJw/photo/AF1QipMWhfZU8C3ahFWqDUx9b6kG_DRmgBZZ5-fXH3aL?key=Mm1JY0RtVXZ5Z0JCc1MySV9ZTDR4Y0hjQThJaFpR

If any one is interested I have a couple of boxes of old fishing magazines in excellent condition. The internet is convenient, however anyone who likes to feel paper between their fingers may be interested.
PM me if you are interested
fatboy

Headed out with Steve ( @Old Scaley ) this morning. The plan was to take a window in the weather and fish the Rous early and head back to Green Island around 10. The weather didn't play ball and it was fairly rough as we approached my mark, so the call was made and we headed back to Green, hopeful of a few grassies and maybe a squire or two.
Things were quiet to start, as the tide was on the verge of turning. A couple of small grassies and tuskies were landed by Steve and a couple of tiny squire pestered me. I threw the bait jig over to see if there was any about and landed this little trev -
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNZg3pijBjwQGyGZCu5K5t_C9VillVOhVsjALmyOfIHF9KCGXZ-LCN_adCwq4BjJw/photo/AF1QipP-MD0uT7V7np4H_nVKx5JVJFYWh0acOu-T29xk?key=Mm1JY0RtVXZ5Z0JCc1MySV9ZTDR4Y0hjQThJaFpR
One for the comp. haha
The tide eventually changed and the grassies came on the chew. They took a liking to cuttlefish as well as some flesh baits from grinners and whiptails. We threw a couple of just legals back, but managed to score 8 in the low to mid thirties. A couple of good feeds coming up.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNZg3pijBjwQGyGZCu5K5t_C9VillVOhVsjALmyOfIHF9KCGXZ-LCN_adCwq4BjJw/photo/AF1QipMzGUDIKX7esyr1uKg1BLZKkX9JDJTkCC3hinHW?key=Mm1JY0RtVXZ5Z0JCc1MySV9ZTDR4Y0hjQThJaFpR
Also caught a bream for the comp, but failed to measure the shark that started my score for the day. It was only around 70cm, and took a pillie under a float.
Breambo -
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNZg3pijBjwQGyGZCu5K5t_C9VillVOhVsjALmyOfIHF9KCGXZ-LCN_adCwq4BjJw/photo/AF1QipNEq-WfLnF_3scwcJqEf81B0ebp7Txq0xMWf5mL?key=Mm1JY0RtVXZ5Z0JCc1MySV9ZTDR4Y0hjQThJaFpR
 
Looks like it'll be a while before we can get out again, unfortunately.
 
Apologies to those who returned to work or school today. We weren't thinking about you. haha

Running a tally for 2024

Fishing: 1
Surfing: 0
Got a couple of fish in the shallows on the weekend with my bro. Nothing to write home about but good to get out nonetheless - last trip was early november. All on light gear and plastics. Aiming for a surf soon but not sure when with this whirlygig spinning around up north!

Running a tally for 2024

Fishing: 1
Surfing: 0
Got a couple of fish in the shallows on the weekend with my bro. Nothing to write home about but good to get out nonetheless - last trip was early november. All on light gear and plastics. Aiming for a surf soon but not sure when with this whirlygig spinning around up north!

My Coast Guard renewal is up in Feb-24 ($80) so I thought i would look up where this merger is up to. Supposedly merger is to be wrapped up by June-24.
Name and Emblem:
MRIP - Marine Rescue Queensland emblem and uniforms approved | For government | Queensland Government
 
Regions Divided up:
RIT - Monthly Newsletter December 2023 | For government | Queensland Government
 
 

Fishing goals for the year…
 
get my daughter on the boat more and hopefully get her a fish (she’s a bit young still, 2 in march)
Get more confident in the local haunts around deception bay..  burpengary creek, cab river and the passage.. 
get a trolling motor real soon.. extend casting deck, move sounder to starboard side..
A trip for a week on the sandy strait chasing travelly, jacks , scooping crabs off the flats and beer from the esky might be nice too.. 

The Robinson’s are up there with Reds and Nannies only cleaner, a superb fish. 
 
I am really enjoying the boat. I used to have an open centre console in Brisbane and I tell you, I like being dry now. 

Hi all,
 
Was hoping to wait until the photo issue was rectified but some of you may enjoy the story regardless.
 
On 7th Dec with a very fully loaded car and trailer we jumped on the morning MiCat to Moreton Island with 21 nights of relaxation in my favourite place to look forward to.  I let the tyres down as far as I dare with the load on, had the obligatory smiley pie and coffee and soon we were on the beach at Tangalooma.  After a bit of a challenge getting to the top of middle road, we had a beautiful run up the eastern beach towards cape moreton.  Unfortunately, I was pretty much run off the road by a peanut coming down the hill from the lighthouse and the trailer then developed a mind of its own when trying to reverse out and I ended up needing to deploy the recovery boards to get me back on the straight and narrow and have another crack at the hill.  No dramas the second time and we were soon picking out a site at North Point campground.  A few hours of work followed and soon we had a camp set  up that would survive anything but the worst weather in a fairly shady and sheltered corner of the campground.
 
Next morning I was up at early AM and went for a bit of a walk around to check the gutters on the beach and all that, had a cast but wasn't successful.  After breakfast we headed off down the beach with the kids to some beautiful little low tide gutters that were about knee deep and calm.  While playing around, I noticed some birds circling in the surf break and then saw some fishy-shapes chasing bait in the waves.  I grabbed the only rod I had with me (the 2-4kg flick stick with 10lb) and threw a 20g halco twisty on.  Second cast I was away.  After a very good argument on the light gear, I had the first fish tacos of the trip sorted with a 53cm tailor.  About an hour later he was sizzling away in a frypan back at camp.
 
Next few days were a bit tough on the fishing front.  Early morning starts up the rocks spinning were mildly successful, however, I did work out I could put the little fella in his backpack carrier and take him along with me.  And the best part was he absolutely loved it... well.... for the first 90 minutes or so anyway. But was still pretty cool hanging out with him and managing to catch a couple of fish along the way. 
 
Morning 4 was a complete bust on the fishing front, could not get a hit on a slug or a plastic anywhere so I was walking back across kind of a swampy section near camp and my morning took a massive turn - for the good!  There at my feet was my lunch, now if I could just get hold of him with all 10 fingers still in tact...  A few interesting moments and near misses later and eventually I had my prize - a 1.7kg full as buck muddie.  Even the young fella appreciated this - I held it up to show him which was met with a "Wooooowwwwww" from him.  Glad I had strapped him in to the backpack well though.  A crab wrap for lunch was a very unexpected but welcome addition to the menu that's for sure.  After the crab wrap, during the midday nap period, I went for a walk down to the rocks given the swell was picking up a bit and landed 3 mid 40's tailor in the first three casts.  Then a surfer paddled right over where the fish were sitting, sat there was a minute and then paddled off again.  Needless to say, the fish disappeared thereafter.  Maybe the surfer was a vegan or something and that was his idea of a protest.  Still, three tailor was ample for dinner.
 
Next day I had collected some pippies and headed over to a favourite rock fishing spot of mine, however, it was very quiet but I managed to pull three nice dart out, the best one going 43cm.  There's another dinner sorted!
 
After 7 days, the outlaws headed home and were replaced by @ellicat and my mum.  After a new false starts, ECat and I finally found where the flathead were hiding.  I was first on the board with a lovely 63cm model.  While it was only 1 or 2 each time we tried the spot, they were all quality fish in the mid 50's.
 
The weather finally became good enough for me to try a kayak trip which saw me throw the tub in early and head on out.  It took me a while to to find them but I managed 3 snapper 43-49cm, one just legal spangled and a 38cm grassy.  I then hooked something huge that had me scrambling to get on top of it to try and pull it out of the rocky rubbly bottom.  A good battle ensued and a stud 53cm grassy surfaced, much to ECat's distain as he is yet to crack the 50cm mark on a grassy and I have now 4 times in his presence.  Sorry mate - oh wait, no I'm not... 😛   I headed back in and watched ECat land a legal flatty from the beach as I was coming back in.
 
All too soon, ECat had to head home - hope you had a good trip mate.  Glad you got to witness the might BT50 recovering a brand spanking 300 series jsut before getting on the barge - that was a bit of fun. 😉
The day after he left, it was forecast to be 20kn+ northerlies but they never showed up and the ocean completely glassed out around lunch time.  I grabbed the kayak and headed out, not knowing the carnage that was about to unfold.
 
Things started slowly, it took me a good 1/2 hr before I got my first decent hit - and what a hit it was.  Ripped 20lb line off the reel under fairly heavy drag and ended up busting me off on the rubbly bottom about 100m away, my best guess was a GT or a kingy - or so i thought... maybe another culprit was to blame as will soon be revealed. I soon after I found a patch with some nice snapper, and put three 40-48cm models and a bonus grassy into the box.  I tried a different area and first cast hooked the 3:14 express from central that had me chasing after it flat out while it peeled line from the reel.  Surely this couldn't be a shark, I would have been busted off ages ago... what could this be?  After about 10 minutes I got sight of the fish and about 10 minutes after that I had 85cm of cobia doing it's best to escape from under my legs on the kayak.  A very quick brain spike and bleed and a louder than necessary yahoo and then a minute to recover, check leader, plastic etc and we were back into it.  Next cast a 43cm grassy came to play.  Followed shortly after by a cracking 55cm snapper that gave me a real run around and completed my bag out.  I decided that was enough and just one more cast... wholly hell.  Seconds after the lure hitting the water two things happened.  A manta ray surfaced just near where my lure landed and my rod was just about ripped out of my hands.  For a second I thought I had hooked the manta but it zigged and whatever i had zagged.  Knowing cobia love hanging around mantas i quickly worked my way out over sand and settled in for the battle.  This one was far heavier and more stubborn than the first one and was slugging it out down deep, I would make a metre of line and he would take 2 back.  This went on and on.  About 1/2 hour later I finally had the fish yakside - now how the hell do I land this thing?  I ended up tailing it and lifting by the line as well and got it on my lap.  A quick spike and bleed and a rather nose heavy and slimy, bloody kayak headed back to the beach.  The big cobia went 110cm - not huge by cobia standards sure but everything seems bigger on a floating bit of plastic.  It also meant a double bag out for the first time ever on the yak.
 
At this point I will mention that ECat had been kind enough to loan me his 60L freezer which was a very welcome item in the campsite after such a trip - on top of my 80L fridge/freezer.  approx 11kg of fillets were recovered from the days captures - a day of kayak fishing I will not forget in a hurry.
 
Other than that day, a few more nice flatties found their way into the box but the fishing effort was rather half hearted - I was happy to finish on a high.
 
Roast turkey and potato bake made for an awesome Xmas dinner, plenty of time spent with the small people at the beach.  Luckily, we only copped one storm on Xmas eve with a fair bit of wind and 57mm of rain in 1/2 hour, got the edge of a few others but nothing too bad.  Everything stayed standing and dry on the inside at least.
 
All too soon - even after such an extended stay - we were packing up and heading back to the MiCat for the trip home.  Middle road had washouts about 1/2m deep in some spots from the storms the previous two days which was pretty crazy to see.
 
I will attempt to add some photos when the site is fixed if people are interested, I didn't take heaps but there's a few that people might like.
 
Hope you enjoyed the read, I tried not to make it too long.
 
Cheers,
Benno <'><
 
 
 
 
 
 

Did have a squadron of spotties fly through me in the surf at kawana one day. Thankfully they were chasing bait not being chased!

@Hweebe if there are SMART goals then there must be DUMB goals?
Definitely Underachieve Maximise Buffoonery
Apologies So Sorry

Did have a squadron of spotties fly through me in the surf at kawana one day. Thankfully they were chasing bait not being chased!

Way to kill a thread Andrew! 
perhaps I should rephrase..
In 2024 I aim to balance the surfing : fishing ratio. I used to surf a lot more. Some years it was most days. In 2023 I surfed once in the entire year and fished about once a month. So in 2024 I am aiming to surf as much as I fish. I’d be happy with 6 surfs to 6 fishes (1:1 ratio) around work and family commitments hence the “fish less” line. 
 
there are many great things about pretending to adult, but alas some of the things you did lots as a youngun have to give!

@Hweebe if there are SMART goals then there must be DUMB goals?
Definitely Underachieve Maximise Buffoonery
Apologies So Sorry

@Hweebe if there are SMART goals then there must be DUMB goals?
Definitely Underachieve Maximise Buffoonery
Apologies So Sorry

@Hweebe if there are SMART goals then there must be DUMB goals?
Definitely Underachieve Maximise Buffoonery
Apologies So Sorry

@Hweebe if there are SMART goals then there must be DUMB goals?
Definitely Underachieve Maximise Buffoonery
Apologies So Sorry

@Hweebe if there are SMART goals then there must be DUMB goals?
Definitely Underachieve Maximise Buffoonery
Apologies So Sorry

Did have a squadron of spotties fly through me in the surf at kawana one day. Thankfully they were chasing bait not being chased!

Did have a squadron of spotties fly through me in the surf at kawana one day. Thankfully they were chasing bait not being chased!

Way to kill a thread Andrew! 
perhaps I should rephrase..
In 2024 I aim to balance the surfing : fishing ratio. I used to surf a lot more. Some years it was most days. In 2023 I surfed once in the entire year and fished about once a month. So in 2024 I am aiming to surf as much as I fish. I’d be happy with 6 surfs to 6 fishes (1:1 ratio) around work and family commitments hence the “fish less” line. 
 
there are many great things about pretending to adult, but alas some of the things you did lots as a youngun have to give!

Surf more fish less!

I might not be based in Aus, but one of my goals is to visit Aus and do some fishing. I follow several Aus anglers on Youtube and the diversity is amazing.
I myself prefer the surf.

That's a good plan. Way better than wanting to surf more. Haha