Hweebe

Hi all
Snuck up to the Sunnycoast near Dunethin Rock on the Maroochy River with @charlie.hans.fishing on Boxing Day. Plan was to fish in Dunethin Lake and the surrounding area of the Maroochy River to try for a few flatties and maybe a jack if one came by. We arrived mid arvo on Boxing Day and went down for a fish around mid tide, flicking plastics off of the lake jetty.
I was off the donut first after we had each had a couple of missed hits with a little flatty. We continued flicking for another hour before it started to rain - just as this happened Charlie got a little flatty too. Decided to go to the beach for a swim that arvo but the next morning we were fishing again.
We started off canoeing around the lake a bit to no avail, so went had a cast around the opposite bank of the river to the mouth of the lake. I think Charlie got a spotted grunter here and one or two flathead (one that was legal sized). These put up a decent fight as he caught them casting in some shallow water near a snag. 
I got off the donut with a small flatty that liked my 2.75 inch Froff Bait paddle tail while we were drifting in the canoe (it was my first time using these lures, they're alright) but didn't manage to catch much more that day. I think we had another flick down at the lake jetty for nothing. It was very hot and unpleasant fishing, and with a lot of rain around the area recently too the mosquitos were very bad... It was nice going down to the beach again that arvo.
The next morning we had a quick flick around the bank opposite the mouth of the lake again. Here, Charlie got a bream on a plastic while we were drifting on the canoe along the bank. After a few more drifts and with a lot of tide/wind action making us drift very fast, we decided to go and have a cast at the deepest section of the lake. 
A ways into our first drift, Charlie hooked up to something decent. It was pretty heavy and quick, he hooked it in shallow water near the mangroves. Unfortunately, just as we were about to see it the hooks pulled. Bugger. I had another good hit on this drift, before later in the morning catching a flatty around the 40 mark. My Dad also had a cast on his canoe somewhere that morning and got an undersize barred grunter on a plastic.
We tried for a bit longer but the heat and mosquitos were pretty unbearable so we decided to go back to the campsite, pack up, and go home!
Thanks for reading, although the fishing was a bit quiet it was still good to get a few hookups. The next day I was sick and have just recovered enough to go fishing now so will try in the river tomorrow. 
Cheers Hamish

I used to fish Deep water bend. Most success was on using livies from the cast net.
Dead baits or Summer not a great spot as you will hook onto the catfish.

I used to fish Deep water bend. Most success was on using livies from the cast net.
Dead baits or Summer not a great spot as you will hook onto the catfish.

What are SMART goals?
The SMART in SMART goals stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Defining these parameters as they pertain to your goal helps ensure that your objectives are attainable within a certain time frame

That's pretty much my goal except instead of averaging once per week. I want to average once per month. I took the boat out only 5 times last year 😔
Fish at least 50 12 times.
Land a big snapper on a lure/plastic.
Get some good macks.

Hi all
I was lucky enough to spend part of the 30th of December at the emergency room getting treated for some illness, but by the arvo of New Years Day I was well enough to head out for a bass fish with my Dad.
We started out at Mt Crosby, but with a high tide and lots of rain the water was unusually high making it difficult to access any of our usual spots. Regardless, my Dad had one hit on the surface cicada and I had one bass smash a hardbody at my feet but miss the hookup before we decided to move spots. Second spot was a bridge that we always drive over to get to Mt Crosby (Kholo Creek), anyway it was disgusting and we caught nothing there. Final spot we gave a crack was Colleges Crossing, but with some very fast flowing water it didn't look too fishy and sure enough we caught nothing. Oh well, nothing wrong with starting the year strong with a big fat donut. 
Stats:
Tide: 3:30PM, 2.2M, High
Moon Phase: 80%
Air Pressure: 1011
Humidity: 92%
Gear Used: My Dad used a Shimano Miravel 2500 on a 2-4kg 7 foot Abu Garcia Veritas, I used a Diawa Tierra 2500 on a 2-4kg 7 foot Abu Garcia Veritas, 8 pound braid, ten pound leader, Duo Realis cicada and Duo Realis Shad hardbody. 
Overall Success Rate: 10% - better than staying at home
The next day I went for a eel session at the local park, which was successful with one decent sized eel being landed. 
Then on Wednesday, I caught up with @Thorbjorn Hale for a fish at his local spot, targeting the normal sharks and threadfin. We each sent some eel out on our big rods, with Thorbjorn slide baiting out a rather large, enticing chunk, and myself casting like normal, before we briefly tried to catch some livies. This was unsuccessful, so we went back to the shark rods waiting for a bait to go off. 
Thorbs bait was played with a few times before he pinned a nice size pup, not the sized shark we were going for but it was good for someone to get off of the donut. We continued fishing, and as the tide rose a bit more Thorbs came across a nice size herring which he sent out and turned into a nice sized bully pup again. After this, the bite went pretty quiet, and I headed off a bit after midday to get home for work. 
Stats:
Tide: 8:00AM, .9M, Low, 2:30PM, 2.2.M, High
Moon Phase: 63%
Air Pressure: 1008
Humidity: 73%
Tackle Used: I used a Penn Liveliner 6500 on 8 foot Ugly Stik, Shimano Sedona 6000 on 7 foot Abu Garcia Nexus, and a Penn Spinfisher 8500 on a 7 foot nine Savage Gear Salt, 30 and 50 pound braid, 30 pound mono trace or 100 pound shock leader to 400 pound wire, 6/o and 16/o circles, size 4 star sinkers. 
Bait Caught: Nearly nothing
Fish Caught: Pup shark x 2
Overall Success Rate: 50% - two nice pups
The next day I was pretty exhausted, so decided to sleep in and go mid morning down at my local park. I was targeting the last part of the runout, the best time to fish this spot in my opinion. I sent out a piece of eel on one rod, and then went to grab a couple of livies for the other, which didn't take long. Unfortunately, first bait was turned into a dirty catty, before the bite went quiet.
I nabbed another catty later in the morning and after having several crabs grab on then drop off on the eel piece some line finally started peeling off of the reel. The tide had just started ripping in so it was a bit of a battle when the little bully ran around all of the old jetty pylons, but eventually I got it up jettyside. I was a bit lazy with the dilly and consequently didn't land the shark in time, and it snipped me off as I was going to grab my dilly. 
I headed home after this, and prepared the gear to go again the next day. 
Stats:
Tide: 10:00AM, .8M, Low. 
Moon Phase: 53%
Bait Caught: Live bony bream, eel
Tackle Used: Penn Spinfisher Liveliner 6500 on Ugly Stik, Shimano Sedona 6000 on Abu Garcia Nexus. 30 and 80 pound traces, size 4 star sinker, 6/o and 4/o circle hook, 30 pound braid. 
Air Pressure: 1004
Humidity: 74%
Fish: Shark and catty
Overall Success Rate: 50% - no donut
I arrived a little earlier the next day, and had a few casts of the net before I sent a bait out, which produced some catties, bony bream, and tilapia. Discarded the catties, killed the tilly, and kept the bonies for bait. These bonies, which didn't last longer than 10 minutes on the end of my line, were all munched on quite tentatively by sharks over the next couple of hours, but no threadies were cruising by. 
First shark I managed to get a measure on for the comp, but due to a rather large hole that one of them or a stingray made in my dilly, I failed to get the other two onto the jetty before they snipped me off. To add a bit of insult to the lost sharks already, I then finally got one of the muddies up that kept eating my eel, and I got it all the way into my dilly, but it clambered straight out the hole and sunk away. It was around 17-20cm across. 
Headed home after I got snipped off and couldn't catch any more bonies to prep the gear for the next session, which was Saturday morning having a flick with some lures. 
Stats:
Tide: 11:15AM, .8M, Low. 
Moon Phase: 43.5%
Air Pressure: 1008
Humidity: 76%
Bait Caught: Live bony bream
Fish Caught: Sharks, mud crab
Tackle Used: Penn Spinfisher Liveliner 6500 on Ugly Stik, Shimano Sedona 6000 on Abu Garcia Nexus. 30 and 80 pound traces, size 4 star sinker, 6/o and 4/o circle hook, 30 pound braid. 
Overall Success Rate: 60% - few bites
So, my Dad and I woke up last night at 11:30PM and shot over to the launching spot of choice. We had the kayak ready to go a couple minutes before the last ferry of the night rolled through, so we waited until we thought it was clear but another one came by and gave the kayak a nice rinse off while we were in the middle of the river anyway. 
We shot down at a good pace to the first ferry terminal of the night, which had minimal surface activity. We had timed it so we went down with the last of the run out and up with the first of the rising, so we paddled back to the next terminal which had no surface activity. Things weren't looking good, and after having a go with a vibe around a few moored boats for no love we needed to get out to stretch the legs. We pulled up at a jetty quickly before continuing on our way, having a quick cast at a nearby riverwalk before we reached another ferry terminal. 
This terminal was quiet, but at a wharf up the river a bit there was significantly more illumination so my Dad and I tried there. After about 25 minutes for no love, we were thinking about calling it to get back to sleep when something decently large busted up. I flicked my subsurface lure past the lightpool and worked it back, and then smack! I was on. A few splashes later I had a nice 40cm or so tailor up on the side of the kayak. This was released, and hopes were increasing. Sure enough, a few casts later I was on to a similiar sized model again, which made plenty of splashes on the surface. 
A while later, we were about to finish up, so I had a few last casts with my Megabass Oneten R into the lightpool I caught the first tailor. Things were looking promising, and then I was on. This was a bit better though, and it was peeling line on my baitcaster with tight drag, getting my hopes up for a threadfin. Somewhat disappointingly, a larger tailor surfaced after some more runs (nearly pulled the rod out of my hands at one point), which was released. We headed off after that to get some sleep, satisfied with our session - we were off the water by about 3:30AM and home in bed at 4. 
Stats of Trip:
Tide: 11:10AM, ,5M, Low, 5:30AM, 1.8M, High. 
Moon Phase: 33%
Air Pressure: 1009
Humidity: 81%
Fish Caught: Tailor x 3
Gear Used: Shimano Stradic 3000 on Shimano Raider, Shimano Symetre 4000 on Shimano Sentire, Shimano Curado 300 on Shimano Cranx. 15 and 20 pound Daiwa J-braid, 30 pound FC Rock leader, Megabass Oneten R jerkbait, soft vibe, Zerek Pyra lure. 
Overall Success Rate: 50% - no donut but no thready. 
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed. I'm heading up to Yeppoon for a few nights tomorrow so hopefully a mangrove jack or something big up there.
Cheers Hamish. 
https://lensdump.com/a/70cez
Tailor and Shark

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

2024 resolution to have every Friday off work for a fish. Batting 1 from 1 so far,  the fish will come
 

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

You are forgiven. Haha Perhaps you could troll whilst surfing ??

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!

Yes mate, big trip but thats what retirement is about isnt it.  Do it while you can, you dont know whats around the corner.  
You are 100% - those islands do look inviting.  
 

That's a big trip, but those islands look inviting and I take it the barra and jacks will be a target in the estuary ??

Goals…well jewie on a plastic.  Not so worried about the size for starters.
Explore more of the southern bay and be more comfortable with the spots
Learn how to drive my Livescope better before we go up to King Ash Bay in November

It is just great to go fishing.
On your own or with somebody.
Lots of fun & laughs, especially the one that got away. Better luck next time.
I love trying new gear.
Cheers.

Long version: Modify my shed and drawbar on boat trailer (fit a swingaway) so I can have my boat at my place and use it more. As a flow on effect, finally have a crack at some prawns. Also fish the river mouth for jewies and threadies (still yet to catch one). Fish for winter whiting more ( and use the heads as bait to catch more snapper and grassies). And possibly/hopefully start doing a bit of kayak fishing with my boys (they got their first braid combos for Xmas and are keen to catch some flatties). 
Short version: fish more (and therefore hopefully catch more ..).

I think you’ll find more success by trying to set achievable goals Greg …. 🤔🙄🤪🤣

New pb flathead…? 😂

My goal is to just get out more!
The missus and/or I have been crook most of last year, so that should hopefully get easier this year allowing me to get out and wet a line more often.

My goals are to spend more time fishing with my kids and more time on the kayak. Captures would be a bonus.
also would like to help my “special” (as in the yellow bus kind of special) friend get his first whiting over 40 and first ever threadfin. You know who you are.

My goal this year is to catch a fish. 

Just go fishing....I don't care what I catch....have PB's I will never get close to matching again so put no weight on that anymore.
I am probably the only guy in Brisbane that doesn't care if he loses a trophy fish boatside. Does not make me sad or angry or anything anymore. I do feel guilty when I get sharked though.....that fish was not on the shark's menu before I hooked it.
To be able to post a photo in the comp I guess.....today I didn't get a bite, my deckie caught a legal bream and a undersized moses perch....no crabs, no prawns.....really fabulous weather today, NOT. 6 hours on the Pine.

Fish at least 50 times.
Land a big snapper on a lure/plastic.
Get some good macks.