Scoota

Been months since I got out for a fish. So was more than happy to get an invite to head up north and launch from turkey beach to hunt down some reds and other big reefies. We left brissy on Monday night for the seven hour journey north. Arived at turkey beach at some ungodly hour and launched the boat for the 120km trip out to innamincka shoals. Got out there in good time  to drop our first baits not long after sunrise on Tuesday. Fishing was a bit slow at first but we were getting the usual small reefies such as parrot various cods and plenty of hussar which were kept for big fillet baits. We sounded around for about 40 mins to find some good isolated lumps to drop over sized baits on and from this point on the big fish started coming onboard quite consistently.
the sharks were up to there usual tricks but spent the day nailing some nice gold band snapper, red emporer and nannygai. In all my years of heading up here, this was by far the best weather I had experienced. 
 

IMG_0989.MP4  
Day one saw four nannygai, five reds and over a dozen gold band hit the deck so the call was made to head south to broomfield reef and anchor up for the night then chase some trout in the shallows before heading home at lunch time on day two. 
 
woke up before the sun up and had a quick feed then commenced chasing trout. The trout weren’t really playing the game initially but after dropping down sinker sizes we managed to get six or seven coral trout and coronation trout on board and plenty of Maori cod too. By this point the sharks were really becoming a pain so the call was made to move 
After this we went out to the 60 metre line for a last attempt at some good red fish we ended up with two more nannygai and one more red so we were stoked. I even managed to nail my pb dolly and a not bad cobia aswell. 

with more than enough fish to last our families (and very select friends lol) for months we pointed the boat home for a smooth trip back to the ramp in glass conditions. All in all was one of the best trips I’d had up there, especially considering the last one was full of all sorts of engine and boat dramas.
FullSizeRender.mov

After a couple of trips with no Mackerel, finally managed to be in the right place at the right time. Got a couple of reports of people bagging out on Wednesday morning so shot out to Palm Beach reef this morning. Started a little slow but the switch was flicked at 6 with a crazy bite for an hour with boats all round hooking up. We managed 7 Spotties in the boat to 90cm and lost even more. Most came from float lining and a couple from spinning. Nice way to finish a crazy year!

Marty

Hi all,
 
Had an awesome week on Moreton last week.
 
Took the barge over on Saturday 19/10, weather was average at best, we even had hail on the way over!  The squalls moved out to sea just as we arrived and we quickly set up camp at north point before the next storm came through.  After the storm passed, the sun kind of came out and the ocean glassed off.  No time like the present – kayak was launched with the aim being to get a couple of dinners for the next few days.  Conditions were amazing and in short time 2 nice pan sized snapper and a school mackerel were on board and I was heading back to the beach before the next storm arrived.  A LOT of plastics were lost to school mackerel, at one point I was right in the middle of a bust up with a heap of schoolies, tailor, a few small sharks and even some snapper racing around smashing into the bait.  Awesome to watch.  Crumbed snapper for dinner followed.
 
Sunday morning presented a 30kn SSE so after a bit of a lie in, we headed down onto north point beach where the wind would be at our backs.  First spot wasn’t all that sheltered, however, the first flathead of the trip was landed – a nice mid-40’s model that was released as dinner was already well in hand.  A move to another spot provided both more shelter and more fish.  5 more flathead were landed and released, 3 of them going over 60cm long.  Awesome session, could easily have filled the freezer but was happy to release them to fight again another day.  Mackerel in a thai red curry for dinner was superb!
 
Monday the SSE was still up around 20kn but was forecast to drop through the day.  Another lazy start and a mosey down to North point beach showed the wind was up but the ocean was flat.  Kayaks were launched and a lovely paddle along the back of the surf break featuring dolphins, turtles and 1 nice 42cm snapper for me.  The rest of the day was spent relaxing on the beach, a few more flathead were landed and released.  We headed up to the lighthouse on sunset for happy hour.
 
Tuesday morning I awoke early and it was totally still.  We had a quick breakfast and launched the kayaks again in idyllic conditions.  We were greeted by a pod of dolphins, a few turtles and even a manta ray.  I landed one nice snapper but could barely get a plastic near the bottom without being snipped off by the school mackerel.  I put a slug on to have a bit of fun and caught 4, the last one was hooked up around the gills so wouldn’t release, I shared the fillets around the camp site that afternoon.
 
Wednesday I headed out kayaking early again, this time I bagged 3 nice snapper and another schoolie that was kept at the request of some neighbours.  We then jumped in the car and headed for Tangalooma for a snorkel, timing it with a tide change for best water clarity and least current.  Highlights were two wobbegongs and a huge blue parrot, generally a very good snorkel.  On the way back I found middle rd block by a fallen branch, when I picked this up to move it a squirrel glider jumped out of the end and climbed up a nearby tree and then glided away.  Can’t believe it stayed in the hollow during and then after the branch falling!
 
Thursday morning I elected to sleep in and we then headed over to our favourite spot on the island where I landed a very nice tailor off the rocks (released) and then spent a few hours looking in rock pools and relaxing on the otherwise deserted beach.  We headed back to camp for a late lunch, conditions were not perfect but I went for a final kayak and nabbed 3 nice snapper – should have been 4 but had to pay my taxes for the week which was a good bit of fun getting towed around for about 15 minutes before the teeth inevitably won out.
 
Friday morning I headed up to the north point rocks early and had a spin for tailor.  I landed 10.2 tailor, the 0.2 coming when a huge Spanish Mack decided to grab a hooked tailor, narrowly missing the treble on the back of the slug – part of me was disappointed, the other part quite relieved.  All tailor were released.  Friday afternoon we had a fish with some pippies for dart and landed a couple, pretty quiet as the northerly was ramping up by this point.
 
Saturday was pack up day – good thing too as the northerly was 20kn+ at sunrise and only set to increase.  We packed up and headed right down to the southern end of the island out of the wind a bit for a final swim, chill out and picnic lunch.  We watched a 2-2.5m hammerhead cruising in over a shallow bank and through the south passage bar – likely heading in to birth some pups.   Then all too soon, that was it, back up the beach and across middle rd and onto the barge home.
 
Some photos from the week are below, might throw some video footage up on the you tubes or grab some stills out of it and add them soon.
 
Cheers,
Benno <’><

Gee we see dozens every day Steve, they are fast becoming a real danger out there now with so many of them around.

Try Three Rivers beach as well have caught good queenies and mackies there at the right time of the year with pillies and slugs. The drive down the quad track is work the trip when I used to live there. Sharks can be plentiful as well. Five rocks is good to fish off just keep an eye on the tide!
Scoota...
 

Probably right on the money there jon. Hopefully they are looking to fatten up over the next couple of months. Just had a quick look back over the last 20 years and most of the heavy snapper we have caught offshore Brisbane/Caloundra were in October to November.
Tight lines...
 
Scoota...

Try Three Rivers beach as well have caught good queenies and mackies there at the right time of the year with pillies and slugs. The drive down the quad track is work the trip when I used to live there. Sharks can be plentiful as well. Five rocks is good to fish off just keep an eye on the tide!
Scoota...
 

Try Three Rivers beach as well have caught good queenies and mackies there at the right time of the year with pillies and slugs. The drive down the quad track is work the trip when I used to live there. Sharks can be plentiful as well. Five rocks is good to fish off just keep an eye on the tide!
Scoota...
 

Nice work on the bluey and second place you obviously spent a lot of time and effort on target them. Nice work👍
Skinny snapper for a 90cm fish...you would expect a fish that long to be 8-9kg
Scoota...

Try Three Rivers beach as well have caught good queenies and mackies there at the right time of the year with pillies and slugs. The drive down the quad track is work the trip when I used to live there. Sharks can be plentiful as well. Five rocks is good to fish off just keep an eye on the tide!
Scoota...
 

Went up to 1770 over the weekend with Lance headed out early Saturday morning stopped and got livies then had a quick look at a close wreck with no luck. Put the throttle down and aimed for our 1st spot up around the reefs it was glassing out and we were loving the weather.
The 1st drop with live yakkas didn't take long with the livie shaking on the line it was inhaled by a nice trout. This was the next couple of hours fishing as baits just hit the bottom you were on, we got good trout and moarie cod on the livies but they soon ran out as silly us didn't take enough up. 
The red throat emperor were scarce as were the tuskies and by midday it had shut down we fished hard for not much but the ever present hussar. Late in the arvo we fished some red emperor ground and were rewarded with a couple of these fish for the box. Losing big Reds was heart braking on a couple of drops and by sunset it was time to find our anchorage.
It was a calm night and the next day was the same we didn't get any wind above 5 knots for the 2 days. The sea was like glass and we cruised to all our spots chipping away at our bag of reefies but again by midday it just shut down. Lunch and a few beers was a good way to bide the time till we headed for the red grounds and yes another red hit the deck.
We droped the anchor again in the same spot for sunday night with the wind finally increasing a bit after we had dinner it got to 20 knots but we had a good spot behind the reef. Monday morning the wind had dropped off and we found some more mixed reefies before we headed for a quick trip into fitzroy lagoon for a swim and a shower. The lagoon had crystal clear water with beautiful reef everywhere this was a great way to finish the trip.
We stopped in town at a freinds place for the night and drove home the next day then got a picture of the catch before filleting.