Leosonfire

On 23/06/2021 at 4:46 PM, Allnighter said:

Decided to get out here before the rain

 

 

Your killing it mate! 

On 23/06/2021 at 10:13 PM, ellicat said:

Good on you. Another nice one. Good to see.

We headed out to Green about the same time. Bite came on about 5pm for us. @Leosonfire landed a 43cm model and dropped a better one, but we had no live bait and there were quite a few pickers around. Tried dead diver whiting and cuttlefish. Wind got up to about 15 knots and it got lumpy so we moved inside Green for nothing then moved back out after the wind dropped off. Leo got a pike eel !! We came home feeling mostly defeated once again.

Never defeated when u bring a tasty snap home mate!

23 hours ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

Hi all

Earlier this week, Steve (@Old Scaley) and I organised a trip to the POB, in Steve's tinny. I was very excited the night prior, and rigged up the rods with my first proper FG knots, some large sinkers, and circle hooks. We met at Steve's at 7:00AM, and said good bye to Dad. After the drive to the POB Boat Ramp, we also met up with Brian (@ellicat) and put in. Brian went first, so I tied (or tried to anyways) the boat up at the end of the ramp. Let's just say that needs work. After a little while, Steve's boat was put in too, and we both departed. Our first step was to set the crab pots, but Brian headed out of the river in search of a snapper. We said farewell to Ellicatch and bidded each other good luck.

Launching in  

After the boat was started, we shot off through Boat Passage, armed with some fish frames and crab pots. We went under the Pipeline and entered Boggy Creek to drop the pots. Steve got the first one set up, and after it was baited up we dropped it near a drain. The same happened with the next four, and they were baited with a mix of flatty and bream frames, mullet, and mullet  and bass heads. We had them in a line and then zoomed off back to the first location for fishing. I was taking note of what was doing, as I need to learn a bit about crabbing!

Steve had very kindly offered to take me out for some of my favourite fish - Threadies and Sharks. We got to the first spot, and the powerful electric was set into 'anchor' mode. Steve told me what fish he had landed here, and gave me some advice. The big, beautiful game reel was lobbed out with some Mr. Bait eel, and we hoped for some good sharks. In the meantime, a lighter line was casted out with half pilchards and prawn as the bait of our choice. 

Nice spot here!

In about twenty minutes with no bites or fish, we decided it might be better to drift. Unfortunately, it was snags after snags at this spot, so after busting off the shark rig on some rock (we did a big circle all around but it didn't budge) as well as my line with an FG knot, we decided to move spots. I re-rigged my line at the new spot, and we got fishing again. Once again, I casted down a half pilchard - Steve showed me the correct way to put them on with a half hitch too, so I was quite thankful for that. In the first while, the sounder was showing lots and lots. It seemed to be a school of quite good fish around a bait school. We figured they were either Threadies or Catfish, so the next step was to make them bite.

By now, I had put my rod in the holder. I let the drag off nice and loosey-goosey, and got a drink out. Just as I was about to drink though, and as some more fish showed on the sounder, the line screamed off and I was hooked up! I put the drag in the right mode, and turned off the ratchet. I started cranking, and then the fish took off! Straight away, I was feeling nervous. Would my quickly tied Albright Knot hold? Would my 20LB leader be frayed off? Would the hook be spat??? I got some more line in, trying to take it slow and steady. The fish went for another run, and this really got the adrenaline up.

It had great weight, and I was excited to see what would surface from the depths. Then, what I thought was disaster struck. The fish had bricked me! I gave it a couple tugs, and then luckily I heard the relieving sound of drag screaming with something on the end. I kept cranking, and it was close to the surface when it shot back down. I started gaining line though, and Steve had the net at ready. We were thinking a big Thready would surface, but what came up truly shocked me. I saw colour, and then I yelled, "Snapper!!!! Huge!!!". It shot back down, and now I was really excited. It surfaced beside the boat and Steve expertly slid the net under it, bringing in my first real Snapper! Me, out of all people, catching a snapper! Woohoo! Joy! I was practically falling over I was so happy - it was a true beauty!  We slid him on the brag mat for a quick measurement and it went a grand 55CM! Very, very nice fish! I thanked Steve for making this possible, then after some very good photos he was released to the esky. That's dinner covered alright!

Gigantic!

Woohoo!

After that Snapper, it took me about half an hour to calm down (probably longer for my heart rate to slow too!). I was about as happy as it gets! Now I can say I've got a new PB of 55CM, not 15CM! . Me and Steve were both hoping that he could get one now too, so we stuck too this spot. I put it in the same possy, this time with a prawn as bait. We were fishing along the Pipe, in about 7-11M of water I believe (maybe deeper and shallower at certain times too). All of a sudden, my rod went off! I clicked on the drag, and the fish was on. I was hoping for something alright, but ended up failing miserably after a half decent fight. Guess what it was.... Catfish! 

Bugger!

I re-deployed, a bit annoyed with the catfish. I even almost got pricked dehooking him, the spine gave me a little cut but very fortunately didn't go into me. The sounder was showing fish moving through, which was pretty good to see. We were now out a bit further, to see if there was any schools of anything hanging out and about. Sooner or later, I hooked up to another fish. It had a few head shakes, but no runs at all. After a average fight, up came another catfish. I really wish they didn't exist but now I was on two on the vermin count  

Cat

I still need a bit of work on my de hooking, but luckily Steve was there to help out (who got it off in about one moment, Lol). It was about time for a quick re-application of sunscreen now though, so I left the rod on loose and had a bath in the stuff (on my hands anyway). Of course, the rod went off at this moment, so luckily Steve got it for me. The fish spat the hook/missed the hook though, so back down the line went. The same had happened for Steve a bit earlier, where the fish took a good run but then didn't quite hook up . 

Now, it was Steve's turn. He hooked up to an OK fish, and it was running like no tomorrow. He got some line in, and then it kept shooting off back to the depths. I prepped the net, but guess what came up? A rotten old stingray. I believe it was a Spotted Ray though, like one of the types I'd caught at Yeppoon. He was cut off boat side, and we now were hoping for something may may be a bit more edible. 

At least we were both off the donut

Soon after, the baits were redeployed. I put back a half pilly, but sooner or later the tell-tale catty signs were back, and yep, another one of the buggers came up. He was flicked off, and returned back into his home. Steve and I decided to go for a drift after that one, and my line went off while we were moving. I skull dragged up another catfish, and luckily that was my last one for the day. I had made a bit of a mess on Steve's boat which was no good, but at least it was some entertainment while not much else had been biting. 

We went a bit upstream, to a rock wall near the beacons. The last time we were here Steve had caught an unders Breambo, so maybe some of them would be biting. The baits were deployed, and we hoped for a good fish. It was decided we'd pull up the pots after this, as they'd had quite a long soak. Steve's rod had a good hit at first while it was in the holder, but unluckily the fish did not hook up. We figured there was a chance of a flatty round here, so we stuck around going for a drift for a bit. There was a fair bit of run here, and a plastic was flicked for no love. 

I had some small nibbles, but no fish were successfully landed here. We moved into Boggy Creek, and went to retrieve the first pot. I got the gaff to get them up, and hoiked the pot up. I was hoping to see some big muddies, but unfortunately, there was a grand total of two toadfish. I tipped them out, got the bait out, and the pot was put away in the side of the boat. The same happened for the next - it was pulled up, and the pot ended up with about five bream... 2 inches big. They were taken out, as well as the bait. It was really disappointing. It looked like the perfect spot, and we had good baits. But that's fis- crabbing I suppose! The next two pots weren't very fruitful either, with more toadfish and diddly squat. They were all put away for next time, so maybe they will fill with crabs then! Steve gave a plastic a brief flick while I was puling it up for no fish too. 

We left Boggy Creek with the pots strapped up, and decided to do a bit of a drift on the other side of the river. The fish at this spot were Snapper, Flatties, and Flounder/Sole, so we were hopeful. At first, we were on some rubbly bottom, and I got fouled on some pretty looking seaweed. We did a long drift parallel to the bank, and in about 3M of water we got no love. We were certainly hoping for another nice fish.

The call was made to go out a bit deeper in the channel, so we took the bait out. I dropped down a prawn, and it got a good hit straight up. Unluckily, I missed the fish. It had a weird bite, almost sucked it in like a surge on the line, then spat it out again. It didn't take long for Steve to hook up though, and after a solid tussle with some nice runs an alright squire came up. He only measured 30CM, and I forgot to get a photo of this one. C'mon, Snappers! Five centimetres bigger!

I kept feeling more weird bites on the line. Nibble, nibble, then a surge on the line. Steve suggested it might be a cod, so I thought that was a pretty good assumption. Unfortunately, the one good hit where I thought I had it, the fish also spat the hook on me! We went for one more drift, and this was the last one of the day as we were heading back to the ramp after this. Steve casted his line, and when I turned around he was hooked up. It shot of for a run, and was giving up a good account of itself. Then, very luckily, a nice little Snap/Squire came up, and on the measure he went just 35CM! Yay! We'd each gotten a keeper for tea!

Great!

We then reeled up and motored back to the ramp, ready to go back home. We motored up Boat Passage, and got back to the ramp. There were some people fishing, and some cast netting off the ramp. After I tied the boat, and Steve had stopped the motor and all, I went and had a look in their bucket. The had some massive garfish, which I certainly would've loved to catch. I was tempted to ask if I could have a throw, but decided against it because the car was ready for the boat. I walked it down and it was wound up. We got everything out of the tinny, and started the drive back home. 

I got to Steve's and then helped unload a bit, then Dad arrived. He still hadn't been told about the catch - all I'd told him was bring an esky and ice (like normal when I get a goodun, Lol). He was surprised and happy when I pulled out a good Snapper out of the esky, and I was still jumping with joy. Lol. I got home and got to work cleaning the fish. I did it the exact same way as the bass, and I think I did an alright job. I also weighed the fish, it came in at a total of 1.995KG according to the Berkley scales. Woohoo!!! The fish was cleaned up, skinned, and then frozen/fridged for eating tonight. I made up a quick crumb mix and got him up in breadcrumbs, straight away ready for the BBQ. The fish had a good cooking, and was nice and golden when he came off the Barby. We ate him straight away with some veges, and boy! He was capital D - Delicious! 

I know this is a rather weird question... But is there any meat in the head region of the Snap?

The frame was frozen, and that was the end of the day! "What a Day", was all I could say! It was excellent with skipper Steve out on the POB, with a keeper each. I probably wasn't the best decky, as I was pretty slow with the pots, but I found it great fun to be out on the water. I'm glad Brian went well too, with the catches he mentioned in his report from today. A huge thanks to Steve for taking me out for the trip, one of the highlights of my school holidays (with the Thready, Yeppoon, NPD Trip, and now this! Great way to end the hols, that's for sure). Thanks for reading this report, and I hope you really enjoyed. Apologies for any spelling errors.

Here are the trips stats:

Stats of Trip:

Tide: (BNE Bar) - 4:30AM, 1.9M, High, 10:40AM, 1M, Low, 4:10PM, 1.7M, High

Moon Phase: 64% - so not too much run

Bait Caught: -

Bait Used: Prawns, Pillies, Eel

Fish Caught: Snapper/Squire x 3, Catfish x 4, Stingray x 1

Tackle Used: I had 20lb mainline, 20lb leader, 16lb, fluorocarbon and braid, and I believe Steve used similar, the shark rod was a heavy game reel with a big sinker and long wire trace with a big circle hook, we were using 5/o circle hooks, about 4-6 ball sinkers, barrel swivels, and I was using a Abu Garcia Barra KIig Overhead 650, On an Ugly Stik, but I cannot remember what Steve was using. He also gave a plastic a flick. 

Water Temp: 26^oC according to the sounder

Weather: 28^oC, Cloudy, 10% Precipitation 

Location: POB, Boggy Creek, Pipeline

Wind: 11KM/h Northerlies

Humidity: 67%

Air Pressure: 1013.2 

Time Fished: A little past 8:00AM - 1:10PM or so.

Overall Success Rate: 90% - Snapper!!!!

Cheers Hamish  

Hamdog! Brilliant mate! 

20 hours ago, ellicat said:

I think the lack of interest/availability has seen this idea go to the backburner for now.

Maybe later in the year.

Sorry legends been a busy festive season! 
 

im keen on a trip anytime

Orleigh park?

Nice Brian good looking trophy 

On 16/11/2020 at 5:54 PM, ellicat said:

Welcome back. Did you wet a line up the coast ?

No mate just family time but did sneak out for a surf hungry for snapper now

I’m in

19 hours ago, ellicat said:

Hit up the Rous channel this morning with @Old Scaley to see if the mackerel were on. A bit of a choppy ride over from Manly with the wind against tide. The forecast was pretty good with sub 10 knots for much of the day. Plan was to get there earlyish and be back before lunch so we had time for a nap before the State of Origin game tonight.

We deployed our pillies on gangs under a float in the strong current and waited while we had some croissants for breakfast. Steve landed one of those little tailor that you know would make a great bait but you have to let them go. I was berleying hard, but nothing much was doing so Steve had a play with some metal on his other rod. Next thing you know he is on to something from down low and this 40cm cod came onboard -

Then Steve decides to put a dodgy looking pillie, meant for berley, on some gangs and fish the bottom with his new rod. Not expecting much I was surprised when his new rod buckled over. Early call of snapper, then maybe a ray, then it surfaced after a good fight. A 59cm Slatey

 -

I managed to get off the donut with an unders squire so put that rod away so as not to waist bait.

Things were once again slow and we said we'd get moving soon and have a fish at Harry's or Green on the way back. A few minutes later I got a hit on the mack rod which I didn't think was going to be much, but soon realised it was just swimming towards me. I tightened up the line and then it was on for all money. As it got close to the boat it went berserk and I lost it to a snipped leader. Bugger.

So now we knew they were about Steve got his new setup deployed and soon enough he got a hookup. A few run ins with the other rods in the holders and a brief tangle with first the slug hanging off his other rod and then my squid jig rod caused some anxious moments. Finally alongside I christened my new gaff and sank it into the quivering flesh of a tasty school mackerel. -

The tide had now turned and so had the boat, so a few extra shakes of the berley pot were made. Not long after, while Steve was measuring his mackerel, my float went down and again the fish swam towards me. As I got it close to the boat my line picked up Steve's line and a God Almighty mess of braid and leader ensued. At one stage Steve's knotted mess of braid was two runners down onto my rod. What a debacle ! As I couldn't wind my line in far enough, gaffing was proving difficult, so in the end Steve grabbed the leader and swung a nice 69cm schoolie into the boat. Finally I had a fish to take home.

The bay had glassed out a bit earlier but was now getting a few waves. We cleaned up the boat and headed for home, satisfied with a top morning's work and play.

Great conditions, great company and a great day to be out there.

 

Nice work lads

I’m in just tell me where

18 hours ago, ellicat said:

I think Leo was referring to the guy in the picture.

No that was what I was using arid x combo but I am going to try lighter

19 hours ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Have you tried using a lighter leader Leo? Depending on whether you are casting right in amongst the rocks or just beside the structure, I would try 12-20lb and just see if it increases the number of bites. Obviously it worked this time though ....  

Yeh I’ll test it out with 20 just the sharks I seem to attract worry me, hate loosing flashers #snappacsndi

21 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

Well done mate. Thats a great fish. Glad you got the monkey off your back. 

New too

8 hours ago, kmcrosby78 said:

Well done Leo, very nice river snapper there, beautiful eating at that size. Onwards and upwards  

It was delicious 

8 hours ago, Kat said:

I wonder what outfit he was using?  What were you using last night?

That was using 20pound mono 40pound leader. 7ft carbon with a 4000. I suspect you’ll need a little longer if fishing the rocks 

22 minutes ago, ellicat said:

Mate, it was great seeing your obsession finally realised. We have put in alot of hard hours. The road to a 60 has begun.

Hopefully it'll be me though.

Can’t thank you enough! Your definitely next

20 minutes ago, Kat said:

Well done guys. Congratulations @LeosonfireAbout time you found a night spot Brian.  Now you just need to make sure it's you that hooks up next time.  Were you using bait or lures?

Cheers Kat

Onya Kat I told Brian he is next! 
 

now Kat through my many hours scrolling and chatting to snapper fishos gathering intel I had a chat to this dude on the Goldie 

...it took me years to land a big Snapper . And finally got one 3wks ago down gold coast seaway landbased . 
 

now that’s a snapper you should And could be chasing! 

23 minutes ago, Allnighter said:

Nice work fella's ! 

I love reading your excitement 

Best of all - only a stone's throw from the ramp....... 

I can see  upgrades coming ... 

 

Thanks I’m still excited about it! Yep upgrade very soon

14 minutes ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

That got me very excited Leon - great snapper. Must've tasted great.

It's good you have achieved your goal. All the effort pays off!

Cheers Hamish

Thanks Hamish I have definitely put in a lot of hours

And delicious 

If I’m free I’d be keen and a good decky That will let the skipper catch most Of the fish

On 23/10/2020 at 8:33 PM, ellicat said:

I'd be keen to have a go. I've often thought about fishing Redcliffe, even back in the Force days (although have been put off a bit by @Leosonfire's results there).

Jealous Robbie! How’s your arsenal of rods and reels!