volitans

G'day all, Name's Garry (Writing under name 'volitans' after a pet Pterois Volitans or Lion Fish I once had). I'm renewing a lifetime interest in fishing now I'm 67 & retired. The wife and I spent the previous 2 years to covid (2018/19) touring the USA in our RAM & 31ft 5th Wheel (blog site - www.volitans.net.au) but now it's in storage in Las Vegas and were stuck here back in Aus. Living in Townsville I enjoy my fishing even if I don't catch much. We used to own a 5.1 mtr Stessel Bowrider but sadly the Marine Park Authority introduced so many rules and regulations that you had to be a lawyer to go fishing anywhere off the coast between Bundy and the Northern tip. These regs made fishing so uncomfortable that we sold our boat and now I just do the occasional charter. Last week I organised 3 mates to join me with Andrew Meade & Aussie Barra Charters on a day out on the Haughton River at Giru. As a day out it was fantastic but fishing wise not as great as we hoped. Despite this we boated a nice Jack, a 78cm Barra and a 1 mtr barra (photo attached). I'm now saving up to do this again with Andrew. In May I'm joining a few former navy mates for our delayed 50th anniversary and I've rounded up 3 of these guys to hire a boat and go fishing for the day off Maroochydore. Not having ever been fishing anywhere near this part of the coast I am happy to accept some GPS marks to help us on our day. I won't bore you with more crap but I hope I can add something to this forum and look forward to learning from the experts here. Cheers all Garry P.S. I was horrified to learn that in the USA, particularly Florida the Lion Fish has been introduced to the Atlantic Ocean there and has been so successful in breeding it is now declared a feral pest and the State Gov't offers a bounty for each PV captured. There's even cookbooks dedicated to the preparation of this gorgeous animal.