Huxstang

Finally got back on the water in my boat after waiting a month for a service - didnt want to run too far over the first service interval.

With weather reports looking reasonable we decided to launch at Spinnaker and head out into the northern bay.  A bit of a later start as I had a golf function on and was pushed for time to prep boat….damn retirement is too busy at times.

Any on the water at 6.15am and the usual bit of bay chop but winds were relatively light.  Decided to pop into North Moreton Artificial to have a look as it didnt exist when Dad and I used to fish up this end of the bay.

I just love modern electronics….the combo of decent maps which mark the clumps of the artifical and the sounder being able to clearly pick up everything meant little wasted time.  Went over the south eastern clump and it was holding lots of bait with some nice bigger arches around schooling.  So assumed mackies or kingies.

Went to the north eastern section and it was similar so decided we would see what was around.  I already had a paddle tail plastic rigged up so when I saw fish flicking under the boat I quickly dropped it in and got my first hit, second cast converted to a nice rat yellow tail king fish.

Decided to floatline a pilly down and go back to casting plastics, and the pilly got belted and second king in the kill bag.

The plastic was then torn by another kingy so I rerigged a pilly.  Every drift was converting to fish as we drifted over the structure.

Bit started to drop as we headed into @ 9.30am so got a bit more weight on and converted to a nice grassie close to the structure.   Then another nice kingy.  There was definitely fish holding lower but too hard to get past the kings one the drift. 

All up we brought home 5 and released the rest.  

So last night was beautiful fresh king fish sashimi followed by King Island Rib Eye grilled on coals over at a mates place…washed down with Revel Brewing beers and west aussie reds…..what a glorious day.

Too much variety of lures here I think but our domestic crankbaits and jerkbaits are fairly similar to the american stuff.

Plastics seem to be exactly same as what the yanks use and we use a lot of japanese lures like Duo, Jackall etc for everything from flathead to barramundi.

Then for offshore the stickbaits and poppers are probably the same as you get most everywhere that does that sort of fishing.

Have a look at Wilson Fishing (wholesaler) and see the range of lures they sell and you will get an idea.

No idea if lures are cheaper in UK but ZMan plastics are @AUD$11 a packet and same for BKK or TT jig heads.  Quality suspending jerkbaits like Jackall are @ $26+

Well finally home and recovered from the drive.  I havent driven north of Rocky for 19 years and after this trip I am glad.  Without getting into politics I can see why the people up north want a separate state.  The highway is nothing short of embarrassing - 10hrs to travel 700km (Tvle to Mt Larcomm) with a constant series of roadworks that do nothing bar slow travel more than the potholes and broken bitumen.    

It was a great learning experience for the new boat.  Definitely need a forward boarding ladder for ramps without a pontoon.  At my age all my mates are too old to try and get over the side - heck I am 6’5” and I doubt I could do it without cutting the crap out of myself on some part of the boat.

Learnt a lot about what works with trolling motors as well (thanks Rayke I will give you a yell  soon).  Never understood why you would have a foot pedal but can see it would be much easier when casting and moving along a bank particularly where there is a lot of current.  Also the need to be able to interface chart plotter to electric negates this when you can just have motor run along the track for you.

Next trip - Monduran Dam in December is the plan.  Mate is all fired up after watching youtube videos.  Been years since I was there so be nice to revisit and also a good place to hone skills with the electronics on the boat.

Well writing this report on the last day of the comp says it all.

It all started last year when good mate said we should do the Cooktown Barra comp as he has an airbnb there so we have a free roof over our head.

I left Brisbane and drove up to Clairview (recommend BarraCrab van park).  Someone had caught a nice barra at the creek mouth on a livey but I had just done 9hrs driving and was more interested in a beer and chill out.

Next day was Townsville for a catch up with some good friends.  Although the weather was good we chose the next day as reported best day to head out to the reef.  Suited me to chill out after 2 days sitting on my arse in the 4WD.

Tuesday we hit the water early with a gentle breeze in our face.  Some entertainment as we witnessed the pleasures of our failed youth justice policies with 2 young aboriginal kids barely able to see over the dash of a dual cab 4WD doing circle work in the Coast Guard car park.   

Heading out inside Magnetic Island I plotted for a pinnacle towards Palm Is that I had picked off Navionics maps.  Sounded over it and it was marking fish just off the 10m top as it dropped quite quickly down to 20m.

First drop a nice trout that just went size.  Then a just under small mouth nannygai.  Then another trout and then just couldnt get past the spanish flag and hussar.   We werent out for a feed so everything was going back anyway.

Tried some slow fall jigging and 3rd drop a small trevor was on.  Next drop, massive hit and someone with big teeth swam off with my Palms Slow Blatt…..bugga.

Mate was getting a few back on bait so went back to the other rod.  Strong hit converted to a nice cod which was released.

Saw the most spectacular action when something was chasing a tuna of around 5 kg which did about 7 leaps past us over about 50 or so metres.  Amazing how fast they are and how they fly so well through the air.   Unknown whether it escaped but whatever was chasing it was clearly bigger enough to eat a 5kg tuna.

The bite went off just as the tide changed and with the wind picking up we headed back in.  

WEDNESDAY - drive day to Cooktown.

THURSDAY (Cooktown) - probably best chance for the reef at Cooktown but the wind was definitely not playing well.  We headed out but it was already at 15 and strengthening.  Only made it to one of the close in reefs as the tide was dropping.  Hooked a few undersized trout and the usual mix of hussar and other little reef critters.

Used low tide to map a track down the river although with barra on spawning the only chance of fish would be around the mouth of the river.

Sovereign hotel for dinner, mates wife won a voucher for free pizzas in the raffle….at least one win for the day.

FRIDAY (Cooktown) weather reports not pretty but we got out and trolled the headlands down past the Annand River mouth.  Found a nice spot with some mangroves and thanks to Ray dropped the Minn Kota and started flicking a 4.5” Scotsborough paddle tale plastic on a 7/0 TT 3/8th oz jig head.

Great strike from under a mangrove and a nice silver barra got up on its tale and threw the lure.  

Then mate tossed his lure into the trees and we were in pulling it out.  Anyone living there was no longer around.

Worked a few more similar spots but with the mangroves and rocks and a falling tide it was back towards deeper water as I had already given the prop a smack.

We worked our way back along the headlands casting hard body and plastics into every likely spot without success.

Wind was already heading towards 20kph as we got back to the mouth of the Endeavour.

The warning signs were there - nothing marking on the sounder at any point.

A spot of lunch and we headed upstream to try and get something on the board.  Again nothing showing on the sounder - could not even find any bait holding anywhere.

Did a troll through the mouth where I landed a legal school mackeral which was released.

Day 1 of comp - one barra not landed.

By the look of the sad faces at the boat ramp no one was having any luck.

Free pizza for dinner then beers at the RSL and picked up a $50 bistro voucher in the raffle.  Another free dinner sorted.  And at least a win of some sort.

SATURDAY - hit the water early and the wind was already at 25kph did a run out the mouth and along north shore but nothing showing.  Got in along the rocks but again nothing.

Unfortunately my boat is not probably the best for tight estuary and we had a look at the Annan Boat ramp but my mate wasnt so keen on swimming out to climb up the stern (just joking) as its just too high to push out and get over the bow.    Lesson learnt I will have to get the optional bow ladder from Formosa for ramps with no pontoon.

Hit the Endeavour and flogged every likely looking spot we could. The river is like a funnel and it was tough work with the wind making it hard just to get a lure in close to where you wanted.  With shoulders aching and wind burn it was in for a late lunch. 

Pretty sad when you couldnt even get a bream to follow a lure out of a snag. 

Again absolutely nothing showing on the sounder.  

After lunch we opted to stay in with wind well into the 20knot range making the river and unpleasant place and our spirits sagging.

Sunday. - well here I am typing.  Easily over 30 knots and the river a mess of white caps - all you see is boats packed up.  I think everyone is in the same boat.  I imagine the winner will be out of people who have gone up to Lakefield to fish the Normanby.

Although its 8.30am we will head down to Archer Point and see if we can get something off a sheltered spot off the rocks, but the boat is cleaned and not going anywhere.

Although the fishing has been tough and less than rewarding it was great to be back up north flicking lures.

Well I have done a full walk around of the boat.  

Quick summary:

Formosa 525 SRT,side console.  Suzuki 140hp.

Dunbier dual axle gal trailer on 14” gal wheels.  I have done a lot of offroad travel and prefer steel over alloy as you can fix it just about anywhere and this boat will be getting some travel under its belt.

Electronics:

Garmin 12” and 9” in console.  16” on bow for the livescope.  LVS34 on a pole.

I hope the walk around gives a decent look at the boat.  I havent fitted some of the gear as I just got it back from having the Seadek done and fitting up the electric this afternoon.

Big shout out to Rayke who kindly has loaned me the Minn Kota for a trip up north next week.

Garmin continually are pushing back delivery on my Kraken trolling motor (the downside of wanting the latest on market).

I have overall had a really good experience in buying this boat.

Overall the Formosa is pretty decent build quality - yes it could be better but its a solid truck and rides really well.

I have had a good experience so far with everyone I have dealt with which I think is a nice thing in the marine trades.

NCBC down at Uranga - Dayne Taylor is the manager and has a similar boat and uses his boat how I planned for this one.  Really good advice on what was a good investment and what wasnt.  Sorted out everything even though I was coming from interstate.  Way too easy to deal with.   

Electronics were predominantly from Shotgun Marine at Port Macquarie.  No stuffing around just good advice and very good pricing.

Transducer Poles Australia - another quality tradie who is a fisho.  Just talked through the boat and what I was doing and got an extendable pole with a QD plate so I can remove it and stow it easily for travel.

Rays Canvas and Marine - found this guy through a Youtube video by Stones Corner Marine.  What a trademan.  He is a fisherman and knows exactly how it has to be to work.  

Boat Flooring Australia. Gave Lucas a call and the short time frame and he got it all done in 2 days for me.  

PS I have no idea on Youtube but it maybe that the video isnt available until tomorrow and no idea how to change it.

Still cannot post pics but highly recommend Ray’s Canvas and Marine at Caboolture - he did the custom bimini for me and it is just superb.  Delivered exactly how I envisaged it - no guy straps, tall enough I can stand under (6’5”),  doesnt block the casting deck, clear space to the rear so you can face backwards and fish out the back as well