Finally got a decent weather day that coincided with a weekend so James and I planned a hit and run overnighter off Onslow. In line with the quick trip we kept camping gear to a minimum and planned to sleep on the boat.

Saturday morning we left the ramp at 5.00am, hoping to fish the turn of the high tide at 7.30am on some red ground. Trip out was bit slower than we liked due to some slightly stronger than forecast winds. First drop on the spot was at 7.00am, worked it for 90 minutes for some average spangles, a 10 kg estuary cod and some juvenile reds (all fish released).

Plan B was put into action and we headed to some more ground 1/2 a mile away. First drop, bang, 73cm red for me, excellent. James got busted up big time, re-rigged and then hooked what he thought was a good red. Couple of minutes later up popped a nice chinaman. Nice fish but not what we were after so he released it. Over the next two hours, pulled a few nice rankins, spangles, school sharks and little pest fish, then the floater finally went off.

James had his work cut out as his fish took off across the top leaving a rooster tail in the lines wake. Wahoo? The unseen fish took several powerful runs on the 20lb finn's braid, eventually gliding into view as the cry erupted, waf*&^()$%hoo! Good gaff shot behind the gill plate and aboard the Further North comes James' first wahoo. Very happy boy. Took the obligatory pics and decided to go have a cray snorkel.

Water clarity was great and we grabbed some good painted's and one green, which was destined for peri-peri cray entree that night. Plenty of bluebone around but only just size so the rob allen wasn't shot in anger. After two hours cray snorkelling we decided to troll back and look at some other bits of coral I had previously marked around the area. No luck on the coral but picked up a small dolly on the troll.

Ended up back on the mornings spot, no fish on the sounder this time and the tide rising again. Pretty slow and then bang, 82cm red crashed my party and James nailed a 10kg spaniard on his floater. Pretty tired by now so cruised into the lee of an island and put the mooring anchor down. Cooked a feed and then crashed. Not a bad nights sleep once we got used to the water slap on the ali hull.

Sunday morning saw James awaken with red fever burning in his eye so we hit the spot where we pulled the big boy the night before. Very slow, the odd picker and rankin, but perseverance came through in the form of another big red for myself, a PB at 84cm. Fished on for another hour, but then pulled the pin to have a look for some red crays on a favourite spot. Three reds and a big painted for James, finally saw us pull the pin and head home. Thankfully the 20 knot sea breeze was blowing up our date on the way home.

Pretty tired now and the stable soft bed, will feel good tonight. Not a heap of fish, but the quality was right up there.