Abrolhos and soft plastics :-(
We packed up and took another run over to the islands for 3 days, just me and my 2 young blokes this time, got back late yesterday evening.
The intention this time was to have a hack at the soft plastics having been shown a trick or 2 by Paul G and Abeldog, after finding some fish on bait.
We set out on wednesday arvo lunchtime, covered about 30 miles into a 5 meter swell then stopped on some new ground for a hack.
Highlight for the boys was a spectacualr mako display-I had a fish halfway up which got hit, went slack then tight and started coming to the surface out the side.
A big splash then 20 secs later a 2 meter mako must have hit the fish at the surface coming 2 meters out of the water spinning (20 meters away) but sending my sinker flying thru the air to hit the water like a bullet about a meter from the boat.
The boys were absolutely pumped but a little gobsmacked at the power they witnessed, prompting a 3 day stream of shark questions from Mac.
First up was a double header shark mac and charly court off the bottom-not mine, Cam got them.
Then a double header of pinks, Cams again and smaller one released
Then a baldy, not particularly big.
After that we had a start at the plastics, rigged up as I remember George showing us-vaguely 
From there it went downhill. Cam and I both hacked away with them for a few hours, one on bait other on plastics.
We must be doing something wrong as they got smashed constantly and chewed through about 4 packs of Atomics and McCarthys without actually landing anything other than a couple of charly courts.
They got bitten off (120lb leader), and tailed constantly plus a few smashed by sharks and busted braid (maybe getting a bit old)
What are we doing wrong? To his credit Cam spent most of 2 days on the plastics while I used bait more of the time to get a feed on board due to a bit of shark trouble.
And he suggested next trip we just try plastics alone for a day (but guess who pays for them 
Following is a few more pics for those who are interested-you can tell which ones Mac took, by the finger on the left hand side 
Next morning dawned gloomy and quite windy (common over there ) so we had a cruisy morning of a good brekky, filletting from the day before and tying some rigs etc.
Headed out mid afternoon, and it didnt go to well with sharks getting stuck into us. Got a baldy and a bunch of charly courts (great eating if big enough).
Stayed out til the sun was going down and back to the anchorage in the twilight
when we got back, a seal had esconced himself in a comfy position and spent the next 2 days entertaining us with his antics, though I had to chase him away a couple of times.
He played, came right up to the boys like a puppy, chilled in the sun, threw fish frames around like a toy etc.
I am acutely aware of the dangers and the last thing I want is an injury 2 hours from help though.
Last day was windy again, so a leisurely brekky, pack up etc and left at lunchtime intending to fish then get to town on dark as a front was forecast to arrive overnight.
Fishing was steady, ending with about as varied a bag as you could expect-a coral trout, a coronation trout, a dhuie, a baldy, a humphead snapper and a blackarse plus the usual bunch of charlies.
Set off on the 35 mile run home at about 4pm in almost flat calm but the friggin plotter started playing up as soon as we set our course.
Its always in the back of my mind "what if something happens to me"?
Given the remote area we play in, Cam has learnt how to start and bring the boat around (having thrown a fender overboard) without my help should I go over and is quite capable with Mac leaning over to retrieve it.
In this case I wanted Cam to set the course and drive back to town but he had to steer by compass cos the plotter was playing up. He managed about an hour of it and I took over, its quite tiring steering by compass.
Turned out the plotter problem was just dirty contacts on the Navionics slot.
So that was the end of the trip, the boys said "the best trip ever", and it wasnt bad-they saw some new stuff, we had a cruisy time and came home with a feed.
Now its back to work for another month, starting out of Henderson doing a tow up north.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
beau
Posts: 4104
Date Joined: 24/01/10
That coronation looks
That coronation looks awesome!
Unfortunately, the mackies love the plastics as alot of them flutter on the drop, hence the clean snips!
120lb leader might be half your problem aswell. In Perth and on my abrolhos trip I use 50lb max with plastics to keep it as natural and appealing as possible.
Try Z-man plastics next time, hell of a lot more durable than most of the other brands, you'll find its those pesky charlies that are biting the tails off!
Not sure if you've used metal jigs before but its also a good option, hold bottom alot easier than plastics. If you're fishing in 30-40m depth try a 120g Evergreen Caprice, lighter if you usually fish shallower, and obvioisly heavier if you usually fish deeper. See Lloyd at Tackleworld Country in Gero, he is a Plastics/Jig fishing Jedi!
mw87
Posts: 123
Date Joined: 20/07/11
Amazing pics as always from
Amazing pics as always from the Abrolhos, cheers. Can't wait to go back. Another little tip that may help - it looks as though the plastics are bent a bit like a banana, meaning you may be exiting the hook too far back. It may be due to strikes etc., but make sure when you rig the plastic it is as straight and naturally looking as possible as it will affect the action. Jigs may be more of an initial cost, but are definitely better for longevity and IMO usually just as effective in your backyard.
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Nice Rob ,boat will be
Nice Rob ,boat will be finished this week so next chance we will be heading over for some fun.. pm sent
Active Gyp-Rok solutions ,Residential and commercial ceilings and walls
jng
Posts: 488
Date Joined: 03/08/07
Another amazing trip! Love
Another amazing trip! Love reading your post/pics
Rob H
Posts: 5744
Date Joined: 18/01/12
you've got the perfect boat
you've got the perfect boat for it Justin, your welcome to tag along sometime?
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
Yeh Justins keen. Shotgun
Yeh Justins keen. Shotgun deckie spot hahahaha
dowders
Posts: 112
Date Joined: 23/01/11
Great pics Rob. I found the
Great pics Rob. I found the Octajigs really good up there especially for the dhuies, they are expensive but last longer than the soft plastics....as long as you keep them off then reef :)
outdoinit
Posts: 1009
Date Joined: 05/10/12
Soft Plastics... MMmmmm
I like to stick with the Z-Man 10 x Tough, yes expensive but seem to last a fair bit longer..
Otherwise stick to bait..
As always great report and how lucky are those boys, what a life they lead.. Good on ya.
I've spent half my life fishing.. The other half I have wasted..
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
Great report and good work on
Great report and good work on the plastics. I spent 2 days at the buc where i couldnt put the plastics down was great fun!!
Those makos are pretty scary when there coming at the boat. Hooked a few big bullsharks up north and the barrel towrds the boat not fun!
t bone
Posts: 351
Date Joined: 20/04/14
always impressive..
I swear i said it last hitch.. I left the house on the 17th July- hence ya got that half decent weather to head over there :) My boat come off the axel stands once this break, only to go in for a service, wash the dust off it and back in the shed. I too am back out at sea for the month now, but they changing me roster backwards by 2 weeks, so will have to line those beers up at some stage. The more pictures i see, the more i swear i've met/worked with you somewhere in the past..
dkonig82
Posts: 2091
Date Joined: 06/07/10
great report and pics mate -
great report and pics mate - thanks for posting
When asked by a non-fisherman 'how many fishing rods do you really need?' the correct answer is either:
n+1 (where n is the number of fishing rods you currently own); or
n-1 (where n is the number of fishing rods which would cause your significant other to dump you.