Camping on Depuch Island
G'day Fish heads
I'm trying to plan a camping trip to Depuch Island so I can fish in the deep off of North Point in my 14" Tinnie. There must be all sorts of monsters down there. Has anyone camped there before? It seems like the best option to me. The Balla Balla camping area is quite scabby and full of Nomads so not appealing, it looks like there are a few places on the East side of Depuch that'd be perfect, but I have a vague recollection of reading somewhere that you needed permission to land on the Island.
I did a day trip up there a month or so ago but turned back from the Island once I got there as I was getting blasted by the Easterlies and ended up catching and chucking back many catfish and black bream (looked like) in Balla Balla Creek for the day, very underwhelming for the amount of effort. I don't really like creeks unless they are full of Barra and Jacks, they'll turn up in November hopefully. The ocean looked loaded with potential.
Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated, I'll repay you with photos, video and feedback here of my trip (s) Though I'm always up for a beer and to meet a new fishing mate if you're in Karratha.
Timbo
Timbo
wagyl
Posts: 218
Date Joined: 08/03/09
Depuche
About half way up on the North eastern side we used to anchor and fish next to the wreck (tip of boat sticks out above water) on an outgoing tide and catch mackeral by drifting out mulies and also get some bottom fish. There is a line of reef between the tip of Depuche and Sable and trolling around there on the outside would get mackeral and closer to the reef get trout. On the southern (bottom tip) as you follow the chart going to Westmore there is a sandspit and you can land on sand there, with deeper water in the channel. Between Westmore and the mainland is a deep channel where we have caught big cod and spanglies, plenty of mackeral later in the afternoon and around the reef on the mainland side coral trout and bluebone. You can go in on the bay on the northeastern side before the wreck but in our experience you only really want to on a high tide as there is a rock bottom from memory before you hit the sand. Up the creek opposite Westmore on the mainland are cyclone moorings and it is quite a deep long creek and it is better creek fishing than Balla. Be careful trying to cross the mud and try to stick to channels, as there are ofter submerged tree branches etc that you can see only on a low tide. We found going on the Neap tides made it a lot easier. We mainly used to fish the reef about 13 miles out from Depuche.
NORUN NOFUN
Posts: 1018
Date Joined: 15/08/11
The above is plenty of info
The above is plenty of info and you need to explore the area to find what works as the tides, wind and time of year will dictate what species to target.
14ft is fine to fish the shoals offshore in the right conditions.
There are so many optins for fishing it's ridiculous.
dadinabarrel
Posts: 6
Date Joined: 23/04/16
Replies to Wagyl and Norun Nofun
Thanks guys that's good feedback, gonna give it a crack in the new boat shortly.
Timbo