We decided to make the what is turning to be the annual pilgrimage to Coral Bay again this year for yet another great trip.  Left Perth about 9pm on Friday the 16th September for a nice long trip in convoy with my parents to arrive at Bayview at around 1pm, got the sites setup and had a great sleep for the night!  Myself and the old man both had new Pajero’s for the trip and both performed well with better than expected fuel, dad towing the boat (6.5m Chivers), me towing a trailer with the kayaks.

The general for the trip was a bit of a pumping swell and some wind, I guess that’s a bit expected for September (last year we did a May trip).  We got out on the Monday for a spin with the winds up we decided for a troll around the back of the reef from the North Passage.  26m of water the way, not long into it we hit macky central – issue number one – all mackys undersize at between 75 and 85cm – issue 2 – race the sharks.  I could swear the sharks knew what lures meant and followed them.......  Regardless, we did well and kept most of the macks safe, but once we did get any of size, there was no way to land them, so a bit of a bottom fish was in order.  We started trolling out of the patch to some old marks close by and bang, one of the crazy deeps was hammered – result , a good fight for Dad and a nice Red Bass (edit from Crimson Perch) for dinner. 

Not long after we stopped and under the boat and it was macks and sharks swimming everywhere, half the time we had 5 sharks under the boat, and couldn’t shake them.  They cleared off and we got some placys and jigs down.  I kept getting hit by macks for no luck, then Dad struck again, a nice Rankin on the plastics – and his first fish on a plastic. 

After this we had enough of the staring at whales, turtles, and 3m swell, so plugged back into the ramp.

Weather for the next day was shocking, so we decided to stay on land and booked a charter for Wednesday – Seaforce was the only one operating, so out with them we went.  Not too bad of a day, lots of reds caught, most undersize, fairly large sea but the boat handled it well.  We ended up with some Spanglies, Honeycomb Cod, Pearl Perch and a Trevally – nothing spectacular, but it was nice to get out for a day, get some good fish and not have to clean up for a change! 

Thursday was again a disaster weather wise, so we grabbed the kayaks (4 hobies, two outbacks with mirage drive and a couple of quests for the girls).  Took them to the boat ram and headed down to Five Finger reef, outside the sanctuary.  Well we were pumping into a pretty stiff southerly, so it ended up that me and dad towed the girls, at least we got some exercise.  Went for a swim for about an hour over the reef, lots of nice corals, but no fish worth chasing.  Still a nice way to spend the arvo.

Friday, yet again a blower, but decided to have another crack at some macks – again, sharks everywhere.........  Trolled from North to South passage, but the only producing one was the shark patch.  On the way back I did hook up to a size macky, unfortunately for fear of sharks, ended up pulling the hooks next to the boat!

The Saturday and Sunday didn’t look overly good so it was off for a trip to Exmouth for the first time.  Stopped in at Tackleworld to replenish the lure supplies (damn sharks) and headed up around the Cape for a look around and to take some pictures.  Nice day and it was good to get out for a drive.  On the Sunday we again jumped into the kayaks, this time paddled out to the outer reef for a snorkel and feed the Spanglies, they always impress, love swimming around this place!

Monday came and so did some nicer weather.  Headed out with dad and a mate Simon straight to the 60’s to start with.  Finally we were able to get out a bit to a day that got better as it went.  First drift over the corals and almost immediately onto the fish.  Got a couple of tomato cod then a school of Trevally moved in, picked up a few nice size ones, then we all though I was sharked, but nope, a nice size trevally instead, great fight, and tasted quite nice too.  

Went a bit quite, so off to find some new ground.  Found an area that came up gradually 5m in the 70’s, started with a few honeycomb cod, then bang, a rod loads up,

excellent result in a beautiful red for Simon. 

After that picked up a Saddletail snapper and a Rankin then again moved in search of more ground.  Not too far away, another bit of coral found, and a school of Spanglies to go with it.  Now we decided it was a good day so went out to the 100m mark.  Didnt have much time out there before the wind picked up, but did get a visit from a dolphin fish – beautiful sight the electric blues on the fins.  Simon hooked him a couple of times on a placcy but not well enough unfortunately, and I had a few follows on poppers.  Out went the skirts for a troll back towards the south passage.  Stopped off for a drift at another coral patch in the 60’s, and here we found a nice school of Reds, got another couple sized then decided to have another chase at the mackys, no luck until.  ...Shark spot.....  Great fun, but result, a broken rod to Simon after a bit of exhaustion – damn good fight though for the half hour leading up to it!  Back to the ramp and the cleaning tables - the days catch.

Tuesday was a day with the missus, having a lazy one, bit of snorkelling, making rigs and doing nothing – needed it!

Wednesday for my birthday was a spin out in the kayaks again to swim with the ever so friendly spanglies and another lazy afternoon.

Thursday – back on the water with Dad.  Brilliant day again, only going to the first 3 spots and bagging by lunch time.  Ended with a few good tomato cod, a small red, another saddletail, some spanglies, a trevally, rankin and a couple of pear pearch. 

Was a nice, easy, enjoyable morning on the water.   Even had a sail swim under the boat and managed to land one of the annoying sharks (albeit a lot smaller than the ones in the macky patch!!)

Friday – perfect weather, dad decided he wanted to relax and start packing, so I went out with my Simon from the other day.  Though we would hit up the deep and what an amazing day it was.  3 hours bottom fishing and the bag limit was achieved.  First drop resulted in a nice goldband, then a sharking – this had us thinking the day wasn’t going to be soo good.  Next thing, 5 bronzies come from nowhere, smash around the back of the boat, then disappear....  strange things..

Reset the drift, couple of red throats and a spanglie, then bang, 4 nice reds in a row. 

Me and my first of the day.

Simon and his first of the day

Deciding not to get more reds, moved about 500m to look for new ground and started drifting, result in a few nice goldy’s.  Once last drift at the previous spot got a dpouble header of big goldy’s and a full bag. 

During this tiem we also had a Marlin swim under the boat so out when the lures for the trip home.  No hits after about 30 mins, so in they came, just as we powered off there was a fish jump in front of us, out they went again.  Instantly there was a sail playing behind our lures, 2 hits on each then gone – still was a nice way to finish he day.  Then as usual, a whale playing in the water, leaping, tail flapping and putting on a show – I knew I wouldn’t want to go home the next day........

Goldy for dinner, then off to bed, Packed up the site next morning and back in Perth at 2am the next day.

Was a wonderful trip again to Coral bay and has me itching to get back there.  Makes it even harder when I only work 3hrs inland from there........

Thanks for reading

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