Few questions about catch and release fishing from Kalbarri - Exmouth
Hi there,
Im still in the midst of planning a trip from Perth up to Exmouth in July.
I have fished Kalbarri before and know that there is a fair few spots that will allow us to fish Catch and Release quite easily.. along with a few spots that wont, where a cliff gaf of some sorts will be needed.
My questions are for the areas from Kalbarri up. I had first gone with the idea of spending some time at Steep Point, but from what i see there.. its not really Catch and Release friendly and more of a slaughter house that requires heavy line and gafs. Is this the case, or are there areas that would suit releasing fish ( ledges closer to the ocean ). What about the rest of the area up there, is it worth ignoring Steep Point and trying other parts of that Peninnsular??
Is this the same for Quobba? I have booked in there for a few days, but from what i see there should be a few areas that would be suitable and the beach fishing would be great too. While Ballooning is something i would like to try, i dont fancy bringing a 20kg Spanish Mac up the cliffs when i dont have a freezer and only need to feed two people for the 2-3 week trip. A small feed of fish once and while is the idea.
As for Exmouth, from what i have read its the best place for what we plan to do. Am i correct in thinking this?
Any specific areas that would be great for what we want to do. Lots of walking is not a problem, we plan to do HEAPS of lure casting and chase the GT's for a good while.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
George.
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Not offering to much on Steep and Q
but what a fantastic attitude.
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Bungel
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 12/10/08
sweet as Crasny .. anyone
sweet as Crasny
.. anyone else?
jono.s
Posts: 440
Date Joined: 27/07/09
Yeah your right in saying
Yeah your right in saying exmouth is the best for catch and release , steep point is still good for catch and release there are plenty of beaches and low lying ledges where you can catch all sorts of fish , but if your not going to fish the cliffs i dont think it would be worth the trip, i would go straight to quobba then exmouth
Bungel
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 12/10/08
Thanks Jono. Yeh, thats the
Thanks Jono.
Yeh, thats the plan. Sweet as. .. Anywhere in particular around Exmouth? I have a detailed marine map of Ningaloo Reef which i plan to take and make good use of.
What about places to stay up there in Exmouth... where would be most preferable for some LBG fishing. I dont mind camping, but would much rather get set up in a nice little cabin or similar. Doesnt have to be flash, just somewhere to spread the gear out and relax after a big day.
Thanks.
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Check with site sponsor
Ray white exmouth.
Anywhere around the coast is great for C&R fishing. I love wading the flats at Bundegi on incoming tide. Chuck anything just about out there lure wise and you will have a ball with little GTs, other trevs, Queenies, Gaint herring and I have even caught a milkfish and one Bonefish on a placy.
A little hit and miss with lures around the west side IMO, but then who cares with some of the beautiful beaches around there. Hammer out a little raider and you never know.
Explored around and loved using the fly rod. Best if someone else use bait as some sort off burley.
If you can get a spot on Learmonth jetty squid and queenies on the card. Just dont release squid, to bloody nice.
Come on crew, help out as C&R is to be applauded, and being from Kcity I have been there heaps but no expert.
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Quobbarockhopper
Posts: 392
Date Joined: 28/05/10
The caves at Quobba and any
The caves at Quobba and any of the lower lying ledges just north of the king waves kill sign (on a 2m MAX swell) should be what your after mate. PM me and Ill tell you how to find the caves ledge if you dont already know
Bungel
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 12/10/08
awesome. thanks for that
awesome. thanks for that guys.
I did read up about the caves, one of the northern spots i believe.
Cheers QRH, will do.
Bungel
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 12/10/08
bump.
bump.
kwazulu
Posts: 62
Date Joined: 05/02/10
Quobba
We have just got back from Quobba and there are some great spots to land fish without a gaff. If the swell is low try Camp Rock and the Two Mile reef. For beaches fish the 17 mile, especially at night, but the best we found was Blowholes beach late afternoon and into the night. We caught lots of trevally and big tailor on lures there and then as soon as it got dark the sharks come out to play. Drive through the caravan park as far as the dirt road will take you. The water is shallow but holds lots of fish. The deeper ledges were full of huge sharks so you might battle to get a big fish past them.
Bungel
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 12/10/08
Awesome bro... thanks alot
Awesome bro... thanks alot for that.
Just a few little heads up for spots is great. Hate the idea of traveling far and not being able to find somewhere that would be suitable for Catch and Release.
Did you end up using alot of stinky bait, or stick mostly with the plastics and hardbodied lures?
Would love to do a few missions out and about where i dont have to carry a Ton of bait/Berly in, as im used to.
Cheers for that info.
kwazulu
Posts: 62
Date Joined: 05/02/10
Lures
The hard body lures worked best such as Halco twistys but soft plastics also work well. At Blowholes stick with the smaller 30 gram lures. We did use bait (squid) but there were hordes of small northwest snapper so it did not last long. Best bait up there is the rock crabs but I would take octopus with you, a lot tougher and will last longer on the hook.
Bungel
Posts: 290
Date Joined: 12/10/08
Occy
Cheers mate.
Might be worth hunting out squid and adding that into the salted mix i will be making up.
Any ideas for places to get Occy.
Is it worth contacting WA Bait Supply directly for an order of 10-20kg Mulies... 10-15kg of Squid. 5KG Occy. ???
kwazulu
Posts: 62
Date Joined: 05/02/10
Occy
Give The Fishing Shop in Woodvale a try for occy but I am sure that most of the tackle shops should have some. We don't take much bait when we go, the lures always work well unless you intend to balloon baits out.
NOHA
Posts: 914
Date Joined: 24/06/07
high cliff C'n'R
Use a wind on leader, say 60-80lb that is as long as the cliff is high. When you have the fish at the base just hand line it up, if it falls off, well you intended to release it anyway.
As for bait...sand whiting. Salt them if you want them to toughen up and stay on the hook. Salt them untiil they are dried right out then a little whale oil to give them extra scent. 6-10 in a zip lock bag.
For ballooning the humble herring is good but big gardies are better. Sand whiting do well also, but sometimes you need a heavy bait to stay in the water, adjust your balloon to suit the wind and bait size
Twin turbo..V8 diesel..Ohh what a feeling!!
No Orange Hats Allowed
pale ale
Posts: 1755
Date Joined: 02/01/10
Whale oil?? Is this stuff
Whale oil?? Is this stuff available?