First time at the Montes
After a false start at Easter when the weather blew up Anzac weekend was the next chance I had to have a crack at the Montes.
Hit Fortescue and dropped the boat in at around 8 on Friday night. Was a little blowey for the first ten kms or so with the little 17r Haines sitting on around 24 knots. Calmed of the further we got until glass around Veranus area and we hit a fast cruise of around 32.
Fisrt thing we noticed in the morning was how fishy the place looked. I was honestly pretty hard to make a decision and then stick with it without getting distracted.
Headed west of the islands and got onto a few lumps in around 35-40m and worked our way north. Found some nice fish but the sharks were never far away. Fair few Shark Macks around and lots of little Tuna as well.
Red Bass really did some pulling.
Made our way up to Tryall Rocks for a look around there. Suprisingly little pelagic action. Shows great potentialbut will have to leave out exploring there for a bit later.
Came back down to the old Observatory overlooking the Nuclear testing area. The little Ray got spooked in the shallows and beached it self. Took a pic then de spooked it back into the water.
View from the Observatory.
Did a bit of trolling around and looking the next day. Some nice fish coming over the side. Some not so big but always plenty of action.
Just to prove we did find a GT Brad.
Got up before sunrise this morning for the ride home. Awesome conditions. Sat on 34 knots for most of the way with only a quick stop for another couple of trout. Sunrise over the rigs was pretty impressive.
We caught plenty of fish but really only scratched the surface of the place. At least now I have a picture of the layout and can plan the next trip a bit better and try to stick with one plan.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
nice! You did feature in
nice! You did feature in one of our pics too mate
Goodz
Posts: 2332
Date Joined: 20/07/09
You made it out there john!
You made it out there john! Bet Darryn was jealous! haha.. few nice fish there too!
dodgy
Posts: 4584
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Yeah, I left a message on
Yeah, I left a message on his phone as we passed Veranus Island on the way out about the weather.
He came over as soon as I got home for a look at the pics. Said he spent the weekend working but kicking himself about making the wrong decision.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
big john
Posts: 8765
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Conditions
Nice work dodgy, you scored some nice fish and some great conditions. How good does Tryal Rocks look!
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
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Faulkner Family
Posts: 18082
Date Joined: 11/03/08
well done for your first
well done for your first trip out there. gives you a bit more incentive to get out there a bit more. looks like an awesome place for fishing and a bit of exploring on the island.some nice fish there to take home for dinner too
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
Nice work on the bass, get
Nice work on the bass, get it on a jig??
dodgy
Posts: 4584
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Yep, PE3. 7in Gulp in Blue
Yep, PE3. 7in Gulp in Blue Pepper Neon. Its still down his throat in the pic.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
plastics aren't jigs! lol
plastics aren't jigs!
lol
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Some good fishfor your first
Some good fishfor your first time out ,I guess the fish are everywhere over there ,or do you still need to do the miles to find good fish ,good report and some good pics well done.
Active Gyp-Rok solutions ,Residential and commercial ceilings and walls
dodgy
Posts: 4584
Date Joined: 01/02/10
There is plenty of fish
There is plenty of fish there. Still got to look though. It was a little harder than I thought it was going to be. To be really honest I got a bit sidetracked trying too many different things. So many options. Should have concentrated on a couple of things and put more time in to work a few things out a bit better. Have a better idea of exactly what I want to do next time though.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
STEVE231
Posts: 1443
Date Joined: 05/01/10
Good effort
Great pics as well, such a fishy place!!
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
nice to meet you out there
nice to meet you out there John, how good was that weather and the ride home?
The bass and red emps would've been a highlight for me, it's a place you really need to spend a week at the first time around to suss out all of the spots, and there are plenty.
At least you know you can do it now so hope you get another trip soon. Some of the stories you were telling me about your NT trips will make the Monties seem like a walk in the park.
dodgy
Posts: 4584
Date Joined: 01/02/10
NT was always a bit easier
NT was always a bit easier to pick the weather. Mostly.
Cant wait to get back. Thats for sure.
Good to meet you too. Few beers and laughs and a bit of friendly banter sure makes a good weekend.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
2rods
Posts: 40
Date Joined: 11/05/10
Dodgy...I hope the weather
Dodgy...I hope the weather is good in OCT so we can do a quick trip out there???
dodgy
Posts: 4584
Date Joined: 01/02/10
We will get somewhere Mr
We will get somewhere Mr Rods. Montes or Mackeral Islands, we will find something.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
soupster51
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 29/11/06
Montys
Great write up/pics. Sounds/Looks like you had an awesome time up there.
The best reason for doing what's right today is tomorrow.