Fishing from Hillarys 15/03

Hi All,

 

Im pretty new to the forum, i am heading out tomorrow morning to do a bit of fishing for the first time in my new boat (out deep), looking at the map i might go along the cost and head out just before scarbs as it looks to be a bit of minefield out there.

any tips on good depth to fish as i will be probably just using the sounder to find some good ground.

 

 

Cheers Dan


grantarctic1's picture

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Hi Dan

Thu, 2013-03-14 12:42

hi Dan, with the way the weather looks for tomorrow, you might want to change your mind and head out on the weekend instead.

dant's picture

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thanks for the reply - i have

Thu, 2013-03-14 12:47

thanks for the reply - i have been looking at seabreeze and BOM for most of the day, the wind doesnt look to bad and there loosk to be only a chance of storm clearing?

im pretty new to this though so the last thing i want is to be going out in dicey weather

Justo82's picture

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 A good rule of thumb I've

Thu, 2013-03-14 13:09

 A good rule of thumb I've found when I was new to boating was to not go out in more than 15 knots and 1.5m swell/seas. As you get more experienced, you'll learn what you're comfortable in. 

 

Sunday looks the goods at the moment, especially if you are heading out "deep". It's a long way back in if the weather turns to shit.  

 

How "new" to boating are you??  Perhaps try this side of rotto first.  Find some lumps where it goes from 30m up to around 20m.  You will see them on your charts on the NE side of rotto.  I've usually done quite well off them, picking up snapper and the likes.

 

good luck!!!

 

ps: I'm still newto boating.  I've been boating for about 2 years, and only just now have I started going out into the 40's and 50's.  but that's just me.  I'm super safety conscious, and want confidence in myself and my equipment.  I dont plan on calling VJ6LQ for help any time soon.  

dant's picture

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Cheers for the heads up,

Thu, 2013-03-14 13:29

Cheers for the heads up, thats not a bad rule of thumb. they are saying in the morning its 10 - 15k in the morning with 2m swell so that would be on the border.

Ive been boating with mates etc but its alot different when it all falls on your shoulder and your driving, im the same as you im also super safety conscious and def do not want to be using the may day call, hence if i go i will be taking the safe route down the coast and out from Scarbs.

ive just bought a 21 ft with 175 on the back and will definately be going between here and Rotto, sorry that to me is deep haha, but prob not to others.

any tips is definately appreciated thanks again.

Justo82's picture

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 A good spot for small dhus

Thu, 2013-03-14 13:39

 A good spot for small dhus and pinkies is what I call Hale Rd reef.  Just south of scarbs.

 

if you know where hale rd is on a road map, line up and head directly out.  Water goes from 22m up to about 12-14.  Anchor and burley.  There are heaps of lumps in this area, and not too far out, but still produce reasonable fish (if you can get through the wrasse).

just read your charts and you should be fine.  Having a 21' you can go pretty much anywhere.  Mine is 5.2m and I now have confidence to go wide, weather permitting.  

dant's picture

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that sounds perfect to start

Thu, 2013-03-14 14:09

that sounds perfect to start of with, i will try there first in the morning, will give me a good chance to access the weather - i should be able to find that with the map thanks heaps..

il be sure to get you a few beers if we get something.

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 Approx how far out off hale

Thu, 2013-03-14 14:21

 Approx how far out off hale rd? 500m or 5km?

____________________________________________________________________________

 BC

Justo82's picture

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 It's about 4-5km offshore.  

Thu, 2013-03-14 14:27

 It's about 4-5km offshore.  

dant's picture

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just reading a few ppls posts

Thu, 2013-03-14 14:27

just reading a few ppls posts on Hale road reef - ranges fro 3 km to 6km, just look for some lumps you like

 

Justo would be the man though

Justo82's picture

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 Don't know about the man,

Thu, 2013-03-14 14:29

 Don't know about the man, but its where I started out till I grew more confident. I've always caught fish there. 

 

Good luck!

dant's picture

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Cheers again for the help

Thu, 2013-03-14 14:33

Cheers again for the help

dant's picture

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cheers

Mon, 2013-03-18 15:04

thanks for the spot Justo - we went out to Hail reef and pulled a couple of nice fish in,  so was very happy

the weather was perfect aswell very flat and calm day.

il drop a few beers in your boat for next time you go out, il be out of hillarys most of the time.

wadetolley's picture

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Dant

Mon, 2013-03-18 12:18

Dant, if your not confident to go straight out west from Hillarys Habour, just wait a little while and there is always plenty of boats going that way thru the reef. Then just follow them, and just mark a few weigh points on your GPS for next time. Just watch going out there, on a 2m plus swell..i just about found out the hard way!

dant's picture

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Cheers Wade - im slowly

Mon, 2013-03-18 12:36

Cheers Wade - im slowly getting the confidence up to follow one of those boats out, im just hoping that they know where to go aswell.

 

would you just save your route when you stop? i have a humminbird sounder that im also slowly getting used to, definatley dont want to find out the hard way.

wadetolley's picture

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You

Mon, 2013-03-18 16:34

You can set your gps up to leave a trail, everywhere you go..so you can follow the same route every time. Or just hit weighpoint a few times as your going thru the reefs, to give you a points to follow next time. Next time you are planning to go fishing, the day before ring up Mills Charters and ask what time there boat is leaving in the morning. Then all you have to do it wait for them to head out thru the reef and you can follow them. They know where there going.

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 Glad you pulled up a few

Mon, 2013-03-18 13:22

 Glad you pulled up a few good fish there Dant.  

 

What depth did you find??

dant's picture

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it was all very shallow

Mon, 2013-03-18 13:48

it was all very shallow actually, did a bit of drift all round the area, ranged from 8 - 18 metres, i found the shallower the better.

we were teased by a huge Pinky that kept coming right up to the boat all day, just couldnt catch him.