Gotta Love School Holidays!! (LOTS of pics)
Submitted by ca11um on Fri, 2012-10-19 21:13
Well i went back to school 2 days ago and my first thought was "...oh HEELLL nah..." I wanted to be back on holidays
I had just got back from a two week trip up the coast, all the way to Broome in fact, and what a trip it was!! Those few days before any trip are always a strange time. We all know that feeling, and it drives your mind crazy!! That feeling that sends your mind into overdrive and send out a barrage of questions. What will we catch?? What will we see?? Will i lose that dream fish or will i rise above and finally catch that beaut trophy fish?? Will it be a waste of time or will it be the complete opposite?? Thoughts like these went mental in my head the few days before we finally jumped in the car and headed north. There was one fish i really wanted to catch though, and i wanted it so bad!! It was none other than the mighty, Mangrove Jack. I had never caught one of these brutes and i was just dying to tangle with one. I knew that they hit with ferocity like no other fish and required some serious nerve to try and tame. That maroney red colour that intertwined between its scales and skin. Those vicious teeth that made mullet float up dead out of sheer fright, this was what i was after!! I took all my fishing mags and read every single article about MJ's on the way up to our first destination, Carnarvon. After 12 straight hours of driving and reading i could not only qoute every single word from my mags but i also couldnt walk properly, which is what happens when your squashed up against 40 million bags. I was hoping to finally get that slab of angry red muscle right here, after i could feel my legs of course. That would have to wait though, as we had some terrific weather further north up in Quobba and we were going to use it to try and get some dinner!!
The next day we made our way to the Blows. We opted to go spearfishing first but brought the rods anyway just incase. The weather was a bit swelly and there was a slight onshore wind but i was keen as a bean to get in the water and have a look around!! We loaded the gear into my brothers dinghy and the three of us set off. The plan was to anchor away from the island on the deeper side to dodge the swell. We would then swim in and dive the steep crags and boulders off the back of the island. Anchor down and the clarity was looking pretty bad but it didnt dim my enthusiasm. We all jumped in and the fish life was astounding!! Heaps of those "Happy Moments" swimming mid-water and hundreds of Fusiliers flitting around plucking tiny little plankton with an influx of water with their mouths. Big buffys came in milling around the bottom and forming huge balls of silver and grey. I swam in towards the island and spotted a nice reef edge and dived down. The vis was about 8-10m and you could only JUST make out the bottom from the surface. Dad, Dan and I followed this edge along for quite some time and Dan was the first on the board with a nice eating sized Estuary Cod. It stirred up a bit of commotion and I spotted a big Spanish Flag underneath the reef. A bit of a scratch on the bottom and he came right out, curiosity killed the Flag!! DOONK, hit him in the glory spot.
Chucked him in the boat and kept diving. I spotted some more fish and was doing a bit of filming, just mucking around. I filmed a big school of Barracuda and i was laying on the bottom when a massive school of PERMIT came through!! There would have been about 15, some big boys as well. I kept filming them as they schooled up around me and it was so surreal to see such an amazing creature elegantly cruise past me. The bonuses of Freediving, even if you get nothing you see some absolutely amazing stuff and you feel 10 out of 10 after a dive. Not long after we decided that it was time for a change of spot.
We went further south to some deeper ground where there was a reef point that went from about 6m to 20m. I was hoping that i might be in with a chance of a Mackie or pelagic. The water clarity was bad here as well but we jumped in knowing that there was some good fish beneath us. The first few dives were relatively featureless but once we found the edge we were in business!! Massive Sand Snapper hovered over the drop off and the Fusiliers and Happy Moments were here as well. I dived down and the first thing i noticed was the Whales, listening to their songs was so cool as it echoed all around you!! I was first on the board with another nice flag which was as stupid as Paris Hilton and nearly ran into my spear tip, luckily i shot it before it did!! Close one :p As i popped up to the surface i see Dad holding this big red thing right next to me. Its an absolute stonker Trout that was a good 80cm!! He stoned it and i followed him back to the boat with my almost forgotten Flag. As we were heading back i here Dad scream "MACKIES!! MACKIES!! THREE OF THEM, BELOW ME!!" I still had my Flag on my spear so i was out of business which was very disappointing and Dan was a good 30m away so we missed out on that opportunity... I chucked my Fish in the boat while dad stayed in the tinny. Me and Dan were on the hunt for some more Mackies, diving the deeper edge in the hope of pinging one. I took some more photos and did a bit of filming. Danno diving down in the hope of a Mack.
I took a dive in about 15m of water and sat on the drop-off waiting for something to come in as i tried to stir up some commotion. A big Rankin of about 7kg's came right in and sat there. My gun instantly pointed straight at it but then i remembered Daniel had already shot a cod and i wasnt sure how many you could spear so i passed up the opportunity and left him. I surfaced and went in a bit shallower for a change. I had the camera rolling and as i hit the bottom i spooked a solid Baldie which i was quick to follow. With camera rolling i followed this guy for a while, waiting for him to broadside but he just kept swimming straight, so i got sick of it and shot him right up the rear. Some how the flopper had managed to come out in the middle of the fish so i was stoked to have a yummy Baldie in the esky!! Just as i was swimming back i hear Daniel calling out to me, i then see him raise a fish which makes my jaw drop. A Pink Snapper!! These fish are the Holy Grail of spearing and have to be one of the toughest fish to shoot anywhere in the ocean, they can smell a diver from a mile away. Dad took a photo of us both with our fish and we had an awesome bag of delicious fish that would last a while.
We hopped in the boat and got some more pics.
After that the decision was made to make the trip home as the winds were rapidly picking up. What a start, some awesome fish already speared and this was only the first day!!
On day two me and my brother decided that we would have a flick around the fascine to see what we could find. Fishing the rock walls was so exciting, reason being was that there were Jacks here!!! We were flicking little Plastics on the base of the rocks and twitching them just above the rocks. The first few casts got us some very small Fingermarks which had a knack of spiking your thumb. I seen an awesome looking over hang in the water that just screamed fish so i flicked a cast in and watch it drift down the face. Its little head poked out and i twitched my lure in front of its face, it came out further, got a little closer and then BANG!! JACK :D finally got one!! It was only about 15cm but i was just so happy to land one. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Dan was next to hook up with a little flattie and for the next hour we hooked onto some little cods and other bits and pieces. I hooked up solid to something big and as it came to the surface i seen a better Jack of about 40cm's or so. Nek Minute, PING. Gone :( He busted me off at my feet, not one of my happiest moments!! But thats what happens when you fish silly string in Jack country o.O We pressed on despite losing the fish of the day. We both landed some powerful GT's after that, awesome fun!! Also hooked another little Jack which was a little bigger than my first.
We packed it in not long after the Trevs left us and headed home, hoping to have some more fun tomorrow!! Between us we got 4 Jacks, a few cods, 3 flatties, few trevs and some other random stuff :)
Well the next day was extremely windy but we still went out. Fished Pelican Point in the late arvo on the estuary side in the hope of a Tailor but quickly found out the abundance of Flatties there!! So they became the main target and had a heap of fun watching them smash the plastics.
The Sun was going down quick though so after we snatched a few tasty Flatty tails we went back home to get some rest for the next big day of driving!! Next destination - Broome.
The next day we drove all day till we reached Point Samson and stayed the night there. Such an amazing place and i know they get some top fish here!! The scenery is mind blowing as well, fishing next to big red earth pinnacles that drop off into crystal clear reefy slopes. I only fished their on the way home though, more on that later.
Sunrise signalled that we needed to make the final leg of our journey to Broome. Straight back in the GQ and another days driving and squashed legs... After what felt like an eternity we finally arrived and unloaded the car. I hit the bed like a sack of potatoes and fell asleep straight away!!
Next morning was awesome, gotta love that warm tropical weather!! I was talking to my uncle Mike, who owned the unit we were staying in, about barramundi and wether he gets many around the area. "A few" he said in a monotone voice "Ill take you out later today to see if i can get you one!". HELL YEAH, there was no way i would refuse that offer!! An hour later and we were in the tinny planing it along Willie creek.
He knew exactly where to go and we were quick to get our lines in the water. I started out with some bait (that disgusting stuff that smells bad) and it wasnt long before all three of us were getting bites. Mike was first to hook up with an exceptional...Catfish!! That kicked off the barage of the bloody things and Dad and I were quick to also catch one of the pesky blighters. I was watching dads rod as he was getting some bites and at first i thought it was something little by the size of the taps but once he set the hooks it went nuts!! Drag was screaming off his reel and i hear Uncle Mike utter those words "Its a Barra, for sure". I certainly didnt doubt him but as luck would have it, Dads line pops on him... I was just as upset as he was... We put it down to either a Giant Threadfin Salmon or big Barra. After that exciting but disappointing moment i was next to hook up with a nice Javelin fish of about 45cm. Things went quiet after this and the bites slowly diminished. I had my line in the water and just as we get the call to head home i gave my line a flick out of disappointment that we hadnt caught a barra. Next thing i start getting bites again and then the fish starts swimming off with my bait so i strike, to feel a dead weight. It gave a few head shakes but it was very lifeless. I pulled it to the top, thinking catfish. What happens next i will never forget. I pull up this stonking Flattie that gets everybody on the boat flipping out like monkeys, trying to find the net. Easily a PB and Mike slides the net under where we hoist it abroad!! I was so shocked, the last thing i expected was a Flattie, especially one of this size!! It pulled the tape back to 58cm, the biggest Bar-Tail Flathead i have ever seen!!
I love fishing the northern creeks.
Some of the most amazing fishing i have ever done, would have loved to have tried with lures.
Next day and we were back into it, this time we were going to try for Jacks and whatever else was around, fishing underwater trees. It took us a while to find a good spot but once we found it we were getting bites left, right and center!! I drew first blood with a 38cm Pikey Bream, my first of the species.
Then the wildlife came out with turtles, sea snakes and sharks all milling around the boat. Thankfully the shark was only about 3ft :P I hooked up again with a 33cm Yellowfin Bream which went beserk!! We fished a little while longer but we didnt get anything so headed home.
The next week or so was just full of relaxing and swimming, wish i was back there... Once our time was up though we had to make the very slow trip home. We stopped off at Point Samson on our way back through and there was about an hour left of light so i grabbed the flick rod and headed down the beach to see what was around. I discovered the largest population of Charlie Courts i have ever seen and i also tangled with some small Coral Trout, they went hard for their size!!
I was flicking my Plastic along a nice reef edge and i hooked up solid that definitely felt better and had some power behind it, a nice little Blue-Lined Emperor!!
Things toned down a bit after that but i did manage one last thing which had me guessing what it was for ages!! I felt a lot of weight, it was definitely a fish but it just wasnt doing much. Once i got it onto shore i realised that it was a little Flatty, but i had hooked it in the belly, which is why it was so heavy.
I headed back to camp as the sun was rapidly going down and the sand flies were going ape!!
Next morning i got up super early for a quick fish before we left. Once i got there i spotted a decent Squid straight away and quickly put a Yozuri jig on. I caught a few of these guys in quick succession before they wised up. Spot the Squid!!
In this photo you can see a big Bream hanging in the background.
As quick as i found them they were gone so i focused back on the fish. I found a nice point that ran deep into the water and there was bait everywhere. There was also some large boulders below me and i could see some stonker bream slowly cruising through them as well as a big Tuskfish. They were so finicky though and the crystal clear water did not help at all. Then out of the corner of my eye I seen a massive Queenfish leap out of the water for a pack of gardies, they all went flying and tail-walking away from the Queenie as he bolted after them. I quickly tied a Surface lure on and tried to entice him. Big boil behind my lure then he slammed my lure but quickly spat the hooks!! He was a monster, would have pushed 1m i reckon. but i doubt i would have landed it on 10lb braid and 8lb leader in such hairy country so it might have been a good thing!! I stuck at it for a while, hoping he would come back but i never seen him again so i headed back to camp. The next day, back in the car...again!
We decided to stay in Carnarvon for another day, just to relax a bit before the big drive back to Mandurah. I was of course planning on fishing though :D So i got up in the morning and headed down to the marina. Jacks were everywhere and i landed one within the first few casts, new PB of 28cm as well!!
The place was alive with fish and it was rare not to get a hit on your cast. Not only was their Jacks but some solid Bream as well.
I decided to put on a Cranka Crank and see how HB's would go up here. 1st cast and another little Jack!! They go nuts on Bream gear :D
It was then that an elderly man who owned the yacht club came up to me and told me that you weren't allowed to fish in there so i high-tailed it quick smart!! I was wondering why there was so many fish there. I went back to fishing rock walls and found an abundance of small Jacks here as well. On that day i would have caught about 10 or so.
I also managed to hook a very powerful Sand Bass, this thing went crazy, i thought it was a decent Jack at first but when i got it to the top i realised it wasnt :P
Then i had one of those moments that haunt you for ages, losing that goood fish... I had left my plastic sit there for ages at the base of a rockwall and i seen a short tug so i striked and felt some good weight, i quickly got his head up and seen some silver flashes and the tail of a Bream. It was a horse!! It could have possibly beaten my PB but i didnt get a good enough look at it cause next thing it drilled me in a nasty oyster covered rock :( a bit of dud way to end the trip but it certainly was a heck of a lot of fun, those Jacks are their own class of fish, the battle is either lost or won in those first few seconds of the hook-up and its awesome fun trying to get them out of their holes!! That was my goal and thats what i got, to say i was stoked is an understatement!!. I kept fishing for a little while longer and only managed a few Pike and a nice Trev but packed it in early and headed home. Standout lures were the Atomic Plazzos 2-3/4" and the 3-3/4" Jerkshads, McCarthy 3" Flickbait and the Squidgy 80mm Flickbait. The next day went so slow but we finally got home and unpacked everything. But god do i miss being up North!! Especially those Jacks ;)
Cheers for reading,
Callum
Sammy the Salmon
Posts: 229
Date Joined: 24/12/11
Sounds like a good trip,
Sounds like a good trip, thanks for the read. Well written, and fantastic pictures!
I can't wait to get back up north myself, you are making me jealous!
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Top trip mate and thanks for
Top trip mate and thanks for the putting the report up as well!
ca11um
Posts: 335
Date Joined: 25/12/11
Thanks guys, took me a while
Thanks guys, took me a while to write!!
sammy85
Posts: 831
Date Joined: 31/08/10
Mate that photo with the
Mate that photo with the squid and the bream in the background is awesome
Plumber and gas fitter- 0415489103
ca11um
Posts: 335
Date Joined: 25/12/11
haha, glad you liked it :)
haha, glad you liked it :)
alfred
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Date Joined: 12/01/07
Great report, sounds like you
Great report, sounds like you had a great time!
tiimmbo
Posts: 695
Date Joined: 16/08/09
yeah good report and photos
yeah good report and photos mate, well written to young fella.
Faulkner Family
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Date Joined: 11/03/08
sounds like you had a blast.
sounds like you had a blast. love the firts of the flaty pics and the squid pics.
well done all round.
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
Nice one Callumgood report
Nice one Callum
good report mate
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
Thanks for your time and
Thanks for your time and effot in writing a great report .sounds like a great trip and plenty of fishing and diving done .some great pics made for a good read .Well done.
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Dreamweaver
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Date Joined: 01/12/07
Top stuff Callum
GREAT report and FANTASTIC pics mate - awesome stuff - appreciate the effort that went into that!
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
Adam Gallash
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Date Joined: 29/11/05
trout
HORSE trout, good report Callum cheers for sharing mate.
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Webby
Posts: 835
Date Joined: 24/09/08
great read and some nice
great read and some nice pics. sounds like an awesome holiday. congrats on the first jack. Cheers
I live with fear every day... sometimes she lets me go fishing.
ca11um
Posts: 335
Date Joined: 25/12/11
thanks heaps guys,
thanks heaps guys, appreciate the kind words!!
kirky79
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Date Joined: 13/01/12
Well done mateGreat read and
Well done mate
Great read and top photos love the squid ones.
Snags
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Date Joined: 07/05/09
Another here that appreciates
Another here that appreciates the time you've put into writing this.
Great fish and report callum!
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Fantastic read
Mate enter that into school essay writing and you will pass with flying colours.
Well done and thanks for sharing. Jacks are fun.
Did you manage to fish the Sampson Causeway. Good fun on a run out tide, but beware the nasty sandflies.
Caught me PB LB Jack there, 48cm of bronze terror. Got a bigger one from a offshore reef, but LB is the way to fish Jacks IMO.
Well done.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
ca11um
Posts: 335
Date Joined: 25/12/11
Thanks guys, glad you
Thanks guys, glad you enjoyed it :)
Nah I didn't fish there, I wanted to give it a try though!! Next time ;)
Cardinal
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Date Joined: 28/05/12
Respect
Awesome report matey. Great spear work, fantastic flatty and pikey, congrats on all ya Pb's some wicked fish there
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ca11um
Posts: 335
Date Joined: 25/12/11
Thanks mate, im missing that
Thanks mate, im missing that place already!!
soupster51
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Awesome
Great stuff, top pics and good to see some solid effort in the write up. Nice work.
The best reason for doing what's right today is tomorrow.
ca11um
Posts: 335
Date Joined: 25/12/11
Cheers bud :)
Cheers bud :)
MightyBoy
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Date Joined: 05/09/12
Good stuff.
Great read, and some ripping pictures!
I'm a bit jelous of those Jack.
ca11um
Posts: 335
Date Joined: 25/12/11
Glad you liked it :D The
Glad you liked it :D The Jacks were killer mate, There are very few things that compare to them!!
EdiFish
Posts: 34
Date Joined: 19/06/12
Great Pics! Looks like it was
Great Pics! Looks like it was a great trip
ca11um
Posts: 335
Date Joined: 25/12/11
thanks bruz!!
thanks bruz!!