GT's and Trout at the montes

It has been a while since our last visit to the motebello islands so with the long weekend upon us, Tim and i were on our way. Unlucky for us we only had two days this time but who is complaining. We set off late friday night with the weather gods smiling upon us. A 4 1/2 drive down to fortescue river followed by an absolutly sensational night transit accross the dark ocean guided by the gas pods on route to the montebello islands. We set the anchor at around 0130 to grab a couple of hours sleep before the morning popping session. We awoke to a beautiful bright red sky and fair seas, we rigged up, topped up the fuel and set off to the popping grounds.


Red in the morning


Words can not describe

Well after a late night and a gentlemans start to the day we were where the GT's liked to hang out. I asked Tim if he would like the first cast, as soon as he said no i didnt give him half a chance to change his mind. I bombed a cast toward the said bommy and on the 4th bloop on the first cast of the trip an explosion of water errupted behind my popper and I was on. Surprisingly what followed was a pretty easy fight, before too long i was surprised to see a nice GT of around 30kg's surface. Not a bad start to the trip.


hooked up on the first cast of the trip


Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeteeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Right, Tim's turn. Last time he visited me he caught a number of GT's but notthing over 20kg's. He got bricked more times than a labourer and the start of this trip was to be nothing different. His first cast resulted in another hook up and yet another lost lure. This happened again soon after. I was getting frustrated with the situation, i really wanted him to land a decent fish. We moved spots after about 5 strikes and 2 lost lures for instant success. This time tim stayed connected and managed to subdue a his first pilbara beast, 25kg's of Pilbara GT finally made it to his arms


hooked up


A very happy GT camper

Righto we then settled in to a pretty good sesion landing another three fish taking us to 5 for the morning session with as many if not more dropped in the couple of hours. the fish we caught were 30kg's, 2 specimens at 25kg's 20kg's and a petite 15kg's. Not a bad morning.


Another cracker from Tim

Well we decided to go for a quick jig in the arvo. I had not ever been out wide of the montes so much of the time we spent looking for any sort of structure in the 40 meter zone. WE found a lump approx 10 miles from where we were and opted for some pe5 fun. We found a ledge that dropped from about 25m to 40m. As usual in the pilbara the bloody thing was teeming with spanyds resulting in quite a few lost jigs. We did manage a ffew nice trout and so did the sharks that were obviouly lurking bellow.


yummo!

Anyway before the afternoon disapeared completely Tim and i went for a bit of a recon in amongst the islands around an area we had not been to before. We were looking for some of those monster jacks the montes are renound for and the only real species to evade us in the last two trips. WE did find some ground and it was covered in good size bar cheek trout over 70cm. I found one ledge while diving that had a 30 plus kg GT on it as well as a 90 odd cm trout and a few of those huge jacks we were looking for. I went back to the boat to get my spear gun but by the time i rreturned the bigger jacks were gone, I settled for a couple over 50cm and a couple of trout. Not a bad way to round out the afternoon.


by the way we named the spot undies, for an undisclosed reason

Well that night keeping with the montes tradition Tim and I share we feasted on coral trout Sashimi. Bloody beautiful! After a good nights sleep in the swags on the beach we woke to yet another beautiful day. Tim sugested we have another pop first thing followed by some plastics in amongst the islands and lure casting on the flats. We made our way out to the popping ground this time it was tim up first. It didnt dissapoint with another first cast hook up. We took turns popping that morning, apolagise for the lack of photos we decided to film instead. We landed 4 fish in ten casts ranging from 15 to 25 ish Kg's we litoraly left them biting, not a bad start to the moring.


Preparing the feast


Yummo, we ended up eating this for diner both nights


trying to get some sleep


Tim pondering the day ahead


Only photo we took on the second moring

Well after another successfull GT session we headed in for ome breaky. After that we headed in a different direction looking for some structure to throw some placky's around. We had reasonable succes in our last trip in one spot so we decided it was time for a revisit. First casts from both tim and i resulted in a double hook up. Tim was burned pretty hard on the pe2 gear resulting in a bust off. I on the other hand landed a nice little trout. We threw plastics and hard bodies around here for an hour or so with some prett good success, we landed a few nice trout and spangos, we also got bricked about 5 or 6 times by some onstopable jacks. I know they were jacks because i jumped in with the mask and snorkle to inspect, i saw jacks to an estimated 8kg's lurking in on the drop off, no wonder we didnt stand a chance on the light stuff, ahh well next time!


trout on an SP


Spango on a stickbait


Trout on a trembler

Well after that we went for a bit of a flats fish to round out the day. Tim had a bit of a cracker session on the pe 3 landing both a chinaman on a sticky bait and an estimated 15kg GT on a red snapback. It was pretty entertaining, i jumped in with the water camera for a few shots of the chinaminza, the water was a bit green but some turned out ok i guess. I speared one last fish to bring home, a nice bluebone.


Tim hooked up on the chinaman, pe 3


almost there


About to net him


Walah!


GT time


Not bad on pe3 gear


one last fish for the esky

Well thats about it. Once again had a great trip, highlight for me is definatly the 30kg GT on the first cast of the trip, tims well probably given the circumstances probably his first brute of a GT, it took him three trips and about 5 of my poppers to land it, hahha. We had glorious weather for the transit home, made a great end to the trip that bit better

Cheers

Brad


Posts: 261

Date Joined: 30/12/09

awesome trip

Mon, 2010-04-26 20:27

great fish fellas im jealous good work

____________________________________________________________________________

It used to hurt when I got cock in my ass......now I can take three at once and not feel a thing!

Posts: 34

Date Joined: 16/12/06

Thats awesome! You guys got

Mon, 2010-04-26 20:34

Thats awesome! You guys got it sussed.

Posts: 9358

Date Joined: 21/02/08

Looks like a great trip

Mon, 2010-04-26 20:38

Looks like a great trip guys, thats some humping GTs and tasty looking trouts!

____________________________________________________________________________

poddyfish's picture

Posts: 986

Date Joined: 01/05/07

Noice

Mon, 2010-04-26 20:53

argh another AWESOME trip there braddo... makes me miss that area for sure... i spent my ANZAC weekend up shark bay so cant complain... i betcha i know the lump ur talking about too bro! got me first ever sail there... spanyid city if u can get past the sharks!!!!!!

some amazing pictures there too boss! well done 

____________________________________________________________________________

Fear The Spear............! 

Craig Pearse's picture

Posts: 452

Date Joined: 04/01/09

  dont know about the pic

Mon, 2010-04-26 20:59

 

dont know about the pic in your girlie jocks brad, doesnt show the man hood of too much LOL

good trip  and good pics

ps long way too travel for a gt ( Turtel)

PilbaraBrad's picture

Posts: 3628

Date Joined: 16/05/07

It was cold, hahaha

Mon, 2010-04-26 21:05

It was cold, hahaha

Webby's picture

Posts: 835

Date Joined: 24/09/08

you should have used the big

Tue, 2010-04-27 10:22

you should have used the big spud haha, awsome stuff, chuck my name down for the next one mate. Just try and make it for a weekend that isn't my sons birthday haha.

____________________________________________________________________________

I live with fear every day... sometimes she lets me go fishing.

HuggyB's picture

Posts: 2515

Date Joined: 03/08/08

good trip boys

Mon, 2010-04-26 21:20

plenty of good fish. But we have come to expect nothing less!

 

Another convert to the terrorist mask I see?

____________________________________________________________________________

                    The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........

Lucky Tim's picture

Posts: 2536

Date Joined: 28/11/07

Yeah I am now Huggy, it

Tue, 2010-04-27 19:34

Yeah I am now Huggy, it saved a lot of sunscreen applying so anything to get me out of that. I was suprised how you sort of forget you're wearing it after a few minutes.

Goodz's picture

Posts: 2332

Date Joined: 20/07/09

Another action packed trip

Mon, 2010-04-26 21:47

Another action packed trip to make us all jealous! Gotta get out there one day.

____________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Posts: 1676

Date Joined: 12/07/09

good stuff mate. great write

Mon, 2010-04-26 21:54

good stuff mate.

great write up and GREAT fish.

looks lik an awsome time and lots of fun with a few fish to eat after the day.

good stuff.

cheers danno

Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 17835

Date Joined: 11/03/08

oh well what can i say but

Mon, 2010-04-26 22:31

oh well what can i say but great job guys. again a great read and some great pics to go with the fish. well done 

____________________________________________________________________________

RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

Erin's picture

Posts: 42

Date Joined: 30/01/10

Wikd pics and write up,

Mon, 2010-04-26 22:53

Wikd pics and write up, very jealous u guys can just pop across for the w/end! Cant wait to get back to the montes

Andy Mac's picture

Posts: 4779

Date Joined: 03/02/06

Quality, quality, quality, quality...

Tue, 2010-04-27 00:01

Awesome pics and a great destination.

____________________________________________________________________________

Cheers

Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)

Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club

Paul G's picture

Posts: 5215

Date Joined: 12/12/07

Great report guys some great

Tue, 2010-04-27 05:27

Great report guys some great pics,sounds like one hell of a place to go fishing ,some of the GT would have given you some stick .look forward to your next adventure .

____________________________________________________________________________

Active Gyp-Rok solutions ,Residential  and commercial ceilings and walls

scotto's picture

Posts: 2469

Date Joined: 21/04/08

sen farkin sational

Tue, 2010-04-27 06:01

all that in a few days?

seriously fucken sick. thats what that is!

soupster51's picture

Posts: 2723

Date Joined: 29/11/06

Awesome

Tue, 2010-04-27 07:07

Great trip, great photos, great report. Top stuff Brad and Tim. I'll be giving you a call when I get back to Aust.

____________________________________________________________________________

The best reason for doing what's right today is tomorrow.

milsey's picture

Posts: 1462

Date Joined: 22/08/07

Great fish guys, looks like

Tue, 2010-04-27 10:24

Great fish guys, looks like you spent all availible time fishing haha. well done very jelous

WODF's picture

Posts: 553

Date Joined: 16/10/08

Sick!

Tue, 2010-04-27 12:25

Awesome write up Brad and ace pics boys. Favourite shot would have to be the headshot of Tim's GT - ripper! Good stuff. Is that a Mag Butt Tim's using?

Lucky Tim's picture

Posts: 2536

Date Joined: 28/11/07

nah Damo it is a Nitro Viper

Tue, 2010-04-27 19:29

nah Damo it is a Nitro Viper 7' 6-8kg. I used it for all my soft plastic work at the Abrolhos and it suprised me on the GT at the Monties with what it handled.
The reel is a Twinpower 5000SW with 20lb braid and I even had to palm the spool a few times to slow the GT and it took it all in it's stride.
The combo performed so well I'd recommend the reel and rod to anyone.

WODF's picture

Posts: 553

Date Joined: 16/10/08

Very nice!

Wed, 2010-04-28 12:09

Nice work on the light stuff Tim. Was looking at getting the Viper soon - maybe even sooner now.

Thanks.

Adam Gallash's picture

Posts: 15607

Date Joined: 29/11/05

niiice

Tue, 2010-04-27 12:22

Nice one fellas, you really know how to rub it in!

____________________________________________________________________________

Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance

carnarvonite's picture

Posts: 8621

Date Joined: 24/07/07

What can one say?

Tue, 2010-04-27 14:21

How can you describe it, magic trip, pics and description.

STEVE231's picture

Posts: 1443

Date Joined: 05/01/10

Excellent

Tue, 2010-04-27 16:00

Good read and some great fish there, well done and thanks for sharing!!

Lucky Tim's picture

Posts: 2536

Date Joined: 28/11/07

Yeah Parko!!!! yep it sure

Tue, 2010-04-27 19:58

Yeah Parko!!!!
yep it sure was another good trip. My highlights were definitely the GT popping and finally landing a few after some bad angling and bad luck, plus the GT on the light gear on the flats. I reckon I've had less line out on marlin before, that thing went!
Next trip we need to really give those jacks a serious nudge and I'll bring some more jigs for offshore (I don't think you mentioned how many you lost....)
Cheers again old mate, like you said on the way down, hopefully there's plenty more adventures in the future. Sitting on the train in Perth this morning really sunk in where I want to be.
ps. you really don't need to do that while I'm eating.

Ozzy's picture

Posts: 257

Date Joined: 11/06/08

I have to give IT

Tue, 2010-04-27 20:10

To you guys,looks Like you had a Great Trip,and that Dinner You Shared of the Trout on a Bed of Rice and Topped with what looks like Wasabi looks sensational.

Yoda 

PilbaraBrad's picture

Posts: 3628

Date Joined: 16/05/07

all it was missing was a bit

Tue, 2010-04-27 20:30

all it was missing was a bit of chicken salt hey big fella?

DazSamFishing's picture

Posts: 1518

Date Joined: 19/08/09

Sensational stuff. Love your

Fri, 2010-04-30 19:28

Sensational stuff. Love your reports & pics.

mcollier_84's picture

Posts: 31

Date Joined: 23/01/10

Brad mate you have inspired

Sat, 2010-05-01 13:57

Brad mate you have inspired me I have never had Coral Trout Sashimi but will definately give it a go next one a catch!! hows hedland treating you?

____________________________________________________________________________

Carpe Diem "Sieze the Day"

PilbaraBrad's picture

Posts: 3628

Date Joined: 16/05/07

yeah good mate, give it a

Sun, 2010-05-02 09:14

yeah good mate, give it a go, a "just legal" trout is perfect for sashimi mate. It has to be fresh, and chilled

Lamby's picture

Posts: 3145

Date Joined: 04/08/09

Wow... just awesome, Fark I

Sun, 2010-05-02 09:49

Wow... just awesome, Fark I love that place

PilbaraBrad's picture

Posts: 3628

Date Joined: 16/05/07

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, Tim we

Sat, 2010-08-07 12:16

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, Tim we should be there this weekend mate

its FLATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT azzzzzzzzzzzzz bro!

Posts: 4561

Date Joined: 01/02/10

Looks like Im heading to

Sat, 2010-08-07 12:35

Looks like Im heading to Bedout tonight bro. Too bad work comes first hey?

____________________________________________________________________________

Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?

PilbaraBrad's picture

Posts: 3628

Date Joined: 16/05/07

homo!

Sat, 2010-08-07 12:48

homo!

if you were not working today i think i could have had my arm twisted to go to the montes quite easily

jay_burgess's picture

Posts: 4648

Date Joined: 18/08/05

flat as a pancake :)

Sat, 2010-08-07 14:29

flat as a pancake :)