Hamelin bay 2008
Just returned from a pretty good trip to Hamelin bay.
Went down on the 25th of April from 12 days with the Family, the Girlfriend and Scano and his wife.
We packed over the easter weekend hoping to get away early on Tuesday morning to beat the traffic, and setup before dark. Since there was upto 15 people there at any one time, we needed to pack quite heavily for the trip, including a fridge, freezer, 4 engels, 3 ring burners, and much more.
But first things first....the Beer!!
Last thing you would want to do is run out!!!!!
Off we left leaving around 9am in the morning, with boats in tow and arrived at 1.30pm to our site...
Setting up would be the hardest part of the trip, and usually takes a good half day before we get anywhere.
We were hoping to get out and put the cray pots in before the end of the day but t his was not to be.
Camp site setup on day 1.
The next moring saw us hit the beach early looking for Salmon... and a great moring it turned out to be, with the sun shining and the water crystal clear....but no fish in sight!
Quiet morning with no Salmon around but still a good walk early on always gets you pumped up for the afternoon fish!
So in went the boat for its first trip, drove it off the trailer and out we went.
First things first, get rid of the 4 cray pots onboard.
Stopped for some skippy and herring on the way out to get some cray bait and out we went (Didnt go more than 1 km out :) )
In went the pots and us hoping to get some good crays in the next couple of weeks.
First couple of days saw no crays but there was still a big moon around just after easter.
The Thursday Saw Scano and his wife turn up (Altho very late in the day) they still made it. We set them up, had a few beers then hit the sack for an early morning.
Friday morning up for Salmon... but once again, none in sight... We were starting to wonder if the Salmon had reached hamelin bay yet or not....
As the weather was a little blowie we decided not to hit the water, and hang round for the day.
In the afternoon we went down the beach again chasing the Elusive Salmon again, but this time....we found some!!
After some patient waiting and what i would say good eye sight on our behalf...we spotted our first school!! and only 25-30 Metres off shore.
Off we tore down the beach, and before you knew it, there was 15-or 20 people chasing you, but none of them new where the fish were...
After a few Casts Both Scano, myself and an uncle of mine were on!!!! the first salmon hookups for the trip!!... After 5 or so minutes of fighting... we landed all 3!
Finally the smiles started to appear!
The next morning Saw us his the beach agaiun for more slamon!! this what the outcome!
Another nice couple of Salmon in the bag from a small school of Salmon in close.
In the afternoon we headed out in the boat in chase of some fish behind the Island and to check the cray pots.. And low and behold look what popped up!
And there were a few fish landed aswell, with some nice sized skippy coming onboard, and 1 Bonito, and 2 Good sized king George. We also stopped along side the Island for some fun on 6lb line with small lures on flicking into the massive schools of herring, getting 4-5-6 hookups each cast. After landing quite a few we decided to head in.
Scano's Bonito hookup
Bonito onboard...great cray bait.
Over the next 4-5 days we caught plenty of Crays, with getting upto 9 in one day. Of which we caught 7 Jumbo crays during thenext couple of days.
We also hit the beach most mornings chasing the Salmon, and they didnt disappoint... Even the ladies got invloved!
Great Fun on fairly light gear. The days were so clear and so calm you could see the fish in the water!
Great haull.... the walk back up the beach SUCKED! Altho we were very popular with the Tourists!! many photos were taken!
The next lot of Pictures are of my Dad bringing in a nice Salmon
This is where we walked to, the rocks on the corner.
Cleaning the Salmon on the beach we were pretty popular with both the rays and the tourists wanting to feed them.
On the monday morning we headed out early in the boat, stopped out on a bit of reef forsome skippy. We were fishing with light gear, Scano and myself were on 6lb and Maz the other guy was using 12lb. A couple of times Scano and i got blown away on our 6 LB, and then Maz was on!!! and this was the end result.
We ended with 3 for the day, 2 were landed on the 12lb with a Small Chemically sharpened hook with a small running siker...used to catch skippy!! and a workout it got!
After we pulled the cray pots for some more good crays, we headed back in
The next day we headed out chasing these fish again, this time landing one YTK
Some More skippy were caught and as also managed 6 very nice KG's from a spot we find quite rewarding most times we visit it.
A few other interestying things caught
Small Ray
Bandid Sweep
A Few more awsome pictures taken of the sunsets, kids, and boats having fun launching and retreiving.
The wash at the ramp and catches so many people
This was the 2nd car to jack knive their trailer on the ramp with the swell, and weed causing drama for all who were retreiving and launching. We found ourselves after we came back in had to help the next 6 or 8 groups get their boat back in. This one i had to put the camera down and help them out before someone got hurt!
Sunsets
Little cousin of Mine struggled getting up!
Thanks for Coming down Scano, great time it was!! more drinking required next time!!
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Unforuntely we kept
Unforuntely we kept forgetting the Caermas when heading out on the boat.
Other fish Caught.
18 Good Sized KG Whiting
Dozens and Dozens of herring and skippy.
A great sized back arse by Scano.
Buff bream...great on light gear.
Many Many species of Wrass all went back.
Unfortunately to spoil the trip at the end, our Boat trailer was stolen from the caravan park car park on Sunday night. They broke the tow hitch lock and drove off with it. At this stage no signs of recovering it :(
On the plus side, no real injuries this year, except a ncie cut to Scanos foot! :)
ROCKPOM
Posts: 628
Date Joined: 23/04/07
Great pics!! Done a lot of
Great pics!!
Done a lot of diving down that way and was always unreel!
Saw my first dhuie school in the shallows behind the island!!
zen
Posts: 102
Date Joined: 01/03/08
GREAT PICS
GREAT PICS AND STORY SHAME ABOUT AH@LES STEALING YA TRAILER
abandon
Posts: 204
Date Joined: 23/05/07
Cheers
Cheers for posting Bodie, good read with some nice catches!
If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate.
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Great yarn
Some really great pics there. Makes me want to jump in the car and head on dopwn there. Thanks for sharing.
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shabba
Posts: 484
Date Joined: 26/02/08
sounds like yous had an
sounds like yous had an awsome time, great report & pics, cheers 4 that. sorry 2 hear about ya trailer............
Jody
Posts: 1578
Date Joined: 19/04/07
Thank's for that Bodie
With those pics, it was like being there.
What a great holiday!
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kaneo
Posts: 340
Date Joined: 09/01/08
really nice.no dhuies?
really nice.no dhuies?
Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
fantastic pics mate
Cheers
Cheers
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harro
Posts: 1959
Date Joined: 07/02/08
awesome story n pics
like jody said,almost like being there,great story n pics mate well done and bloody good work on the crays
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Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
I'd have to agree, one of
I'd have to agree, one of the best in Aus for sure... It holds such a variety of marine life, and a use for a variety of activities.
Can take the jetski down, can fish, can drive round the beach a little to the surf beach for a surf, can snorkle... what else could you want!!
Nah no Dhuies, didnt really fish for them, too many different types of fish to fish for.. We did put a few baits out for dhuies or anything else around the reefs but mainly got YTK's
The Crays were Horses for sure, i have some more pics i will post up when i get a chance.
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15644
Date Joined: 29/11/05
Tops
Absolutely tops fellas, cheers for sharing.
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Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
I don't think you had enough beer
Only joking.
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vans
Posts: 114
Date Joined: 07/02/08
How am i supposed to
How am i supposed to concentrate on work after that!
Great read! Thanks guys.
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
Great report and pics
Great report and pics Bodie - good camp site set up (even an overhead flouro!).
Top stuff!
Colin
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Camp site, tent pegs, guide
Camp site, tent pegs, guide ropes and beer bont mix... the more light the better :P
Dreamweaver
Posts: 4688
Date Joined: 01/12/07
LMAO Bodie
Very true mate, VERY true - very impressive grog supply too BTW
On a serious note - definately agree that the low life(s) that stole your trailer deserve a 'cummupance'!
Once again Bodie, top report and pics - and congrats to all others too!
Colin
Soon to be de "dreamweaver" ed!
mike79
Posts: 241
Date Joined: 30/10/05
i do like the place
still not enough grog. when we go down for ausy day week we take a 6*4 caged trailer filled to the brim and it doesnt last long with my mates we ussually end up at the bottle tow days befor the end. he he shame about your trailer mate its a shame that had to ruin it all for ya. hope you got your boat back ok in the end
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
good report!
Well done Bodie/Scano/crew etc......awesome report and the usual quality pics also!
Sounds like a very relaxing trip with the first pic showing the prioritys and the crays were crackers alright....top stuff!
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mitch
Posts: 1285
Date Joined: 14/08/05
great read.sounds like a top
great read.sounds like a top place and holiday, bar the pricks that nicked ya trailer .i hope you get it back .more so i hope the low lifes that stole it get whats coming to them PAIN!!!!!!!
always in it just the depth that varies