Kasey Leong's Exmouth Expedition
Hi all,
Just returned from the 12 hr drive from Exmouth in time to watch my beloved Deutschland overcome the odds against Argentina through penalties.
Here are some pictures from our trip. It seems Andy has fared much better, but I still managed to take some (hopefully good) shots of what we caught. Didn't manage well at the bottom bouncing department, except a plethora of sweetlip emperor, and trolling was mostly quiet... in between stuffing around and being stuffed around with (some unlucky incidents). Anyway, it was all good, and it was a great trip, with many memorable experiences. By the way, this was my first trip to Exmouth, and I think I might be hooked onto gamefishing/trolling too (another pricy bug), as well as frequenting the trip more often. Much was learnt, and many thanks to my travel companions Rob and Honsu+family for their previous experience and company.
Enjoy the pictures =) They were taken with pride.
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[img_assist|fid=27194|thumb=1|alt=Long road to Exmouth|caption=Nearing the end of our 12 hour ride..]
[img_assist|fid=27197|thumb=1|alt=Exmouth Gulf|caption=This was how calm the gulf was when we first got there, last weekend.]
[img_assist|fid=27200|thumb=1|alt=Sunset at the Naval Base|caption=As the sun goes down, poppers fly out, and GTs turn on...]
[img_assist|fid=27212|thumb=1|alt=Nice cod from shore|caption=Gave the angler a bit of a fight, and a nice surprise, when this was landed at dusk]
[img_assist|fid=27209|thumb=1|alt=Baby GT on Popper|caption=Aggressive little buggers... This one was probably shorter than the popper itself!]
[img_assist|fid=27203|thumb=1|alt=Rob's Giant Trevally|caption=Moderately sized GT from shore]
[img_assist|fid=27215|thumb=1|alt=Honsus GT|caption=Honsu got into some GT action from shroe on poppers too.]
[img_assist|fid=27206|thumb=1|alt=Honsus Mackie|caption=Macks were about both in sizes small....]
[img_assist|fid=27222|thumb=1|alt=Robs Mackie|caption=A decent Mackie by Rob. They weren't arounda as much as I would have hoped for... although we were there the same time as Andy was. Funny thing, fishing.]
[img_assist|fid=27218|thumb=1|alt=Rob's Tuna|caption=Some Tuna were around, and were very welcome, but numbers were few and far between..]
[img_assist|fid=27228|thumb=1|alt=Gordons Queenies|caption=These fish were around in numbers... but were also very fussy. They were brought home and filleted, with their frames saved and brought back all the way to be donated to Drew Rowland as requested for research.]
[img_assist|fid=27225|thumb=1|alt=Gordon's big Queenie|caption=A closeup of a 1m long queenie... havent actually measured it yet.]
[img_assist|fid=27231|thumb=1|alt=Another one of Gordon's big queenies|caption=These were smashing up hardyheads and really put on a show. Great sportsfish.... And make great sashimi too!]
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P.S. You may notice that none of them involve me. I will leave that conclusion up to you, but despite that, I am content with experiencing Exmouth for the first time, and not for the lack of trying. I popped almost everynight until my arms just about fell off, and still made another 10 more casts... and another 5... and another one for good luck... and another and another. Unfortunately it was not to be, but I still enjoyed my holiday. I believe I have tried my best, and sometimes luck is just not on your side. Perhaps we should have met up Andy, hehe ;) I did get my bag limit on Sweetlip, but nothing worth bragging really. I certainly learnt alot.
That is fishing. Exmouth is great, I would certainly want to do it again soon.
Thanks for reading, Kasey.
.thumbnail.jpg "'The Croc' got 'crocked'")
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15648
Date Joined: 29/11/05
Alltime KC
Thanks heaps for sharing KC, you have certainly got the amp pumping for me again. Andy did it at the start of the week and now some excellent photography from yourself is starting to kick it all in that we are actually leaving tomorrow.
Bit of bad luck on not getting into too many yourself, I'm sure next time things will be on your side.
Once again, cheers for sharing some of your holiday memories,
Adam
Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance
deefa
Posts: 642
Date Joined: 09/09/05
great report KC....
looks like you guys had a great time, some great piccies too KC, Honsu and Rob look happy with their gt's......
With all these Exxy reports rolling in, i can't wait.....only 3 weeks to go!!!!!
Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
Top report KC
I don't know about lucking out, it certainly looks like you guys got into some awesome fishing.
I hear you with the popper chucking, my arms and back were absolutely in agony after the first night when I couldn't raise a scale. But as you say, "that's fishing".
Shame we didn't catch up while you were there, we mostly fished all day and filletted till about 9-00pm and hit the sack. A couple of nightes we hit the Pot Shot to watch the soccer.
Hey that wasn't you guys sitting down up front over at the Pizza joint watching the Australia Brazil game on the plasma was it?
Where did you get the Queenies from, I would have loved to have caught a few of them, but we saw none?
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
Kasey L.
Posts: 1390
Date Joined: 02/03/06
Hi Andy, Nah, we didn't even
Hi Andy,
Nah, we didn't even watch the game...
It was pretty much making our way down to GT spots everyday (when we could) at about 5 in the arvo, and pop til 9. After that, it was straight to bed, as you can imagine. And then up the next morning bright and early for some more fishing.
The spot where we got the Queenies was no secret... after a BIG run, when they resembled a school of salmon more than queenies, the place was packed, I mean a picket fence of rods. Pity alot of it was catch and keep, and landed using gaffs.
If you've read the latest issue of Hotbite, Matt Gates mentions that alot of Queenie killing has been going on so... be sensible guys. =S
I'll include a picture for those to guess... bit of a game, but not too hard to figure out :)
Kasey L.
Posts: 1390
Date Joined: 02/03/06
Can you picture the
[img_assist|fid=27281|thumb=1|alt=HUGE baitball of Hardyheads|caption=Can you picture the predators surrounding this? Amongst the fish pulled out were spotted mackerel, huge Goldens, Spotted and assorted Trevs, and of course, Queenies.]
nickyau2
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 11/05/06
good report KC.. you'll be
good report KC.. you'll be addicted to the place now! it rocks!!! even if you dont fish... wildlife up there is spectacular... bad luck on the GT.. will keep the hunger to get one fired up!
Here fishy fishy....
honsu chin
Posts: 2086
Date Joined: 20/09/05
dont forget my lil big eye
dont forget my lil big eye trev that I got before I hooked his bigger brother......on the same popper.
[img_assist|fid=27435|thumb=1|alt=small big eye trevally]
bruiser
Posts: 148
Date Joined: 09/08/05
Great
Some great catches guys. Wished I was there. I like the little bubby Honsu. :D
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Yeh well done guys, nice
Yeh well done guys, nice pic's K.C but who took most of them.....couldn't tell hehehe:)
1 week is very short as you've found out, I've done nearly 10 years of Exmouth fishing and unless a local takes ya fishin or give's you spots (I've never had that luxury!) you've gotta do the "hard yards" and it will pay off.
Thanks for the report K.C, nice L/B fish amongst them especially Rob's & Honsu GT!
Your pic of the Gulf in particular is gold!
Cheers
Owner/Operator
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Spooled
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 06/08/05
Whales?? Exmouth
Have the whales started yet through Exmouth??
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
Yeh Honsu said he
Yeh Honsu said he encountered them this week whilst he was up there, they were behind tandabiddi reef and towards the Murions!
I've seen whales every trip this month at Two rocks also, yesterday was no different with a big arse whale entertaining us for a while on the way in!
Owner/Operator
Oceanside Tackle and Marine
364 South Street,
O'Connor, Perth WA
Ph# 9337 5682
Fishing/Boating/Dive/Marine
** OPEN 7 DAYS **
Maverick
Posts: 1260
Date Joined: 06/06/06
Whales
We saw a few last week passing by Rotto , about four were breeching for 10 mins then a few came over to check us out , we also saw a big Turtle about 5 KM's west of Rotto.
MAV.
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SHizz
Posts: 1556
Date Joined: 07/08/05
awesome trip guys! bugger
awesome trip guys! bugger ive still got 3 weeks to go :/
and lol @ honsus Big eye haha Amazing how such a small fish takes such a big lure.
Maverick
Posts: 1260
Date Joined: 06/06/06
POPPING MASTER
They look like popping master lures you guys are using , did you get any GT's on the butt plugs ???
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Maverick
Posts: 1260
Date Joined: 06/06/06
Queenie frames
I heard you guys brought some queenie frames back for the uni guys WELL DONE .
Drew was on the phone to KC and got a heavy hit on his rod and nearly dropped his Phone off the back of NS2.
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Sponsored by no one and I work for myself so my comments are my own.
Kasey L.
Posts: 1390
Date Joined: 02/03/06
All GTs were on poppers Mav;
All GTs were on poppers Mav; I think the total landed was.. 3? With... maybe 5 losses between the 3 of us.
I can't remember the specifics, but we had enough gear between me, Rob and Honsu (4 Daiwa Saltigas, 1 Ryobi Safari Metaroyale, 1 Shimano Stella, 1 Shimano Japan Twinpower, 1 Smith Kerama, 1 Smith WRC80p/35, 3 Custom built Calstars, 1 Zenaq Fokeeto series, 1 Smith AMJ series, 2 Australian Kamikaze GTs) to start a little shop going on... hehe, a bit of overkill.
Amongst the poppers used were the Haymaker, Dumbells, OK Poppers, Torpedo Poppers, Smiths and Popping Masters (and some more). All seemed to be similar-ish... would need more fish for some real testing ;)
See you this Saturday (tentatively speakin).
Please don't cut my lines.
Kasey L.
Posts: 1390
Date Joined: 02/03/06
Thanks Mitch. I'm sure its
Thanks Mitch. I'm sure its well worth it... you sorta get tired, then your mate hooks up right next to ya, and that keeps ya buzzin for the next 15 or so casts =P =P