Mackerel Islands 2008
Hey guys
Went to mackerel islands last week for 5 days.
Unforuntely the Weather wasnt the best with plenty of wind around. Was a crew of 15 or so boats that went over and a total of 45 people. Great trip with Great company and a good Variety of fish caught.
Things looked promising when we arrived on Thevenard with a 15 KG red sitting on the filliting table that one of the guys who arrived the day before caught, and only in 20 metres of water.
Next coupld of days saw the wind kick in, with most days doing 15-20kn morning then 10-15 arvo.
But one afternoon saw no wind and plenty of action.
Not a huge amount of fish were caught by all, but the bigger boats (Couple of Noosa Cats) did pretty well as they could handle the rougher weather alot better.
We did manage plenty of GT, Goldens, few mackerel, 1 Red, Queenies, Many different types of Cod, 1 Sailfish bust off (Well im calling it a sailfish bust off).
I must admit tho, i had a ball walking round the island on the real windy days with my 6lb kit and poppers in hand. Many GT's caught, goldens, Queenies, Longtoms, and even cod on poppers!!!!! who would have thought.
The trip was an experiement for me, as i went up planning on not using any bait, only lures, poppers, plastics(Snapbacks), and Jigs.
Lost quite a few Jigs to mackerel, and wasnt too happy losing 4 okta Jigs in 1 hour :(
Here are a few Pics from one of our Cameras, more to come.
All the boats on moorings
The Jeep with the tub in tow on the way up. Think we paid $2.20 a ltr for diesel here.
These dam things are everywhere.
We lost atleast 5-6 good fish to sharks. This one really wanted a chunk of me. Looks angry
Massive Estuary cod. Went 1.25m and 30+kg's, good fight 50 LB Braid. Thats a 92 Ltr Ice box its sitting on. When releasing it we had to put 4 Release weights on it to get it down!!!
Nice Golden i landed on a plastic estimated 18kg's
Another golden from the old man, we must have got 30+ of them in an hour or so. Couldnt get past them and we were on great ground!
Couple of 2-3 kg GT's caught on light gear around the Island on popper, great fun watching them smack a popper.
Nasty ass long tom with big teeth on popper
More to come soon!!
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
good stuff, looks like you
good stuff, looks like you guys still had fun
Colin Hay
Posts: 10407
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Some great pics and fish there Bodie
That's one angry looking shark.
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uncle
Posts: 9486
Date Joined: 10/02/07
onslow
very nice,heading up that way soon to fish with BJ,wouldn't dream of going without bait though,gotta experience it all.
Fast fish rule!
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
report!
Good report Bodie, Tyler (spelling) came in yesterday and said youy'd been up there. The weather can be a killer but I'd rather be up there in the warmish wind then down here in the bloody cold wind!
Some good pics, the light tackle L/B stuff filled the gap which is good!
* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *
Owner/Operator "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South Street, O'Connor, Perth Ph# 9337 5682
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
Well done mate looks like
Well done mate looks like you made the most of the crappy conditions. Walking around the beaches with light gear is a fun way to spend some time when it's blown out.
Also congrats for persisting with lures, fish them with confidence, it's way more fun than bait fishing.
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Hey Ryan, Yeah Tyler told
Hey Ryan,
Yeah Tyler told me he stopped in and said he offered to take you out for a flick some time :) good Bloke tyler, told him to go see you a while back!! always good to get some sound advice on what to use and where!! someitmes hard to find from local fishing stores!!
i Might try stop in on my way down this arvo and get some more Okta Jigs if you have some!! dam mackerel cleaned out!
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
cheers for that!
Yeh cheers for that Bodie, he's a nice guy and was in again today getting supply's. Love the boat, a speed machine CC and hope you guys do well on the week end!
* Oceanside- Advice, Knowledge, Experience....that's our difference *
Owner/Operator "Oceanside Tackle & Marine"
364 South Street, O'Connor, Perth Ph# 9337 5682
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
Hey Jay, Yeah i had a blast
Hey Jay,
Yeah i had a blast with the plastics and lures, still learning some of the actions, but some of the guys i was up there with swear by them, and when we fished similar locations thry were doing great on plastics and jigs for trout, reds and rankins.
One day one of the guys came in with a 12kg red, and said he was using bait, but when he pulled it up, it had a green plastic sticking out of its mouth... Short story is one of the other guys got busted off in the same location the day before using green plastics!!! :) cant be too happy about that!
Neander
Posts: 520
Date Joined: 23/10/07
Great pics and Report
Great pics and Report Bodie.
How did your gut stitches handle the trip? all good now?
Bodie
Posts: 3758
Date Joined: 05/11/07
was a bit of an issue for
was a bit of an issue for the first day or 2 with the bad weather, and being the skipper didnt help.
But i survived, fishing was actually quite easy, just driving wasnt. We did head out one day and i thinkt he winds would have been 20-25 it was a bit sore trying to stand up in the slop!!!
Rodrat
Posts: 1672
Date Joined: 13/01/07
Top report
Nice boat you have bodie.
Its good fun fishing of the islands with poppers.
www.rockyreefmarine.com.au
FISH FOR THE FUTURE
Andy
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 08/10/05
good report looks like you
good report looks like you caught some good fish.
just a question with the estuary cod, i caught one a while back and the old mate next door rekons they start going into the groper catagory when that big? mine was smaller than your monster too!
cheers scottie
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Good report guys! 1985
Good report guys!
1985 Boston Whaler Outrage 18 Johnson 140hp 4stroke
ywork
Posts: 12
Date Joined: 28/05/08
Well Done
Well done and good report and pictures, we will be back very shortly.