Montes 2018
Well the Montes product testing trip is done and dusted. The dreaded clean up and pack away has also been done.
First of all I'd like to thank Slugger on here for the invite and pointing us in the right direction.
Few observations:
1) When jigging 3oz Bucktails around the bottom in 30+m, make sure that you are switched on when dropping them down as you often don't get a second chance to flip your bail arm over when a big trout drills them, and you into the reef.
2) Big fish eat little jigs - flicking small 1/2oz bucktails in the shallows can turn up anything, including a cracking blue bastard for the crewy. Light berley trails work a treat.
3) Jig heads for soft plastics were much more effective when they contrasted with the tail, rather than matching it.
4a) Take a heavy outfit to minimise losses when jigging plastics around the reefs in 30m+: and
4b) Make sure your jig heads come with bullet proof hooks if you are fishing them hard on 80lb braid. Mine passed with flying colours.
5) Saltwater Leadheads are a great option for fishing by leaving the rod in the holder, whilst you actively work a plastic or bucktail on a second outfit. Especially if there's a bit of boat rock.
6) Try and use the lightest jigs you can get away with, even in a quick drift. Cast forward of the boat and strip line quickly to get the jig working just above the bottom for the maximum amount of time, continually repeat the cast and strip during the drift.
7) Multi coloured braid is great for quickly stripping a jig to the desired depth.
8) Lightly weighted plastics often get smashed on the drop.
9) If fishing nylon or fluoro leaders, wind your jig back slowly. Had plenty snipped when winding them back fast.
10) Hard Head Leadheads or Spire Points fished with a strip of fish flesh (skin attached) hanging from the hook are still a deadly way of fishing.
Roll on 2019.
Here's a few pics.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
uncle
Posts: 9474
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Looks awesome
Good photos.Any surf?
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
big john
Posts: 8749
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Small
A few small waves, a swell did hit on the Sunday but so did the 20 knot seabreeze. Went fishing instead.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
just a question
having done the montys twice myself , i agree its a dream spot , just was wondering why you went for all the "jerry cans" for fuel did you consider a fuel blader ? not having a crack just asking
big john
Posts: 8749
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Had
I had access to all of them at no cost so it was a no brainer.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
Stevo81
Posts: 1278
Date Joined: 16/04/12
Awesome mate!Plenty of
Awesome mate!
Plenty of variety there. How much fuel did you burn? How far did you travel? No wind definately helps with the economy!
•••••••• Electrical Contractor NOR ••••••••
sea-kem
Posts: 14983
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Just wow!
Just wow!
Love the West!
big john
Posts: 8749
Date Joined: 20/07/06
660
Took 660, had 90L in the tank once back at the ramp.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
Stevo81
Posts: 1278
Date Joined: 16/04/12
Haha, almost the same as us
Haha, almost the same as us at Abrolhos mate. Carry 670L and had 93L left. Did 218nm
•••••••• Electrical Contractor NOR ••••••••
sea-kem
Posts: 14983
Date Joined: 30/11/09
How far is it to the Monties
How far is it to the Monties BJ and where did you launch from? And where on the Monties did you camp? Looks like some nice bays there on google maps.
Love the West!
big john
Posts: 8749
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Launched from Fortescue
40nm across.
You can camp on six of the islands. Plenty of nice bays to camp, there's even one with your name on it, Streeter Inlet.
You need to take everything mate.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
Feral
Posts: 1508
Date Joined: 01/11/06
65 miles if you launch from
65 miles if you launch from Dampier.
Seeing dampier has an actual ramp that's launchable in all tides I think it's worth burning the extra few litres of fuel myself.
Seeing the first 20miles are inside the islands to a degree it makes it a viable option.
Back there again on Wednesday (weather permitting)
petermac
Posts: 2946
Date Joined: 03/03/10
i remember
i ran into Arnold Picolli at the servo in dampier 1 morning , i said where are you of to arnie , montys he said, when will you be back, this arvo he repied ,looked at his boat a huge haines hunter with 2 x 250 hp yamys on the back , only take me 50 minutes to get there, right o i said , he wasnt popular in dampier as he had a licience to dive for crays up there , i did dive with him a few times and he was /is one of the best i have dived with . the name of his boat didnt endear him to the locals it name was " the abuse "
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Awesome fishing there, some cracker fish on the jigs.
"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18027
Date Joined: 11/03/08
some nice fish there. sounds
some nice fish there. sounds like it was a great trip
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Deleted
Posts: 6265
Date Joined: 26/04/14
research and
research and developement
that prawn looking plastic looks the goods
big john
Posts: 8749
Date Joined: 20/07/06
They
They aren't mine Gilly. I'm more the jig head person. ;)
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
uncle
Posts: 9474
Date Joined: 10/02/07
That grouper under the ledge
Been eating crays?
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
big john
Posts: 8749
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Yep
Saw the feelers sticking out the ledge, got excited, and then saw that bastard when I stuck my head under there.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
sea-kem
Posts: 14983
Date Joined: 30/11/09
That's a cracking pick BJ
That's a cracking pick BJ
Love the West!
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Grouper?
Since when was a slimey cod a grouper in Australia?
uncle
Posts: 9474
Date Joined: 10/02/07
Gee
Sorry
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
Jadeo
Posts: 269
Date Joined: 08/06/15
Some nice fish there big
Some nice fish there big John. The weather looks the goods. Just got back from coral bay tonight and it blew its arse off all week. Had one day of OK weather
sea-kem
Posts: 14983
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Did you still manage to get
Did you still manage to get out for a fish on the windy days Jadeo?
Love the West!
slugger
Posts: 162
Date Joined: 17/02/11
Trip #9
Awesome trip again. Thanks to BJ and Jimbob for all the laughs, and in partiuclar for sharing your knowledge and tips with jigging methods, types etc. I will convert one day.....
For anyone thinking of giving jigging a go, this guy knows his stuff, i can not recommned him highly enough.
This was different trip for me, taking 2 of my lads with me. Few highlights included;
1. Spending 2 days trolling for a bill. Only had two strikes but we did land 30 other fish
2. This included a triple hook up ( macks ), landing all 3, this a first.
3. Inquisitive juvenile whale shark coming up and saying hello
4. Landing 41 species of fish
5. Oldest nailing a big Bluey in 3m of water around the bombies
will try and put some pics up later
Cruise Control
Posts: 973
Date Joined: 03/11/10
What's the best time of the
What's the best time of the year to hit the Montes ?
sea-kem
Posts: 14983
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I've been looking at some of
I've been looking at some of the parks and Wildlife Brochures Bruce, it does close down for a few months and they recommend avoiding cyclone season.
Love the West!
big john
Posts: 8749
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Only
Only been twice, both in April. This trip was cracker weather, first trip saw us hit by 30knot easterlies for 3 days.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
One of my targets for the Reefie.
Seems to be one of those places best visited in the company of someone who has done it before. Iw as planning on camping on the boat and taking a small inflatable to get ashore and stretch the legs, and to save having to swim for the boat, keeping it well out to dodge any issue with tides. Thoughts from those who have done it?
dodgy
Posts: 4577
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Yep. No problems with that
Yep. No problems with that idea at all. Really not sure I would bother too much with the tender though. Always a lee side where you can anchor in kneee deep if it’s just for a bit of an explore and leg stretch.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
TF in DZ
Posts: 48
Date Joined: 06/01/17
Great Work
Well done BJ great fish hope the R&D is tax deductable for business purposes!
Did you get the squid on your jigs or the usual squid jigs?
big john
Posts: 8749
Date Joined: 20/07/06
20
20 year old Yozuri cloth squid jig.
WA based manufacturer and supplier of premium leadhead jigs, fligs, bucktail jigs, 'bulletproof' soft plastic jig heads and XOS bullet jig heads.
Jigs available online in my web store!
Jadeo
Posts: 269
Date Joined: 08/06/15
Yeah we did sea kem. Was
Yeah we did sea kem. Was pretty uncomfortable though. Fished out wide in the 220's on a ruby spot I have but only got 3 gold band before the wind and sharks greeted us. 70 and 80m was hard work as the current was quite strong. Still got enough for a few feeds in the freezer and share out. Was just hard work.
sea-kem
Posts: 14983
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I hear ya, at least you got
Love the West!