Night Fishing Session
Submitted by wazzbat on Mon, 2010-02-08 20:37.
Was thinking of getting the boat out for a night session if the weather permits in a couple of weeks time. Have never done it before and was after any hints/tips to making it a successful and, more importantly, safe trip. Will be heading out from the Dawesville Cut. Cheers.
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I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
brenz
Posts: 1852
Date Joined: 15/06/06
know your ground and plot a
know your ground and plot a safe course when it is daylight to follow in as night time can be very deceiving
wazzbat
Posts: 365
Date Joined: 19/01/10
Thanks Brenz. I was
Thanks Brenz. I was thinking if I head straight out and mark my first spot as long as I leave from the same spot, I should be right. There's not much in the way, out from the cut. The biggest problem will be craypots but I might mark the few that are there on the way out.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
aimie57
Posts: 6
Date Joined: 11/10/08
the cut
we stayed in the cut last week and picked up 40 prawns and a big tailor near the bridge
brenz
Posts: 1852
Date Joined: 15/06/06
yeah ill head out when there
yeah ill head out when there is still light and mark all pots so as i know were not to travel and i always alow 50 m ea direction incase of drift change and floats changing possition
sarcasm0
Posts: 470
Date Joined: 25/06/09
Night Fishing
Brenz, I saw your other post about heading out from hillaries near the three mile the other night. I would be keen to go out one night if the weather is right. Let me know if you see another good opportunity if you are up for another flotilla attempt.
wazzbat
Posts: 365
Date Joined: 19/01/10
Follow me out!
If anyone is keen on following us out, just let me know. I'm keen for more boats. The more there are, the safer it will be. All depends on the weather though. We can make the call on the day I suppose.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
sarcasm0
Posts: 470
Date Joined: 25/06/09
haha we are on the same page
I just finished the reply to brenz then saw your post. I am going to be in mandurah for crabfest on the 6-7th March with either the bathtub, or hopefully have the quinny back on the water. If you guys are up for a few fishing missions out of mandurah or even in the estuary let me know.
If not then, its only a few mins down the freeway now.
wazzbat
Posts: 365
Date Joined: 19/01/10
Not my boat!
I was going down for the long weekend before hand (Labour Day - 1st March). My problem is that it's not my boat. Actually that reminds me, I'll have to check if I can take it out at night. Bugger. Anyway, it's my dad's boat (5.3m Trailcraft) and it is parked down at his holiday house and he doesn't like me towing it too far and if I do, he wants it back down there for when he goes down about every second week. So therefor, I don't like towing it up. Ideally it should be parked at his place so we can fish from Quinns or Two Rocks like we use to back in the day. Or better still parked at my place!
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
thesupervisor
Posts: 302
Date Joined: 10/06/09
ive done a few night trips
ive done a few night trips out of hilliarys id say just take your time when traveling things change fast out at sea and you need to be on the ball when in close in small boats at night .would not be very plesent to smim 3k in darkness
hey brenz im keen for a night fish just let me know
sarcasm0
Posts: 470
Date Joined: 25/06/09
Yep I hear that
I reckon I would wait till I got the quintrex back on the water for ocean night fishing, its kitted out with good lights and better hull for any rough seas. I have been out on the river at night numerous times and still am extremely careful, theres plenty of unlit things out there to hit!
New GPS going to make things easier too.
wazzbat
Posts: 365
Date Joined: 19/01/10
How Far Out?
Is there a limit to how far out you would go at night in case the weather did turn bad? I was thinking of heading out about 10 mile where we have a few spots. Again - just stressing that I would only go if there weather forecast was right.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
thesupervisor
Posts: 302
Date Joined: 10/06/09
i find the swell and seas
i find the swell and seas look nastier at night
i also find winter has the best night boat fishing weather
im still cautious anchoring ive been 7 mile out in my 445 but couldnt relax was always watching the sea
i always log to sea rescue too and make sure my deckie is watching too
wazzbat
Posts: 365
Date Joined: 19/01/10
That's what I was thinking
That's what I was thinking today actually. Can you log in and update to sea rescue 24hrs? Is there always someone on watch or is it more of a roster system where someone has the radio sitting next to their bed and you would be waking the poor bugger up from his deep sleep at home?
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
sarcasm0
Posts: 470
Date Joined: 25/06/09
10 mile is a fair way out for us
But if the conditions were right, and with another boat then maybe. I would probably like to do a few day missions first to scout it all out. Its only a 4.3mt fishabout with a 40hp Johnson.
wazzbat
Posts: 365
Date Joined: 19/01/10
Fair call
Fair enough too. Where we go though, there are no breakers. Except for wind waves if it's rough but then I won't be going.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
HuggyB
Posts: 2385
Date Joined: 03/08/08
Its not so much nastier
the lack of light doesn't allow you a good depth of field view, so the waves seem to be "on you" more suddenly.
And wazzbat, no limit that I know of?
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
wazzbat
Posts: 365
Date Joined: 19/01/10
That sounds like someone
That sounds like someone who's headed out far at night before???
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
HuggyB
Posts: 2385
Date Joined: 03/08/08
a few times
with the older epirbs. Haven't shelled out for a new one yet, so I'm restricted somewhat. But I've done a few night fishes in the in the Sound for a few pinkies and tailor.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
mejutty
Posts: 18
Date Joined: 21/12/09
When you guys go out for
When you guys go out for night fishing other than cabin/deck lighting do you use spotties or anything to see "where your going" or just plow into the night??
HuggyB
Posts: 2385
Date Joined: 03/08/08
no light for me
they are next to useless in my experience.
IMO its better to take it nice and slow and allow your eyes to adjust to the dark - you'll see as good if not better than with a light. But key is to slow right down and take it easy.
The Terrorist - coming to a fishing spot near you.........
wazzbat
Posts: 365
Date Joined: 19/01/10
I think it depends on the
I think it depends on the light from the moon. If there is enough ambient light then you shouldn't really need one. I'm guessing you would be able to see some floats shining from the moonlight.
If you do use a light though, I know that if you don't have it in front of you, it is very hard to see anyway. So you have to make sure you rig the light up so it's not behind you. I have been prawning from the boat a few times in the cut at night and that's what I've found anyway. One thing I will be taking is a decent head lamp. They are very handy (or should I say handfree). I bought a good quality Led Lenser about a year ago and it was the best thing I ever bought. Works like a high powered flood light.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
Bodie
Posts: 1484
Date Joined: 05/11/07
I could be around for a
I could be around for a night fish.
Would ehad out late arvo tho, but depends on the weather, wind would be the killer.
Few things to remember.
1. Sea rescue, what time do they close for the night, how do you log on and log off?
2. Your in mobile range, so good to keep in contact with someone on shore.
3. The professional cray fishermen seem to be bringing their pots back in closer now (saw strings of them out only 5-10 mile or so on the weekend).
4. if travelling with other boats, make sure you keep good distance between each other, as its hard ot tell when the boat infront has stopped at night.
wazzbat
Posts: 365
Date Joined: 19/01/10
Sounds good!
Yeah. Was thinking of heading out at about 4/5 o'clock. Haven't really thought too much about when to return but I guess we will just play it by ear. I could fish all night if I don't fall asleep. What do you reckon "NorthSea"? If the wind is forecast to pick up the next morning then we would head back before hand I suppose.
1. Will have to find out?
2. Not sure if I get coverage with Virgin Mobile 10 mile out???
3. Haven't seen any pots in close recently out from Dawesville apart from a few rec fisherman's. We were out there on Saturday?
4. Yeah. Good advice. Would have to make sure all boats had working radios too. Which is a pretty obvious observation anyway.
Thanks for the tips - feel free to post anything else you think of which might help us virgin night fisherman!
Will refresh this post a bit closer to the long weekend if it dissapears down the pages and start planning a bit more in the meantime. I'm thinking either Sat 30th or Sun 31st Feb (Monday Labour Day - Public Holiday) will be the day/night. Looks good on the almanac too
. Half moon so might be a bit of ambient light around if there's no clouds.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
North Sea
Posts: 5
Date Joined: 02/02/10
Night fish
Sounds great, count me in, pending weather of course!
wazzbat
Posts: 365
Date Joined: 19/01/10
One Condition!
As long as you leave some fish for me to catch. You can't outfish the skipper or there'll be - Man Overboard! Or if you do, then you have to say I caught the biggest one.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
thesupervisor
Posts: 302
Date Joined: 10/06/09
well friday night is looking
well friday night is looking great for a night fish any one else going out
will be leaving from hilliarys about 7pm return anytime prob 2am
if your keen let me know
wazzbat
Posts: 365
Date Joined: 19/01/10
I can't get out Friday
I can't get out Friday night. I was thinking maybe Sunday night but that was this morning when the weather was looking the goods. Who knows when we'll get to go now? Will have to wait and see as it gets closer. Might not even get out during the day if you go by the weather now. Lets hope it changes.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
scottnofish
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 28/08/07
used to leave two rocks at 3.00 am
all the time in winter ,now that is fun trying to dodge the cray pots up there so we went and bought some night vision goggles and that made a huge difference ,turned everything into daylight almost but made you feel a bit quezy after a while cause you get a tunnel vision effect , most of our best fish came an hour before sun up
silly
Posts: 132
Date Joined: 02/01/09
was thinking about heading
was thinking about heading out for a night fish off hillaries fri night, wind looks perfect but checked the swell and its 3m plus seas of 1.5.
Might try for sunday night instead, winds easterly but so wont be so bad in close plus bugger all swell.
Was thinking of heading south possibly to hale rd as there not much that you can hit if you keep inside the cardinal markers. No reef there so "shouldnt" be any pots either
anyone keen to head out??