Onslow Bottom Bouncing
Finally got a decent day weather wise so James and I opted to try and put some nice fillets in the freezer before the summer breezes really kick in.
Launched at 6.15am and had our first lines in the water at 8.15am.
Spot is only the size of half a tennis court so short drifts were the order. First drift saw a 77cm red grace the deck, next drift a 61cm, third drift saw James boat a great chinaman and then the fourth drift saw James boat a 71cm red.
Trolled some zukers out in 80-100m looking for some gold band but only picked up two small striped tuna. Water temp only 23 degrees.:(
On the way in I picked up a very good show on some flat coral. Marked it, pulled the lures in and went back to it. Show had already moved a 100 metres in less than 3 minutes. Weird! Dropped down and immediately hooked a nice fish. Couple of minutes later a 73cm goldband popped up, you beauty. Went back and the show was gone. WTF! Spent half an hour looking and gave up. Spewing as they were more than likely a school of solid goldies.
Water calmed off and we were back at the ramp 90 minutes later. Lot of miles covered, but never saw another boat until we neared Onslow.
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!
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Some awesome fish there John
Some awesome fish there John (and James). Lots of catches people would be chasing for years without much luck (and still remember that pic of James' mackerel). Are the reds generally in deeper water up there, or does it vary a bit?
big john
Posts: 8756
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Varies
Good thing about this area hlokk is that the reds IME can come from anywhere between 13m to 50m.
Shallow red fishing in less than 30 metres though can see you plagued with rankins and spangleds. Good by product though is some great sized coral trout.
Anything out from 40m IME sees the rankin numbers dropoff, and no trout either. Saddletails now come into the equation though along with goldbands in 60+.
Unfortunately sharks can also be found anywhere at times! LOL
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!
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Rankins and spanglies, how
Rankins and spanglies, how horrible that must be :p. Interesting to see the reds caught a bit shallower than some areas where they're commonly targetted in 60m+ depths. Woud love to catch one on a jig (targetted one but no luck). Getting many on the leadheads?
Even if there are a few sharks, at least a few seem to get past the taxman (and it doesnt sound like theres much of a shortage of potential fish to catch up there).
big john
Posts: 8756
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Time
Like anywhere hlokk, you've got to put the time in to find the ground. Lots of featureless sand out there.
Once did 96nm with uncle and never saw one decent bit of coral or fish show. True story!
All James' fish came on leadheads today, I was using 8/0 gama circles with strips of fresh queenfish.
That school of goldies would have been great for jigging but they proved quite elusive.
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!
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Yep, effort = result (ok,
Yep, effort = result (ok, plus some other things). Was on a charter at coral bay, and a few reds were brought overboard, as well as quite a few other random assortments of nice fish, but I couldnt manage to entice them on the jig (except for a trevally). I know they'll work, but couldnt manage to convince the guys on board without results :p
Kasey L.
Posts: 1390
Date Joined: 02/03/06
If it's red....
If it's red....
SamC
Posts: 2013
Date Joined: 30/08/06
Top stuff
Mint photos aswell John, that first one is a cracka!
Well done fellas
Cheers,
Sam
Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
Brilliant
That's what bottom bouncing dreams are made of.
Onya BJ.
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
good to see you out and
good to see you out and about BJ, dusted off the GT gear lately?
Nice fish, especially that red!
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15648
Date Joined: 29/11/05
spearing weather
Spearing weather BJ - its almost back to boardies. Rather jealous mate, you've done well there.
Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance
big john
Posts: 8756
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Winds
Still waiting for a good weekend to blast up to the bottom end of Barrow Brad. Plan to have a search around there for some GT's.
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!
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
Beleive me it's good!
Beleive me it's good!
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18045
Date Joined: 11/03/08
top day out , a couple of
top day out , a couple of nice reds there and cant complain about the other fish either
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
uncle
Posts: 9487
Date Joined: 10/02/07
day out
excellent,sounds like the usual mayhem,get into it while you can,less flies and stuff then your other pastime
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
big john
Posts: 8756
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Leg
Roasted a leg the other night, tasted bloody great!
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!
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
Haven't had good enough
Haven't had good enough weather up our way to head that wide for quite a while (well not really on weekends anyway)... keen to come down your way for some serious jigging out in the deeper water.
damo6230
Posts: 2029
Date Joined: 07/06/08
good work guys.
always good when a plan comes to fruition.
some craking reds there guys.
Rosco
Posts: 454
Date Joined: 20/11/07
Nice work
Good session Big John! Actually GREAT session! Good to se you found some Goldies....even though they did a runner.
Wish I was up that way for dinner at yours.
Rosco