Quick Abrolhos Trip
With the weather looking amazing decided on a quick 2 night trip to Abrolhos. Unfortunately this time we couldnt use the jetty we normally stay at so we had to camp on the boat. I way prefer to camp on the jetty, so much better being able to get off the the boat after being on it all day.
Anyway first day we headed over, did a bit of trolling and bottom bouncing along the way. Was pretty slow with only 1 tuna landed. Headed to the back of the island where we have done well spearing on a few bombies before. Was actually pretty quiet, only landing 1 jumbo cray and a couple of trout and baldies. Headed from the back of the island to the moorings and on the way happened to hit a rock that wasnt on the map. Bent the shit out of the prop and broke off hal of the skeg. I am usually so careful looking out, following the map, having spotters up the front. We have done this trip 6 or 7 times in the same area. All on board were fine, just my pride as hurt. Continued plotting along to the mooring to check the damage over a couple of beers.
That night met up with another boat that met us over there, a few rums and a few laughs was a good night. Putting a bit of a fish frame onto a hook and tossing it over board was fun, some of the sharks on those moorings are unstopable, would love to see how big they are.
Second day we decided to do a bit of a run around and test the prop / gearbox. Was pretty good until you got into high revs and high torque and then it started vibrating. But it wasnt going to break down so we were alright. We headed out the back of the island again but to the north end. Jumped in on numerous bombies around the joint and managed to get our bag of trout and baldies as well as 17 crays. Some of the big riveria type boats worth millions are crazy that are getting over to the abrolhos these days, the tender boat on one of them was bigger than my 7m plate ally.
Once again headed back to the mooring, met up with the other boat for a cook up and laughs.
Last day we headed to a couple of bombies we knew had big baldies on. First spot we dropped anchor and looked over the side and had a baldie sitting there looking up at us. I said to one of the deckies have a look at this guy. No joke it was like he was almost turning on his side to look up at us, was pretty awesome to see actually. Jumped in and got a few baldies and then decided to start trolling / filleting and heading back to Gero. On the way out we decided to troll some deep divers for trout. Trout love the deep divers and we had about 4-5 hook ups with 2 decent fish landed. Was a highlight of the trip for me.
Got back to Gero and got a feed of dirty bird for the trip home... Got home around 7pm that night to find somewhere on the way one of my windows had been hit with something and shattered, must have been a very wayward rock to hit the boat on the side like that. Ahh well just another thing for the insurance company.
All up was a bloody good 3 days apart from the mishaps. 270 litres of fuel used on the boat, 2 tanks of fuel in the 200 series and alot of great memories. Well worth it
Next up Mackeral Islands!!! Cant bloody wait!!!
Cheers
I go boating not fishing
Swompa
Posts: 3783
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Awesome!How long is your
Awesome!
How long is your boat overall again?
Piggy
Posts: 538
Date Joined: 24/08/12
7M
Hey Mate it is a 7M boat but overall from the front handrails to the engine is 7.2m
Cheers
I go boating not fishing
Swompa
Posts: 3783
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Thanks mate. Just looked
Thanks mate.
Just looked through your pregious posts. Must be good to be getting out there again after all the work you did.
Piggy
Posts: 538
Date Joined: 24/08/12
Yes or sure
Yeah mate it is for sure. Great to get back out. Alot of the changes have made it so much easier to fish out of too!!
I go boating not fishing
Shark1
Posts: 1084
Date Joined: 21/05/12
good trip piggythe skeg can
good trip piggy
the skeg can be welded up by any decent ali welder- if u care
the prop fairly easy to straighten out with a hammer and a shifter( use the shifter as a lever)- u dont even need heat- MAKE SURE TO TAKE IT OFF THE SHAFT!
that side window - i had similar, vehicle in front of me threw up a rock - saw it bouncing on the road train, missed the car thought its my lucky day - got home with broken window
Piggy
Posts: 538
Date Joined: 24/08/12
Cheers
Thanks mate.... The thing is that over 20 knots and higher torque it starts vibrating pretty bad. I checked the runnout on the prop shaft and its fot half a mm runout so it looks like ive bent the shaft. Hopefully its easy sailing with the insurance company and get everything replaced.
Cheers
I go boating not fishing
sunshine
Posts: 2554
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Should be absolutely no issues with insurance
And having hit a turtle and doing similar damage I would want the gearbox checked .....on mine they simply replaced the bottom end
Any issues with your insurance do not hesitate to let me know
sunshine
Posts: 2554
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Should be absolutely no issues with insurance
And having hit a turtle and doing similar damage I would want the gearbox checked .....on mine they simply replaced the bottom end
Any issues with your insurance do not hesitate to let me know
sunshine
Posts: 2554
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Should be absolutely no issues with insurance
And having hit a turtle and doing similar damage I would want the gearbox checked .....on mine they simply replaced the bottom end
Any issues with your insurance do not hesitate to let me know
Piggy
Posts: 538
Date Joined: 24/08/12
Legend Mate
Legend mate thanks.
Yeah im a mechanic and I trust myself more than I trust the yamaha dealer so I checked it myself. I basically told them exactly the issue, told them the output shaft had about half a milimeter of runout and they were like yep need a new gearbox haha. So they did me up a quote and sent it through to Club marine. Just waiting to hear back from them now
Cheers
I go boating not fishing
sunshine
Posts: 2554
Date Joined: 03/03/09
I'm an insurance specialist not a mechanic
But I trust Chivers 110%....... prop was straightened but bottom end replaced. Hasn't missed a beat and smooth as since.
Rick
Posts: 1104
Date Joined: 22/12/06
Nice trip
Shame about the few mishaps, but some quality fish
well done
PGFC Member
Mitch88
Posts: 181
Date Joined: 23/09/14
Looks like a great trip
Looks like a great trip mate.
If your referring to the moorings inside the southern section of Pelsart. It's a mine field navigating through there on the way down as you mentioned no bombies are marked on navionics.
sea-kem
Posts: 14853
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Bomber Baldies Josh
Bomber Baldies Josh
Love the West!
davewillo
Posts: 2254
Date Joined: 08/09/16
Looks like a great trip
Looks like a great trip mate. Not sure what you're running for navigation but a mate who had a great career in electronics, flying and reads and studies everything has shown me problems with Navionics at the Abrolhos. Reckons it was once showing him a mooring which ended up being on top of a reef!
When yoi heased to the Mackies? We're there in October sometime.
PGFC member and lure tragic
Piggy
Posts: 538
Date Joined: 24/08/12
Late august
Hey Mate
we are late august. We choose the best tides and almanac and hope the weather plays the game haha
You been to mackies before?
cheers
I go boating not fishing
davewillo
Posts: 2254
Date Joined: 08/09/16
Hi mateYes I've been twice
Hi mate
Yes I've been twice before but not for a long, long time. I'm going with a club group so no part of the planning process. Hopefully they have chosen well! October might be windy but I'm sure we'll have some fun and catch some fish!
PGFC member and lure tragic
Swompa
Posts: 3783
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Where are you going across
Where are you going across from, Dave or are you driving your boat up from Hillary's?
davewillo
Posts: 2254
Date Joined: 08/09/16
Going on a mate's boat,
Going on a mate's boat, which will be in Exmouth. He's thinking about taking the boat from there and maybe overnighting on Long Island. I camped there for a week years ago so I'm pretty happy to do that. Navionics says about 33Nm to there and about 55NM to Thevenard. Alternatively it's 400km each way by road to Onslow and then 12NM to Thevenard. I'm thinking the boat is easier but more fuel.
It's a new Caribbean 2300 with 300Hp on the back.
PGFC member and lure tragic
Piggy
Posts: 538
Date Joined: 24/08/12
More time fishing
I would take the boat option... More time fishing haha
I go boating not fishing
davewillo
Posts: 2254
Date Joined: 08/09/16
I agree mate! Plus 800km
I agree mate! Plus 800km towing a big boat will use a lot of fuel in the car anyway. No roos to hit between islands!
PGFC member and lure tragic
Deano.9
Posts: 37
Date Joined: 20/10/14
Deckie here
Can confirm the baldi looking up from under a bit of plate coral, clear as day, unreal sight and another one for memory bank/story time.
Few mishaps but we did/I got lucky with one part. I hung the wetsuits on the bows rails and went to grab them when the wind picked up a little, 4/5 still hanging. Lost my bottoms (brand new suit for the trip), chalked it up as another drama for the trip. Went for a swim in the morning and found them washed up on the beach in a bit of weed!
Magic place, might need to up the fitness and breathe hold for next time though haha