Sandy Cape, 5 nights over Easter
Wifey and I headed up to Sandy Cape last Wednesday for a few nights of free camping with the family. When we rocked up the ‘FULL’ sign was up, but as we were the 5th car in a convoy (the other 4 came in and got us a spot on Tuesday), we new we would be OK. Upon arrival, there was a pumping southerly with a large rolling swell coming up the beach, also pushing a lot of seaweed around the bay.
As we are not yet set up with a car topper, I brought two Kayaks, two rods and my scuba gear to have a look around some of the bombies in close by.
On Thursday morning I packed up the scuba gear and headed out along the southern end of the bay along the cliff edge trying to get some crays. There were a couple around, but due to the full moon and large swell, they were tucked right back, and they were tiny. I pulled one out of a hole to have a look but put him straight back.
There were a couple of tarwhine and Wrasse but nothing like herring or whiting around that would warrant a fish.
In the afternoon near sunset, I launched the yak with a Halco Hamma trying for some tailor but got weed with every cast and pulled the pin after 30 minutes.
After going for a bit of a walk the next morning, I was speaking to some other campers about the crayfish, and fish, one of the people said they went out at 6:00 one morning and grabbed a couple of jumbos on top of the reef with a scoop net. In the dunes behind where we were camping, there was a big Cray head, like 140mm big, with three prong holes in it, so there are big crays around, you just need to find them so it seems, legally….
Later on in the week, I had another dive in the northern end of the bay (out of the sanctuary) and found heaps of crays, but once again they were small. I grabbed a couple to show the kids but they went back pretty quickly.
As the weather improved, and the swell dropped, there were a few more fishers on the beach, and out in the bay. The only things being caught were little whiting, and what looked like baby Skippy
When kayaking, I did see something that resembled a mulloway swim under me, and a small shark (50cm) right in the shallows but by the time I got my gear, both had long gone.
Finally on the last morning, while I was appreciating the sunrise, I saw a Snook jump out of the water, and a lot of baitfish swimming around, so I guess, like the crays, there are bigger animals there, you just need to be there at the right time.
So in summary, the fishing while we were there was non existent really, but the weather didn’t really help, nor did the lack of boat. We will be back for sure after really enjoying our first real ‘free camping’ experience.
fisherking
Posts: 730
Date Joined: 29/05/08
Sounds worthy of a try
Sounds worthy of a try another time.
I've always fancied a go myself, but haven't found the time yet.
Need to take a few days in the week just to miss the crowds probably.
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde
Swompa
Posts: 3871
Date Joined: 14/10/12
The caretaker mentioned that
The caretaker mentioned that the full sign had been up every Friday for the last 5 weeks, so next time we head up, I should imagine it would be on a Sunday to head home mid week.
Really the place didn’t get busy until Good Friday, where at worst, I counted 22 cars parked side by side, on the beach.
The first two nights we had there, you would have thought that the place was empty.