Team gates at Coral Bay
Ever since I made the holiday accommodation booking 6 months ago, i've been counting down the days till we headed back to Coral Bay....it's been 3 years since our last holiday and we were all eager to return.
This year we've got the bigger boat so that gives us more scope to fish out wide, weather permitting.
After doing the normal pre-holiday maintenance on the boat, outboard and trailer, it was time to pack the boat and Navara for the trip. With most of that done on Thursday night, it was into the back of the Nav with the food stuffs, eskys and our clothes and we hit the road at 8.45am yesterday. Well, half of us did, the other 2 arrive on Monday.
After stopping for fuel at Cataby, then some lunch on the road, it was northward to our next fuel stop at the 440 roadhouse, just north of Geraldton. We made Galena Bridge at 4.45pm, to find it pretty crowded...everyone had the same idea as us.
We found a spot and set up camp, before hitting the swags early as we knew we'd be up early this morning.
In 8 hours on the road Friday, we clocked up 625kms at an average of 78kph and a diesel consumption of 16L/100kms, which isn't bad as we cruised at 105kph in comfort.
A couple of things from our first day: don't stop at the first roadhouse in Cataby as they're 6cpl dearer than the next one a couple of kms up the road. The diesel bowser at the 440 is the one nearest to the highway...we didn't qualify as a truck, to use the other diesel bowsers!!
After tossing and turning most of the night, I'd had enough by 4am so it was time to pack up and hit the road...we pulled out of Galena Bridge at 4.30am and set our sights on being in Coral Bay by lunchtime.
After stopping for fuel at the Overlander, we passed thru Carnarvon around 9am and stopped for some brekky, before filling up again at Minilya, for the last leg of our trip, arriving in Coral Bay at 11.45am.
Some trivia from today: Billabong roadhouse wasn't open when we went past at 5.45am; Wooramal wasn't open when we went past at 7.30am; couldn't buy any fruit or vegies from the side of the road at Carnarvon and the BP servo on the right hand side of the North West Coastal Highway in Carnarvon is no longer there!!!
On our arrival in Coral Bay, we'd clocked up 1213kms at an average speed of 81kph and a diesel consumption the same as yesterday. We did a quick lap around the marina, to be greeted by flat seas, beautiful torquise water and 38C temperature! We then headed to our holiday house. Arriving ahead of our check-in time was ok, even though the cleaning staff were still there...we unloaded the boat and Nav, before a spot of lunch and a leisurely couple of hours before we headed down to the marina at 3pm, hoping to catch a fish or two for tea.
Headed down past the south passage and fished a couple of bombies and the result was a nice spangly and a golden trevally. Back at the ramp by 5pm and home for fresh fish on the bbq which went down a treat.
Had a quick chat with the fisheries guys at the ramp and all good.
Coral Bay looks to be full to overflowing with holidaymakers....half of Perth must be up here; the other half are probably in Exmouth!
Looking forward to venturing out wide tomorrow.
Hope everyone else is enjoying their Easter weekend, wherever you are.
regards
rusty...
If life is boring, you must be doing it wrong!
Rob H
Posts: 5745
Date Joined: 18/01/12
lookin forward to your
lookin forward to your reports-we were supposed to be up there now. Instead at work at sea off Dampier now
Out of curiousity, your bimini? Do you have to dismantle it to travel?
My one just folds back with the targa and ends up upside down about 2 foot off the floor and parallel with it.
Im not sure if you have marks up there but if you have a slow start drop me a PM and I might be able to point you in a direction
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
r.gates
Posts: 573
Date Joined: 15/11/10
Hi Rob
My rocket launchers do fold down, but after removing the bimini, I decided to leave the rest up....the boat was pretty well loaded with fishing gear, diving gear for 4 people, swags and assorted tools and spares. Didn't think the rocket launchers would impact too much on wind resistance...do you think it would make much difference if I did fold them down?
Thanks for your offer of help with spots...I've only fished inside the reef on our previous trip here (only had 4m runabout) but I have a chart and I've heard that the ground is pretty flat out there but productive, all the same.
Also told to troll on the outside of the reef, once out thru the south passage....we'll try that, hoping for a mackie or two.
Will post a report after tomorrow and I will PM you, too, thanks.
regards
rusty...
If life is boring, you must be doing it wrong!
Rob H
Posts: 5745
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Na the drag is nothing, just
Na the drag is nothing, just time. It just swings up and 2 wing nuts. Theres 7 of us with our camping gear in the boat!
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
cb...aaaarh
thanks for the report and photos rusty looking forward to more
carnarvonite
Posts: 8627
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Carnarvon
Too early in the season for the vege stalls to be open, tomato plants only went in about 3 weeks back. Where the BP Palms roadhouse was there is a card only diesel bowser that is the cheapest in town so I'm told.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 17861
Date Joined: 11/03/08
good to hear you landed
good to hear you landed safely.looking forward to reports from you before we hit CB in 2 weeks. been 3 years for us as well. bet it hasnt changed a bit
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Ben Derecki
Posts: 1926
Date Joined: 10/10/07
11 days and counting before I
11 days and counting before I leave for the same place... can't wait.
r.gates
Posts: 573
Date Joined: 15/11/10
Carnarvon & CB
Thanks for the info carnarvonite...wasn't much on the ground where the BP used to be, unfortunately...maybe I missed seeing the card dispenser bowsers. As for the vegies, I guess our timing was off.
Hey Russ, there seems to be more people here than this time 3 years ago. Also, I'd forgotten how blue the water is up here...I just love this place. I did bump into a guy we saw up here 3 years ago....his Noosa Cat is unmistakable! He has the same name as us; must be a top bloke.
I'll keep you up to date with how we're going for the week we've got up here....I know, a week isn't nearly long enough....tell me about it!!
regards
rusty...
If life is boring, you must be doing it wrong!
Faulkner Family
Posts: 17861
Date Joined: 11/03/08
yeah , its a small world.
yeah , its a small world. there is another bloke on this site that met us 3 years ago down at the oyster bridge thats going to be there at the same time as us. this time NO KIDS yeehaa jk. and your right, the water there is amazing, great for snorkling and diving. planning on doing a fair bit of snorkling this time around, hopefully with the whale sharks and mantas
Ben , how long you staying for, seems to be a few on here that will be there .
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Ben Derecki
Posts: 1926
Date Joined: 10/10/07
We're dropping into Monkey
We're dropping into Monkey for a couple of days first and then get to Coral Bay on the 21st through to about the 4th of May I think, we're in Bayview in a camper. Sounds like we'll be getting there around the same time as you?
Faulkner Family
Posts: 17861
Date Joined: 11/03/08
23rd to 5th may for us in a
23rd to 5th may for us in a house. never know we might bump into you.
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Gaffatron
Posts: 355
Date Joined: 07/07/11
this is getting me so pumped
this is getting me so pumped for my trip in june :D
Faulkner Family
Posts: 17861
Date Joined: 11/03/08
keep an eye on his daily
keep an eye on his daily reports. shark diving yesterday
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together