West Cape Howe NP
This time each year me and a few mates have a trip to celebrate a couple of birthdays and the start of summer. Only had a few days this time so went south instead of the long drive north. While it isnt exactly a fishing trip, when they ask me if I'm bringing the fishing gear all I can do is laugh. I hadnt been to the cape range park before so I wasnt sure what to expect and since I broke my foot a couple of months ago rock fishing was out so limited to the beach. I know shelleys isnt the most productive spot in the area but you gotta admit its bloody beautiful!
Spent the first morning chasing bait and stocked up on herring, luckily my mates missus came down to help since as you know the girls always catch more fish. Was a great morning, nothing clears a hangover like a quick fish and a swim!
After a day on the beach we grabbed the gear and headed down for an evenings fishing. I carried the fishing gear, everyone else carried the drinks, beach tents, stereo etc..... it was clear where our priorities were....
After about an hour I was losing confidence, and the first fish didnt help..... 
Next fish had a bit more weight to it... but quickly turned out to be a ray. handed the rod over to my mates missus and after a bit of help setting the drag she was on her own. Eventually, after a bit of a workout landed a small eagle ray.
That was it for the night as everyone was hungry and we ran out of beers.... the next morning I sneaked down to the beach and got a bait out while the others where cooking breakfast. 20 mins later had a banjo shark/fiddler ray on the sand. Nothing great but good fun for a quick morning fish.
I just wanna mention that while a couple of us were camping, my mate and his girlfriend were doing it in class with a bloody big camper van. That arvo I was told enough fishing, come n play poker n have some drinks. We managed to reach a compromise where the back of the van was opened up so I could leave a rod out the back and fish while we played.
Eventually the mullet I had out as bait got hit, I jumped out of the van and landed the small hammer head. If I had been more geared up (and more sober) it would have made a great swim bait cuz im sure there were bigger sharks out there that would have smashed it. But I didnt, so he went back. 
So the fishing wasnt red hot, but what a beautiful spot and a great way to relax for a few days with some good mates. I'll be back again to have a more serious shot at fishing there hopefully when I have my 4x4 to make the most of the beaches in the area.
Cheers
fishnut
Posts: 255
Date Joined: 22/09/10
Gorgeous spot, but wrong park
Gorgeous spot, but wrong park mate - that's not Cape Range NP (Exmouth area)
you are in West Cape Howe NP
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
Yep spot on my mistake, got
Yep spot on my mistake, got the two confused - Fixed
Cheers
Reefmonkey
Posts: 711
Date Joined: 22/09/08
ha that how you play poker!
Thats awesome man, awesome beaches to fish on looks like ya got some good weather too.
Dave J.
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
yea the weather was great.
yea the weather was great. Makes me feel better about losing all my money in poker when I can at least have a fish at the same time
dkonig82
Posts: 2091
Date Joined: 06/07/10
Nice report mate - looks like
Nice report mate - looks like a great spot!
When asked by a non-fisherman 'how many fishing rods do you really need?' the correct answer is either:
n+1 (where n is the number of fishing rods you currently own); or
n-1 (where n is the number of fishing rods which would cause your significant other to dump you.
claymore
Posts: 225
Date Joined: 11/01/11
i need a holiday there soon,
i need a holiday there soon, that place looks mint.
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
Nice
Nice report and spot
grantarctic1
Posts: 2546
Date Joined: 03/03/11
Great job
Great job Adam, good to see you get some baits out and find some fish. I couldn't go to place like that and not take the fishing gear either.
Cheers Grant ..
Browny
Posts: 316
Date Joined: 04/01/11
Yep, Very scenic spot that
Yep, Very scenic spot that Shelley beach!
Just watch out for the king waves/surges tho! My cousin and I were extremely lucky one night when soaking a bait there a few years back. Swell was normal (just wallowing up the 2m drop section shown on one of your photo's), light chop, light winds and nothing to predict what was to come. Nothing was happening, so we decided to change baits one last time and headed up to the grassed section. Was 3/4 of the way up the sand beach towards the grassy lip where the gear and bait was, when suddenly the water was surging around our thighs. Cousin and I managed to keep balance, but where simply bloody lucky that we were back that far from the waters edge or we wouldn't have stood a chance! Still talk about what in hells name made us decide to change the baits even tho they were untouched - some sixth sense saved our bacon that night down at Shelley's!
If you go right to the other end of the beach and climb around the rocks for 400m or so, there's a nice groper spot too!
I just love Exmouth: Its a quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem!
cuthbad
Posts: 1266
Date Joined: 22/04/09
Yea the swell was pretty
Yea the swell was pretty unpredictable, deep drop right from the shores edge. Saw a few people doin the walk around the rocks to the right would have liked to take it on, will have to check it out next time.
Cheers