The sharks at Steep Point are also bad plus there are grouper there that can eat your fish whole.

You need to be quick with your cliff gaff.

I was there with a group of 4 people, so we had two people throwing rocks at the sharks while the others were gaffing the fish.

Nov/Dec is good for Shark mackerel and cobia. We caught 16 Sharkies up to 8kg and 2 Spaniards. No cobia this time. Sharks where bad. We estimate we lost around 80  fish to sharks and being reefed. Weather is a lottery but we have been lucky so far. Even with SW winds we were able to fish garths and the caves and still caught fish.

June/July people mainly balloon due to the wind. also the swell can be up in this time of year if winter storms down south

The reason we go to Quobba is the accomadation and variety of fishing spots. Plus being isolated not a lot of people go there.

Not sure about the shark compared to steep point as never been there

Red Bluff - mainly bait fishing, but if you want to walk to the point at Red Bluff fishing OK, but as long walk

Our first 2 trip (which we did in Feb & August were no go as far as fish). Was advised to try November and the last 2 trip we bought back 40 & 50kg of fillets respectively.

We always book well in advance to get the chalets

Dan

1. We ahve not been in July and spend all our time spinning and bottom fishing if weather permits. From other blogs on this site it is a good time of year to also balloon but as I have done liitle of that cannot advise you what rigs etc.

2. we try and get to the fishing spot as it is getting light. Particularly if you are going to places such as Garths and The Caves. I have seen some walk down in the dark but we never take the risk. we normally fish for about 4 hours especially if you have a long climb/walk back to the car.

Night Time bait fishing. We only have fished The Post which is situated just south of Whistler Rock. It is about 10-12 mtrs above the water. With South Westernly we can fish facing North. get thier around dusk whilst there is still some light to get set up.

We have also bait fished the 2 mile but only during the day when the pelagics aren't biting. But only in low tide and swell. Have done well on Pinkies, spanglies and even jacks. Rig is basic 6-8 circle hook with ball sinker and squid as bait.

3. Fishing at night - The Post is OK but I would have a goodf look at it during the day. we using powerful headlamp for lighting.

4. Rods & Reels - for ballooning sorry can't advise on that but I would think overhead that can hold up 1000mtr line and at least 9ft overhead rod.

Spinning - I mainly use Diawa 6500 reel matched with Shimano Starlo Classic 1006 (graphite). Line is 50lb Tuffline braid. Very impressed with set up see video link. Caught a shark at the caves. Ros is just over 10ft and helps keep line from the rocks when you get the fish in close. Diawa reel has excellent reteval rate of 135cm per crank.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuAzILgujSY

I have as spare 9ft Ozflex 8kg and 2 Shimano Stradic 8000 loaded with 30lb Braid.

Bait fishing - any beach rod up at least 10ft ok. Need to have solid blank as most times you can get the fish up without the use of a gaff. Reel is Penn 950 loaded with 15kg mono, yellow so easy to see at night.

6. Gaffs we have 6mtr pole gaff  (2 piece) ) as well as cliff gaff.

7. Clothing - we went one year in late August and yes was cold in the morning and evening. Need reef boot and also good pair of climbing shoes.

8. Tackle - How much is too much?

Lures - we use 85g Spaniads and knights. I take about 50 of these of various colours. Mainly due to number lost to sharks and bust offs. We also take 3oz Bucktail jigs that we order from cabelas in the USA. These are used to catch shark Mackeral but not sure if they are around this time of year (July). I took 30 up last time and came back with 5. You can also use hardbody lures. We take all sorts but mostly Rapala x-Rap 14 all clolours and bombers in gold colour.

Traces - use Halco single wire 89lb. Puchase high quality snaps and swivels.

Bait Fishing - The post - size 4-5 star sinker. I make my own. Took 100 last trip and between 4 of us lost 20 in two night. Hooks - 6-8 circle hooks (100 plus). Rigs very basic simiaalr to tailor rig. Expect to loose a lot of gear but fsihing can be excellent. spend time making up plenty of rigs before each session.

Bait Fishing - 2 mile - ball sinkers size 4-5 and 6-8 circle hooks. Ball sinker runs to the hook. Just cast in allow to sink for a while and then slow retreive. Depth is around 20mtrs right in front of the reef.

Bait - we take all our bait from Perth but we have Engel with us. Between 4 of us we take 4 boxs Squid and 4 IQF Mulies. If you catch some scalies or mullet before you go even better than the mulies. It will initially fit in the freezer but you may need some room when you start bringing fish back. We put some in the bottom of the fridge (wrapped up) as we know we will be using it so it thaws out slowly. I don't think the station sells ice but you can use their freezer but is costs from memory $15 per night. Depends on how much fish you catch. I would try and get hold of and engel or Waeco freezer for the trip up and back. We took 2 and between 4 of us filled them with 50kg of fillets.

10. Don't use gang kooks unless bait casting without lead. Too much reef around.

PM me with your email address and I will send you my list of what we take.

Also where do you live - happy to catch up for a drink and discuss further and even show where the spots to fish are as hard to find up there as no sigh posts

regards

Iceman

 The best time of year to go to wagoe is march/april. The winds and swell are usually down and this is the time of the year the mackies are running. There is also a few beaches along wagoe if the swell is up. Pulled plenty of big fish from these beaches. The water gets deep in parts but not as deep as some parts of quobba/steep. But still plenty of baldies and pinkies if your lucky.