Wind at Ningaloo station
Submitted by fuzzy79 on Mon, 2016-08-29 21:35
we are heading up to Ningaloo station for a week, camping at South Lefroy bay. Just looking at the long range forecast, it looks like it will be blowing 15-25 knots from the southeast to southwest. I was hoping to take my 5.2m genesis runabout, but am concerned it may be a bit windy for beach launching and fishing. For those people with experience in the area, would you bother taking the boat or is that too windy? What's the max wind you can launch and fish up there?
jeddddy
Posts: 104
Date Joined: 12/07/13
You'll be alright, the inside
You'll be alright, the inside reef is well protected so if worse comes to worse youll be able to fish for spangled emperor and trevally inside the reef. Ive been to ningaloo station 3 times, twice without a boat, and once with, much more productive with the boat and we never got the oppurtunity to go outside. Just have to be careful with the sanctuary zones when fishing inside the reef. In south lefroy bay though you will be fine.
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15610
Date Joined: 29/11/05
yep
As Jedddy said, there's always spots to fish inside the reef, plenty of spangos and squid in north lefroy bay if you can't get outside. It really depends on how keen you are, the track in will be pretty average by this time of the year as the nomads will be departing if not gone already but don't let that stop you if you are keen. Are you heading up from Perth? A week is a pretty short trip for that sorta mission.
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ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
The lauching shouldn't bother you, wind will be off the land.
You just have to look for windows in the wind, when it is forecast like that, it might be OK for a few hours after first light, or a bit of a lull mid morning as it goes from SE to SW. Remember you don't have to go far offshore, just off the back of the reef on the first drop off and just past it is as far as you need to go.
The track is what it is, if someone has just dragged the plough over it , it will be fine, or probably just hideous. But at least South Lefroy is only half as far north of the homestead as we go--your worst bit will probably be from just below the Coral Bay coast track turnoff for 5 k's to the clay flats at the base of the sandhills. You just have to plan to take it slow if it is bad, let your tyres down a bit, boat trailer tyres too.
fuzzy79
Posts: 116
Date Joined: 31/07/10
Some great info guys, thanks
Some great info guys, thanks for the help. I'm convinced now - the boat is coming. What do you think about launching the boat on day one and then leaving it in the water for the duration of the trip. I was thinking I could stern moor it on the beach at night, Rotto style. Would that work, or are the tides and winds too strong. Just trying to save the hassle of launching recovering each day.
jeddddy
Posts: 104
Date Joined: 12/07/13
Plenty of people do that up
Plenty of people do that up there when they're camped on the waters edge, tides and currents within lefroy bay in the bay are quite small, so as long as bury your anchor well I can't see an issue with it. Just be careful as to how far up the beach you bring your anchors, the beach gets a fair bit of traffic along it, I would recommend putting a stake in to make where your anchor is. The photo is of lefroy bay just to give you an idea
Tank
Posts: 358
Date Joined: 12/05/12
agree agree take the boat
Going to Lefroy with no boat is like going to the pub for a water. Just shouldnt happen
Dont be surprised if you get plenty of opportunty to fish wider, most days there will be a wind change moment. If fishing is off drag a biscuit or skurf your day away. Two sand anchors at a 45 degree formation off the front will do it if wind is up let the boat move between the anchors. A small swim to the boat each morning will wake you up.
If its shocking there is a rock ramp just around the corner from South Lefroy, sometimes need to fill the holes in with rocks but easy to use.
ENJOY> a lovely place to stay.