Well we were finally graced with the type of weather we need to get out for a bit of a local Pop, we headed out early this morning to catch the low tide.  We did pretty well with 3 good GT's from 20 - 28ish Kg's. We also had quite a few big fish strike but miss, webby was on fire landing a couple of solid macks, one of them would have gone close to 30 keggs.  Overall it was a pretty good day, home before lunch time...

Successful lures
ASWB - M series stickbaits
WCP  - Delambre 180's

Solid Local GT taken on the WCP - Delambre

Webby's PB Grouper on the WCP Delambre 180

Happy camper first thing this morning

Nice trout on the M series ASWB, sick looking lure in the early morning light
This one is dinner

Early morning Baby GT

Solid local GT on teh WCP - Delambre 180 in "Lilly"

One of the solid Spanyids Webby landed this morning on the

Another solid local GT on the WCP Delambre 180 - Black red shimmer

Webby Casting

Love the contrasting Colours of the Pilbara
 

 Few pics from the last trip, always good to catch a few, and spear them back into the water..

Hi guys new member, been veiwing for a while. Living in mandurah missing the Pilbara trying to get back up in the mines again but with the missus this time. She keen to get a truckie ass lol. Hopefully we can get there soon. If anyone knows of anyone who take on green operators give us a hoy!

Will post some pics soon.

Tim.

Went for another quick fish last week lots around.

Jacks, cod and the odd barra, got 4 70's fish and dropped a couple of larger fish (they always are when you drop them)

Bad thihg about fishing solo is no one there to take a decent photo...........plus camera went flat so phone shots as well.

An y way no eats the salad just the meat besides still getting samples so want them back in the water no posing.

Cheers POC

Thought i would share a couple of pics from the past couple of weeks

Couple of solid Geets landed, really starting to warm up over here and so is the topwater fishing

Loving being back in WA

New Stickbait Porn

Nice little Dampier Trout on the SS130 Scad

Riged and ready

Leah's PB on the WCP - Montebello 120

Chrisso's solid GT

Hot little session 5 good fish landed in about 45 mins

Chrisso's 40 Kegger from Tryal

Chrisso's PB

Chrisso's 40 KG black PB on the WCP - Montebello 120

Kurt getting in on the action

Just got back from the Ord last week (post to come) thought I would try my luck on some local barra.

Need some samples for a mate who is running some tests on our local barra.

Weather report was good even though it looked like water temp had dropped a little.

Headed down early to catch the bottom of the tide and timing was good ended up with six in the boat largest being a 71cm model.

Caught on a mixture of casting and trolling lures it was a great little session

NotePays to write to on your sample bottle container though........LOL

I have burnt feet, a sore back, flies in my face and mud on my clothes. Yeah it feels like summer is back in the Pilbara and really, it's about bloody time...

I’d like to share a few photos from a fun day we had up the creek yesterday (Monday 22/10/12)

My deckie, Pete picked up a nice 64cm barra on the trawl early on. but the highlights for me were two large threadys. As the tide began to flow back in I was very excited to land the first one. At 113cm it was a new PB. This didn’t last long however, as not more than 10 minutes later I landed another fish that dwarfed the previous capture. It measured 122cm and put up one of the most impressive fights I have seen in a creek. Its power and its acceleration as it ran me up and down the system were amazing.

To top it off I managed to land a large mud crab on a soft plastic. this bad boy went straight into the esky and went down well as a snack with a few beers once I got home.

Welcome back summer

64cm Barra for pete

The First thready. 113cm

My new PB, 122cm 

With the looming Barra season upon us I would ask my fellow anglers to consider the resource we have on our door step.

By all accounts the small Pilbara creeks do not carry the large number of barra that the large territory rivers do. Being on the southern limits conditions do not cater for large numbers of this iconic fish in our waters.

Speaking with long time locals many creeks that for years saw little pressure have increasing numbers of boats in them.

Many newer residents are not aware that these creeks were netted decades ago taking a toll on Barra. I do not have any hard research on population numbers but people I spoke to that lived here in the 70's and early 80's said there were no barra here then and the ones that did -  said they used to net them - but the barra have slowly made a comeback.

As an angler that eats fish I do not lay judgement on others that fish within the regulations , However please consider the large barra are females carrying eggs  and if we want this fishery for years to come please look after these fish handling them correctly when releasing.  

Enjoy, Tight lines and good luck

The Mexican    

oh dear!

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/man-held-over-homemade-swordfish-weapon/story-e6frg13u-1226496915892

Got out on Sunday morning with what looked like half of the Karratha population and headed to Rosemary island.

Trolled up a nice 35 lb mackie on the way a good start, found some ground and got a nice coral trout and some crimson snapper. Moved to another spot and got a couple of undersized reds and hooked up a nice mack that leapt a couple of times due to the tiger shark up its backside, lost that and everything else we caught. Decided to call it quits, not a bad start for a newby.

Looking forward to finding some new ground next time out

bws

Well have been back in WA for a few weeks now and i must say it is soo good living in a place again that has local GT action.  Had a pretty good little session today landing quite a few GT's with 4 of them being over 20 and up to 28 Keggs

Was a great day on the water, with a great return in the end

hope you enjoy some of the pics
 
Successfull lures were

WCP - Montebello 120's in "Inverse White" and "Willy Wonka"

Hi Guys,

New to town, am heading out on Sunday for my maiden voyage looking at fishing sailfish reef.

 Will post my results on Monday

BWS

Bit bored thought I would share some pics

 Hey guys been out a couple of times mid week on neap and spring tides, managed to pull a couple of fish. Its good to see the water temp has risen so thers a few fish around mostly all caught live baiting, havent had much luck on the troll but that wont take long as ther all on the sounder so a few more bog laps should stir em up.. sorry about the pics bit hard when ya deckies a dog..

My mate is leaving the Pilbara residental scene for a fly in fly out job took him for his last barra fish as a local.

Water temp was down a little as we hit the water so was not looking great, but as we left cleaverville the temp rose a little

due to the warmer ocean , then we we hit the mouth of our creek it dropped back but the little buggers were on the chew for a while.

Photo of one of three caught, and as we all say dropped a couple as well..........LOL.

Cheers POC

Had this info sent to me a while back.

I reckon prevention is the go...........1/3 baby oil 1/3 citronella oil 1/3 detol works for me.

WHEN THEY’RE BITING

Only the female bites.  She needs a blood meal to fertilise her eggs.  They are known as pool feeders because they use their proboscis like a saw to create a tiny hole into the skin into which a pool of blood can flow.  Saliva is injected into the pool to help the flow of blood.  It is this saliva that causes the allergic reaction and itching.

PEST RANGE VARIES WITH:

·         The species, from less than 100 metres for some through a range of distances up to 15 km.

·         The size and productivity of the breeding areas.

·         Moisture and shelter beyond the breeding area.

·         Land form and prevailing winds.

USEFUL TIPS

Personal reaction to bites varies from a slight redness which disappears in half an hour or less to severe inflammation.  If you react rapidly and the swellings are small you are reasonably immune, so treatment may not be needed.  Swelling and itch will soon go away.

For these less severe cases, the following tips may help reduce the effects of bites:

A hot bath may provide temporary relief.

Anti-itching creams or lotions from the chemists are quite effective.  Do not apply them when the skin is broken.

Some insect repellents also give relief to the bit, providing the individual’s skin is not sensitive to the repellent.

However, if you react hours or days later to a bite whether you felt it or not, your immunity is low and you are likely to be more severely affected.  If you reaction is very severe, see your doctor. It has been observed that vitamin B1 (Thiamine Hydrochloride) taken over a period of more than 30 days before exposure to midges can reduce the severity of some peoples reaction to bites.  However, this is not true of everyone and you should consult your doctor before taking any vitamins.

You should remember that Biting Midge numbers will increase around the time of the full and new moons.  Therefore, it is advisable not to plan outdoor functions that coincide with these major midge emergence times.

PERSONAL PROTECTION

You can take a big step towards living with midges if you avail yourself of some personal protection.

Midges prefer humid overcast conditions with minimal air movement.

Anything you can do to reduce humidity, increase light and air movement will make your house and garden less attractive to midges.  Closely mown lawns, sparse vegetation around your house and minimal surface water in the garden will decrease humidity, increase air movement so as to  minimise the resting places for Midges.  Also, avoid gardening or watering in the afternoon and early morning.Biting Midges can penetrate ordinary flyscreens.

During peak infestations, midges have been known to enter houses looking for blood meals.  Increase in air movement in the house by using electric fans can effectively crate an area unsuitable for Biting Midges as their activity reduces in wind speeds over 6-8 km/hr.  Spraying residual (surface) insecticide on your flyscreens will help midges from entering your home.   Burning mosquito coils inside can also reduce numbers.

Most insect repellents are effective against midges and should be used whenever you are outside the house.  For those who find repellents irritating an equal part mixture of baby oil, Dettol and eucalyptus oil is useful.

Long sleeves and long trousers made of closely woven materials give good protection. When gardening, a hat and gloves are also a big help.

REDUCING MIDGE ACTIVITY IN YOUR YARD

They key to controlling adult Biting Midge in your immediate area is understanding some of the Midges’ biting habits.  Being such small insects, they are prone desiccation in the heat of the day, therefore they must find a cool, shady area to avoid the sun.  They do this by harbouring on the underside of leaves of the shrubs and plants in your garden.  These areas can be treated by applying a fine spray or mist of insecticide to kill midges which come in contact with the insecticide.  Re-apply the insecticide after heavy rain or when midge activity increases.

CHEMICAL CONTROL TIPS

Various formulations of the natural insecticide, pyrethrum, are available from most plant nurseries and hardware stores.  Pyrethrum has little residual capacity, so applications may be needed on a regular (weekly) basis while midges are causing a problem, particularly over the summer period.

Other chemicals suitable include some of the more common garden sprays such as Diazinon, Fenthion and, for a longer lasting effect, Permethrin.

A synthetic pyrethroid with a long term residual capacity is currently being trialled for biting midge control. Bifenthrin marketed as ‘Bistar’ has provided up to eight weeks control when sprayed onto areas around the house where biting midge rest (eg shady shrubs and garden beds, fences, external house walls etc). It is recommended that residents considering this option engage an experienced pest controller to apply it as midge control is a specialised field.

Some useful organic insecticide formulations are:

Garlic Spray

·         85 grams unpeeled garlic

·         2 tablespoons mineral oil

·         600ml water and 7 grams of soap dissolved in solution

·         mix solution and place in trigger sprayer

Derris Spray

·         120 grams soap in 4.5 litres of water solution

·         mix in 60 grams of derris powder (from garden suppliers)

·         Mix additional 4.5 litres of water

·         Dilute entire mixture in 12 litres of water and place in trigger sprayer

ORGANIC INSECTICIDES

Due to increased awareness of environmental problems in the community, many residents are now reluctant to use chemicals in their gardens.  Some organic insecticides can be made up and applied by the applicant.  These will be capable of killing the adult midges, however, there is no residual after effect and repeated applications may be necessary.  These insecticide should not be poisonous to mammals.

ELECTRONIC INSECT KILLERS

Electronic Bug Zappers etc are devices which attract insects with an Ultra Violet light, then kill them with an electric charge.  While such devices are known to be effective against nocturnal insects such as mosquitoes, they have only limited use in controlling Biting Midge which are mainly active in daylight hours.  At such times, the attractant properties of the UV light in the device are in competition with naturally occurring UV rays in sunlight.

OUTDOOR REPELLENTS

While engaged in outdoor activities such as gardening or barbecues during the midge peak feeding periods, aromatic oils with repellent properties can be burned in Polynesian style bamboo lamp burners placed upwind of the activity.  Paraffin oil or perfumed lamp oil can be mixed with either Citronella or Lavender Oil and placed in the lamp burner.  Repellent candles containing Citronella or Lavender Oil can be used in similar manner.

INFORMATION ABOUT MIDGES

Of the 11 species of Biting Midges identified as existing within the City there are four major species which are pests to residents and visitors alike.  Each of these species has a different breeding habitat.

Culicoides subimmaculatus:  breeds in open mangrove areas.  It has been noted that emergence of females began two days before half moon, 50% had emerged by half moon plus 2 days, and emergence was completed by half moon plus 4 days.  Males emerged in a similar pattern 1.5 to 2 days ahead of the females.  The flight range of Cuicoides subimmaculatus is approximately 400 metres.  Because of its limited flight range and its mangrove swamp habitat this species is unlikely to cause widespread problems, but is more likely to attack fishermen and others who venture into the mangroves as well as residents of estuarine areas e.g. Mooloolah River systems and Bells Creek.

Culicoides molestus:  was formerly a species of estuarine areas where it was not classified as a major pest species.  With the advent of canal developments it soon because apparent that man had created an ideal habitat for the propagation of this species.  The soft flocculated sand is an ideal place for the female to lay its eggs, and the proximity of the human and canine populations means that there is a ready supply of blood meals available.  Emergence of females begins 3 days before full or new moon, 50% will have emerged the next day and emergence is completed on the day of the full or new moon.  Although it is reported that the flight range is only 400 to 500 metres it has been found much further from any possible breeding place.  It has become a major pest of residents in canal estates.

Culicoides marmoratus:  The larvae of this species breed in algae covered mud in salt marshes or below mangroves where the highest spring tide obtrude into the salt marsh.  The eggs are not resistant to desiccation so the breeding area must remain moist.  The peak emergence occurs up to 10 days before spring tide peaks.  It is also triggered off by periods of intermittent rain.  The pest range of this species is believed to be greater than 15 kilometres.

Lasiohelia townsvillensis:  is quoted as a species of the rainforest, but it appears in urban situations where rainforest conditions are mimicked by well watered gardens with mulch, compost heaps etc.  It usually appears after heavy rains, and early winter rain may lead to an outburst in spring.  This species is known to bite all day.

LIFE CYCLE

Biting Midges eggs are roughly banana-shaped, with rounded ends and a surface variously adorned with minute projections.  They are rarely encountered in nature and are laid in batches of up to fifty in or near the larval habitat.

A tiny worm like larva hatches and is the main feeding stage of the life cycle.  It grows from first to fourth instar, molting each time, over a period of days, weeks or months according to species and environmental factors.

The pupal stage looks rather like a tiny legless bluntnosed lobster which breathes air through a pair of small respiratory trumpets at the head end.  It does not feed during this stage.

The adults emerge from the pupal pelt after some days or weeks. If this is cyclical (eg related to tides) it will take place over several days with the males about a day ahead of the females. 

Here is one ankle. Other is the same, as is my arms, back, neck. Shit they got me good. Never had a problem with them before then nek minute!!!!

G'day guys

Well just had a nice weekend doing a bit of work on a mates shack but I got absolutely smashed by the lil bastards. What is the secret to stopping the itch?? They never used to bother me growing up but shit they got me good. So whats your tips on prevention and the cure for the itch??

Cheers Mick 

Didn't realise they got this big. They do go hard!

Cheers Nath

With beautiful weather forcasted for the day it was decided to take the girls out to one of the islands ang grab a few crays while there. Luckily for me we were going to be going past where I got my jewie the day before. Sure enough as we passed over the sounder lit up so I sent down a jig. Almost straight away I felt the tell tale small taps of another jewie so I lent in and set the hooks. I got a few metres on him pretty quick but he didn't like that and made a blistering run that was just unstoppable on 40lb braid. Having thought this might happen I dusted off the 80lb jigging master out fit and once agian hooked up, this time on a gulp. Lets just say that with the drag on sunset it was brutal and I almost ended up in the drink.

Job done it was time to relax for the rest of the day. I jumped in and grabbed myself a few crays to top the day off as well.

Cheers Nath

Not fishing related, but most of us have our best mate.... the dog.

Was reading about a lot of Parvo virus in Karratha ATM and wanted to warn fello Fishos, and also ask for more info on this disease.

Anyone know about it / experiences?  Is there a real need to worry, or is the local vet running a scare campaign to cash in on panic vaccinations. 

What does it cost for vaccination in Perth?  It would be interesting to see the Perth price compared to Karratha price.

Can we score vaccine online?  Instead of paying the vet $400 for 2 minutes work?

My little pup when he was younger 

 Hi Guys

Has anyone been up towards Port Warrender/Lawley River recently? Since moving back to the easy coast I am frothing at the thought of getting back to Port Hedland then the drive up that way with  a touch of fishing and Kimberley fun to be had.

Any news, updates or tips will be a great? We are taking a mates decked out 100 series and towing up a 4m tinny, we should have 9 days fishing before we drive back. 

Cheers guys

Went into the creeks again yesterday for a couple of hours, picked up some nice jacks and cods-no crabs this time though, also worked out how to use the kill tank-yeah I know I shouldve worked it out ages ago.... my daughter out fished the rest of the crew!

Nice squiding trip a month ago, good fun!

Couple of weeks ago I did a bit of creek fishing/crabbing, I have always been a fan of deep sea fishing but the creeks are starting to grow on me

Story from a few weeks ago but i have only just got around to it because of a trip down south to the land of smog and traffic lights.

Anyway a mate and I planned a day out and got everything organised only to walk outside at six in the morning to the thickest wall of fog I have ever seen.

We ummed and aaahed for a little while then figured the boat was hooked up and the esky was packed so we might as well give it a shot. we decided to stick in close and take it slow until itcleared which it eventually did by about 9.30. We took advantage of the low winds to head over to Delambre and picked up some nice fish - Estuary cod, Red emperor and a few others.

But it was my young fella who stole the show. We pulled up in our first spot and i sorted him with a hand line then proceeded to bait my rig when he says in a calm voice "Dad I`m on"

I turned around to see line peeling through his hands and angling off in to the distance. I stopped the first run for him then held the line behind while he pulled it in. To his credit he didn`t panic or give up and when the fish came alongside he was absolutely stoked. Not a bad effort for a 4 year old eh. Normally dont keep the Trevs but he was so happy with this one that we took it home for a curry. The little bugger then proceeded to give us heaps all day because he caught the first fish.

On a different note due to little use i`m going to sell my Daiwa Sensor 13ft surf rod. If you are interested send a message with an offer and I will get back to you

Cheers

          Wayno

 A quick trip down to the forty mile.

wirthies cod one of many good fish for the day

nice mackie!!!