Finally got my act together and organised my boat and a crew to fish Kalbarri for the 31st Kalbarri Classic this long weekend. It's a comp I've wanted to fish for quite a while, but the stars haven't previously aligned.

Left after work Wednesday with Dad and made good time up the Indian Ocean Road until we ran into the mother of all storms about 50k's from Dongara, the storm went all the way up to and past Gero but the worst of it was before Dongara, horizontal rain, strong wind and lightning which you could read a book by had us down to 50k's a hour at times. Safely arrived at our Kalbarri Accommodation just after midnight.

The plan was to do a pre-comp recon trip and try and find the spanish mackerel, hopefully giving us a headstart in the comp. First day was a good one once we eventually found the fish, catching 8 spanish mackerel from 6-10kg and a couple of 4-5kg striped tuna. That afternoon my brother Paul, arrived to complete the crew.

Comp Day 1

Plan was to catch some fish on 6kg to get some points rolling and then scale down to 3 and 4kg to try and get some high point scoring fish. We started with fluorocarbon leaders and caught two nice fish straight up, the next four however bit us clean off through the leaders so we went back to light single strand stainless leaders. We learnt a lot this first day, taking seven fish including a nice mack for my brother Paul on the 3kg barra outfit. We probably had 25 strikes that first day but dropped a lot of fish to pulled hooks on the light gear and sadly, sharks taking our fish.

Weigh in that arvo saw Paul take out the Top Gun - Gamefishing award for the day, and a healthy boat tally for Further North. After the weigh in we purchased half a dozen lures to replace some of our MIA and spent the evening rigging.

Comp Day 2

Blasted back to our spot where Dad hooked up to a good fish on 6kg, unfortunately the double popped after about 20 minutes with the fish about 15 metres directly under the boat. We worked the area unsuccessfully for about half an hour until the sun poked over the cliffs and started hitting the mirrors on the witchdoctor teaser. The fish went crazy for about two hours, we blew a lot of fish again to pulled hooks and the occasional shark.

The wind came up around 11am but we decided to grind on, chasing another fish or two to turn it into a good day. Two strikes were the end result for the next two hours, with both lures pulling during the initial run. Buggar.

We weighed four spaniards that arvo and a yft.

Weigh in that arvo saw us extend our overall boat lead in the 6-7m class, and Paul take a good lead into the last day for Champion Angler Game. Purchased another half a dozen lures and spent the evening respooling reels, rigging the new lures as well as our dwindling original survivors.

Comp Day 3

Slow start on the fish, nothing to show after the first 90 minutes, causing the skippers nerves to start jangling. Desperately we cycled through some artists on the Fusion Stereo until The Rolling Stones got things started. A nice mack for Paul on 6kg and then another one about an hour later calmed a few nerves onboard. All hell then broke loose when we hit a hot patch of fish resulting in a quadruple hookup, Dad was the only the one to boat one though, with a couple of hook pulls and a broken stainless leader about 5 metres under the boat for Paul. I hooked two more good fish on 3 and 4 kg string but the taxman came into play once again as the fished neared the boat.

Total fished weighed in that arvo was three. After watching the rest of the game competitors weigh in, we headed to the presentation night feeling hopeful.

Presentation Night

The Kalbarri Offshore & Angling Club put on a fantastic evening, with an awesome array of prizes and an excellent meal. We came away very happy, Paul took out the Top Gun - Game Angler for his day 1 efforts along with the big one, Champion Angler Overall - Game. Our boat 'Further North' also took out Champion Game Boat 6-7m.

We had a great time and I'd highly recommend next years comp if your into gamefishing, bottom fishing, kayak fishing or river fishing. Some great captures were made in all categories, with a very friendly and welcoming competition put on by the KOAC.

 Headed up to the midwest on Thursday with decky Boydy for 4 days of fishing. Not sure the weather forecast was quite as expected but torrential rain at Jurien and isolated thunder storms made for an interesting day, headed out to the bank dodging the lightning. Was well worth the early start leaving Perth at 0400 as was the pick of the days. Numerous Cray pots out at my marks made drifting hard work as big currents and lots of rope made picking a good drift line hard. One bonus was the area was one giant fad. Will let the pics tell a tale but had a cracking time with yet another southerly smashing on Friday. A Saturday trip to Jurien with more pingers than a rave party and an awesome shallow water jig 9 (metres) that we couldn't get away from the Dhu,s on Sunday. Put out a small pusher lure on Thursday after spotting some Dolphin fish under the boat resulting in a memorable bucket list capture. Hope you like the pics

 Down Sth for the weekend and caught two salmon on consecutive nights off the beach. Both around the 38 cm mark. Would these be front runners for the year? Good fun on the herring rod.

Pretty happy to catch a feed both nights, on the beach near Dunsborough.

Bit the bullet a few weeks ago and went Hollywood with the trailer upgrade, bought a set of transtyle 2.5 t torsion axles, landcruiser hubs and stainless steel rotors, 15 inch rims and big tyres, but drew the line in the sand at slotted rotors. I know there are some on this site that like that kind of thing (haha....just for you Scanno).

The axles arrived yesterday, and my old man fitted out the axles with brakes etc while I was at work.

Scanno and Bodie then toiled all day today to pull out the old crappolla leaf springs and fit the torsion axles, while I madly drove around time trying to sort out some flexi hoses to fit the new callipers (slight oversight!!!)....ended up getting sorted out by Pirtek, for a considerable ransom....

ENORMOUS thank you to my old man, Bodie and Scanno, friggen legends!!!! Got the whole job done in a day, from dropping the Whaler in at Mindarie at 6.30 am with the old suspension to picking it back up late this arvo with the new suspension all fitted. Bloody brilliant.

Just a few height adjustments tomorrow and fit the guards etc and she is done.

Thanks again Bodie and Scanno, owe you boys one.

 so far it's been a bust for us

Bluewater customer Chris with solid dhufish on jig

The River is still feeling the effects of the floods but those showing persistence are going ok. Bream in the Swan have been harder to find but the bigger fish have managed to hold up and can be found in the usual haunts. Staff member Laith has, however been getting stuck into a lot of smaller fish in the Canning. Crabs are being taken from Claremont down to Fremantle but numbers have slowed. It seems most productive to target them out in deeper water such as Mosman Bay.

 Went diving with a mate yesterday and got a bag full of crays off the beach. Went last saturday with another mate and we both got 6. Both locations crays were a bit soft. Some whites mixed through. Most crays few mm over with the odd larger one. Was diving down at Mandurah

Still plenty of kingis around south of hillaries chasing all the baitfish schools. Had a school of baitfish hiding around the boat for an hr or so last week near a small reef, obviously feeling a bit nervous. Have caugtht kingis from 65-90cm quite regularly which has been awesome fun and have lost as many as we have landed along with the odd SBT. My sons have enjoyed getting there arms stretched too. Bugger all skippy around that i can rustle up over the last month. Water was filthy on friday vis about 2-3m i recon where i was, river outflow i guess.

 went for a run south from hillarys Saturday night and picked up this 74cm snapper, not huge but a nice fish in great condition. Plenty of 45cm models around and also managed a 52cm keeper. Water is dirty at the moment and barrometer was way down at around 1005 so was happy to catch what we did. Been getting photo tips from little johnny, note the feet in the shot haha. 

Anyone in town or just returned who can let me know how the Murchison's flood waters are affecting the Mackerel and yft fishing?

 Took the boat up to Jurien for the first time over the last few days. Managed to get out Friday and Saturday. Both solo trips as the wife can't handle any swell. 

Trolled around a bit bit Friday morning looking for some ground, and didn't make it too far before a heap of fish started showing. Packed the trolling gear away and dropped some baits. About 5 minutes later got a nice baldie, and 20 minutes later a 7.5 kg dhuie. Trolled around a bit more but nothing happening.

Same plan for Saturday but it was pretty windy early on so the drift was too fast. When the wind died and the drift slowed I managed another couple of baldies.

Overall, nothing massive, but pretty impressed with Jurien. Hardly used any fuel or bait compared to metro.

 Hi

snuck out for a couple of hours this afternoon chasing some bream. ''Twas a warm afternoon" but the bream were on the bite. Landed about 20 fish, most between 25 and 30 cm a few smaller and a couple larger.  Using peeled prawn pieces unweighted. A little hectic a couple of times with two two rods and two fish. Put the second one away and then just focussed on catching after that.

As they say, no photo no fish. Fish solo and like to get them back in quickly so just one quick snap. My secret spot was the lower canning, in the section with the trees along the bank.

 Beautiful weather this morning. Out at sunrise, tried the edge of the dirty water--a lot of bait, scalies, feeding on the surface around the edge and north, but nothing going. Went further north and straight into them. Fishing alone, landed one , then a snip off a few minutes later ( no wire, might have to re-think that), then a double hook up--got one into the boat, other was still swimming happily, got him boatside then a big bronzie appeared, and that was that. Got the lure and the  head back. Got another, then another put out a single line with single hooks on the lure, thinking I might do a release, but an immediate bite off, so I gave it away.  Fish were a bit bigger than last week, 9kg for two and one a bit maller, the head I got back was the biggest of the lot. The Abrolhos hardbodies from Oceanside did the job, outfishing the brand name, and much more expensive, lures running alongside 4 to one.

Water temp down a bit, 23 point something, but nice and clear further north with a tide pushing down. Probably a really nice blue line out the front by now. Lots of bait on the surface but nothing hitting it apart from the odd patch of tiny tuna.

The missus and I did a session on Sunday near Rotto and managed to land a 147cm Sambo which picked up both our baits, one after the other.  We were thankful that it took both baits as neither ofus had the tackle to bring it in individually.  A story to tell the grandkids one day.

YouTube clip - https://youtu.be/ZRkbtHikUjc

 was a late solo start tonight, but still managed to get a feed of crabs and some mullet for bait... net was in the water by 7pm and out by 9pm (gave up at 9 as the big rays showed up) HEAPS of prawns kicking about atm so wouldn't take much to get a feed if that's your thing, also the sized crabs I caught had heaps of pink showing on their underbelly so should be packed with meat...

I know its a long shot but I am hoping for a sneaky bit of info if there are any dollies at the FADS as Saturday looks good and its a rare opportunity for me did not want to take a run out in hope, appreciate any info and may even drop a fillet off heheh.
cheers

A nice bag.  Dunny’s Dhu went 17.4kg.

 After looking at Little Johnny's swim posts, thought I better get keen and put on the snorkel and have a look, Occys where a bit elusive but was surprised by the numbers of Blue Manna crabs, saved a pretty windy morning with squid hard to come by. Ended up with the below and a bag of whiting. Thanks to Little Johnny for the posts of what is possible with a bit of knowledge and effort.

Whilst manning sea rescue today there was chatter on vhf of a broadbill lost out at the trench last night.....is it true and does anyone have more info 

Couple of fish from last night behind GI, snapper went 75cm and the flathead 42cm. Weather was awsome got the snapper around 6pm had another two runs which I think were rays (didn't get them to the boat). Expected the action to heat up as the sun went down but was very quiet just the flathead, lots of boats out for a Monday.

 with the best night we've had metro (last night) for a long time was only one day thing to do and that was fish! Arrived at hillarys at about 5pm and it was pretty busy, headed down to our spot and got set up. Was pretty slow for the first hour then about 6.30pm got bricked by a good fish. Just on sunset the snapper turned it on and we had good action for about an hour till the snook spoiled the party. 

Kept 4 fish around the 70cm Mark and released a heap just under 50cm. 

Spoke to a couple of people back at the ramp and both had fish. 

Nice arvo out of gracetown today 98cm and 1 m pbs for both  

Overcast, a bit misty,very light wind from the N, tide from the N, water temp 23.8, clarity looked Ok. Had the lures in the water for all of 3 or 4 minutes, and the centre rod went off, obviously a btter than average fish. My wife had the rod, gave her some curry. Eventually get a nice YFT of a good 18 kg alongside. I wish to release him, go for a tail grab---ambitious---he powers off out of my grip then suddenly the sharks were on him, lost the lot. Then one comes up and bashes the back of the boat and outboard twice.

So we take off for somewhere else, brief troll over one spot for nothing, go further up, see some boats where I was heading, get the lures in well before I get to them, double strike and one is immediately sharked. Stay hooked up on the other, also feels like a largish tuna, fight him for a while then snap off. So I am now down 3 lures for zero return.  

So keep trolling and eventually end up with 3 small mackerel, all the size of one shown and a small YFT. Dropped a few, returned a stripie. In at 9.30. Ended up 4 lures down for the morning, worst result ever here for me.

After hooking up only to be reefed 3 times in the last week at a local rock ledge it was nice to finally subdue the culprit. Went 125 cm a pb for me caught on balooned live herring

A bit late I know but was invited out on a mates ex cray boat to try and get an easy feed of skippy and kingis. Being doing ok of late mid week when the weather has been ok, which has been pretty much every Tuesday or Wednesday since Christmas.
The day before Oz day was great, plenty of skippy to 45cm and got onto a school of small kingi to ~65 cm. Those little buggers go hard in shallow water on the 4-8kg gear.
So we were thinking Thursday was going to be a cake walk and Tim who hadn’t been out in an age would be able to get a feed and have some fun. Best move was not taking the trailer boat to hillaries. Arrived at 7.45 to boats /cars backed up to the second roundabout on Hepburn Ave. Ive never seen it like that. Poor buggars…
Anyway we tootled out to a spot of Scarbs in 10m or so. Stunning day, burleyed up, but the bloody skippy decided to take the day off. Caught a couple eventually and a good kingi at 85cm on a drifting mullie, it played very nicely in the shallow for some reason which is the only reason I landed it on the 4-8kg. Hooked another and …well it just bricked me. Cracking good fun though.
Moved around a bit but stayed quiet for the rest of the morning. Unfortunately, the skipper lucked out, but took the fish home, so hopefully fed the clan and kept SWMBO happy.
A couple of shots of some Amberjacks (?) as well I think from the day before and a nice wee SBT from last week.

 Headed out with good mate Jack on thursday with the intention of getting in to some blueeye on jig and managed to smash a few good ones! All on slow pitch gear in 360ms.

 Put the tinny in at Bassendean but the river was muddy and no fish.I will try again when it clears up I am trying to get a shark 

First trip out with the old man since September last year ( He has been laid up due to injury) and managed to find a couple of fish. Started off in shallow waters south of Bunno figuring that there might be a few predators inshore chasing the crays but it was pretty quiet. Dropped a couple of solid fish early just after arrival at about 6.30 and then it went dead. Fish everywhere on the Furuno but didn't seem to matter what we dropped in front of them. Tried squid,occy,mulies,prawns,jigs and plastics but no go. Watched them on the sounder come up for a look at the bait then head back to the bottom without a touch.

Decided to cut our losses at 9am and headed for deeper water. Thought I would try out the 588's accufish feature having never tried it before (only had the unit for a few trips). Took the readings with a grain of salt but found an area with a "claimed" 50+cm fish so had a drop. Up came a 60cm Dhu. Nice!. Cruised along until the next decent reading - says 55cm fish. Dropped a couple of baits on it and soon landed another Dhu measuring a just legal 51cm. Thought about returning it as we were now seeing soundings on the drift that the Furuno claimed to be 70cm+ but we were pressed for time (had to do some work), and considering the Dhu's reputation for barotrauma we called it a day and headed for home. Big thumbs up from me for Furuno's accufish. I know most don't rate it but it was brilliant especially as I am still learning how to read the Furuno. Every little bit helps.

Also returned a few pinkies, the largest being 47cm, plus a couple of rays which gave us a workout.

Conditions were good, a great day on the water!

Was a nice night and home by 9.45pm, we would have stayed to get our 60 but we had a giant ray helping its self to our nets... 

i know it's not the best photo but you get the idea.