Fishing reports - Seisia and surrounds [Archive]

geoffjy

22-09-2008, 08:50 AM

I went out on Sunday in the Jackey Jackey river due to the weather going to pot and not being able to head out around the islands. Its funny isnt it that you have good weather for a week or so then the one day you go fishing it rains and is blowing its rear out. And of course today is almost picture perfect.

While we were out last weekend fishing we came across a feeder creek that had an abundance of fresh crab holes. That whole day we were kicking ourselves for not bringing the pots. Well, we took them out yesterday. We quickly caught some bream and put them in the pots and regularly checked them throughout the day. By 6pm this saw us with about 7 mud crabs. Definitely enough for a good feed.

We fished a few of the same spots and once again picked up some nice fingermark and jack's. Isnt it funny when your using 2 penn 975's with 50 pound bionic braid and something picks up both baits and you have one rod and your mate has the other. Now picture this. The boat doing an easy 360 degree spin and getting towed at about 8knots while still peeling line off both drags. Needless to say that the braid got caught around my rod and also the throttle cable while this unknown fish does laps around the boat. I wound up with a nice cut on the shoulder from the braid as well as it cutting through the plastic coating on the throttle cable and also the resin on the rod. Not happy at all. To cut a long story short, what ever it was spat the hook after about 5 minutes. Thankgod.

In the afternoon i was flicking some lures at a gutter when i heard a hissing sound. Im not sure if everyone knows what a turtle sounds like when they come up for air but it sounded like this. I turned around and about 8 metres from the boat was a huge croc. I only saw the head but i can guarantee it was a minimum of 16 feet. Once i turned around the croc then sunk beneath the surface. I was only just thinking earlier too that i hadnt seen a croc around. And also why the fishing went really quiet all of a sudden. It wouldnt be a huge leap to suggest that they were all hiding in their hidey holes until this monster left the area.

Overall, it was a pretty good day. There wasnt much happening on the barra front. The water temp was still around 23 degrees. I'm hoping next weekend will be better as i am taking some friends into a billabong for the day. I'm hoping to pick up some nice saratoga and barra so i better start getting my kit together and hiking shoes out of storage and give them a dust off.

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Jackey Jackey boat ramp behind the Bamaga Airstrip.

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Fishbone Creek

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Fishbone Creek

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Its a hard life

geoffjy

22-09-2008, 09:16 AM

<a href="http://s434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/?action=view&current=JACKEYJACKEY005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/JACKEYJACKEY005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
A couple of nice fingermark

campdog

22-09-2008, 07:33 PM

GOOD CHOICE OF BEER.

geoffjy

22-09-2008, 07:37 PM

GOOD CHOICE OF BEER.

Yeah, only reason i had a beer is because i dont like to drink rum when i am on a boat.

xina

22-09-2008, 08:08 PM

Shame you couldn't get a shot of the Croc. Geoff. Maybe next time.
Cheers,
xina.

geoffjy

22-09-2008, 08:10 PM

Shame you couldn't get a shot of the Croc. Geoff. Maybe next time.
Cheers,
xina.

Yeah, i know. It was only on the surface for a few seconds and by the time i thought about getting the camera it had allready gone. I will have to sort through my archive and find a few good croc pics. I have a full frame pic that i took in April of a croc with its head out of the water eating a big mullet.

campdog

22-09-2008, 08:54 PM

Yeah, only reason i had a beer is because i dont like to drink rum when i am on a boat.
Rum,boats crocs.Not a good combination.
Rum and I are not a good combination come to think about it.

campdog

22-09-2008, 08:56 PM

Love the choice of DECK CHAIRS. Look more comfortable than sitting on the gunnels.

geoffjy

23-09-2008, 08:41 AM

Rum,boats crocs.Not a good combination.
Rum and I are not a good combination come to think about it.

My point exactly Campdog. I would rather have my wits (as much as they are) about me at all times when i am out on the water.

geoffjy

23-09-2008, 08:43 AM

Love the choice of DECK CHAIRS. Look more comfortable than sitting on the gunnels.

I tried a hammock but that hasnt worked well when i'm fishing. You cant get out of them fast enough when your rod goes off. Mmmm. Fishing rod i should say. lol

campdog

23-09-2008, 04:59 PM

I tried a hammock but that hasnt worked well when i'm fishing. You cant get out of them fast enough when your rod goes off. Mmmm. Fishing rod i should say. lolMaybe you could set your camp cot up in the boat.Have a lay down while waiting for the Barra to come on the bite.

geoffjy

25-09-2008, 08:40 PM

<a href="http://s434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/?action=view&current=jardinepics065.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/jardinepics065.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
A nice pic of a 1mt barra caught a couple of days ago.

geoffjy

25-09-2008, 08:58 PM

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A nice maccy on a Loomis GL3 and Daiwa Millionaire. Put up a pretty good fight too. Almost spooled me a couple of times.

campdog

25-09-2008, 09:38 PM

Nice gear.I used to build fishing rods for a living and Loomis were a favorite blank for building up rods.
I need to get back into it as was a rewrding job.
John

plucker

25-09-2008, 10:43 PM

Loomis are the best in my opinion, trouble is, you have to buy more. Like the Cape where you have to go and see it one more time.
Nice fish too mate. Just shows you are in the good country.

Stacky

26-09-2008, 06:52 AM

geoffjy

26-09-2008, 09:47 AM

Loomis are the best in my opinion, trouble is, you have to buy more. Like the Cape where you have to go and see it one more time.
Nice fish too mate. Just shows you are in the good country.

I know what you mean plucker. I wish i had about 6 of them. Its a bit hard when they are just over $400 each.

geoffjy

26-09-2008, 09:50 AM

There's some nice fish there Geoff,
It gets me all keen to wet a line when i see that.

When i was up there last year, i noticed heaps of people getting bogged while pulling there boat out at Sesia ramp (beach). Did council ever fix the problem or are they still just talking about it.

Thanks Stacky.

Seisia to this day still have the same problem at the ramp. Its bloody annoying. This could be changing though with the introduction of a new ramp in a couple of months. I will put a post up once i find out if and when its going ahead.

All i can say is 'its about time'.

geoffjy

26-09-2008, 03:02 PM

Well, i will be walking 4 guys into a billabong tomorrow morning to do some fishing. We will be chasing saratoga and of course, the barramundi. We will be leaving about 5 in the morning and getting back late in the arvo.

Battle Kit -
-Daiwa Millionare with 20lb bionic braid
-G-Loomis GL3

-Gold bombers (for Ant's benefit, he reckons they are really reliable):rolleyes:
-Halco Scorpians
-B52's
-Tilsan barra
-Halco Rooster poppers
-Berkly gulp plastics

-De-hooker
-Knife
-Lippers
-Spare spool of braid
-Measure mat

-Garmin GPS
-Spare batteries
-Camera with wide angle lense for all the big fish we get

and most importantly a DUNNY ROLE. Never leave home without one.

Nedly

27-09-2008, 12:08 PM

Sounds interesting, look forward to seeing the results.
Hope you remembered, and had room, to take food and water as well.

campdog

27-09-2008, 06:40 PM

watched an old video with Dave Donald doing the same thing I think we need a month at the top to check things out properly.
John

Stacky

28-09-2008, 06:44 AM

Looking forward to the pics.

Watch out for those big angry boars. I've had the odd one give me a hell of a fright when i'm on my own and getting along a creek qiuetly.

geoffjy

28-09-2008, 10:22 AM

Well, yesterday was an eventfull day. We left Bamaga at 5.30am and got to no name river at 7 and put the tinny in the No name river and and after an hour of travelling, pulled up onto a bank and tied the boat up.

From here we walked through dried up swamps and such for over an hour and came upon the billabong we wanted to fish.

Over the course of the day we caught lots of Saratoga and only 3 barrabundi, the largest being 70cm and the smallest being 20cm. Not too bad especially when we are coming up onto the new moon.

The barra loves the ol' B52'2 while the Saratoga didnt seem to want to touch them. This changes though when i put on a yellow and green Predatek. Nearly every cast was a hook up and we really had to set the hooks once they had hold of the lure otherwise the would spit it out.

We came across a punt belongong to a friend of mine that had fire damage. We were lucky enough that when the fire went through and melted all the plastice bungs and rod holders it didnt leek. But we only had one oar, the other one had melted. This is fun when your in the middle of the billabong and the wind decides to pick up. Makes it for hard paddling to get back where you started.

I am hoping to go into the billabong again next full moon when the barra and toga's will be more active. I have plans to spend the night on there.

As for pig sign, it was several months old and we didnt see any fresh ones.

<a href="http://s434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/?action=view&current=jardinebillabong001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/jardinebillabong001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Morning on no name river

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The billabong

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Pete hooked up on a nice Saratoga

geoffjy

28-09-2008, 10:30 AM

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Pete flicking a Stump Jumper. This caught the most fish for the trip.

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Me with a Saratoga

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Pete with a Saratoga

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John and Robbo having a fish.

plucker

29-09-2008, 01:48 PM

I like the look of Pete's safety equipment:smile:

geoffjy

29-09-2008, 01:56 PM

I like the look of Pete's safety equipment:smile:

The rifle was just in case we didnt catch any fish. Fire a few shots at the fish then scoop them up. We know how to fish.:rolleyes:

xina

29-09-2008, 07:58 PM

Great Pics. again Geoff. What is it that looks like Bales of something in the water in the first shot? Just by the Paperbark.
Cheers,
xina.

geoffjy

29-09-2008, 08:12 PM

Great Pics. again Geoff. What is it that looks like Bales of something in the water in the first shot? Just by the Paperbark.
Cheers,
xina.

That is a aluminium cage that a friend made up to film crocs close up. Anyone that knows the area will probably recognise that cage and know roughly where i went fishing.

geoffjy

29-09-2008, 08:29 PM

Just getting the boat ready now as i will be heading out tomorrow night for a spot of fishing. Try a new spot and also put some more pots in and hopefully pic up a couple of crabs.

and not these ones either.....

<a href="http://s434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/?action=view&current=somersettrip138.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/somersettrip138.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

xina

29-09-2008, 08:58 PM

Thanks Geoff. Who threw the bleach on the Soldier Crabs?
Cheers,
xina.

geoffjy

01-10-2008, 12:50 PM

Well, not much was on the chew last night. We left about 3pm and got back around midnight. There were plenty of grunter about as well as a few fingermark around the 3 kg mark. We also managed to pick up a couple of crabs as well. All in all, it was good to get out and relax.

The crocs were pretty active last night. At one point when we were anchored up i turned on the spotty and picked up 4 crocs around the boat. The largest was only 8 feet.

xina

01-10-2008, 05:31 PM

Now that's a shot you don't see very often. Love it.
Cheers
xina.

geoffjy

01-10-2008, 09:46 PM

<a href="http://s434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/?action=view&current=jardinepics098.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/jardinepics098.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Mud crabs from last night.

xina

01-10-2008, 10:03 PM

Geeze Geoff, here I am trying to lose weight before the Tagalong, and you go and do that to me. Gotta go and have something to eat now.
Cheers,
xina.

geoffjy

04-10-2008, 08:27 AM

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So much for the mullet.... Its a pity that not even one was legal.

Stacky

05-10-2008, 02:39 PM

The rifle was just in case we didnt catch any fish. Fire a few shots at the fish then scoop them up. We know how to fish.:rolleyes:

Just so the public is aware,

Geoff is only joking when he mentions shooting into the water.

All of the gun owners out there will be having a fit. Shooting into water is unsafe as the bullet may skim off the surface and carry for many miles into the unknown or unfortunate.

geoffjy

05-10-2008, 02:43 PM

Just so the public is aware,

Geoff is only joking when he mentions shooting into the water.

All of the gun owners out there will be having a fit. Shooting into water is unsafe as the bullet may skim off the surface and carry for many miles into the unknown or unfortunate.

And dynamite works well too but i wouldnt recomend using it as it can be dangerous. Also, it a lot harder to promote catch and release with this method:rolleyes:

Stacky

05-10-2008, 03:03 PM

Don't forget to mention that you send everybody else in their to retrieve the fish while you watch out for crocs.

geoffjy

05-10-2008, 03:05 PM

Just so the public is aware,

Geoff is only joking when he mentions shooting into the water.

All of the gun owners out there will be having a fit. Shooting into water is unsafe as the bullet may skim off the surface and carry for many miles into the unknown or unfortunate.

I remember when i was at the Sherger RAAF base opening at Weipa in the 90's, i was talking to this guy who was showing us all these different rifles. He said that with no wind and the right angle they could skip a bullet off a the surface of the water or even a leaf.

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 11:42 AM

A mate went out around Woody Wallis yesterday and managed to hook onto some big tuna but none were brought to the boat as sharks were dime a dozen. Even when you didnt have a fish on they still followed the boat. Only one spanish mackeral was caught and this was around the 1.5mt mark.

Weather was pretty good and the wind didnt pick up until about midday. Today is a bit different as the wind picked up to about 15kn early on this morning and it has started raining.

I had been planning another day out on the water on Sunday but the forcast is saying otherwise. Thunderstorms until Tuesday. So we will see i guess.

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 11:43 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3226.jpg
A mate with his first barra. A pity it was only a rat.

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 11:44 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3220.jpg
Me with a nice spanish mackeral a couple of months ago.

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 11:45 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3143.jpg
The water up here some days can be magic. This pic is of the light house ship north of Vrilya Point.

campdog

10-10-2008, 04:32 PM

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 04:45 PM

Is that normally how much water is around the lightship.
Geoff how long have you been working at the information centre at Bamaga. The photo of you wih the spanish doesnt look like the person I spoke to last trip.
John

I took over the running of the info centre and museum from my father who passed away May last year. When was the last time you were up here?

campdog

10-10-2008, 04:52 PM

I took over the running of the info centre and museum from my father who passed away May last year. When was the last time you were up here?
Mate Im sorry to hear that. It would have been July 2006.I only went to Virilya point last year.It would have been your father that I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with.He gave me some great locations to camp and mud maps of the area.
Im sure if your anything like your father the info centre will be in good hands.
Once again Im sorry to hear that.
John

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 04:55 PM

Mate Im sorry to hear that. It would have been July 2006.I only went to Virilya point last year.It would have been your father that I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with.He gave me some great locations to camp and mud maps of the area.
Im sure if your anything like your father the info centre will be in good hands.
Once again Im sorry to hear that.
John

I was working at the Sheraton Mirage in Port douglas at the time you were up here. Thanks for the comments. Appreciate it.

Well, i'm off home to have a rum and some Mangrove Jack for dinner.

I will be on later tonight.

Scorcher

10-10-2008, 05:46 PM

Is that normally how much water is around the lightship.
Geoff how long have you been working at the information centre at Bamaga. The photo of you wih the spanish doesnt look like the person I spoke to last trip.
John

Looks to be high tide to me Campdog.

I'll post some that I took on this years trip. Heaps more exposed. One day, if I get the energy to drag out the scanner, I'll post some photo's from 1989 of it. It certainly has deteriorated in the past 20 years.....

Scorcher

Scorcher

10-10-2008, 06:00 PM

Here's a couple of shots of the lighthouse ship wreck at Vrilya Point (north) taken in June 2008.

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 06:44 PM

Is that normally how much water is around the lightship.
Geoff how long have you been working at the information centre at Bamaga. The photo of you wih the spanish doesnt look like the person I spoke to last trip.
John

The pic was taken at high tide Campdog. I have some pics of it in the late 70's or early 80's around here somewhere. I will try and find them and post them up here.

campdog

10-10-2008, 07:01 PM

The pic was taken at high tide Campdog. I have some pics of it in the late 70's or early 80's around here somewhere. I will try and find them and post them up here.
Boy it has deteriorated a lot since I was their in May 07

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 07:03 PM

Boy it has deteriorated a lot since I was their in May 07

It doesnt take much when it is in salt water every day. I cant remember but i think the mast was up in Octber 2005.

campdog

10-10-2008, 07:06 PM

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 07:48 PM

It really did disintegrate quickly. I was thinking over 2 or 3 years. Not last year.

yetti

10-10-2008, 08:05 PM

campdog,

I've been lucky enough to have seen the light ship a few times a year since 2001. gotta say i've taken plenty of photos, and none compare to that one of yours. nice shot mate.

cheers

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 08:10 PM

campdog,

I've been lucky enough to have seen the light ship a few times a year since 2001. gotta say i've taken plenty of photos, and none compare to that one of yours. nice shot mate.

cheers

I think Campdog should do a thread about "how to take decent photographs".
Anyone can take a pic but getting the best one can mean the difference between taking a pic at midday and taking a pic in the arvo or morning. Morning light and afternoon light is a lot softer than midday light and provides for a better photograph.

You would have your work cut out for you Campdog as if you do.

campdog

10-10-2008, 08:10 PM

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 08:12 PM

Thanks mate,I like to take them as my own little piece of history.Im just glad I got there last year.

Always good to remember too, people might take things for granted and will take a pic next year or something. I always say, take a pic then and there because you dont know when you will be back next. Or it might not even be there anymore when your back next time.

campdog

10-10-2008, 08:14 PM

I think Campdog should do thread about "how to take decent photographs".
Anyone can take a pic but getting the best one can mean the difference between taking a pic at midday and taking a pic in arvo. Morning light and afternoon light is a lot softer than midday light and provides for a better photograph.

You would have your work cut out for you Campdog as if you do.
Definetly right about the time of day.I rarely take photos in the middle of the day unless its overcast or have no choice.That I mean as when you are travelling and cant wait around for good lighting.
I have only started getting interested in photograpy since visiting the Cape and buying a good camera last christmas.

campdog

10-10-2008, 08:16 PM

It really did disintegrate quickly. I was thinking over 2 or 3 years. Not last year.
Maybe a good storm gave it a battering since I took the photo in May 07.

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 08:17 PM

Definetly right about the time of day.I rarely take photos in the middle of the day unless its overcast or have no choice.That I mean as when you are travelling and cant wait around for good lighting.
I have only started getting interested in photograpy since visiting the Cape and buying a good camera last christmas.

I have always had an interest in photography as my father did a fair bit of professinal stuff up here.

Since last year i have wound up with all his camera gear. 3 nikon slr slide cameras, sony vx200 video camera, nikon slr panoramic camera, lenses, flashes etc. So as you can imagine, i have been playing with them a bit.

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 08:19 PM

Maybe a good storm gave it a battering since I took the photo in May 07.

The westerlies up here in the wet season would give it a fair pounding. Just to give you an idea how rough, March this year they were registering 3mt high waves at the first marker buoy at Weipa.

campdog

10-10-2008, 08:31 PM

I have always had an interest in photography as my father did a fair bit of professinal stuff up here.

Since last year i have wound up with all his camera gear. 3 nikon slr slide cameras, sony vx200 video camera, nikon slr panoramic camera, lenses, flashes etc. So as you can imagine, i have been playing with them a bit.
You have all the right gear and in the right place so theres nothing stopping you now.

campdog

10-10-2008, 08:33 PM

Im hopping on and off this site every few minutes.Im going through my 2006 cape photos and culling a few.Just looking at them gives me the urg to pack up and move north.(in a Toyota of course)

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 08:37 PM

Im hopping on and off this site every few minutes.Im going through my 2006 cape photos and culling a few.Just looking at them gives me the urg to pack up and move north.(in a Toyota of course)

You mean to tell me you have seen the light Campdog? Its annoying me atm, i cant find the old pics of the lighthouse ship. It might be on one of my other computers. I will have a look on the weekend.

Anyway, i'm off now. Got to catch some zzzz's.

geoffjy

10-10-2008, 08:40 PM

Does anyone have a Nikon slide scanner that they want to sell? I am trying to back up all 8000 or so of dads old slides.

campdog

10-10-2008, 08:41 PM

You mean to tell me you have seen the light Campdog? Its annoying me atm, i cant find the old pics of the lighthouse ship. It might be on one of my other computers. I will have a look on the weekend.

Anyway, i'm off now. Got to catch some zzzz's.
Seen the light I have,This one
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/campdog_photos/capeyorke1of2copy.jpg

ant

11-10-2008, 07:01 AM

Does anyone have a Nikon slide scanner that they want to sell? I am trying to back up all 8000 or so of dads old slides.

Hi Geoff,
Both my scanners will scan slides. Most of the new ones have the ability to scan slides and you can pick some of them up for less than $300.
The other option is to take your slides to a photography shop and they can scan them and put them on disc for you. I used to do that a lot when I was working with slides. Digital is now slowly taking over but I still use my Nikons with slide film too.

campdog

11-10-2008, 07:35 AM

Hi Geoff,
Both my scanners will scan slides. Most of the new ones have the ability to scan slides and you can pick some of them up for less than $300.
The other option is to take your slides to a photography shop and they can scan them and put them on disc for you. I used to do that a lot when I was working with slides. Digital is now slowly taking over but I still use my Nikons with slide film too.
Ebay is a great source for camera gear,Im always looking a older stuff there and havent been sold a dud yet.

geoffjy

11-10-2008, 08:17 AM

Hi Geoff,
Both my scanners will scan slides. Most of the new ones have the ability to scan slides and you can pick some of them up for less than $300.
The other option is to take your slides to a photography shop and they can scan them and put them on disc for you. I used to do that a lot when I was working with slides. Digital is now slowly taking over but I still use my Nikons with slide film too.

That sounds like a good idea Ant. I will make a few enquiries as to how much it would cost to put the slides on disc.

I love slides as they have no pixelation and can be blown up to whatever size you want, just not as easy as digital to work with.

ant

11-10-2008, 08:47 AM

Ebay is a great source for camera gear,Im always looking a older stuff there and havent been sold a dud yet.

I purchased three new lenses for one of my Nikon cameras through ebay and they never turned up. After three months of 'debating' with the company, they sent me the replacements. I don't deal with ebay any more. Rather walk into a shop and get the gear.

ant

11-10-2008, 08:50 AM

That sounds like a good idea Ant. I will make a few enquiries as to how much it would cost to put the slides on disc.

I love slides as they have no pixelation and can be blown up to whatever size you want, just not as easy as digital to work with.

Geoff, I used to get all my work done at Northern Photo Express here in Cairns. I would mail down the slides and they would then express post the finished work back to me when I was living in Weipa. I am not sure if they still do this. Try them on: 4051 6804

geoffjy

11-10-2008, 08:53 AM

I purchased three new lenses for one of my Nikon cameras through ebay and they never turned up. After three months of 'debating' with the company, they sent me the replacements. I don't deal with ebay any more. Rather walk into a shop and get the gear.

I have had a bad experience on there as well. I sold a Penn 50W and the guy claimed he didnt receive it. Paid him his money back and a couple of weeks later found out he had recieved it. Have to be very carefull on there now. Everything is registered and signatures required.

campdog

11-10-2008, 02:52 PM

I havent had a problem as most of my stuff is second hand and buy through high rating sellers.
You shouldnt rate the whole place through one bad experience. Ive had more trouble getting something fixed through a store purchase than ebay.You will find most camerea gear resellers are reputable.
I must admit though I paid top dollar for my last camera instore and buy all new stuff from camera house. 2nd hand from ebay.
John

geoffjy

12-10-2008, 08:17 PM

Well, so much for the bluewater fishing today. Wind picked on Thursday and it started raining. Not the makings for a great day out on the water i'm afraid.

Come yesterday arvo, i decided to take a mate to a spot i hadnt been to since 1995. This meant some fresh water fishing was involved and the water level was about 1mt lower than when i was there last. This made it just a touch harder to get where we were going as the creek was now littered with logs breaking the water surface.

We left Bamaga early this morning towing a 14ft tinnie with a 25hp toey and after an hour and a half of driving wound up at our destination. There wasnt even enough water in the creek to even come half way up the boat trailers tyres.

We slowly headed up stream from where we put the boat in the water, as we were poking up i kept looking at all the sandbanks and noted that on nearly all of them there were slide marks from crocodiles. Some nice size ones were amongst them too.

We come to an offshoot of the creek with a nice rockbar at the mouth. A rock bar extended right across the mouth in about 3 mt of water that dropped off to about 7mt. I managed to pick up a couple of nice Saratoga's on a B'52 and a Predatek while my friend used a squidgy plastic to great success hooking up on one about the 70cm mark.

After about half an hour messing around at the rock bar we headed up the offshoot to my "secret spot". As i turned into the mouth i noted that rocks were showing everywhere but there was a deep channel leading through them about 2 mt wide. Just enough room for me to get through.

For the next 40 mins against a strong current we dodged logs and trees overhanging the water. Half way up we came across a small croc lying on the bottom and I tried unsuccessfully for my mate to take a pic of him on his new underwater camera. For some reason, he didnt want to so i had the honours of taking it.

After leaving our prehistoric friend we arrived at the "secret spot". A big bend in the creek that had a deep hole on it. Logs were lying beside each other and Saratoga and the occasional barra could be seen swimming underneath them. We nosed up on a sandy bank on the opposite side and put the anchor out.

I was up the bow and my mate was at the stern and we were both flicking lures into snags on the corner. I looked down beside me and 3 barra about the 80cm mark came swimming out of the lilly's which were in about a foot of water and went into the snags. They were less than a mt away. This caused me to pause in my retrieve and just stare at them. As i did this, a barra came up nailed my lure, a grey Halco Scorpian and proceeded to give me a bit of hurry up. It was the only barra for the day that i had hooked up on and i had it beside the boat ready for the landing net and my mate just stared at it. By the time he thought about getting the net, it did one final leap and pulled the treble. Not happy at all i can tell you.

For the next hour or so of hooking up on saratoga's, we finally decided to head back to the main arm of the creek. Let me just say it is really fun heading up a creek against the current, you have alot more control over the boat and where you want to go. But coming back is a different story. You have to go faster than the current just to get some manouvering capability. All this in a narrow creek with rock bars and logs everywhere. Just as we got to the mouth i looked over to the opposite sand bank and saw a nice fresh slide mark from a croc right where we had been fishing. I hopped out of the boat and went over and took a couple of pics, one with my foot beside the croc'c foot imprint in the sand. Judging by the size of the track and the belly slide i would have to say it was around the 14ft mark. Not a bad size croc. I knew from previous expeditions that there were a lot larger ones here as my father and i was stalked by one. (Thats another story)

By this time it was around 1pm and we started drifting with the wind and current pushing us back downstream towards the car. The whole way back we sight fished for toga's and managed to land another 12 or so. One monster was among them as he came lazily swimming out for my lure and had a sniff and went back to his little log. I tried unsuccessfully to get him to have another look at my lure but he was plainly not interested.

We got back to the car around 2.30pm and put the boat back on the trailer then went for a nice swim in the sandy shallows where we could see in every direction for 60mt just in case the croc decided to get curious. The whole day the water was 28 degrees. Lovely.

I took some pics today but because i got back late i will post them up tomorrow.

xina

12-10-2008, 09:30 PM

Can't wait Geoff.
Cheers
xina.

Stacky

13-10-2008, 06:31 AM

Those Toga's are great fun to catch on light gear. I call them 'The Freshwater Marlin' cause they can really put on a show. I grew up catching them as a kid in the Dawson River.

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 08:35 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/PICT0024.jpg
Me dodging logs

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 08:38 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/PICT0023.jpg
Little croc we saw.

Ignore the date on the bottom left of the pics as well as my mate hasnt set the date on his camera yet

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 08:46 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF0935.jpg
Heading up the creek to the 'secret spot'

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 08:48 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF0939.jpg
One of the many snag filled corners in the creek

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 08:49 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF0941.jpg

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 08:50 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF0943.jpg

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 08:53 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF0946.jpg
The foot imprint of a large croc. My foot is the same length as the crocs and mine is 26cm long.

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 08:56 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF0947.jpg
Me with a small Saratoga

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 08:59 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF0948.jpg
The upper reaches of the same creek

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 09:04 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/PICT0027.jpg

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 09:08 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/PICT0031.jpg
Tha sand bank you can see is where the large croc had been sunning himself. This bank drops straight off to 6mt of water. A perfect place for a croc.

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 09:11 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/PICT0036.jpg
My friend with a Saratoga. Yetti, you will know this person.

ant

13-10-2008, 09:18 AM

Nice shots Geoff.
Fishing the small/skinny water is a lot of fun.
Can't wait for my next trip up there. Less than three weeks away.

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 09:21 AM

Nice shots Geoff.
Fishing the small/skinny water is a lot of fun.
Can't wait for my next trip up there. Less than three weeks away.

Yeh, but who's counting? I love fishing the smaller creeks. Makes things a bit more interesting especially with a strong current.

campdog

13-10-2008, 04:31 PM

Thanks for the story and photos.That was my fishing for the week.

geoffjy

13-10-2008, 06:39 PM

Those Toga's are great fun to catch on light gear. I call them 'The Freshwater Marlin' cause they can really put on a show. I grew up catching them as a kid in the Dawson River.

You really have to keep the tension up on the line as their mouth are really boney and dont penetrate too well.

Nearly all of the toga's i caught, the hooks have fallen straight out once landed. Great sport fish and there are plenty of them around.

xina

13-10-2008, 06:45 PM

Great shots Geoff. Loved the little croc.
Cheers,
xina.

geoffjy

17-10-2008, 05:07 PM

Well, i just got back from fishing. It sure was rough out there today. Morning was calm though.

We trolled a few wogheads around as well as a few Halco Tremblers. Not one strike. We headed up the river and did a bit of live baiting around a favourite snag of mine that always produces some nice barra,.

My friend Danny, caugth a nice a barra and lost 2 others unfortunately. I caught one lonely little silver bream that weighed in at 2kg.

We then shifted onto another little creek where i caught a nice jack and lost another barra. Not happy at all.

We shifted up yet another arm of the river and another guy i had on board caught a nice 81cm barra on a whiting fillet. She was definitely a nice broad fish. We fished here for an hour or so without picking up anything else.

We then moved back up to my original snag which was a large tree root system jutting out into about 5mt of water which was in a gutter. We live baited here for a bit when i hooked up onto a nice 93cm barra on mullet. We lost 2 more barra but they only looked to be about the 70cm mark.

20 mins later, the guy i had on board lept up all of a sudden and shouted out. Sure enough, a large barra broke the surface. 10 mins later we landed a barra at the 93cm mark.

By this time we had to head back to the ramp. Unfortunatley the wind had picked right up to 25/30 knots which made for a rough and long trip home.

I only managed to take 4-5 pics of this trip but i will post them up tomorrow.

plucker

17-10-2008, 05:13 PM

sounds like a tough day at the office.

xina

17-10-2008, 07:13 PM

sounds like a tough day at the office.

Yeah Plucker,
But what an Office.
Cheers,
xina.

xina

17-10-2008, 07:52 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF0939.jpg
One of the many snag filled corners in the creek

What IS that coloured thing in the water Geoff? (Bottom left hand corner.) Been trying to make it out, but I have to give up.
Cheers,
xina.

geoffjy

17-10-2008, 08:36 PM

What IS that coloured thing in the water Geoff? (Bottom left hand corner.) Been trying to make it out, but I have to give up.
Cheers,
xina.

Just a tree branch with some leaves and weed caught up on it.

geoffjy

17-10-2008, 08:37 PM

sounds like a tough day at the office.

Bloody oath. Roger is back at work so i have three days off again. Whooo hoooo.

plucker

17-10-2008, 10:29 PM

May as well make the most of it and keep on telling us how you went.

geoffjy

18-10-2008, 09:02 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/barrapics008.jpg

geoffjy

18-10-2008, 09:09 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/barrapics004.jpg
A nice barra

geoffjy

18-10-2008, 09:09 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/barrapics002.jpg
Another nice barra.

geoffjy

18-10-2008, 09:12 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/barrapics006.jpg
Me with a barra.

geoffjy

18-10-2008, 09:17 AM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/barrapics009.jpg
A fisheries barge that was anchored up at the mouth.

xina

18-10-2008, 12:32 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/barrapics006.jpg
Me with a barra.

Same fish in each shot Geoff.
Cheers,
xina.

geoffjy

18-10-2008, 03:26 PM

Same fish in each shot Geoff.
Cheers,
xina.

The first and the third one are the same fish while the second is another one.

campdog

18-10-2008, 03:41 PM

Ill have one of those please, or a coupe of waypoints would do.
John

Scorcher

18-10-2008, 06:02 PM

Ill have one of those please, or a coupe of waypoints would do.
John

I'm with you there Campdog !

I've done 10 trips to the Cape, 2 to the Gulf, and 3 to the Kimberley, yet my biggest Barra would only be about 60-65 cm.

1 Barra at a metre long would just about fill the cravings (for a few minutes anyway....).

Scorcher

geoffjy

18-10-2008, 07:19 PM

I'm with you there Campdog !

I've done 10 trips to the Cape, 2 to the Gulf, and 3 to the Kimberley, yet my biggest Barra would only be about 60-65 cm.

1 Barra at a metre long would just about fill the cravings (for a few minutes anyway....).

Scorcher

I think it makes it worse for people because once they catch one around the metre mark, they try even harder to get another around the same size or larger.

plucker

18-10-2008, 08:30 PM

Live bait is the way to go for the bigger ones or trolling deep divers.
I personally hate both styles happy to flick lures catching 60-70cm ones with the occasional 80 odd. Very rare to catch bigger than that as the hooks on the lure just aren't big enough to hold.

yetti

19-10-2008, 08:21 AM

Very rare to catch bigger than that as the hooks on the lure just aren't big enough to hold.[/QUOTE]

Gday Plucker,

Personally 92cm i my biggest on the cape. My biggest, was 1.27m, at shady camp back in '96. This was my first barra, and my believe it or not my first ever cast for a barra. I am destined to spend the rest of my life trying to do better than i did in the beginning. To be honest i don't think i will ever beat it!

Anyway i've dropped some big barra on lures up here, but not because of hardware, more lack of motor skills. Point is, all the lures etc i use up here, is beefed up with heavier splits, and 6X trebles. Believe me, the time it takes to change up terminal gear, is well worth it, as now i can only blame myself for dropping fish!

cheers mate.

geoffjy

19-10-2008, 08:47 AM

Gday Plucker,

Personally 92cm i my biggest on the cape. My biggest, was 1.27m, at shady camp back in '96. This was my first barra, and my believe it or not my first ever cast for a barra. I am destined to spend the rest of my life trying to do better than i did in the beginning. To be honest i don't think i will ever beat it!

Anyway i've dropped some big barra on lures up here, but not because of hardware, more lack of motor skills. Point is, all the lures etc i use up here, is beefed up with heavier splits, and 6X trebles. Believe me, the time it takes to change up terminal gear, is well worth it, as now i can only blame myself for dropping fish!

cheers mate.

We used to go down the east coast for 5-6 weeks every January/February and we used to hook up onto some monsters down there.

Last year i hooked up onto a 1.3mt barra end of October. All i can say is that i am glad i upgraded the original trebles and i hooked her just off a small snag out on the flats. She didnt have anywhere to hide so just played her and followed her around for a bit before landing it.

My mate had the original hooks on the gold bomber he was using and he straightened them out first barra.

For the time it takes, it is well worth the effort to upgrade the trebles on your lure rather than possibly losing the fish of a lifetime. A few prefessionals these days are moving from the traditional trebles to single hooks on their lures. It has been proven that you stay connected to the fish longer than you would with a treble and land a higher percentage of fish.

Every time i go out on the water i re-tie all my terminal tackle. This decreases the chance of my tackle ever failing.

yetti

19-10-2008, 08:59 AM

geoff,

i've been running blue water lures a bit this yr with double splits, and single hooks. results have been interesting. with singles, ihavnt lost a fish, once it was proper hooked, where as with trebles, fish have been lost mid fight. macs especially. thing is they definitely miss on the strike more, with the singles.

worth trying, especially when the fish are on the chew, and strikes plentiful.
cheers,

Bat
PS: ROGER RING ME CHOPPY>>>>

plucker

19-10-2008, 11:35 AM

I do use 6x hooks and beefed up trebles, but the size of the hook to fit the lure is normally the let down for me.

Most of the guides around here use 5/0 to 6/0 for live baiting, where as most lures have a number 4 or 2 treble.

The problem with going to a 2/0 or 3/0 treble is the lure gets weighed down and you cant walk it through the snags, as it hooks up on everything.

Having said that I was lucky enough to catch a barra in the Jardine a few years ago that went about 110. No definate size as I didn't have a tape long enough and couldnt lay it flat to measure it. I caught it on a gold terminator which is 2 inch long lure.

Generally I prefer lures with 3 sets of trebles to help stay connected, but really you need a lot of luck for any fish over 80cm imo.

geoffjy

19-10-2008, 11:41 AM

Generally I prefer lures with 3 sets of trebles to help stay connected, but really you need a lot of luck for any fish over 80cm imo.

I have caught a lot of fish on lures before and i must say that i have never needed three lots of trebles as they get in the road and can be more dangerous. On any lure that has 3 trebles, i always remove the middle one so that the lure is still balanced and also crush the barbs.

I will be experimenting with single hooks on lures in the next 2 months. It will be interesting to see how things go.

Nedly

20-10-2008, 02:10 PM

Well, i just got back from fishing. It sure was rough out there today. Morning was calm though.

We then moved back up to my original snag which was a large tree root system jutting out into about 5mt of water which was in a gutter. We live baited here for a bit when i hooked up onto a nice 93cm barra on mullet. We lost 2 more barra but they only looked to be about the 70cm mark.

ONLY 70cm :(

I'm so upset for you Geoffjy.
70cm, must be heartbreaking to be surrounded by such small fish.

BTW, I hope the sarcasm isn't wasted.
Think I'll go shoot myself.

geoffjy

20-10-2008, 02:27 PM

ONLY 70cm :(

I'm so upset for you Geoffjy.
70cm, must be heartbreaking to be surrounded by such small fish.

BTW, I hope the sarcasm isn't wasted.
Think I'll go shoot myself.

You know what i mean Nedly. You can be out there catching fish and all of a sudden you catch a large one and all the rest look small in comparisan.

Stacky

22-10-2008, 06:59 PM

geoffjy

23-10-2008, 08:43 AM

My largest here on the east coast is 85cm and i have caught 2 at that size. My mate caught that 96cm barra last year here, the one i posted in the other thread and he has just caught another 96cm fish while visiting last weekend.
He knows how to fish and is very discreet about tactics. Everything i have learnt is from boat trips with him.

I would have thought there would have been a lot more of the larger ones down your way Stacky.

I run into someone from down Lockhardt way yesterday. I was having a few beers with the coppers up here yesterday evening and one of the guys that turned up is a copper from Lockhardt. Goes by the name of Kytee, i think thats how his name is spelt. He had some really interesting stories to tell from down that way.

plucker

23-10-2008, 05:14 PM

geoffjy

23-10-2008, 09:02 PM

I would have to agree with Stacky about the size as the largest one I caught in there was 88cm. Definately caught lots of numbers and lots of legals but no monsters.

I think the little ones were too quick and didn't give the bigger slower ones a chance.

I spose live baiting would probably catch the bigger size but who wants to do that there.

Up your way Geoff we fished the Escape system for a day and hardly caught an undersize one. They were all around the 70's

Yeah, you can nearly always guarantee a barra from the Escape. The only problem is that its almost an hour and a half to get there and unless you have a couple of mates onboard, its too expensive fuel wise.

I have never caught a barra over the mt mark in that system. Only the 70 - 80 cm specimens as you say..

geoffjy

28-10-2008, 07:01 PM

Not much has been happening last week or so i'm afraid. I have not been out for a fish lately i can only tell you about what i have heard on the grape vine.

Not much happening on the maccy front, only the occasional one being caught. Even then your lucky if you can get it into the boat due to the big, big, big (did i say BIG?) sharks up here.

Plenty of tuna swimming around still, although there number have dropped down a little compared to previous weeks.

I havnt heard much about the fishing side of things in the rivers. One boat went out last weekend and didnt catch a thing.

As for crabs, they have been a little quiet lately but you can still get one or two for a feed if you know where to go and what bait to use.

Saturday and Sunday i will be fishing and camping down the Jardine and Crystal Creeks way so hopefully a few fish will be around.

On the Monday, i will be going out into the Jackey Jackey and Middle River Systems so will be able to provide a report here as well for these rivers.

campdog

28-10-2008, 07:49 PM

Geoff, If I was a mad keen barra fisherman and wanted to spend some quality time fishing up your way, what would be the ideal time of year.Honestly.
John

geoffjy

28-10-2008, 07:58 PM

Geoff, If I was a mad keen barra fisherman and wanted to spend some quality time fishing up your way, what would be the ideal time of year.Honestly.
John

I caught a lot of big barra in April and put a few punters onto some over a mt. The barra around this time of year are around the river mouths. During the next couple of weeks the barra will slowly then move to the upper reaches of the creeks.

Around October there is a lot great barra fishing up here. In November there is a lot of bycatch of barra when fishing for river species(see Ant, i remembered). This is because they go to the river mouths to spawn.

Does this answer your question?

campdog

28-10-2008, 08:15 PM

I caught a lot of big barra in April and put a few punters onto some over a mt. The barra around this time of year are around the river mouths. During the next couple of weeks the barra will slowly then move to the upper reaches of the creeks.

Around October there is a lot great barra fishing up here. In November there is a lot of bycatch of barra when fishing for river species(see Ant, i remembered). This is because they go to the river mouths to spawn.

Does this answer your question?
Thanks for that.Planning on a trip again. maybe might get a barra on the tagalong that time of year.
John

plucker

28-10-2008, 08:31 PM

xina

28-10-2008, 08:44 PM

geoffjy

28-10-2008, 09:58 PM

Would you guys believe me if I told you that when I first went up the Cape, anyone who took and used a rod was thought of as a Wuss? Honest Injun.
Every-one just used Hand Reels. Rods were for sissys.
Cheers,
xina.

Yes, thats true isnt it. I remembe something about that years ago. Things have done a complete turn around now.

geoffjy

28-10-2008, 10:02 PM

I prefer this time of the year for a few reasons.
The water temperature is warm enough but not too hot for them to stay active most of the time.
Like Geoff said they will be congregated around the mouths and headlands.
The water clarity will be at its best. In the wet it is murkier which for my lure casting can make life difficult.
You will get the bycatch of Jacks and Fingermark more readily also.

The warmer the water, the deeper the fish will sit. In June/July we catch them in the Hinchinbrook on the flats, particularly around the bigger tides. This time of the year we catch them in the deeper creeks, holding in the eddies.

For the big barra down the West coast, i have found that April is the best time. For the East coast i have caught them from October through to February. And in great numbers, but thats is mainly because hardly any people go where i go. Its a fair way away from the normal fishing area and you ould be hard pressed to 1 boat in a fortnight.

For all round good fishing, i like the warmer months of the year, October, November and December as all the species of fish decome more active, not just the barra.

Stacky

29-10-2008, 07:13 AM

Chasing Barra will be all over shortly.

I like that idea cause it gives me a chance to chase the big macs until Feburary then its back to Barra again.

What a hard fishing schedule hey.

geoffjy

29-10-2008, 08:04 AM

Chasing Barra will be all over shortly.

I like that idea cause it gives me a chance to chase the big macs until Feburary then its back to Barra again.

What a hard fishing schedule hey.

I honestly dont care what the fishing is like at the moment just as long as this wind goes away.

Stacky

29-10-2008, 08:42 AM

Yeh,
The wind sucks. I think i have been saying this for the last couple of months now but...........'any day now, the wind will stop!'

I got a mate that lives in Numbulwar (spelling, Arnhem land). He's never got into fishing and the whole time he lived in Pormpuraaw he never fished. I think my continous harping in his ear on the phone has made him buy a little tinny. Now he's bloody well sms ing me pics of big Barra, salmon, queenies and all other sorts of fish on his 50 dollar k-mart rod that i chose for him cause he had no idea. He's rubbing it in that we have a closed season for Barra and i am secretly getting very jealous. Last night he caught an 83cm Barra after school 1km from the boat ramp. He has seriously got barra fever.
I might plan my 09 xmas at his place.

geoffjy

29-10-2008, 09:32 AM

yetti

29-10-2008, 11:52 AM

Not much has been happening last week or so i'm afraid. I have not been out for a fish lately i can only tell you about what i have heard on the grape vine.

Not much happening on the maccy front, only the occasional one being caught. Even then your lucky if you can get it into the boat due to the big, big, big (did i say BIG?) sharks up here.
.

Gday all,

as geoff said, the wind is still off tap, hopefully doldrums aint to far away.

As for the sharks, i havnt been having a problem. i'v only been out twice in the last 2 weeks, but have been getting some big maccys.

I'm guessing that the people geoff has been talking to are fishing west of the tip. This time of yr, the eastern islands hold very big macs, and with the warmer waters, there always seems to be less sharks.

All yr i've been fishing to the east, fighting 20-30 kn SE, lumpy conditions but good fishing.

Can't speak for the estuarys, as that really isn't my thing, but Jay Arnold (who in my opinion is one of the better estuary guides up here) has been doing well on jacks and barra over the last month.

Cheers all!

PS: Congrats on the bub Stacky. In the long run you'll have more excuses to go fishing i reckon. You'll have to pass on your hunting and gathering skill to you Boy or girl!! god stuff mate.

Stacky

29-10-2008, 12:02 PM

Thanks for the Congrats Yetti,
We're due to have a baby girl in March. This bubba is going to be a serious Cape yorker girl by the time she learns to walk. I'll probably be the stay in the boat dad...........oops, i mean stay in the bush dad...........aaahhh, i did it again, i mean stay at h h h home dad, that was hard to say.
What i mean is, where ever i go, my little girl will come.

Stacky

29-10-2008, 12:11 PM

Oh btw Yetti,
it's good to hear your toughing it out in the wind to get amongst some big macs.
They would be lurking around our reefs here to but i have just sold my fibreglass boat and am not willing to take a 4m tinny out in 30 knot winds. Once upon a time i would have, maybe i'm getting spoilt with the fishing. I have still seen big schools of tuna working around the back of Restoration Island atm, there's most likely a few big macs circling under them too.
Happy Fishing

geoffjy

29-10-2008, 12:44 PM

Gday all,

as geoff said, the wind is still off tap, hopefully doldrums aint to far away.

As for the sharks, i havnt been having a problem. i'v only been out twice in the last 2 weeks, but have been getting some big maccys.

I'm guessing that the people geoff has been talking to are fishing west of the tip. This time of yr, the eastern islands hold very big macs, and with the warmer waters, there always seems to be less sharks.

All yr i've been fishing to the east, fighting 20-30 kn SE, lumpy conditions but good fishing.

Can't speak for the estuarys, as that really isn't my thing, but Jay Arnold (who in my opinion is one of the better estuary guides up here) has been doing well on jacks and barra over the last month.

Cheers all!

G'Day Bat,

All the people that have gone fishing that i have talked to have only been out the west side. Plenty of sharks around there. Especially bird shit rock and the mouth of the Jardine.

I just cant wait to get out to Wyborne and the next reef out to the east of that. I forget what it is called but Benny the electrician goes out there a lot and gets some massive fish.

I will be walking into a billabong near the upper reached of No. 1 Crystal on Sunday. Hopefully the fishing will be good there.

geoffjy

29-10-2008, 12:46 PM

yetti

29-10-2008, 01:03 PM

Yeah geoff, east is the go. the reef your talkin about is nona cay.

cheers

geoffjy

29-10-2008, 01:15 PM

Yeah geoff, east is the go. the reef your talkin about is nona cay.

cheers

Yep, thats the one. Good fishing out there.

I will be staying at Punsand Monday night. Give me a yell if you want anything brought out. Some guys want to go shark fishing off the Tip Tuesday morning. Be interesting.

geoffjy

05-11-2008, 01:48 PM

Just a quick update on the fishing. Sorry i cant go indepth and give you all the info. Have a few things to finish up here and Ant arrives tomorrow.

Fishing over all was pretty poor. There were plenty of Barra around but that was about the extent of it. No jacks, fingermark or even cod or catfish were present. Saturday and Sunday i took 7 guys down to No.2 Crystal and camped there the night. Sunday morning we walked into a billabong inland and caught lots of Saratoga's and only a couple of barra. That afternoon the wind picked up and we had a bumpy ride back to home.

Monday we fished some rock bars and snags in the Jackey Jackey area and only managed to pick up a couple of Nannygai. However we did manage to pick up 5 crabs in the pots. That afternoon we went out to Punsand Bay and stayed there the night and cooked the crabs and fish up on the barby while having a beer and watching the sunset.

The next morning we headed out to the Tip to do the usual photos and the guys wanted to do some shark fishing from the rocks. We used 3 x Penn 50's with 37kg line. Hooked up onto a couple but kept getting busted off on the rocks. We did land one about the 50kg mark but this was only a small one compared to the ones we were hooking up onto at the start.

Piccies to follow.

geoffjy

05-11-2008, 01:49 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF1102.jpg
A friends first barra

geoffjy

05-11-2008, 01:50 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF1098.jpg
A nice calm morning

geoffjy

05-11-2008, 01:52 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF1104.jpg
Billabong fishing down the West coast

geoffjy

05-11-2008, 01:54 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF1107.jpg
Lighthouse ship wreck north of Vrilya Point

geoffjy

05-11-2008, 01:57 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF1108.jpg
Another guy with his first barra

geoffjy

05-11-2008, 01:59 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF1112.jpg
A friendly croc that decided to steal one of our baits.

geoffjy

05-11-2008, 02:02 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF1118.jpg
A nice sunset from Punsand Bay

geoffjy

05-11-2008, 02:05 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF1120.jpg
Shark fishing from the Tip

getin

05-11-2008, 02:11 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF1120.jpg
Shark fishing from the Tip

i'm not a jealous man geoff ,but this is getin' mighty close

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 07:15 PM

Sorry i havnt any updates on the fishing situation up here lately but have been a little busy.

As some of you are aware i was away for about 10 days down the west coast fishing.

I wont go into too much detail or exactly where we went. People that know the area will have a pretty good idea as to some of the spots i fished.

We departed Saturday 17th with 3 boats, mine, a 5mt goodwin and a 5.4mt cuddy cab trailcraft with 7 blokes in total.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

These 2 days saw us ferrying gear down to the one of the rivers that we set up a base camp on for the duration of the trip.

MONDAY

Today we got up early and spent the morning out wide of the coast. There was plenty of bird action early on in the morning while the ocean was like a mirror but as the day progressed the wind picked up. We managed to pull in a nice mixture of schooly, sharky and spanish mackeral as well as a whole heap of tuna. We lost about 2 lures this day as we had a couple of freight trains hooked up but eventually busted us off. We did a fair amount of bottom fishing as well which saw us get a couple of nice reds and a trout along with some nice sweetlip.

TUESDAY

Basically, today was a repeat on Monday as we didnt care what we did as long as we were catching fish.

WEDNESDAY

While the wind had dropped off nicely we decided to head south past the Skardon river and fish some reef off the coast near Old Mapoon. We left about 6am and saw several pigs along the coast with plenty more fresh sign on the beaches. Just off the Skardon River we sighted an Idonesian Fishing Vessel approximately 2 nautical miles north west of the Skardon mouth. As we had seen the coast watch plane every morning while on the trip i tried radioing them. After 30 mins of trying they responded and asked for the location. Meanwhile we came across some big mantarays along the beach chasing bait and decided to flick a few lures at them hoping to hook up on some nice cobia. Unfortunately this didnt happen and we headed out to the reef. Upon arriving coast watch buzzed us and radioed saying that they had searched the area and that there was a vessel that allready been apprehended a week earlier. They presumed this was the one i saw and told me if it moved in the next week i was to radio them again. They thanked me for the information and were on their way.

Out at the reef we hooked onto some more reds, trout and sweetlip. The best fishing for the whole trip was at this reef.

About 11 am the westerlies started coming in and we stayed at the reef for another hour before deciding to slowly head home. Halfway back to the coast we came upon some big schools of tuna working the bait balls. We trolled a few halco lazer pro's around them and hooked onto another freight train that i just managed to get in after 20 mins. It turned out to be a big bluefin tuna. The other boat hooked onto something big as well but it ripped the trebles out of the rear of the lure. After this several mackeral and tuna were landed.

THURSDAY

Today we had a late start and didnt get away until about 10am. We headed north to some rivers and decided to try and get amongst the barra and jacks. We didnt land any barra this day but did get some monster jacks up the creeks where the dirtier water was. We didnt get a single fish in the clear water section of the creeks near the mouths. However i did accidently go for a swim trying to retrieve a pair of sunnies someone lost over the side of the boat. Not a good feeling when your in about 8 mt of water and you have seen the size and number of the croc population before. I can tell, I wasnt in the water for long. I was that fast i dont think i even got wet.

FRIDAY

By this time the westerlies were a constant 15-20 kn even early on in the mornings. We headed about an hour south to another river and went up the to the upper reaches on the high tide and walked into a billabong. The trip one way took 2 and a half hours and came across three croc nests one of which was fresh so we didnt hang around. In areas in was hard going and it felt like there was no wind what so ever and the sweat was pouring off us. We arrived at a nice billabong that sort of fed off a big swamp system. We lure fished here for several hours landing some impressive barra but nothing over the metre mark. After having enough of this we headed back to the boat then back to camp. That night we went to bed nice and early for some reason.

SATURDAY

We headed to the rivers to the north of us and tried for some more jacks and fingermark. The morning was a bit poor but once the water dirtied up again with the outgoing tide, the fish came on the bite and we landed some great jacks amongst the snags. The upper reaches of this river saw the mangroves starting to give way to palms resembling golden canes however i dont think they were. This implied that on a low tide this part of the river was fresh water. By the time we headed back to camp the waves had definitely doubled in size and it was an interesting run back.

SUNDAY

Today 2 of the guys have to head back home as they have work tomorrow. The wind has picked up nice and strong and im a bit worried how they will go. They are heavily laden with camping gear and are in a 5mt goodwin boat. They left at 7am and arrived back at Seisia at midday and i thought that was pretty impressive travelling considering the conditions.

After they left we fished a little more of the river but only landed one 54cm barra which was carefully released. About midday we headed back to camp and slowly proceeded to pack up. Just before dark we had the boats ready to go save for our beds and a tarp.

MONDAY

We got up at 4 am and messed around packing our beds up and then tieing a tarp over all our gear as i had a pretty good feeling we were going to get wet on the way back home.

We left at 6.30am and as soon as we got outside the mouth we came straight into some big wave action. If it wasnt for the boat being loaded down we would have bounced around a fair bit. As it was we had waves coming over the side every now and then especially at the mouth of the rivers. We arrived back at Seisia at 12.30pm with my face feeling rather raw after all the wind and salt drenching it all the way.

I didnt take as many photos as i thought i would but a lot of the other members of the trip took some on their cameras and over the next several days will try and put them up on here. Following are some of the ones i took on the trip.

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 07:29 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3484.jpg

A friends brother with a nice queeny.

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 07:30 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3487.jpg

You can obviously see this guy is having fun

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 07:33 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3494.jpg
A nice relaxing cigarette and beer. I dont know how he can do it.

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 07:34 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3496.jpg
A barra doing some acrobatics at the boat

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 07:35 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3490.jpg
and then landed

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 07:36 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3502.jpg
One of the many nice sunsets

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 07:37 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3505.jpg
Indonesian Fishing Vessel off the Skardon River

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 07:38 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3513.jpg
Pete getting some mullet livies

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 07:39 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3521.jpg
Another barra landed by the local ambo up here

Teabag

26-11-2008, 07:45 PM

Bloody awesome selection of pictures there mate. Makes me jealous and envious.....Top stuff and keep them coming, as I'm drooling.......hehehehe

ant

26-11-2008, 09:00 PM

Geoff,
Good work mate.
Nice to hear how the other half lives.

I noticed the Goodwin longboat in some of the shots. Did it have an electric motor to fish the estuaries?

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 09:09 PM

Geoff,
Good work mate.
Nice to hear how the other half lives.

I noticed the Goodwin longboat in some of the shots. Did it have an electric motor to fish the estuaries?

No, he hasnt got an electric motor. He hasnt had it for long and im not sure if he plans on getting one or not. He has a direct injection 60hp yammy 4 stroke on the back that is super quiet. Definitely be a nice rig if he did get an electric though.

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 09:10 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3523.jpg
Pete with another barra

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 09:11 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3491.jpg
and Pete with yet another barra

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 09:11 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3524.jpg
Early morning in front of camp

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 09:12 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3526.jpg
Sunrise

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 09:13 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/DSCF3527.jpg
Early morning in front of camp

xina

26-11-2008, 09:18 PM

Great shots Geoff. Thank you.
Cheers,
xina.

ant

26-11-2008, 09:45 PM

No, he hasnt got an electric motor. He hasnt had it for long and im not sure if he plans on getting one or not. He has a direct injection 60hp yammy 4 stroke on the back that is super quiet. Definitely be a nice rig if he did get an electric though.

Geoff,
I am a big fan of the fibreglass longboats. If your mate was to put an electric on the bow of that thing, then he would have the best of both worlds. A great boat for fishing out the front and a great boat for the estuaries too- providing he likes lure and fly fishing that is.

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 09:50 PM

Geoff,
I am a big fan of the fibreglass longboats. If your mate was to put an electric on the bow of that thing, then he would have the best of both worlds. A great boat for fishing out the front and a great boat for the estuaries too- providing he likes lure and fly fishing that is.

He loves lure fishing but hasnt done any fly fishing before. Its pretty expensive to get a good bow mounted electric though isnt it?

ant

26-11-2008, 10:04 PM

He loves lure fishing but hasnt done any fly fishing before. Its pretty expensive to get a good bow mounted electric though isnt it?

Geoff,
Don't get fooled into thinking that you have to spend a lot of money to get into it. I am a big advocate for Motor Guide but the Jarvis Walker motors are a great way to get started and they have a lot of bang for the buck. I can not go into details online but they are a very good motor for the money.

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 10:09 PM

Geoff,
Don't get fooled into thinking that you have to spend a lot of money to get into it. I am a big advocate for Motor Guide but the Jarvis Walker motors are a great way to get started and they have a lot of bang for the buck. I can not go into details online but they are a very good motor for the money.

Fair enough Ant. I have been wondering whether i should get one for my boat. I will check some out online. Perhaps the expensive ones i was thinking about were all the foot operated ones.

plucker

26-11-2008, 10:43 PM

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 10:47 PM

Bow mount motors improve your life heaps if you like luring.
I tried without one and using paddles/tide, then upgraded to plain electric.
Now I have the bow mount with foot controls and there is no comparison. Catch heaps more fish but not as many as in the canoe, but that is another story.

I have heard plenty of people say the same thing Plucker. However i dont think i will be trying the canoe anytime soon up here.:D

ant

26-11-2008, 10:47 PM

Fair enough Ant. I have been wondering whether i should get one for my boat. I will check some out online. Perhaps the expensive ones i was thinking about were all the foot operated ones.

Geoff,
You have two main options.
1st: Transom mount. These are a tiller steer configuration.
2nd: Bow mount: These can be controlled by either a foot pedal or a 'remote' switch that can be strapped to your arm (or anywhere else you feel comfortable with).

For my way of thinking, when you are fishing, you really want to be 'hands free' therefore, a foot control is the way to go. They do take a little getting used to, but once you know how it all works it is really easy.

There is no simple solution. It really depends on what sort of boat you have and the fishing you do, as to what type of motor will work best for you.

The other thing to consider is to try and get a motor that is bigger than you will need. For example: I have a 4.1 PolyCraft and a Motor Guide 82SW. This motor is a lot more than I should need but, by doing this, I can use the motor a lot longer without really draining the battery. A 50lb electric is all I really need, but 50lb would be working a lot harder and, therefore, drain the battery a lot faster.

To put it simply, I can go fishing for up to a week (or more) and never have to charge the batteries because the motor is not draining as much power.

Not sure if this helps.

There is a lot to it all if you really want to get serious.

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 10:49 PM

Geoff,
You have two main options.
1st: Transom mount. These are a tiller steer configuration.
2nd: Bow mount: These can be controlled by either a foot pedal or a 'remote' switch that can be strapped to your arm (or anywhere else you feel comfortable with).

For my way of thinking, when you are fishing, you really want to be 'hands free' therefore, a foot control is the way to go. They do take a little getting used to, but once you know how it all works it is really easy.

There is no simple solution. It really depends on what sort of boat you have and the fishing you do, as to what type of motor will work best for you.

The other thing to consider is to try and get a motor that is bigger than you will need. For example: I have a 4.1 PolyCraft and a Motor Guide 82SW. This motor is a lot more than I should need but, by doing this, I can use the motor a lot longer without really draining the battery. A 50lb electric is all I really need, but 50lb would be working a lot harder and, therefore, drain the battery a lot faster.

To put it simply, I can go fishing for up to a week (or more) and never have to charge the batteries because the motor is not draining as much power.

Not sure if this helps.

There is a lot to it all if you really want to get serious.

I think bow mount would be the way to go for me.

You saw the size of my boat Ant. Roughly what size do you think i would need?

ant

26-11-2008, 10:59 PM

I think bow mount would be the way to go for me.

You saw the size of my boat Ant. Roughly what size do you think i would need?

Geoff,
Nothing smaller than an 82lb motor.

I am old fashioned- stick with cable steer if you can.
In other words, don't go digital.

For what you want, and what is out there, Motor Guide is the answer.

Unless of course you go with these guys....
http://www.rivermarinesupply.com/xcart/catalog/product_11355_Lenco_Trim_Tabs__Troll_n_Tabs.html

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 11:04 PM

Geoff,
Nothing smaller than an 82lb motor.

I am old fashioned- stick with cable steer if you can.
In other words, don't go digital.

For what you want, and what is out there, Motor Guide is the answer.

Unless of course you go with these guys....
http://www.rivermarinesupply.com/xcart/catalog/product_11355_Lenco_Trim_Tabs__Troll_n_Tabs.html

I tell you what, i like the look of those motors on that website Ant. Might be a little out of my price range though unless i happen to get a good second hand one.

The 82lb one you have is digital isnt it? The less complicated the better up this way because it can be annoying getting things back to civilisation again for warranty or repairs.

plucker

26-11-2008, 11:40 PM

My boat motor (Honda) is an electric start with a battery. I have wired up a second battery for the electric motor using a smart solenoid or voltage sensitive relay.

In simple terms it works like a dual battery setup in a car, and charges the main battery (in this case the start battery) to 13.7 (fully charged) then starts charging the second battery automatically,also. When you stop, and use the electric motor, it isolates it from the start battery so you can always start your boat.

On a long run home like your 5 hour run, the second battery would be probably fully charged.

These units cost about $130 ish plus a bit of wire/lugs/solder etc.

I also use 2 different types of batteries, a crank battery for the Honda motor (should have a CCA or cold cranking amp), and I have a deep cycle battery for the electric which can handle being flattened and recharged many times. The start battery will not do this. It will self destruct and you will paddle home. Much like my canoe which I would never use in CYP.

plucker

26-11-2008, 11:44 PM

Forgot to mention that electric motors are designed to pull the boat rather than push it like a normal motor. So it is easier to control and take the tinny up the creek backward with a tiller steer electric motor mounted at the rear.

geoffjy

26-11-2008, 11:58 PM

plucker

27-11-2008, 12:04 AM

Should be no worries.

Some manufacturers of bow mounts start talking 24V systems for bigger boats too.

geoffjy

27-11-2008, 12:17 AM

Should be no worries.

Some manufacturers of bow mounts start talking 24V systems for bigger boats too.

On my 6.1 mt i have the battery bank for the Evakool and such in 12v. However on my big boat it has 24 volt diesels but this boat is way too big to be using an electric on. I dont want to be putting any more batteries in my boat as it has enough weight in it allready with some of the extra's i have put in.

ant

27-11-2008, 08:05 AM

I tell you what, i like the look of those motors on that website Ant. Might be a little out of my price range though unless i happen to get a good second hand one.

The 82lb one you have is digital isnt it? The less complicated the better up this way because it can be annoying getting things back to civilisation again for warranty or repairs.

HI Geoff,
My Motor Guide 82SW is a 24volt system (2 X 12v deep cycle batteries) and is not digital. It is a cable steer motor. I have had it now for over five years and three of those were in Weipa. In the time I have owned it, I have never had any fault issues with it. Great motor and very reliable.
As Plucker said in another post, an electric motor mounted on the bow is a much better option. Transom mount electrics are good, but are not as easy to work with.

geoffjy

04-12-2008, 09:26 PM

A couple more pics of the trip.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/Bamaga301108014.jpg
A nice sunrise

geoffjy

04-12-2008, 09:29 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/Bamaga301108061.jpg

geoffjy

04-12-2008, 09:32 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/Bamaga301108045.jpg

geoffjy

04-12-2008, 09:32 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/Bamaga301108044.jpg
Hand feeding a groper

geoffjy

04-12-2008, 09:35 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/Bamaga301108048.jpg
There's no crocs in this river. Yeah right.

geoffjy

04-12-2008, 09:37 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/Bamaga301108066.jpg
A nice sunset at the mouth of one of the rivers.

geoffjy

04-12-2008, 09:40 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/bamaga100508fishingtrip035.jpg
The packing stage...

Nedly

05-12-2008, 09:06 AM

Nice shots Geff, looks like you had some perfect weather.

Stacky

05-12-2008, 12:52 PM

I figured out how come the pics won't open for me.

Our work place must have a block on all jpg's or something.

When i use our home computer it all works fine.

Geez, work must be expecting me to be doing something other than chatting on here.

Oop's someone's coming, better go.

getin

05-12-2008, 04:43 PM

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/geoffjy/Bamaga301108048.jpg
There's no crocs in this river. Yeah right.

should'nt your buddies be looking out on your side of the boat geoff?

Scorcher

05-12-2008, 08:36 PM

No, they were probably looking at the man eater on their side to worry about his side.....

geoffjy

05-12-2008, 09:19 PM

should'nt your buddies be looking out on your side of the boat geoff?

Probably. Its a good thing i was in my own boat then wasnt it. Thats not me in the water.

geoffjy

07-12-2008, 09:50 PM

A friend of mine and his wife are leaving up here to go back home after a year. He had never been out to the reef out the East Coast or fished the Escape River. I decided to take him out on one last fishing trip.

We left Jackey Jackey boat ramp at 5.30am and proceeded out to the mouth where collected some mullet and whiting. The ocean was still calm by this point but once we stuck our noses out the mouth it didnt take long for the wind and the swell to pick up. The wind only blowing about 10 knots but the swell was 1.5mt. This quickly discouraged me from going out to the reef so we fished a couple of creeks on the way over to the Escape River system. We picked a couple of fingermark and jacks but the fish wern't exactly jumping on the line.

We anchored up in a hole and after about 2 mins of soaking a mulllet strip i hooked onto something pretty big. After 10 - 15 mins a flash of silver could be seen several metres underneath the boat. Another several minutes passed and a big jewie was landed. It measured in at 1.38mt and weighed 15kg. The next hour or so we had three hookups and didnt manage to land any of them. They had the familiar head shakes of jewies but were unable to stop them and were spooled several times. Not an easy task on Penn 975's with 50lb braid.

During this time one of the local fishing operators anhored up beside me. I come close to getting on the radio and telling him to get lost. There are things you just dont do, anchor up 40mt and its fine by me. But anchor up closer than that and uts down right rude. We pulled up anchor and trolled a few lures around to no affect. From here we collected some more bait and headed up the river chasing some jacks and fingermark.

After 2 hours we headed slowly on our way home but picked up water in the filters mand i had to drain the outboards to be sure that none had managed to get inside. During the 15 mins it took to do this, John decided to put a bait over the side using my rod and reel. He immediately hooked up onto a feight train and we had to follow it for about half an hour before getting it to the side of the boat. It turned out to be a big shovel nose shark. It decided to do one last run and it snapped my rod in 3 places. A bit sad really, it was an old favourite that i had caught some big fish on at Lizard Island.

From here we headed home and saw 2 crocs about 9 ft on the sand bars.