Anyone going to sneak out Friday?

[Huxstang]

Looks like there might be a break from the wind tomorrow. Almanac shows it as a good bite and a major period just after high tide.

Thinking I might venture out mid morning if the weather indeed is easing.

[Bretto77]

I wish I had the ability to choose potential windows like that . The best I will be able to manage is an all night time trip somewhere during the long weekend.

[Huxstang]

Ahh Brett that is the lot of a man with a job versus us old farts who dont

[ellicat]

I was going to take advantage of the good forecast, but will be at home installing a new electric winch. Mine failed whilst retrieving the boat on Monday, 1 foot from being in the fully secured position. Had to back the car rear wheels into the water and float the boat on.

Good luck. Should be a cracking day.

[Huxstang]

Thats a bugga Brian.  I havent used the winch (hand for ages) always driven on and off. 

Doing my first solo trip tomorrow which will be interesting.  I really cant get on and off the boat over the front so it will be all manual for me

[ellicat]

You'll have to invest in one of those mechanical automatic catch systems, now you can go solo at the drop of a hat.

[Huxstang]

I have it.  Works great when you have a car driver - i just cannot get in or out  of the boat when it is on the trailer and in the water - ladder wont clear back of the cruiser when boat is latched.

[ellicat]

Ahh, yes. I see. All those workers just don't understand how hard life is for the retired. haha

[Huxstang]

Yeah workers have no idea what we have to go through!

[Andrew_P]

Well, while you old fogies are struggling to put shiny new electric winches on trailers and fighting fantastic fish, think of poor me, Bretto and the rest of the crew toiling away to pay for your pension and negative gearing gains!

Honestly...Looks like a CRACKING day out there today. So glad i am in the office!

[Old Scaley]

Looks like a top day out. I have been roped into helping friends move house today. Also just picked up a new car last week and towing not recommended until after the first service at 3000km, so I am going to have to rely on my fishing buddies with boats for another 2500km. 

[mangajack]

Boat was loaded and hitched until I checked the emails....6am site measure at Caboolture....cranes removing equipment last night for rework / repairs today and back in service again Sunday afternoon.

[mangajack]

Just finished the drafting....I'm off to the Bribie Passage for the arvo.

[billp]

Managed to sneak the yak out to wello this morning for a couple of hours before work. Managed a couple of grassies and a just legal snap. Have been struggling with the Northerlies that seem to have been around all of September, the southerly this morning seemed to help them bite.

[GregOug]

5 hours ago, Old Scaley said:

Looks like a top day out. I have been roped into helping friends move house today. Also just picked up a new car last week and towing not recommended until after the first service at 3000km, so I am going to have to rely on my fishing buddies with boats for another 2500km. 

What did you get Steve?

[Bretto77]

5 hours ago, mangajack said:

Boat was loaded and hitched until I checked the emails....6am site measure at Caboolture....cranes removing equipment last night for rework / repairs today and back in service again Sunday afternoon.

What do you do for a crust @mangajack?  Rework/ repairs....... Oh dear.

[Old Scaley]

56 minutes ago, GregOug said:

What did you get Steve?

Kia Sportage GT-line diesel. Lovely car that should be ok to tow the tinnie and good for my wife to get around. 

[mangajack]

1 hour ago, Bretto77 said:

What do you do for a crust @mangajack?  Rework/ repairs....... Oh dear.

These days I am a draftsman specialising in steelwork and machinery.

My client does the hard yards, I just problem solve and present them with drawings on how to do it.

[Bretto77]

4 minutes ago, mangajack said:

These days I am a draftsman specialising in steelwork and machinery.

My client does the hard yards, I just problem solve and present them with drawings on how to do it.

If there are concreatures involved then say no more on the rework/repairs

[mangajack]

Well I spent the afternoon around Bongaree teabagging plastics and marking lots of rubble patches.

NE about 15 knots at times was ok in the passage.

Spinnaker boat ramp was busy at noon today...stood in line for 15 minutes to get onto one of the 4 lanes.

Trailer park was about 85% full with only about 5 spots free.

Most boats took advantage of the nice morning and shot offshore...must have been 50 or 60 boats come back past me this arvo....geez there is some different sorts of offshore boats these days.....one looked like a houseboat with a pair of 400 mercs on the back...

Anyways,the run out tide even though a small tide was pretty dirty so I didn't expect good results but manages 4 squire...3 were legal, 1 grassy just legal, 2 flathead both legal and 1 undersized cod. About a dozen grinners for the afternoon too.

No fish came home.

[mangajack]

Was watching a guy wading his boat around opposite the jetty this arvo    went over and gave him a tow back to port.....dunno how he would have crossed the passage into the wind without a tow.

[GregOug]

5 hours ago, Old Scaley said:

Kia Sportage GT-line diesel. Lovely car that should be ok to tow the tinnie and good for my wife to get around. 

And diesel. Good for the long term.

[Huxstang]

I used the Colmslie Boat ramp for the first time in ages.  Now without sounding like a snob - it seems its being used as a dumping ground for peoples crap trailers and boats.  Bays taken up everywhere with everything from rubbish to builders trailers.   Council arrived when I was leaving and were taking photo’s.  Who knows if they will do anything.

Anyway went out mid morning just for a run after the motor service on Tuesday.  Got smoked on a 3.5” curly prawn on southside of Gateway bridge - something very fast took exception to the hook in its mouth and the leader snapped.

Went down to the POB and sounded around - suprised to see some long tail tuna busting up just near clara rock beacon.  Only thing I saw on livescope was about a 2m shark cruising around just east of the beacon.  Glad I didnt hook anything!! 

Flicked around without any luck so decided to head out to Mud.  

Out at Mud I threw in the pole and could see some better sized fish cruising above the bait.  A succession of grinners including one who totally engulfed a Zerek vibe (greedy bastard) which was an absolute b$#ch to get out.

Then hooked about a 5’ shark by the looks of it that or we have black kings in 7m of water now.  Couple of short runs towards the boat and got it up towards the boat and then it took off at a million miles an hour, I was about to chase it on the electric as only using a Conquest 200 with 150m of braid on it when the braid parted.  I was actually going to try trunking a shark if I had landed it.  Everyone says they eat alright if you trunk them so a bit disappointed.  White Zerek 4” Prawn did the damage….they seem quite good but a bit expensive.  

Weather was magic.  

And that was about it.  Headed in, the river was running crazy with some serious chop.  You wouldnt have had a good time trying to fish the POB and under the Gateway was impossible.  Massive current.

[ellicat]

That makes me feel somewhat better for missing out. Damn sharks. It's not good when they're taking your lures.

I have caught a juvenile (50/55cm) Cobia down at Peel with @Another Wazza, on a plastic one morning, but I guess the chances are yours was a shark.

How was the solo launch and retrieve ?

 

[ellicat]

@mangajack, That sounds like a worthwhile session. A feed there if you were chasing one.

[Huxstang]

Wasnt too bad.  Got my feet wet which is something I am not used to.

There was a two masted yatch tied up to the pontoon when I came in which was making things difficult, although the numb skull with the jet ski who was f$^king around on the ramp for 15mins was making it worse.

Just tied the bow rope onto the winch pole and gave it a pop off when I launched.  

Then drove boat onto the trailer and latched it no dramas.  Fortunately I have pretty long legs so stepped down onto the guard and into the water.  Couldnt get down over the bow because of the trolling motor, bow ladder and livescope pole.  Too many “essential things” on this boat