hookerbruce

I fished for hairtail but all I could catch were blue Salmon, black tip sharks and a mud crab. The temp got a bit cool on the water last night fell to 20. Hope to make it to the hairtail social next year, just a bit far to drive this year. bruce

The cast net is working well catching a few mullet and things. I did manage a dozen blackies over 3 trips in may before I left. Thanks Bruce

A 38cm fish is solid they fill out by that size and start to create some fun. The good thing is you can fish shore based and still score even in an hour/ . Can't chase them this year as I'm fishing else wheres a bit of luck they'll still be around in sept Bruce

Just been down the river casting lures for 40 min. Still no big barra but managed a small one and a longtom. Will try again tomorrow. Bruce

This is not a fishing trip I am on. It is a touring holiday with my wife( as I keep telling her). The cod did put up a very good fight, the largest cod I've caught. I can't help it if nearly everywhere we go there is water. After Weipa we head to Seisia then back down to Cooktown. Bruce

The Weipa water temp is down a bit at the moment up here only 24 so making the estuary fishing a bit slow. Water has a bit of colour to it which helps. There are heaps of bream in the creeks and rivers and a few muddies got a big one on a live mullet the other day cooked up nice. Heading down the coast for a week to chase the offshore fish hope the weather co=operates Bruce

Been touring thru North Qld trying a bit of fishing at different waterways we come to. Most times just have a half hour fish at lunchtime or in the afternoon after setting up camp. All the rivers have crocs in them just to make walking the banks a little more interesting. Fished the Albert river at Burketown came up with a nice grunter plenty of bream and archer fish on bait and lures, but no barra. Liechardt River falls came up with a good sootie grunter on bait. Karumba had three half day trips hoping for a barra or king salmon. Don't think I have ever seen so many boat trailers at ramps everyday 90% are collapsible and used by caravaners who carry the boats on the roof and then use the trailer when they arrive in Karumba. About 150 to 200 trailers at Karumba Point ramp and the same number using the town ramp. First day went across the river and worked a couple good looking creeks and a very long stretch of mangrove river bank for one hit from an unknown fish. Second day headed north along the gulf shoreline lurecasting and trolling a long stretch of rocky shore and mangroves again nil result. Third day we went up the Norman River to the area where the powerlines cross the river chasing grunter and jewel. A big southerly change came thru the night before which made the 20klm run up the river bumpy with the wind howling against the strong incoming tide. There were only a dozen tralers at the ramps as too windy but last day so we went. Only ended up catching catfish and undersize jew. We did go and fish for ordinary fish while there and managed a couple of meals of good bream. Next place I came to water was Mount Surprise fished in Elizabeth Creek caught what I think might be Kharki Grunter kept 3 for a meal and they cooked up beautiful. Kalpower Crossing was a lunchtime stop fished along the bank of I think The Normanby River, caught the usual archer fish and actually caught an undersize barra, hopefully only the first for the trip. Wenlock River at the Portland Roads crossing was a night stop near a really good lilly covered billabong. Couldn't raise any fish in the billabong so walked along the river casting small lures and came up with a couple of jungle perch (only 20cm) and a couple of other fish I haven't identified yet. Finally in Weipa had a short session in the Mission River resulted in throwback barra for me and a legal for my brother in law. Next day fished the andoom River for some good bream, big catfish and a couple of not legal barra. Third day went out the river and fished our way down the coast. It is always productive and this time a good golden trev , a couple of bream close to 40cm, various smaller reef fish, small mackerael (up to 70 cm) but no queenies. Had a troll over some shallow reef 3 m deep after about 15min hooked up to what I thought was the bottom or a submarine 15lb braid was ripping off my 2500 reel and thought I didn't have a chance. But everything held together the 40lb trace was shredded and one half of the braid double had broken away. Landed my best ever goldspot cod with my lure well down its throat. The position of the lure made a successful release impracticle so decided this fish would be perfect for our dinners. About 30 mins later we were lurecasting with small softplastics and my brother in law had a similar battle and landed another cod the same size, this was only hooked in the corner of the mouth and was released. Had a successful day. Did another short session in the mission river but only resulted in 3 undersize barra. Sorry about all the reports coming in one report but have trouble getting service and time. It has cooled down here tonight down to about 19 deg after a pleasant daytime temp of 29.

Yes there should be barra but haven't caught any yet. Have caught sooties , bream, catfish and grunter enough for several meals but no big fish. Have reached the saltwater now in Karumba so feel I have a better chance as saltwater seems like home.

The archer fish I am getting are from 20 cm up the best was 32cm 500gm and cook up quite well.

Been fishing various spots working in a lunchtime or overnite stop where there is water. Lake Julius managed a short casting session at the boat ramp at lunchtime. Caught a few archer fish on small hard body lures then had to move on as there was nowhere to camp nearby and the co pilot was not at all keen to camp in the mulga in the middle of no where on our own. The 150 km of gravel some in 4wd was not appreciated just to get to a fishing hole either. Any way got out before the rain came. Leichardt River travelling along the road came to the Leichardt river and the was water in it so grabbed a rod and climbed down the embankment and cast lures for 20 mins a few more archer fish on soft plastics. Did see some other fish in the river I didn't recognise but couldn't get them interested. Back up the hill and onto Gregory river for the night. Set up camp next to the river then walked along the banks casting lures caught my standard quota of archer fish had follows from gar and a few other fish then packed up in time for tea. Travelled out to Adells Grove , set up camp near the river then noticed the no fishing signs. Closer reading indicated fishing was allowed 50m upstream of the swimming area and 50 m downstream of the camp area. Saw some sooty grunter, catfish and archer fish in the river so started tossing lures on my 2kg outfit-- mistake hooked up on a good sootie and he new where the logs were. Next day moved up to 6lb braid and landed a sootie and several archer fish. Moved on next day heading for the Albert River. Will add some photos when I get better internet connection and some better fish.

About 30 yrs ago evening trips for trag and tailo,r plus odd jew and reddie were our favourite trips. I was probably in one of the other boats out there when you were out. Had intended to try a few night trips this autumn but holidays and other things got in the way. Will try and do it next year. Bruce

Photo looking along the Thomson River One of the Yabbies

Where I met the Paroo not much water so didn't fish it. Barcoo had some water so soaked some worms for a couple of hours for no result. Camped on the banks of Coopers for a night and fished from the shore used worms and shrimp caught there. Actually caught 3 small yellowbelly so a big improvement on previous efforts. Camped a night on the banks of Thompsons used worms, freshwater mussels and shrimp. Caught 2 new species 3 freshwater catfish and a Barcoo Grunter. Did lose a largish yellowbelly at the edge when the hook pulled. Also caught 4 good red claw yabbies (30cm). Have had a fish in some of the famous Aust inland waters even if not 100% successful. Learnt a bit about fishing these rivers, the water is always very dirty and lures do not appear an option. Also need a shrimp trap with quite small mesh. Probably be a few days now before I get to wet a line, sightseeing to do. Bruce

Your catch is making me envious I know the feeling travelling around not knowing where and how to fish. the blackfish were just starting to get interesting at Como before I came away so brought a couple of meals in the freezer. they might still be biting when I get back but hope I catch a fish before then. Bruce

Spent yesterday arvo fishing the Ward river put the boat in and went a couple of km upstream casting lures at various snags for nil result. then went and fished a few snags with bait ended up catching one small carp. Had shrimp traps in all the time for nil result. Only good good news if you can call it that was that a couple of fishos from Qld had the same result and they knew what they were doing and fished the Qld way with 10 set lines for nothing as well as trolling. Soaked some bait in the Bulloo river today for a while zero A lot more rivers to try hopefully find a river cleaner than the Yarra soon. Bruce

Managed another big yabby this morning, so a snack before tea tonight. Threw a few hard bodies around wee waa lagoon for nil result. Hope to find somewhere to have a fish tomorrow but is raining steadily here at Nindigfully pub.

Rumour has it that the lake contains the odd yellow belly and a few carp. Flicked around a few hard bodies before throwing out some bait and a Opera house trap. After an hour caught my first ever YABBY ( in the trap). Had intended to throw out a yabby if I caught one for bait but don't have any 15/0 hooks with me so this one may get eaten( BY ME). Hopefully overnight another might get lost and end up in my trap. Staying here tonight so will check the trap in the morning.

power ( watts ) equals volts times current Divide watts by volts to get current

Has anyone fished or been to Lake Julius ? Might be up that way in a couple of weeks. Or anywhere else in that general area. Bruce

Heading out Friday at this stage. Ocean is a little rough this morning Osbourne Shoals was breaking well out in Bate Bay when I had a walk this morning. Bruce

Good flathead, one to be proud of. They seem to go hard when they're in shallow water and come up easier in deeper water. Bruce

Port Hacking, I usually fish Botany Bay FADS Disadvantage is that if nothing is happening at the FAD it's a long way to anywhere else to have a fish. From the botany Bay FADS its just a short trip to the Peak

Went up to the rocks over easter didn't take the boat but got a couple of trips with brother in law. Easter Sat the swell was up and the bar was pumping at times. Went for a swim the water was fine. Swell was dropping sat arvo so decided to chase mackerel on easter sun. Got to the ramp 6:30 and it was quite, headed out and went to Grassy to try our luck, the water was a lttle dirty from the big swell stirring things up. Managed one spottie and that was it, headed in to close ground then up to Scotts Head but nothing. Headed home early as things were quiet. Tues after easter went in the river lurecasting started at Jersyville ramp and worked our way down the river to the main ramp then ran upstream almost to Gladstone and tried all our favourite spots. 4 hours of casting assorted lures produced 1 small GT not a single flathead any size, we didn't even see one take off from the shallows. A couple of years back we would have got 5 or 6, 10 years ago we might have got a doz, 35 years ago we would have been disappointed with less than 40. (no we did not catch them all, released most even back then) (yes people were lurecasting for flathead 35 yrs ago) Several excuses, This is one of the few rivers still netted. - Fishing pressure on everyones list of places to fish - A few big floods have caused acid runoff from the flood mitigation system along the river resulting in killing everything in the river. The river does not have any weed beds anymore and thus fish habitat has gone. The bream population still seems OK caught plenty off the breakwall. Wed head back to Sydney so I can chase dollies on thurs. Bruce

Made another trip out to the Fads yesterday chasing the big one, still no luck. Left Grays Point ramp at 6am went and caught 10 small yakkas then moved and caught 10 large yakkas and a couple of slimeys jackets and garfish for live bait and headed out to the fad. Nor wester was putting a bit of chop and few white horses on the seas as we moved off shore so took about 40 min to get there. No boats when we arrived so straight out with a couple of large (30cm) yakkas hoping for Mr big. 5 secs and we were both on but only a couple of mid 80's fish then realised didn't have net ready. Gaffed one and found the net one handed landed both kept one with a gaff hole in it. At this stage another boat arrived and had a drift past the fad hooking up and then just drifting, and drifting and drifting. Shortly after another boat arrived a centre console tinny. The next 1 1/2 hrs was a steady stream of dollies but the size was way down on previous trips. We lost interest in the dollies averaging about 60 cm and decided to go for a troll headed out about 3 km in an arc and south from the fad caught the odd dollie then found a current line jumping from 24 to 25. Shortly after noticed what appeared to be a police boat heading straight at us then it veered off and went south to the boat that had been drifting near the Fad, threw them a rope and started towing them back to shore. We didn't realise they had a problem as boats will drift all over the place and we didn't notice any V sheet or signal. Trolled along the current line and had steady stream of dollies chasing the lures but most didn't hook up on the 10/0 hooks we run in our lures. Made our way back to the Fad caught a couple more 80 cm dollies then headed for home with 10 dollies on ice between 61 and 88 cm ( a few that swallowed 10/0 hooks place a couple of better fish). Intend to go out on tues or wed depending on the weather and try again. Bruce

Now I know why the big one wasn't at the FAD when I got there yesterday, You caught him on wed. Good fish. Bruce