4th Weipa house boat trip

[indepth]

G'day people of fishraider I have just returned from a fishing trip to Weipa with 3 mates.

We left on Friday 13th with no mishaps at all, for all those superstitious people, tied up on the mooring at the mouth of the channel by 5:30 pm with all supplies & fishing gear at the ready. We decided to head north towards the Nomonade & Pines rivers to try for barra & jacks this year as we had never been that way before. Unfortunately the barra & the jacks weren't to be found but I did manage to hook a 1.24mt spanish mackeral it was about 13kg on my Barra spin gear (5-8KG) spinning for qeenies.

 After a few days of trying we decided to head south to Pera Head our normal hunting grounds which was agreed to by all the boys & it was the right choice as we caught many Cobia, long tail Tuna busting up, more queenies, black jew, reef sharks & many Tusk fish one being over legal which was our first. The 2 cobia's in the photo are 1.03 & 1.2 mts each,the jewie was 96cm & 6 kg the quennie was 97cm & very fat through the middle.

 The locals rave about the taste of Tuskies & after eating it we now know what they are talking about it is absolutely delicious as was all our fish. We only eat what we can on the boat not choosing to bring stuff back & a lot of the fish we loose to the grey tax man. We have learnt over the years that if you can see the sharks actually attacking your fish we free spool & the fish out runs the sharks then we chase the fish to get line back then if we don't need any more to eat we release them which does work but not all the time.

We returned home on Sunday the 22nd April & we all had withdrawals for fishing straight up so myself & one of the other guys went out the week after at Bellambi just doesn't compare to Weipa were the water temp was 30 deg compared to 19 here.

I hope you all enjoy this short but hopefully interesting little story of our trip.

 

Cheers

Indepth

[JonD]

Awsome trip. Do you take the small boats or hire them, also those locations you mention are they long distances. I've been looking at taking my little rib up that way and this has made me even more keen.

[LuckyFil]

Hi Indepth

Sounds like a good call to head south. I was in Weipa myself last week fishing out of a tinny with similar results when we did a trip to the Pyne. Also noticed the lack of bait balls and tuna ?

I'll send you a PM about Pera.

Cheers

Phil

[Basil D]

please share the details for hiring , sounds like a trip a few of us would love to do.

love the pics too

[LuckyFil]

On 5/17/2018 at 9:07 PM, Basil D said:

please share the details for hiring , sounds like a trip a few of us would love to do.

love the pics too

Hi Basil

I recognise the tenders in the pics and I'd say he was on one of the Weipa Houseboats which I've also used. Google their site and it has most of the info you need. Steve who runs the operation is a top bloke and really looks after you, just remember though its self driving so you have to look after yourself (skipper the houseboat and tenders, cooking and of course finding he fish - but thats half the fun) which I and the guys I go with are very happy with as it keeps the cost way below what it would be for a charter up there.

If you want to know more send me a PM.

Cheers

Phil

[masterfisho7]

TOP REPORT GREAT PHOTOS LOOKS LIKE ONE TOP TRIP INDEPTH 

[indepth]

On 5/17/2018 at 9:07 PM, Basil D said:

please share the details for hiring , sounds like a trip a few of us would love to do.

love the pics too

G'day Basil D:

As lucky fil has told you go on the web site of weipa house boats & you will be able to get all the details it is an awesome place to fish but as I mentioned the grey tax men can be an issue. We arrive on the friday, Steve's troopy will be in the car park for you he will advise of details, usually stay at the caravan park that night get all our supplies store them at Steve's site to refrigerate get on the houseboat next day. We get off the boat the following Friday stay at the caravan park O/N & try to get a flight home Saturday.  The last few trips flights we haven't been available though so we leave Sunday I think the mines people have priority so we usually hire the tenders from Steve or try & get a fishing charter for the day although this year was very windy so we cancelled.

Select which way to go, the tenders are towed behind the house boat, I would recommend south as the range of different species is very good as you can see from photos. They have moorings at various locations along the coast with the  furtherest being at Pera .The reefs around there are very close to the mooring so its not far & your into fish almost straight up. Boyd bay is north of Pera which you pass on your way down which is another very good sight which is easy to get back to in the tenders. Steve can fill you in on any info you need they have 2 houseboats we pick the smaller of the 2 because we only take 4 guys which is very comfortable. 

So when we return we stay at the caravan park either 1 or 2 nights depending on return flights come home either Saturday or Sunday & get depressed with the lack of fishing options. This year the trip costs $2653 each for all fuel food beverages use of troopy for 2 days, mind you we did not fish the Saturday this time. Hope this helps you with deciding to go but get in early as it fills quickly we booked 12 months in advance,

 

Cheers

Tom (Indepth}

[indepth]

On 5/16/2018 at 7:31 PM, JonD said:

Awsome trip. Do you take the small boats or hire them, also those locations you mention are they long distances. I've been looking at taking my little rib up that way and this has made me even more keen.

G'day JonD:

The tenders are part of the hiring of the houseboat which we tow behind. How big is your rib it may be fine to travel down to Pera. There are also a lot of locations closer than Pera that fire as well, you also have the massive river systems & what they call the sticks which are the channel markers for the ships which are very close to Evans landing boat ramp.

[LuckyFil]

Hi Tom

I was wondering where you picked up the black jew? Close to Pera? I've been going to Weipa for a while now and we've never managed to catch one but not sure of the territory they hang out!

Any info welcome for future trips.

Thanks

Phil

[indepth]

On 5/23/2018 at 8:29 PM, LuckyFil said:

Hi Tom

I was wondering where you picked up the black jew? Close to Pera? I've been going to Weipa for a while now and we've never managed to catch one but not sure of the territory they hang out!

Any info welcome for future trips.

Thanks

Phil

G'day Phil:

Sorry for the late reply but I'm looking at a computer all day at work & the last thing I want is to look at one at home.Anyway we had been trolling hard body lures around the reefs not far from the mooring of the house boat, we had already caught a few Cobia which is what I thought the jewie was so it was a surprise for all of us I used prawn for bait & we were drifting. It is the first balck jewie we have caught as well so maybe just lucky to catch it.

 

Cheers

Tom