Fishin’ Maggie
What’s Happening on Maggie
What a fantastic week, as always on Maggie. Before I go any further I want to Razz a friend of mine. My good mate broke down off Picnic Bay recently and called me to get him towed back in. I was flat chat dealing with a real mess, and had a quick conversation with a few mates. One mate Nick was free and went and rescued his boat. When I went to pick him up for a beer last week I looked at his boat and he has a 48lb thrust bow motor and 2 truck batteries installed on his boat. Why did he need rescuing? I haven’t told him, I am just going to give him a copy of my article.
Here is a really scary one. Murder via bird, Is that a defence? Another mate J.F. from HB was using a fishing knife and put it down. The knife was picked up by an Osprey and after a couple of seconds, discarded as not a food item. The knife plummeted to earth not too far away from some bathers and speared into the sand. That last fingerprints were J.Fs
Fishing Maggie by Land
Where to fish this week during neap tides? That is always the pressing question.
I have spent some time investigating the capacity of the harbour this week ready for the holidays and the results are quite positive, with various species staying near the bait schools harbouring in the Marina.
There are Mangrove Jack cruising just after dark following the rock walls. Choose live bait and vibes to nail these top line predators. Watch the rocks, they provide good protection for desperate Jacks. Wayne has been hooking his with Hardyheads, but I like using Greenback Herring.
Big Squid are also lurking in the harbour and over at Picnic Bay Jetty, in Shallow. A Story next week on my encounter on the weekend, , but they are worth jigging for after dark.
Diamond Trevally, GTs and Queenies are all chasing the small bait fish in the harbour. We used Tilson Barra lures to raise GT’s have some fun over the weekend. Unfortunately we also lost a monster that had all the characteristics of a massive Barra. TJ battled hard while I tried to slow down the boat being dragged backwards, towards Gustav. (Electric motors just don’t have the grunt sometimes. ) We had the 40lb Fluorocarbon leader sheared off after a 4 minute battle.
Horseshoe Bay has been a productive place to catch toss a lure early am. For the lovers of Queenie and Tarpon action , throw a Twistie or soft plastic and retrieve real fast.
TJ and I counted over 40 flathead lays on south beach in the harbour at low tide. We took one Flattie for Sunday dinner on a Pumpkinseed Gulp but that leaves plenty for the soft plastics enthusiast. I think the average is 8 lays per flattie. We also saw flattie lays all over Cockle Bay.
Fishing Maggie by Boat
The weather has been very kind, and there have been plenty of boating hours spent chasing fish this week. If you have made the effort to bring a boat to the Island, you should do well with Mack’s circling the island in close.
The water temperature has skyrocketed from a low of 20.8 to be currently 24 degrees out wide and 25plus degrees inshore. The very brief winter has long gone. (I can’t believe I let some people talk me into getting wetsuits back in to the shop, talk about bad business decisions.) This warmer water has made many species more active. Reports this week of Spanish mackerel and other Mackerel species on the chew from Horseshoe Bay, Liver Point, Hawking’s Point and around White Rock to Morning Light.
Adam from Aquascene Charters reported an estimated 18kg Spaniard leaping out of the water in the shallows at Nelly on Thursday giving his charter group a real thrill.
The mother and Baby whale were sighted again this week. I thought they would have left already but to have them still here is terrific. I estimate the baby Humpbacks age at 10 weeks, and born locally.
Did you know the population of Humpbacks passing Maggie in 1952 was estimated at 40000, and Australian whaling operations reduced that to 500 by 1962. It’s now back to 20000 which is just incredible, and one of my favourite add on benefits to reef trips this time of year.
Trimaran TBird had an unexpected dinner guest when a 90cm Spotty Mackerel decided to lead out of the water in Horseshoe Bay. The unlucky Mack launched a full 2 m at speed and very nearly cleared the cabin area and back into the water. Unfortunately for him, he clipped the cabin fell to the deck, and joined the dinner guests in a tasty way. The boat owners came in for some lures to chase some more.
As I’m typing Matt from HB picked up a big spotty Mac in Horseshoe and Karl and Drew landed a wopping 18kg GT and a 90cm Spottie as well, also in the bay.
Until next time gone Fishin’…. be back at dark-thirty
Cheers Dale
Fish’n N Fuel’n
36 Mandalay Ave, Nelly Bay 4778-5126
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