Fishin’ Maggie
What’s Happening Around Maggie
Well that was a busy wacky weekend on Maggie. In the middle of the quiet season there were loads people piling off the ferries and into buses cars scooters and onto bikes. There was another cruise ship in the port, and a heap of the international travellers also came to check us out. (No grass skirts and bands on this tropical Isle, sorry guys.) Then Mayhem on Maggie at Arkie’s and some private parties filled the night streets with parties and drunken revellers, affected by the full moon perhaps? There were school orienteering kid groups and those very fit Adventurethon contestants in training making the rest of us look lazy.
Two carloads of European tourists heading to Tully came in and told me they had seen their first wild croc in Aussie. “Where?” I asked them. “At WestPoint off the beach” they told me excitedly” I suggested a large turtle may have been what they saw, but they were adamant it was a croc so I let them go. Who am I to spoil someone’s holiday Aussie adventure, that’s half the fun of a holiday. (I’m sure plenty of Loch Ness visitor’s go home with stories of glimpsing Nessie).
I was thinking recently about bucket lists. Specifically fishing bucket lists. (Of course)
Of the top 50 bucket list fish that most people have, we have close access to more than half. How lucky are we anglers. Wahoo, Mahi-mahi, Tuna, Marlin, Mackerel, Barra, Mangrove Jack, Coral Trout, Big Emperor, Meter plus Queenies, Sailfish, the list goes on. (I just want you all to appreciate just how good this paradise is where you live and play.)
Talking of Tuna, Check out the ultimate Tuna challenge on You Tube in Nova Scotia. It’s called The Giant Bluefin Tuna of Nova Scotia. http://bit.ly/1ANL08 It’s a catch and release fishing experience of the biggest Tuna in the world, sustainably run by Canada, and is on my bucket list.
Less than 6 weeks of the wet season to go and the creeks are barely trickling, things are a bit Dire. It’s surprising how many visitors come to the Island and want to do the waterfall walks, which are very seasonal.
Out In The Boats
On so many of our fishing trips, we all just head straight out to the reef or the shoals. Last trip out I decided on a trip to Palm Island. Straight across the paddock on a calm day, we were there in 1 hour 20 and back in 1 hour 10. What a spectacular place to go boating and fishing, I recommend you all take a trip over sometimes, instead of heading to the reef. Smashing fishing, Monster GT’s, Barra , Spaniards, crystal clear waters, and spectacular colourful reef, Palm Group has it all. Now what else could you want in a boating trip? Uninhabited areas, untouched beaches, I was blown away by its beauty. We went to Albino rock and played with some top Reds, before popping over to Hayman Rock. Hayman rock has extended shoals and there were big Trevally, Trout and even Cobia. There were too many sharks as in most places at the moment. Palm is definitely on my frequent visit list from now on, what a blast. Next trip is Barber Island on the west side of Palm, big GT’s and Cobia.
Those big catfish are enjoying the hot waters over in the Cape weed beds, (S19°13.214′ E146°59.472′ ) and providing hard fighting fun for School Mackerel hunters. The water is a bit warm for Mack’s, so chase Barra and Trout until the water temp drops.
Off The Shore
Big Queenies are getting caught by the anglers trying to target Barra. Live bait, hardbody lures and soft plastics, Queenies are smashing them all. WestPoint and Cockle Bay have been the Barra and Queenie hot spots on the big tides. Backup plan, when the big fish are quiet use Gulp soft plastics for a couple of Flathead for the dinner table.
Barra are still challenging, Horseshoe Bay boat ramp before dawn and south of the stinger Nets at Horseshoe Bay are hot spots.
Until next time gone Fishin’…. be back at dark-thirty
Cheers Dale
Fish’n N Fuel’n
36 Mandalay Ave, Nelly Bay 4778-5126
For all of your fishing and sports hire gear. We hire and sell fishing rods, and snorkel equipment, plus sell bait, tackle, ice spear fishing equipment, toys, party, pool toys, and BIKE HIRE, SEGWAY TOURS and convenience supplies. Check out Kooler 24 hour Ice 7kg plus $4. New BIKE section. Rod and reel repair available.