Fishin’ Maggie
What’s Happening On Maggie
What happens if you leave your trailer brakes on and drive for 2 km? Should you drive your boat into the water while the pads are red hot? Luckily for 2 visitors Sunday they noticed before driving down the ramp, and waited patiently for them to cool. They told me while they were waiting a boat was brought in by coastguard back to the Nelly Bay boat ramp, and pulled out onto its trailer. Its problem, a hole, the boat was taking water fast. The anglers were pretty shaken up, I don’t think they thought they would make it back. Everyone always has a story and a close shave when fishing. One visitor told me he hooked a Herring looking thing, big teeth. I said Wolf Herring? He said yep that’s the one, off Horseshoe Bay. One treble went through the fish and the other through my hand, off to the Dr’s it was.
Speaking of boating mishaps, I must tell a personal one. On a recent fishing trip, some friends and I were spending the night in the boat at the cape. Tucked right in close we had a fun night catching Gar and chatting till about 1am, then thought we better get some ZZZZ’s before heading out in the early am. Getting a close comfy position in the shallow waters we dropped the anchor and went for a brief slumber. About 2am I awoke and thought the wind had turned as the hull was slapping a lot more than prior. Back to sleep. 2.30 am I woke up with the urgent need to relieve myself. As I stood in the stern looking out to the Cape doing the deed I saw all the lights and stars had moved, nothing was where it should be. I called to my mate, “Hey buddy wake up I think we are dragging anchor”. As it turns out we hadn’t dragged anchor, when we had dropped the pick it caught up and the chain and rope all made the right noise but the anchor was still securely housed and dry as a bone We had drifted more than 2km back towards Maggie. I reckon that by morning we might have almost been back at Nelly Bay, crazy stuff.
Kayakers and boaties got a thrill as 3 pods of whales ventured inside Horseshoe bay for a leisurely reconnoitre, that’s very shallow waters for these big Humpbacks. From what Im told by those who were close, they look pretty damn big next to a Jetski or kayak.
A terrified Koala was rescued after venturing too close to Base during the full moon party. The petrified marsupial was gripping for dear life halfway up a tree, and was gently helped to a safer quieter location by the staff at X Base, well done. ( FYI koala is the aboriginal word
Fishing Maggie
Those Barra keep chewing, at Horseshoe Bay and even off the Picnic jetty. A 70 cm off the jetty is always a great catch, but 4 cracking Barra in a week? That’s exceptional Barra catches at this time of the year in the cool waters. The luckiest was a visito who hoog a big Barra and got it to the the surface but had no Gaff. Fortunately Will T was walking the jetty with his grandkids and a Gaff and got the fish up the ladder for the guy. The visitor was appreciative and Will got a fresh Barra Fillet for his trouble.
The local reef boats cleaned up all bagging out on Coral Trout Big fat Trout. Brewer although heavily fished is holding good Trout numbers, although a little deeper out. JM took some time off the busy charters to fill his freezer.
Horseshoe Bay has seen a run of Golden Trevally in the southern shallow waters near the wed beds. They are great fun on small poppers and only in the bay for a short time.
If you like NQ Whiting fishing check out the new range of Maggie Island Whiting rigs made right here at Magnetic Adventure & Hire. Take them down to the bridge at Nelly and you will clean up.
Until next time gone Fishin’…. be back at dark-thirty
Cheers Dale
Fish’n N Fuel’n Sports and Tackle
36 Mandalay Ave, Nelly Bay 4778-5126
For all your fishing and sports hire gear. We hire and sell fishing rods, plus snorkel equipment, bait, tackle, ice, spear fishing equipment, sports, party, pool toys, bike hire and new ELECTRIC BIKE HIRE, SEGWAY TOURS, car hire and convenience supplies. Check out Kooler 24 hour Ice 7kg $4.