Fishin’ Maggie
What’s Happening On Maggie
This is the last week before the full on September school holidays, things will be go crazy next week as visiting anglers pack the jetty and the beaches to try their luck.
There were some nasties around last week. On Friday those rare but pesky Blue bottles filled Geoffrey and Nelly Bay, and lots of care had to be taken even walking along the sand. Several snorkelers were stung mainly on the arms and legs, and although not dangerous bluebottles can pack a nasty hit.
Pebbles friend Josh was unlucky enough to stand on a stonefish on Thursday, out at Cockle Bay. Stonefish cause agonising screaming pain for between four and 24 hours, and this one was no exception. Be very careful where you walk especially if you’re barefoot.
There are still a few whales around, WestPoint, Middle Reef and off Horseshoe Bay last week. but it’s the last stragglers mums, and babies. The trawlers are now back into action again. Trawlers hate the chance of pulling a whale into their nets, can you imagine how scary that would be?
Did everyone see the FB photos of the tender catching on fire in Horseshoe Bay last week? Apparently there is an electrical problem with a fridge on a boat and it caught fire. The quick thinking boatie threw it overboard but his tender was floating below and it landed in the tender. (Goodbye tender.)
Scotty and his mate bought a new boat, a Boston Whaler 28, absolutely top end US fishing machine. With twin 350s on the back, you’re at the reef in 35 minutes, and home for lunch.
The water temperature is back up above 25.5°, perfect for snorkelling and Spearing, as well as crucial for getting the lazy Barra active again.
I lost my second huge Barra of the year, around the pylons in the harbour. Barra absolutely adore squid, and we had the biggest school of squid I’ve ever seen in the harbour on the weekend.
Hanging with the squid, were huge fork tail catfish, Huge Barracuda’s and a big school of Juvenile GT’s. (With squid being as cautious as they are, I don’t really understand how the whole lot hang in one big blob together.) Those Catfish were like freight trains on light gear. They were behaving strangely rolling over on the surface in close to each other. Were they Breeding maybe?
I tracked the big ball of bait fish squid and predators and around the harbour and then it suddenly disappeared, I have no idea where, check out Magnetic Adventure & Hire Facebook for the sounder and fish pictures.
Picnic Bay Jetty is still seeing awesome vibe action with GT’s, you have to wait for the schools to sweep through the jetty, and then its frantic action for 10 minutes before the school moves out again. They seem to move over towards Cockle Bay then come back for another run.
Two more Spaniards were caught off the beach at WestPoint, as well as a meter plus Cobia just on dusk last week. One Spanny weighed in at 15 kg the other one at 9 kg, both top fun on lure. The visitor with the Cobia on told me it all but spooled him, so he had to wade out in the water to get those extra few meters of line but he got it turned and landed after 15 minutes.
Chicken Reef is the best reef this week. Covered in Spaniards, Big GT’t and thousands of Trout it is well worth the extra fuel.
The breaks in the winds have seen plenty of boats out both Trolling for Game fish and fishing the bottom for the prize eating fish. Red Emperor, Large and Small Mouth Nannygai and the other Snappers and Emperors have been around the deeper water. Coral Trout are also being caught in the deeper water but will start to move up into the shallows as it continues to warm up.
Spanish Mackerel are still about as well including around Palm Island, and the lesser Islands. The schools of bait on the Northern Grounds have been a bit scarce up till now but hopefully will build up and give us a target to chase the smaller Billfish. Look for the bait and jig up a couple to fish straight back on the school. Marlin love Yakka, so its well worth making the effort. (Sometimes Trolling needs a break.)
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.