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Fly Fishing

Chasing Golden Trevalley on the Magnetic Island flats.

Relaxing!

Enjoying one of the many beautiful beaches of Magnetic Island.

Sunday 27 November 2011

More Fingermark on Gulp Squid Vicious

Today Dad and I finally got the opportunity to once again get out and try for some Fingermark on the new Gulp Squid Vicious soft plastics. We had been watching the weather all week, but as Sunday slowly started to look worse and worse we decided West Point was as far as we needed to go. We hit the ramp about 4.30am to find very little water on it! I knew the low tide of 0.36m was going to make things challenging, and was the main reason I didn't want to launch any earlier. We ended up using the far ramp and had no trouble at all.

We had a beautiful run down the inside of the Island, with the water almost glassing out as we got closer to our destination. We worked the plastics around several marks in the area, but despite large shows of bail all around we struggled for so much as a bite. We worked hard all morning dotting from mark to mark. A couple of Nannygai and some small cod were all that made it in the boat. Eventually we moved to a mark closer to the Island and soon found success with several hard hits and fish bust offs. Its rough country here, and all the fish found their home with ease. The only fish landed was a small Queenfish and a GT.

As the tide topped out we moved wide again. This time we found a few fish willing to bite. I was first with a fish in the boat, a small Fingermark just over 40cm. At last a fish in the eski! He was soon joined by a nice Grunter just a little bigger, and then another Grunter of much bigger proportions. This was now starting to look good, well for me at least! Then came a complete shock, and solid fish that hit hard and tore line off in several strong bursts. I had my fingers crossed for a bigger Fingermark, but Dad had tipped correctly... A big fat Catfish!!


Still hopping between marks I soon hooked up to a better fish. Good head shakes and tail beats, much more Fingermark like. Soon a better quality fish was boat side and in the Eski. At about 3kg this was looking like the fish of the morning.

By this stage Dad was a little frustrated at the number of fish I had in the boat and lack of bites he was getting. So he decided to go with what I was doing and downsize his leader and jig head. He wouldn't have made half a dozen casts when a big fish hit hard and took off. This was a quality fish that had us worried a number of times and she headed hard for the structure. But with hand on the spool and tackle pushed to the limits Dad held her back each time. Soon a large Golden shape appeared from the depths. A big Finger! In the net and it was high 5's all round. The fish went 89cm and is probably around 7kg.


Dad decided to put down a rather large live bait while we were drifting the marks. This was the result of his efforts! The live bait lasted 1 drift and about 5mins!


As the tide turned and started to run out hard the bite stopped. We tried a few more spots but soon headed home. A good run again until the last 10mins outside the harbour. Despite the average weather forecast we had managed to have an awesome day on the water.

I found most success today on the Squid Vicious in Black Catalpa. But the Orange Tiger also produced fish, but I had gone through the only packet I had before the bite really started. I fished these plastics on a Nitro Jig Head in 3/8oz 3/0. 1/2oz was needed when the tide was running harder, but the downsize was worth it as the run slowed. The Gulp plastics and Nitro Jig Heads are both available at Pro Tackle. Both Terry and Graham have been using these plastics with great success and will talk anyone through the technique. I was fishing with a Shimano Sustain 4000 on a 7 foot Loomis Spin stick. 20lb braided mainline and 40lb leader managed to win most of the battles! It seems light is best. The vast majority of the fish came on the last of the run in tide and the water slowed a little.

Saturday 26 November 2011

Media Release - No more pectoral fin removal for recreational fishers

Recreational fishers will no longer be required to remove the pectoral fin from coral reef fin fish and Spanish mackerel from today following changes to Queensland fishing rules.

Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace said the requirement for recreational fishers to remove the pectoral fin was no longer considered necessary.

“We had the rule in place to help prevent illegal marketing of coral reef fin fish and Spanish mackerel,” Mr Wallace said.

“By requiring recreational fishers to remove the pectoral fin, we were seeking to identify people who were selling the whole fish without a commercial licence.

“Illegal or black marketing is a significant threat to the economic viability of the commercial fishing industry, and it is imperative we continue to target such activity.

“However, we found that the rule to remove the pectoral fin did not help prevent illegal marketing and by removing it we are reducing the regulatory burden on recreational fishers.

“The Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol has a number of ways for targeting illegal marketing including onsite inspections of seafood wholesalers.

“The public can also help by reporting suspected illegal fishing activities to the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116.”

For further information on fishing rules, visit www.fisheries.qld.gov.au

Media: 0437 113 241

Sunday 20 November 2011

Townsville Marine Humminbird Information Evening

Townsville Marine are going to host an information evening for those interested in getting the most out of their Humminbird sounders. In the past these events have been closed to forum members only, but this time it's open for anyone to attend. Emmanuel will provide Greek Souvlakia and nibbles at no charge. Beer and soft drinks also at no charge, but reasonable consumption limits apply.

When: 30 November 2011
Where: Townsville Marine Showroom
Time: 7.00pm
Topic: Humminbird Sounders and iPilot Electric Motors

Lucky door prize voucher 40% off any Humminbird or Minn Kota product. This is better than a "giveaway" because you get a really big discount on a model you want rather than a thing that you don't.

REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Saturday 12 November 2011

Round 2 with Gulp Plastics and Fingermark

During the week I had Townsville Marine fit a pair of GMI 10's to my Suzuki. So regardless of the weather I was heading out today! I picked Dad up form his place about 4.30am and headed off for West Point. It was a reasonable run over with about 5knots over our shoulder. Once at West Point it was quite calm in the lee of the island. 

After having some reasonable success last trip out, we were keen to again work the various Gulp plastics for Fingermark again. We fished several good marks with stacks of fish and bait showing. More bait than I have ever seen on some of these marks. But it was hard to entice a bite! Dad managed a couple of small Nannygai, 2 cod and a little Mackerel. I had nothing to the boat (dropped one and missed a few smaller hits) until we moved to a mark closer in to the island in about 6m of water. Again there were good shows on the sounder and after a drift of two I was hooked up to a solid fish. It came to the surface and had me thinking Queenfish, but as it turned we both spotted a gold tail. Dad was thinking Trevalley, but I had Barra on my mind! Next jump proved me correct as a big bucked mouth came out of the water. Some solid runs on the 20lb Sustain spin gear I was using and she was soon boat side. Estimated at about 90cm she was obviously released to go about her breading duties!

The run back was a bit choppier, but I still managed to sit on just under 40km/hr all the way. The GMI 10's are invaluable. I am now able to tell exactly how much fuel I am using for the speed and revs the motor is running at. On the way across to west point I sat on about 4000rpm for 0.6lts per km. I found that in smooth water and trimmed up I can get 0.5lts per km at 3,800 rpm and about 20knots. The whole trip used just on 25lts. Not bad for a big 150 pushing a heavy glass boat in poor conditions! 

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Townsville Marine - Yellowfin Clearance

Townsville Marine is clearing the last 3 Yellowfins in stock at really cheap prices!

This sale is for the 3 boats in stock only, once they're gone they're gone.

All on alloy trailers with saftey gear and rego.

First in, first served. Never to be repeated!

Yellowfin 6200 Cabin - fully optioned - Suzuki DF175 with Garmin Digital including Garmin 750S touchscreen $63,990 - save $11,000 on RRP


Yellowfin 6200 Cabin - fully optioned - Suzuki DF175 with Garmin + Humminbird 10.5" display $63,990 Svae $11,000 on RRP


Yellowfin 6200 Centre Console with 150 Optimax $56,990 Save $12,000 on RRP


www.townsvillemarine.com.au/yellowfin

Call Emmanuel on 0411 753 555 if interested.

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Movember Donation

Well guys, Movember is now in full swing. The itches will start shortly I suspect! If you would like to make a donation to the Fishing Townsville Movember team then please follow the link below. Its also not too late to join the team. 


Any business that donates over $100 to the team will have their logo and link to their website placed at the bottom of this post. 

Progress Photo!
Thank you for supporting Movember 2011. 

Businesses Supporting Movember

Nil at this stage!