LuckyFil

Great report and pics Kobi. Fil

Love the detail in your reports Isaac, well written!

Spot on with those comments Neil. That one good fish is how I remember the trip, not all the fishless days, and yes I'll remember that surface hit for years to come!

I agree that matches my experience over the years

Just back from a few weeks up north. It wasn't specifically a fishing trip as I had a niece's wedding to attend west of Brunswick (near Uki) then a visit to a mate who recently moved to Kingscliff then a family member who recently moved to Ocean Shores (near Brunswick Heads). But amongst all of that I managed a few fish related outings, mainly near Brunswick. I had a couple of goes spinning the break wall at Kingscliff for no joy although one fellow near me scored a good tailor at 50cm and I heard the luderick are now on the chew there . Everywhere is still recovering from the floods and all the rivers are still running brown since the floods. I managed a couple of bream off the beach at Brunswick but the tailor were largely absent apart from one good one I saw landed off the southern breakwall. I saw a couple of nice luderick landed off the breakwall there as well. I enquired about jewies with every fisho I met and they were surprised how few were being caught since the floods , one theory was all the bait fish have been pushed so far out of the rivers the jews were maybe on the beaches. I ventured out to Clarrie Hall Dam just west of Uki one day for a go at the bass. I was hoping it would have cleared after three weeks but it was still quite murky with limited visibility. It's a smaller dam than Glenbawn or St Clair and with woody hills on some sides it is quite picturesque and I believe is usually crystal clear water and a very pleasant place for a paddle - no power boats allowed apart from electric. I was prospecting the edges around weedbeds and lily pad areas with a spinnerbait . Given the dirty water I wasn't expecting much which was just as well as the first hour wa s without a t ouch. I was retrieving the lure looking around for where next to throw it when the water exploded next to the kayak and line started peeling off my reel. This caused a single loud expletive from yours truly and came close to causing an out of body experience. Long story short it was caused by a very cranky bass which I eventually coaxed into the net . It was very fat and measured spot on 42cm. Hard to get a decent pic sitting in kayak but here's couple of attempts. Nothing more apart from one tentative hit that didn't connect. Cheers Fil

A great catch of big flatties! How are you catching the poddies? cheers Fil

Hi Derek ok now I’m imagining how that works I’ll give it a go. I’m currently up north for a while but will get in touch when I return to Sydney if I’m struggling to get it right. Appreciate your time with those detailed tips! Thanks again regards Fil

Thanks Derek for taking the trouble to send the video. That technique looks dynamite. I’ll get mine out today and start practising. cheers Fil

Thanks I’ll definitely have a look at the video

Wow that’s a great session on the EPs. I believe they are quite good to eat but as Little Flattie says remember the closed season coming up and I think you’re only allowed to keep two fish with only one over 35cm (or thereabouts). I recently bought a Splash Prawn but am not sure how to work it, was going to try short flicks on the surface with pauses in between. Is that roughly how you use yours? Fil

Great first report and a cracking tailor. It might be a while before you beat that pb! Fil

Congratulations to you and Backcruncher - two magnificent fish, especially after being done by several fish beforehand! Those cobes go hard and never give up right till the last. I got a good one trolling up around Rockie , it came to the boat fairly quickly when we called it for a shark (common mistake) but we realised our error when we saw the white stripe and then it went deep and slogged it out for ages. Well done guys Fil

I'm booked in on the Tillimay for what I think is the first week of the July holidays. We wouldn't normally go that late in the year but one of the crew this time is a school teacher. I'll send you a PM with my phone number in case you want a fishing report. Fil

Hi Bruce Those comments about them dancing on the surface reminded me of the queenies up north and both are great sport on light tackle. Have you got a Weipa trip planned for this year? cheers Fil

Those Watsons Leaping bonito are a pretty fish, never caught one myself.

Congratulations mate you sound crazy happy. Nice to hear a good news story . Fil

Some great fish there Rev and I love the return to your childhood start in fishing. Ironic after several average trips in the boat that your best session is off the beach. Persistence and maybe a few prayers paid off. Fil

Thanks Wildcat spot on - we all need a cheer up at the moment and a couple of good fish does the trick! I'm hanging out for my trip to Weipa this July after missing out over the past 2 years thanks to covid, so hope to get a few of these pink eyes then. Cheers Fil

Great photos of the river scenery Neil and some very fishy looking snags! Good to see so many fish coming in. Cheers Fil

Well done after putting in the hard yards. My guess is the second one will come easier. Maybe get out again this week after this big wet, they should be on the chew in the murky water chasing all the mullet, prawns and other bait fish that have been washed down towards the mouth of most estuary systems. Congrats! Fil

Congratulations - you won't wipe that smile off your face for weeks. A great story and pics - one to share with the grandkids!

Congratulations that's a cracker jewie, especially from a kayak. You put in the hard yards (literally!) and it paid off. Funny how that slog back from a big trip is so different when there's a decent fish to show for your efforts. Fil

Good report and nice pics. Welcome Fil

I agree with Tyrone, probably a wahoo. My brother and I picked up two wahoo off Sydney years ago when the water temperature was high like now. They’ll slice through 100lb leader without turning the reel.

Thanks for that very informative report Donna. Sorry to hear you've had a bad year (like many others I guess) but great you were able to finally see your grand daughter at last! And have a trip out of the city to such a good spot. I love the way you describe your decision to stop trolling and used your fishing instincts to head for the submerged trees that ended up being the honey hole - wow over 60 fish is bloody fantastic! Happy days Fil