Billmack

Targeted species....Kingfish. Solo launched at Murrays boat ramp at 6.30 am, went 300m south and got some squid for live bait. Motored over to the northern tip of Bowen island and set out two small skirts and trolled past the bommies, instant double hook up of two rats, the school of about 20 followed their mates to the boat. Double hookups are always a bit chaotic solo. I had caught them here a week prior so didn’t need to persist. Motored over to the middle grounds looking for bait schools, found zilch, went further to longnose point and drifted one of the squid on a lightly weighted two hook rig for zilch. Went across to point perp and drifted again for zilch, no bait or birds around. With no bait sounding up I thought it best to put some food on the table and went the short distance to the flathead grounds and bagged out quickly, using squid wings from prior catches. Most in the 400mm range As a last attempt at the kingies on the way back to the ramp I trolled the last live squid across the bommies at the tip of Bowen island....zilch. All in all an enjoyable day out for a net 3kg feed of flathead fillets and wings, boat back on the trailer at 1pm.

Looks like you nailed the wings first time, Craig. I hate to think how many get thrown out each week.

How can the world be so dumb http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-30/china-super-trawlers-overfishing-world-oceans/10317394

Fillet first, then pull off the wings.

For those who don’t realise what a delight flathead wings are.....dust in seasoned flour and shallow fry in oil of your choice. Crunchy fins and succulent meat ?

I only use these two Yamashita jigs in the “glow “ range, never failed yet, not saying other colours won’t work though. Plantation point is a good starting point, move about small distances until you find them. Many other locations throughout the bay, look for the weed and kelp. The top jig has had a hard time from beaks, but still catches them.

Great report Jani, Always interesting to know about the other parts of the world. Thankyou, keep them coming. Bill.

Wonboyn lake, 2015, two rods one w weed one w a nipper, same spot double hook up.

Wizza, I was there in 2014, don't remember the kingies, but do remember the jacks, smashing their offerings and returning to their den. Back on colours...the limited no. of coral trout I've caught, they seem to be a deeper colour depending on the depth they're caught at ?

Jon D Near Denham, WA, there is the Ocean Park Aquarium, part of the guided tour is a boardwalk above water with fish below, it is here I saw 40, 50, 60 cm snapper swimming and they were silver with the blue dots. The guide said it was their natural colour, but I've been unable to back it up with googling research. The water was shallow and obviously not their natural environment. Interesting.

Nice fish Jon, can see the island in one pic. I believe snapper in their natural unstressed state are silver w blue spots, the red comes from stress. Perhaps kingies are a natural lighter colour?