Port Stephens 24/1/09-30/1/09

[King Nothing]

Well, what a trip that was. In summary, cold green water, bait in close, and not a fish in sight.

Saturday

After spending the night on the boat at Sylvania marina, trying to sleep while a party was happening nearby, we rose at 3.30am to prepare the boat. The rest of the party arrived at 4am, cast off the ropes and saw the sunrise over the ocean. The water temperature was cold, around 20deg from memory.

The plan was to run out to the Norah canyons as warmer water appeared to be there, troll through to the newcastle canyons and the carpark before pulling in the lines and running the rest of the way to Port Stephens.

We punched through a Nor easter (or was it a nor wester?) with a horrible sloppy sea. We spotted a free jumping marlin off north Sydney at around 50 fathoms, dropped in the lures for no action. The wind continued to get worse, so we decided to alter our plans and head due North to Port Stephens. The seas were very ordinary and catching a fish would have been an interesting exercise.

In about 70 fathoms off of Newcastle, at the start of Stockton Beach, a sounded a nice bait ball and what I thought was a couple of fish underneath it. I convinced Dad to let me drop a jig. We have never tried catching livies out at sea before as our sounder on the old boat was never any good, and I wanted to see if I can do it. By the time we rigged a jig we had lost the bait ball, although I was convinced there was a fish around as the water temp was a little better at around 21.5 deg. After 40 minutes of nothing Dad made the call to head off. Not 30 seconds after he said this a nice size black (80-100kg) free jumped about 200m from the boat. We let out lures and trolled for an hour, but with the wind getting up and the sea turning really ugly we headed for Port at 18 knots where the water temperature was around 20.5 deg.

We arrived at the marina to bad news. There had been a comp on, 70 boats and not a fish seen. We had done better than anyone just seeing 2 fish. Some charter boats hadn't caught a fish for a week. Not encouraging at all

Sunday

The forecast changed from a nice 5-10 knot variable to a howling 20-30 knot southerly. The decision was made to have a cruisy day in the port. Cranky at not fishing and wasting time, I just stayed out the front of the boat all day experimenting with soft plastics and lures. Managed to land a nice little tailor at around 30cm, which was released. Also got a nice size slimy which was fun on the light gear, and dropped a nice whiting right at the boat

Monday

The mist - With a better forecast we headed out to the carpark. Picked up some livies and headed out with a water temp of 20.5 degrees. The wider we went the colder it got. At the carpark the water temp was as low as 19.3 deg. We managed to raise a fish at the boat when we dropped the livies in, suspected to be a shark, but it wasnt interested in any offerings.

The fog was incredible, visibility would have been around 200m. And it didn't lift all day. One guy back at the marina said he had his radar on, spotted a coal ship but couldn't see it. He saw the bow wave before he saw the ship itself! We tried the FAD on the way home, but the water was too cold and there was nothing on it. Another day with no fish.

That evening that was Australia Day celebrations, with fireworks and a band at the marina. There was BBQs brought out, plenty of beers drunk and lots of fun had.

Tuesday

Disheartened with the low temps and the lack of fish, we decided to try a day at Broughton Island. Water temp outside the heads was around 20.5 deg, confirming our choice. We found masses of bait in close, tried trolling in close but no other signs of life. We trolled livies along Broughton (careful of the marine parks!) to no avail. Eventually just tried drifting around the sisters and managed to land a legal size red, some undersize flatties, sgt bakers, red rock cods and various wrasses. A squid decided to have a go at my livie at the side of the boat which looked cool, otherwise another dull day. Interestingly though the water temp improved during the day reaching 21.5 deg.

Wednesday

With the increase in water temps we decided to have a go out wide to the north. We finally found warm water, which very quickly jumped to 26.5 deg, too warm! Spotted the largest, thickest line of plankton I had ever seen. Might have been coral spawn I've since been told. However there was no sign of life. Again tried the FAD on the way home but there seemed to be a pocked of cold water around it, as the water temperature dropped to 20.5 deg but picked up to 22deg on the way back in to Port.

Thursday

We went to bed with aspirations of heading out 48 miles to try for some Blues after getting some advice from another bloke on the marina. At this stage we were desperate for a fish and willing to try anything. But all that went out the window when my Brother woke up with a swollen eye so bad it shut. We decided it was best to take him to a doctor, so fishing was postponed. His eye managed to heal itself by 9am.

We took a look at the forecast to re-evaluate our options. There was a strong wind warning for Friday and Saturday, and it was meant to blow up Thursday afternoon. I had to be home Saturday for an unexpected funeral, so the decision was made to troll south to Norah canyons and spend the night in the Hawkesbury. We ran to the canyons but warm water was further wide beyond the 500 fathom mark. With the wind picking up we headed in at speed, getting in just before the strong winds arrived. A massive dolphin showed up, he must of been 8 feet long. He swam about 5 feet from the back corner of the boat for a few minutes, it was pretty special to have such a large specimen so close.

I had a fish in the hawkesbury for a couple of small tailor on the mooring. We had a good night drinking beer, enjoying a steak on the BBQ and talking rubbish. I put out a livie but missed the strike over dinner.

Friday

We had a late start, cooked bacon, eggs, tomato and mushrooms for breakfast and left the hawkesbury around 10am. Water temps were ok, at 21.5 so I suspect its getting better out wide. We didn't fish as there was a strong wind warning due for the afternoon which was repeatedly stated over the radio. Was tied up at the marina just after 12 when the wind started to howl.

Overall disappointing fishing but still a fun trip. It was the first time we had taken the boat on such a long trip and in seas that size. I was very impressed with the handling in the rough seas, easily managing 18 knots in some rough weather while being very comfortable. Also sounded and jigged a bait ball out at sea for the first time. Just a pity the fish didn't show up.

[tomahawk1999]

Sorry to hear about the poor conditions you guy's endured!

But then again that's fishing, makes the hot day's ever so more special!!!

The sst charts suggest a bit of good water heading south so let's hope it get's here in time for the PFT.

Bring on the weekend.