GregL Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 With beautiful conditions forecasted for my run up to port, Pat and I made a bee line for broughton Island some 3hours away. We cleared the backwash off Bluefish Piont, cranked up the stereo and pushed the trottles up to 4000rpm. On fast cruise of 34kns it took no time to pass Lion Island off in the distance as we headed up the coast. Further North we pushed the better the sea became. Faster the Contender wanted to go, I think at one stage we were scooting along at 41kns!! We arrived into Port to brown tea coloured water and noticed huge tide lines out the front of each river mouth we passed. Marlin fishing was going to be wide...... In Nelson bay we had orgainsed accomadation at the Magnus apartments, bloody awesome place that just screamed PORN! If you need a big 4 bedroom joint, make sure you check this place out! As you have seen in Gibbo63's post on the sail pass there were some totally amazing boats, we felt so small compared to the rest of the fleet. In short the marlin fishing was crap..... 200 boats with 800 anglers, 10hrs of fishing and only 22 marlin caught..... Day 2 was not much better, 25 I think were caught.... That works out at over 360hrs of angling per fish!!!! Bring on the reds! Well so we hoped..... Fishing around Broughton to Seal Rocks area using the electronics we found some nice grounds that we just fished in rotation threw out the trip. Most days we scored a handful of respectable fish and pannies but the big boys eluded us.... Didn't pull the camera out much as 3-4kg fish are pretty average compared to what we have caught in the past. We only kept a handful of fish as no one really wanted a feed of fish..... Here is couple of a average fish for the trip.... How hard do these things pull! Yes! In the net. Final product, just a average Port snapper. Boats up there for another 2 weekends as you have to book a minimum 1 month in the marina up there. Hope the marlin turn on as the boats still marlinless Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelican Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Just love that size average fish! Wonderful feling doing long runs offshore and watching landmarks go past. Surprised you didn't investigate any major bird activity on the run up? Be interesting to see how much growth happens on the boat as the water is warm and algae is attaching to everything at the minute an dthen coral worms. Might have to get the deckie to have a little swim on a sandy beach or give it a water blast when back on the dock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregL Posted March 4, 2009 Author Share Posted March 4, 2009 Surprised you didn't investigate any major bird activity on the run up? give it a water blast when back on the dock. Hi Pelican Can you belive we only saw one flock of birds on one small patch of bait the whole trip up? Yep we did cast at it for 10 mins! The boys from Contender are meeting me up there next week. We are pulling the boat out with one of their trailers while their boats off it so I can give it a hit with the Gernie..... Now that's service! Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahajo Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 (edited) Shame about the marlin mate. You got a damn good consolation prize but well done!! Edited March 4, 2009 by hazza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick 10 Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Hi All I was up there fishing the interclub aboard NEMO we got a blue marlin that was about 150kg also got A little stripe.It was very hard going up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelican Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Good Greg, I was trying to be subtle as those little coral worms attach and grow so fast especially around the motor mounts. We always try and wipe once a week if we don't have antifoul of with the yacht use a bag and a cup of chlorine. Muscles are attaching in about 3 weeks at the minute and growing fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnAking Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Hey Greg, Shame about no marlin dude, but at least you got to put the boat through its paces and get into some nice reds. How did the boat go, was it as good as you expected ride and fuel wise? Hey just quietly i think pat has become a bit of a bad luck charm when it comes to catching fish lol Sorry Pat Cheers, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregL Posted March 6, 2009 Author Share Posted March 6, 2009 Hey Greg, Shame about no marlin dude, but at least you got to put the boat through its paces and get into some nice reds. How did the boat go, was it as good as you expected ride and fuel wise? Hey just quietly i think pat has become a bit of a bad luck charm when it comes to catching fish lol Sorry Pat Cheers, Joe Mate Pat was the keenist fisho on the trip, maybe a little to keen for the partiers of the group. One day we even had to palm him off to another boat just so the rest of us could try catch up on some sleep! A 10 day benda just takes it out of you, especially when you try to include a decent fish every day! The boat has passed all I can throw at her and I am truely happy with it. I have put it into conditions that I would have turned around and gone home in, if I was in any other boat. At 28ft she seems long enough to make the distance between chop there fore giving a smoother ride and not dropping between waves. We have drifted some snapper spots in conditions that most of the fleet have not even left the docks for and didn't even cop a wave over the back. The best investment (around $3k) are the padded combings. Bloody sensational and really does save the body from banging into the sides and having bruised legs for the next few days! Fuel consumption. The whole trip up to Broughton from Rushcutters and then back into Port we used just over 350lts with a speed average of over 34kns. Pretty good I thought especially for the speed. The boat was total full in fuel and water plus all the gear and luggage that the group needed for 10 days. She was choca block! Threw out the trip and in all the varied conditions there was only 1 day where we had to travel at less than 30kns and that was only because we were heading straight into a strong swell and wind. Most days travelling up to Seals and back with moving around all day we averaged about 170lt but the best thing we were there in 40mins from the dock! First day of the tournement we gunned it to the Gibber to get baits, we'd have a full tank of bait before the first competitor arrived.... Speed is good! So yep, very happy! It's fast, quiet, excellent sea handling and just amazing how fresh you do come off the water, usually I'm totally ratted out from a day out at sea. Regards Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csg Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 firstly id like to start by saying a massive thanks to greg for the trip the boat guys is amazing ive been on heaps of good boats and this smashes anything ive been on that includes some custom made game boats ive been on several haines formulas which are meant to be class leading rides this thing makes them feel very very ordinary shame about the fishing up there but these things happen lets hope things get better soon again thanks alot greg had a great time and still not coping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnAking Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Mate Pat was the keenist fisho on the trip, maybe a little to keen for the partiers of the group. One day we even had to palm him off to another boat just so the rest of us could try catch up on some sleep! A 10 day benda just takes it out of you, especially when you try to include a decent fish every day! The boat has passed all I can throw at her and I am truely happy with it. I have put it into conditions that I would have turned around and gone home in, if I was in any other boat. At 28ft she seems long enough to make the distance between chop there fore giving a smoother ride and not dropping between waves. We have drifted some snapper spots in conditions that most of the fleet have not even left the docks for and didn't even cop a wave over the back. The best investment (around $3k) are the padded combings. Bloody sensational and really does save the body from banging into the sides and having bruised legs for the next few days! Fuel consumption. The whole trip up to Broughton from Rushcutters and then back into Port we used just over 350lts with a speed average of over 34kns. Pretty good I thought especially for the speed. The boat was total full in fuel and water plus all the gear and luggage that the group needed for 10 days. She was choca block! Threw out the trip and in all the varied conditions there was only 1 day where we had to travel at less than 30kns and that was only because we were heading straight into a strong swell and wind. Most days travelling up to Seals and back with moving around all day we averaged about 170lt but the best thing we were there in 40mins from the dock! First day of the tournement we gunned it to the Gibber to get baits, we'd have a full tank of bait before the first competitor arrived.... Speed is good! So yep, very happy! It's fast, quiet, excellent sea handling and just amazing how fresh you do come off the water, usually I'm totally ratted out from a day out at sea. Regards Greg Good to hear the boat has met and exceeded all expectations As for Pat lol ... maybe next time you should think of slipping some sleeping pills in his drink lol Can't wait for the yellow fin to turn on.. that will give your boat a good workout Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkymalinky Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Thats a great read for a trip short on fish Greg. Your Contender is well named... sounds like it's as awesome as it looks. I can't get over those fuel consumption figures for such a big rig and the service you got is unreal in this day and age. I'd love to be in the situation where I can't be bothered photographing snapper until they get enormous (by East Coast standards anyway). That 10kg red can't be too far away. Cheers, Slinky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arpie Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Niiiiice snapper Greg!! Shame the bigger beaky critters didn't make their presence known ....... but, you got to know the boat well & are now aware of its capabilities! Your fuel consumption sounds pretty good!! Looks like you guys had an interesting time on the water! Cheerio Roberta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glennmreid Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Great report Greg. Shame about the marlin. What a way to get up to Port Stephens. I bet it is a real scenic trip. Beats driving up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr magoo Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 ha ha ,its quicker by sea going to port then car ,how goods that shame about the beakies but hopefully it wont be long and i love the clean uncluttered deck,money well spent cheers arman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregL Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 Great report Greg. Shame about the marlin. What a way to get up to Port Stephens. I bet it is a real scenic trip. Beats driving up there. Thanks guys... Hey Chopper, not sure about that, close tho! The new car eats thos country Km's up, under 2hours from Drummoyne to make it back for a massage one day.... Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now