Reef Magic boy's on the GBR

[REEF MAGIC CHARTERS]

While the fishing has been slow off Sydney Reef Magic has been undergoing some maintenance so Mike & I decided we should do a quick trip to the Great Barrier Reef.

We invited my mate Deano & fellow fishraider Secho to come along for 4 days live aboard a beautiful 58ft Riviera out of Cooktown.

Everything went to plan and after a few quiet drinks in Cairns we boarded our small plane to Cooktown and with a quick stop at the bottleshop we proceeded to meet the boys down at the wharf.

Our days were generally spent doing some popping in the mornings & trolling for marlin in the afternoons. The popping was difficult and we only managed a handful of GT’s over the 4 days along with some trout mixed in. It was extremely frustrating watching the followers & not hooking up. We tried poppers, floating & sinking stickbaits but the fish were still very timid.

Secho's first GT

Deano's jobfish (soon to be skipbait!)

We managed to release two nice marlin in the 400 – 600lb range but nothing in the 1000lb range that we were hoping for. We heard of the occasional big fish being caught & we had a few other enquiries but generally the fishing was tough.

We were really looking forward to having a swim & snorkel on the reef but on our first day there was a guy aboard one of the other game boats that got stung by a new type of jellyfish & apparently they advise that you don’t swim in that area for the next 4 days or so – unfortunately for us it was right where we were so we had to look at the beautiful water & reef and not be able go for a swim.

The fish of the trip went to the big guy with Deano landing this beautiful 35lb GT on a small 3000 reel & light rod.

The weather was ok but not great but we had a great time aboard with the guys, the food and drinks were fantastic with some of the days catch dished up each night.

Anyway as they say “a bad days fishing beats a good day at work”

Cheers Damo

[Catchin Jack]

Ah bugga, pity you're not there from the 13th Dec haha.

Looks like some great fishing was had by all.

You guys know any decent charters up Whitsundays? if you do could you please PM me details.

[Trapper Tom]

G'day Guys

Great fish and great report.

Same as Catchen Jack here.

I'm heading to Port Douglas in a week for 5 days.

Taking wifey who is also a very good fisho.

As you guys clearly get around and know your stuff If you know of 1 or 2 really good charters request a pm if at all possible.

Cheers

Trapper Tom.

[Catchin Jack]

Don't worry about charter for me, we've ended up hiring a big yacht so will fish off that haha.

[REEF MAGIC CHARTERS]

PM sent Tom

G'day Guys

Great fish and great report.

Same as Catchen Jack here.

I'm heading to Port Douglas in a week for 5 days.

Taking wifey who is also a very good fisho.

As you guys clearly get around and know your stuff If you know of 1 or 2 really good charters request a pm if at all possible.

Cheers

Trapper Tom.