LuckyFil Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 Just started a van trip up the north coast eventually ending up at Yeppoon and Longreach. First stop was an old favourite Hat Head. Plenty of tailor to be had spinning the rocks but most of the action seemed to be from boats who were scoring spanish, dollies a few spotted macks and the odd cobia. Luckily my brother Steve had his boat up here as well so I had an afternoon out on that. We tried trolling with skirted lures but no luck, apparently most fish are being caught on slow trolled bonito. We had some pillies so anchored up over a shallow reef and started burleying. I silver bream came in quite soon and plenty of other bites but we were using whole pillies which were being chewed out. I put my rod in the holder for a while to help Steve when he hooked a turtle (yes a turtle) while trying to remover the hooks without getting bitten. Eventually we succeeded and he swam off looking fine but not before my rod started screaming. After a struggle to get it out of the holder I realised this was a large fish although my first thought was shark, don't know why. There was a lot of gnarly reef under us and I was not getting any line back off this thing so I thought the other likelihood was getting cut off on the reef. But then it began tiring and I got a little line back then another few shorter runs and it went under the boat . I was surprised to see my leader appear as I didn't think I'd recovered that much line then this massive reddie surfaced beside the boat. That was when the blood pressure went up and I yelled for the net or gaff. Steve got him with his first shot and then we whooped it up as it came over the side. The fish coughed up a full octopus that was immediately used as bait and provided Steve with a nice sized grassy sweetlip. Forgot to get a pic of that unfortunately. I landed another small snapper about 38cm and that was about it as we finished the last of our bait and had to get back through the Hat Head creek while the tide was high enough. The snapper went 78cm and other guys at the boat ramp said it matched some they had seen earlier that were weighed at 7kg so we called it for the same. My pb by a long shot and a great start to the trip. Cheers Fil 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_55 Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 @LuckyFil how good is it to get that one fish that makes everything OK he's a cracker mate 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Ct Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 Great stuff Fil, beautiful fish. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 That is a great fish to pull up, Fil. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bessell1955 Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 Wow is a great fish, well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larkin Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 well done Fil! Haha, can’t beat the excitement when you see colour and realise it’s a Big Red coming to the surface! 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 Great report. Super Snapper. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsswordfisherman Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 @LuckyFil Very interested to follow this. We have ours planned as well towing the caravan and our topper tinny. When we get to Yeppoon we will head in to Lake Maraboon. We may even continue up to Cairns and across to Karumba and KAB and Cahills. That reddie is a great trip starter. We look forward to your reports 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickmarlin62 Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 Nice red mate well done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordoRetired Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 Fish of a lifetime. Well done. Well it is if you are not Scratchie who seems to catch huge Snapper most weeks 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenno64 Posted March 26, 2023 Share Posted March 26, 2023 Beautiful fish Fil! Donkey🙏🏻👌 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted March 27, 2023 Share Posted March 27, 2023 Gret report Fil, what a stonker of a snapper - well done mate a fish to be proud of. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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