LuckyFil Posted June 24, 2023 Share Posted June 24, 2023 (edited) I'll start this post off with a dedication to @hookerbruce who passed away last year and whose posts on this forum years ago about his Weipa trips inspired me to go there every year since 2009 (excepting a couple due to covid restrictions). A smaller crew of four (usually six) went for a week ending yesterday on the Houseboat up there and used a couple of their 15 foot tenders as dories to fish from. We caught a good range of fish although the bluefin tuna that provide high speed action were absent again with few if any reports of them coming in. That said we caught spanish mackerel, some big queenfish, quite a few small/average sized Barra, mangrove jacks, blue (king) salmon, permit, javelin fish (locals call them grunter), numerous cod and a fork tail catfish which, unlike the Hawkesbury version, fight hard plus other odds and ends I can't remember. Looking at the pics you'd think it's crazy fishing, and we did have some great sessions especially in one of the creeks catching a great mix of fish on SPs and small hard body lures and another one off the beach at Red Cliffs on the salmon at dawn again on small plastics, but we also had several fishless outings, so it's best to be realistic if you ever go there that it isn't always easy and having a week gives you the chance to learn what's going on and what isn't biting. I've included a few pics Edited June 24, 2023 by LuckyFil 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFil Posted June 24, 2023 Author Share Posted June 24, 2023 Sorry about the doubling up on pics, hers some other ones 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFil Posted June 24, 2023 Author Share Posted June 24, 2023 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFil Posted June 24, 2023 Author Share Posted June 24, 2023 Did I mention sharks are a problem An average sized tusk fish 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmck Posted June 24, 2023 Share Posted June 24, 2023 "Did I mention sharks are a problem..?" IN the late 2000's I was on a charter in Broome and the sharks were starting to take out baits. I was in the port rear corner (about a 20' open tinny) and another bloke was in the starboard corner. Small sharks (to 1m) were a real pest. As the other bloke reached down to lift a 1m speciment from the water - lifting it by the hook trace very near to the sharks mouyh- something grey about 10 ft long broke the surface and took it from his fingertips..... apart from the shocked swearing ... we were both speechless.... Wish I'd had a go-pro filming it.... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenno64 Posted June 24, 2023 Share Posted June 24, 2023 What a trip… it’s on my list🙏🏻 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bessell1955 Posted June 24, 2023 Share Posted June 24, 2023 Great looking fish and scenery. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFil Posted June 24, 2023 Author Share Posted June 24, 2023 12 hours ago, dmck said: "Did I mention sharks are a problem..?" IN the late 2000's I was on a charter in Broome and the sharks were starting to take out baits. I was in the port rear corner (about a 20' open tinny) and another bloke was in the starboard corner. Small sharks (to 1m) were a real pest. As the other bloke reached down to lift a 1m speciment from the water - lifting it by the hook trace very near to the sharks mouyh- something grey about 10 ft long broke the surface and took it from his fingertips..... apart from the shocked swearing ... we were both speechless.... Wish I'd had a go-pro filming it.... The ones harassing us near the beach were small about 1.2meters. On another occasion when in deeper water chasing tusk fish my son Pat retrieved a hooked fish as fast as possible , he just got it out of the water and we saw what had been stealing our other fish as it broke the surface - a big fella 8 foot plus (maybe bronze whaler) and he wasn't happy about missing Pat's fish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFil Posted June 24, 2023 Author Share Posted June 24, 2023 (edited) You also need to be aware these guys can be anywhere up there - you won't always see them Edited June 24, 2023 by LuckyFil 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larkin Posted June 24, 2023 Share Posted June 24, 2023 What a great variety of fish! I can see why you go back every year 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Ct Posted June 25, 2023 Share Posted June 25, 2023 Great report, amazing the diversity of life up there. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Posted June 25, 2023 Share Posted June 25, 2023 Top report. Super photos. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsswordfisherman Posted June 25, 2023 Share Posted June 25, 2023 @LuckyFil thanks for the dedication to @hookerbruce. He was a longtime member and is now in our Eternal Member group. What a trip! The pics are amazing and perhaps some firsts or PB's. Everyone who does this trip loves it, swordie went a few times too. Thanks for sharing a report with us 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean4golf Posted June 25, 2023 Share Posted June 25, 2023 Great post LuckyFil. In May did 5 days guided fishing at Weipa. The fishing was exceptional with so many options every keen fishman needs to do it once in their lifetime. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFil Posted June 25, 2023 Author Share Posted June 25, 2023 22 minutes ago, Sean4golf said: Great post LuckyFil. In May did 5 days guided fishing at Weipa. The fishing was exceptional with so many options every keen fishman needs to do it once in their lifetime. or maybe more than once if you can manage it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kantong Posted June 26, 2023 Share Posted June 26, 2023 wow! what a great trip, sensational photos! Thanks for sharing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yowie Posted June 27, 2023 Share Posted June 27, 2023 Very nice, a lot of variety and sizes. I had a trip booked with Bruce, ready to go, then Covid stopped the flights, then his medical issue, so did not make it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickmarlin62 Posted June 27, 2023 Share Posted June 27, 2023 Great report a couple of nice exotics there well done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordoRetired Posted June 27, 2023 Share Posted June 27, 2023 Great report and pictures. Was up north a few years ago and caught some of those Threadfin Salmon, not sure if they were the same as the ones you were getting, but the ones we had were the best eating fish on the whole trip. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean4golf Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 Agree Gordo, On our trip to Weipa we only took a fish or two for a nightly feed as recommended by our guide. This included everything from Barra, Threadfin Salmon, Finger Mark, Queenfish, Mackerel and Mud crabs. On the chew the Threadfin Salmon was easily the best. However, a feast of 6 Mud Crabs amongst 3 guys was up there.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFil Posted June 28, 2023 Author Share Posted June 28, 2023 On 6/28/2023 at 8:23 AM, Yowie said: Very nice, a lot of variety and sizes. I had a trip booked with Bruce, ready to go, then Covid stopped the flights, then his medical issue, so did not make it. Sorry to hear that on both counts. I like the houseboat option as it means we can make a base down the coast where we do most of our fishing so not travelling from the harbour each day which takes a while. We often did dawn sessions before brekkie and were fishing 3 minutes after leaving the houseboat. But you have to put a crew together (preferably six all up) and that can be difficult. Other options are the various charter guys who will always get you onto fish quicker - at a price . Or you can hire very good boats from the local tackle shop. If you ever get around to planning a trip give me PM and I'll pass on what I've learned about the place. Cheers Fil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFil Posted June 28, 2023 Author Share Posted June 28, 2023 23 hours ago, GordoRetired said: Great report and pictures. Was up north a few years ago and caught some of those Threadfin Salmon, not sure if they were the same as the ones you were getting, but the ones we had were the best eating fish on the whole trip. 🙂 Threddies are different species but yes both are very good on the plate and both take lures and fight hard often doing aerial jumps . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madkanu Posted June 29, 2023 Share Posted June 29, 2023 Great pictures! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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