scrubba01
14-08-2008, 08:00 PM
The Wide Bay Adventure
Arrived at Tin Can Bay boat ramp at 2am (were supposed to be there by 11.30pm) proceeded to launch the boat and headed to the anchorage just behind where the barges leave Inskip Point. After setting the anchor we headed to the bunk to get some sleep, 2 .5 hours later the alarm was ringing in my ear. Leaving the Wide Bay bar just as the first rays of light were hitting the horizon. Conditions were near perfect, if a little on the cold side as we made 30knts through the bar crossing. Along for the trip were the usual suspects Team "Assassin" a 6.5 m WA plate boat and our selves Team "Awesome" in a 6.8m fisher centre cab.
Day 1
The plan was to fish our way up to the South Gardner Banks spend the night there and fish our way back down the shelf the next day. All started out well making good time to our first mark, with not a lot showing we decided to keep moving while the going was good. It was then we got a call from Team Assassin it seams their GPS had decided to blank out. It looked like we were going to have a shadow for the rest of the trip as it was going to make it difficult for them at night time they would have to follow us to the top of every drift to make sure they didn't lose us. We continued up the coast picking up a small Maori Cod and the odd parrot here and there through the day but mostly the fishing was slow. We sounded around for some shallower water to anchor on later in the night then headed to the shelf to see what was about. Started with a couple of rosy job fish and perlies then got smashed by a good size AJ taking a couple of photos and letting him swim. As the sun went down we headed in a little closer and found a good show 1st drift yielded a 15 pound Red and about the same weight snapper back around for another drift and 2 more reds came on board. Team Assassin consists of 2 concrete truck drivers who start very early and an 11 year old and operating on 2 hours sleep for the last 2 days was catching up with them. The decision was made to take them back to the shallow water to anchor up then hit the fish again in the morning.
Day 2
Awoke after a fantastic sleep to glassed out conditions clawing out of the cab and having a stretch and a look around something was missing,:o namely Team Assassin checking the GPS to see if we had drifted through the night. No we were still at the same location. A radio call was put in to Team Assassin to see where they were, the call came back "we are where we were last night" we answered back no your not because we are here. Of all the times this could have happened they had snapped an anchor rope through the night and with no drift alarm to wake them they had drifted off. With no way to tell us they're location it was going to be fun trying to find them. We told them to stay where they were, we pulled the anchor to get an idea of the drift with no wind about we figured they had to be down this drift line, going with the current as we had hung that way all night as well. After searching for a half an hour with no luck and the sun now high enough in the sky to make out Fraser the call was made to head for the big sand blow just South of Indian Head. With a lot of "is that you " and "I think that's you" going on we eventually met up with them. Now 30 klm from the shelf and having used more fuel looking for Team "Drift Away" formally known as "Team Assassin" we decided to abandon the plan of fishing back down the shelf instead deciding to try a few new marks back in closer. Fishing was again very slow for the day and not a lot was added to the ice box.
All in all an adventurous trip with 384 klm traveled in 40 hrs on the water a couple of very expensive Red Emperor, Snapper, Maori Cod and Parrot. We set out to hopefully find some Red Throat and Trout spots, but ended up with good memories and a story to tell that will get better with age and a few beers. Most importantly everyone made it home safely. We're still not any the wiser why GPS broke as it is only 15 months old and the rope looked to be in good condition near the area of the break.
Arrived at Tin Can Bay boat ramp at 2am (were supposed to be there by 11.30pm) proceeded to launch the boat and headed to the anchorage just behind where the barges leave Inskip Point. After setting the anchor we headed to the bunk to get some sleep, 2 .5 hours later the alarm was ringing in my ear. Leaving the Wide Bay bar just as the first rays of light were hitting the horizon. Conditions were near perfect, if a little on the cold side as we made 30knts through the bar crossing. Along for the trip were the usual suspects Team "Assassin" a 6.5 m WA plate boat and our selves Team "Awesome" in a 6.8m fisher centre cab.
Day 1
The plan was to fish our way up to the South Gardner Banks spend the night there and fish our way back down the shelf the next day. All started out well making good time to our first mark, with not a lot showing we decided to keep moving while the going was good. It was then we got a call from Team Assassin it seams their GPS had decided to blank out. It looked like we were going to have a shadow for the rest of the trip as it was going to make it difficult for them at night time they would have to follow us to the top of every drift to make sure they didn't lose us. We continued up the coast picking up a small Maori Cod and the odd parrot here and there through the day but mostly the fishing was slow. We sounded around for some shallower water to anchor on later in the night then headed to the shelf to see what was about. Started with a couple of rosy job fish and perlies then got smashed by a good size AJ taking a couple of photos and letting him swim. As the sun went down we headed in a little closer and found a good show 1st drift yielded a 15 pound Red and about the same weight snapper back around for another drift and 2 more reds came on board. Team Assassin consists of 2 concrete truck drivers who start very early and an 11 year old and operating on 2 hours sleep for the last 2 days was catching up with them. The decision was made to take them back to the shallow water to anchor up then hit the fish again in the morning.
Day 2
Awoke after a fantastic sleep to glassed out conditions clawing out of the cab and having a stretch and a look around something was missing,:o namely Team Assassin checking the GPS to see if we had drifted through the night. No we were still at the same location. A radio call was put in to Team Assassin to see where they were, the call came back "we are where we were last night" we answered back no your not because we are here. Of all the times this could have happened they had snapped an anchor rope through the night and with no drift alarm to wake them they had drifted off. With no way to tell us they're location it was going to be fun trying to find them. We told them to stay where they were, we pulled the anchor to get an idea of the drift with no wind about we figured they had to be down this drift line, going with the current as we had hung that way all night as well. After searching for a half an hour with no luck and the sun now high enough in the sky to make out Fraser the call was made to head for the big sand blow just South of Indian Head. With a lot of "is that you " and "I think that's you" going on we eventually met up with them. Now 30 klm from the shelf and having used more fuel looking for Team "Drift Away" formally known as "Team Assassin" we decided to abandon the plan of fishing back down the shelf instead deciding to try a few new marks back in closer. Fishing was again very slow for the day and not a lot was added to the ice box.
All in all an adventurous trip with 384 klm traveled in 40 hrs on the water a couple of very expensive Red Emperor, Snapper, Maori Cod and Parrot. We set out to hopefully find some Red Throat and Trout spots, but ended up with good memories and a story to tell that will get better with age and a few beers. Most importantly everyone made it home safely. We're still not any the wiser why GPS broke as it is only 15 months old and the rope looked to be in good condition near the area of the break.