Apollo
26-07-2011, 09:52 AM
As some of you know, a few of us just did a trip to the Swains on the Norval. I am doing the trip report in two stages. One being the fishing trip side and the other being on the Norval and their operation. Below is the fishing side. Some of the stories are not repeatable, so we will just have to leave them to the ocean. As is me, it is a bit long winded, so ignore if yo want.
Saturday, Brian (BR65 (Rakey)), Shane (Robersl), Mark (trymyluck) and myself meet up at Mark's for the drive up in two cars. We got away in time and stopped in at Gin Gin for a breakie pie. All jobs done, we continued on in the rain to Gladstone to drop the gear off at the boat and meet up with the rest of the boys (RobT, JD, Wardy, Bruce, Mick & Tony). Quick feed at the yachtie and back to the boat to start setting up our gear and wash down a few bevies. Rain had stopped and we were all keen to go. Unfortunately a late minute radio issue delay us leaving the harbour for a few hours, but all ended up ok. Weather forecast had deteriorated considerably and now we were looking to a week of wind and bit of a roll on the way out to the reef. The stabilisers on the boat worked a treat and the trip out went without issue having us arrive at the first reef early morning ready to get into the fishing. On the way, the troll lines went out and it wasn't surprising who nailed the first one – Rakey! Nice yellow tail tuna to open the account.
First day was windy and a bit cool so fishing was off the big boat. Was a tough day at the office with a selection of trout, red throats and misc other reefies before we moved in behind the reef for a a camp for the night. Shane did load into a good fish, but ended up being big chinamen, so back it went. As is the way, out came the silly sticks (light gear) for a bit of fun, whilst others got into lowering the level in the drinks bin. Some of us hit in a school of nice red throats and we had a ball landing these tough fighters (40-50cm range) on light string with plenty of coral around. Caned them with plenty coming aboard, before the bight went off and the squid gear came out. I managed the only one for the night, before retiring to the bunk.
Next morning was an early move to another reef (Mystery) before deploying the dories for some shallow water stuff, whilst the big boat headed out a bit for some trolling and drifts over slightly deeper water. Draw of straws to determine who started off in the dories, saw Rakey and I in one of the dories and Rob, Wardy and the NSW boys in the other two dories. Having never done this sort of fishing before, it was an education and enjoyed the tuition of Rakey. Throwing lightly weighted baits into the face of nasty bommies with locked drags and quick reactions trying to extract red throats and coral trout from their coral homes was a bucket of fun. Unfortunately, the student didn't learn too quick and was outfished fairly badly. I did find his weakness though – sharks! I landed a nice little whaler and to say Rakey was nervous of bring it aboard and dispatching it was an understatement. The rest of the story, I won't tell. Rob & the boys chipped away consistently in the other dories and ended up with a nice esky.
The big boat returned, so the dories headed back. The big boat had done well with Mark nailing a big red emperor (AGAIN) and the boat putting a some good mixed reefies in the bin. Lunch, then back into the dories whilst the big boat headed out again. Mark head out with Rakey and Bruce jumped into the other dory with me. We trolled up to the southern end of the reef to bommie bash whilst Mark/Rakey headed north. We ended up with a nice esky of RTEs (including a big one on the troll??) and tuskies as well and a good trev to change it up. Mark and Rakey had a good session (as expected) and ended with a very good bin. The boys on the big boat did very well with a good haul of spanish macs and mixed reefies. As is the Rakey way, he steps back onto the big boat and picks up his plastics rod, flicks it out and lands a nice shallow water coral trout, before putting the rod away to get a beer. That night it was some more mixed bait fish caught and a handful of squid.
The next day, the big boat was heading off for a long session of drifting and trolling, so only four of us opted for a big session in the dories. Rakey /Mark in one and myself/Bruce in another. Mark/Rakey headed off for some shallow water drifting whilst Bruce and I went for long troll around the top of the reef before shallow water drifting. Nothing on the troll, so we bashed a few bommies in very nasty country and got bitch slapped so many times by things we could stop. Saw some bait getting harassed in the shallows, so on went the popper. First cast and a big spanish mac jumps at my popper but missed. Next cast and it got hammered. Big fish, shallow coral bottom = bust off. Tried again but no more. Headed on with drifts in mind as the wind was increasing. Bit quiet initially and then just as Bruce hauls in his first nice tusky, Mark/Rakey motors up and asked whether we had any room in the esky as theirs was full – bastards! Feeling just a little inadequate, we set about filling the esky to be less embarrassed. RTE's tuskies and trout started coming along at a regular rate to put a bit more respect into our session. I did hook a decent shark that gave me all sort of hell on the lighter gear before eventually returning my line. Mark/Rakey had a great session and Rakey landed a horse green jobbie in shallow water. Big boat returns with another good session of spanish and mixed reefies and plenty of tale of lost fish.
Afternoon session had Mark/Shane in one dory and Wardy & Tony in the another whilst the rest head out for mixed session in the big boat. Boys in the dories did well again and we ended up with a nice mixed of spanish and good reefies. We caught some good size trout this time and Rakey again handed out a whipping on how to including a good size BARRA(cuda). Night session back behind the reef off the big boat was a ball as a school of decent sized spangled emperor moved in. Shane tied on one of Daz's home made plastics and nailed a few beauties, whilst the rest of us chased them with a mix of bait and lures. After the bight settled, more squid were landed to close out the night.
Next day we all headed out on the big boat for a troll and reef drifting. First lure to get smashed was my big rapala. Happy to finally get to test the new rod I made, I got about the task of landing what I initially though was a good spanish. Fight was much harder (and different) than the others I have caught and when colour was shown, the shape was wrong. Nice GT!! Given my previous best was some little tackers out of the Noosa river, this was a tad bigger step up. Eventually got there for a 30kg GT. Needed a little drink to stop the shakes and give the arm a rest. The spanish turned up on mass and we had a triple hook up with all landed and ended up with 11 for the day (five trolled, five on floaters and I got one dragging my bottom bashing gear in quick trying to get it out of the way. Happy with that as it had no wire). Big session on reefies as well with some nice selection of reds, trouts, etc. I got one decent red in the bin and then hooked up to a horse of one. Had the big gear, so was able to get it off the bottom despite several big runs back down. With it a bit better of halfway up, it seem to give up the fight a bit and I got him to the surface only to find out it had been relieved of everything but the head. The head weighted in at 6.4kgs!! so it was most likely a 14kg red emperor. Look at the photo. That is a very big shark to have done that to that size fish in one clean bight. Returned back to reef with a full fish bin and a lot of tired boys. Still hit the night fish session with a few mixed reefies. Early morning off the back of the big boat, still in the lagoon, saw a few more spangled emperors make it to bin (Rakey of course) and the usual early morning bait catching fest, including two fish on one hook, before we all headed out for a troll/drift on the big boat. Got a quadruple hook up on the way out and somehow Mark ended up landing the only two out of the four. Mixed reefies again with some good sized trout, before we moved on to another reef for an anchor and set of floaters off the back. Couple of big bust offs including one straight through 120lb wire! Mixed bag of reefies flicking plastics or soaking baits whilst swinging on the pick. More squid at night before retiring for the evening.
Last day was an early session drifting shallow water which was tough going, before we moved out to the deep for a bouncy session. This was bucket of fun in 75m with a hot bight of cod, jew, reds, nannies, jobbies and bustoffs. Eventually time was called for the very long steam back into a sea back to port.
Boys were tired, but all had a great time. Some pics below and more to come once I get them.
Saturday, Brian (BR65 (Rakey)), Shane (Robersl), Mark (trymyluck) and myself meet up at Mark's for the drive up in two cars. We got away in time and stopped in at Gin Gin for a breakie pie. All jobs done, we continued on in the rain to Gladstone to drop the gear off at the boat and meet up with the rest of the boys (RobT, JD, Wardy, Bruce, Mick & Tony). Quick feed at the yachtie and back to the boat to start setting up our gear and wash down a few bevies. Rain had stopped and we were all keen to go. Unfortunately a late minute radio issue delay us leaving the harbour for a few hours, but all ended up ok. Weather forecast had deteriorated considerably and now we were looking to a week of wind and bit of a roll on the way out to the reef. The stabilisers on the boat worked a treat and the trip out went without issue having us arrive at the first reef early morning ready to get into the fishing. On the way, the troll lines went out and it wasn't surprising who nailed the first one – Rakey! Nice yellow tail tuna to open the account.
First day was windy and a bit cool so fishing was off the big boat. Was a tough day at the office with a selection of trout, red throats and misc other reefies before we moved in behind the reef for a a camp for the night. Shane did load into a good fish, but ended up being big chinamen, so back it went. As is the way, out came the silly sticks (light gear) for a bit of fun, whilst others got into lowering the level in the drinks bin. Some of us hit in a school of nice red throats and we had a ball landing these tough fighters (40-50cm range) on light string with plenty of coral around. Caned them with plenty coming aboard, before the bight went off and the squid gear came out. I managed the only one for the night, before retiring to the bunk.
Next morning was an early move to another reef (Mystery) before deploying the dories for some shallow water stuff, whilst the big boat headed out a bit for some trolling and drifts over slightly deeper water. Draw of straws to determine who started off in the dories, saw Rakey and I in one of the dories and Rob, Wardy and the NSW boys in the other two dories. Having never done this sort of fishing before, it was an education and enjoyed the tuition of Rakey. Throwing lightly weighted baits into the face of nasty bommies with locked drags and quick reactions trying to extract red throats and coral trout from their coral homes was a bucket of fun. Unfortunately, the student didn't learn too quick and was outfished fairly badly. I did find his weakness though – sharks! I landed a nice little whaler and to say Rakey was nervous of bring it aboard and dispatching it was an understatement. The rest of the story, I won't tell. Rob & the boys chipped away consistently in the other dories and ended up with a nice esky.
The big boat returned, so the dories headed back. The big boat had done well with Mark nailing a big red emperor (AGAIN) and the boat putting a some good mixed reefies in the bin. Lunch, then back into the dories whilst the big boat headed out again. Mark head out with Rakey and Bruce jumped into the other dory with me. We trolled up to the southern end of the reef to bommie bash whilst Mark/Rakey headed north. We ended up with a nice esky of RTEs (including a big one on the troll??) and tuskies as well and a good trev to change it up. Mark and Rakey had a good session (as expected) and ended with a very good bin. The boys on the big boat did very well with a good haul of spanish macs and mixed reefies. As is the Rakey way, he steps back onto the big boat and picks up his plastics rod, flicks it out and lands a nice shallow water coral trout, before putting the rod away to get a beer. That night it was some more mixed bait fish caught and a handful of squid.
The next day, the big boat was heading off for a long session of drifting and trolling, so only four of us opted for a big session in the dories. Rakey /Mark in one and myself/Bruce in another. Mark/Rakey headed off for some shallow water drifting whilst Bruce and I went for long troll around the top of the reef before shallow water drifting. Nothing on the troll, so we bashed a few bommies in very nasty country and got bitch slapped so many times by things we could stop. Saw some bait getting harassed in the shallows, so on went the popper. First cast and a big spanish mac jumps at my popper but missed. Next cast and it got hammered. Big fish, shallow coral bottom = bust off. Tried again but no more. Headed on with drifts in mind as the wind was increasing. Bit quiet initially and then just as Bruce hauls in his first nice tusky, Mark/Rakey motors up and asked whether we had any room in the esky as theirs was full – bastards! Feeling just a little inadequate, we set about filling the esky to be less embarrassed. RTE's tuskies and trout started coming along at a regular rate to put a bit more respect into our session. I did hook a decent shark that gave me all sort of hell on the lighter gear before eventually returning my line. Mark/Rakey had a great session and Rakey landed a horse green jobbie in shallow water. Big boat returns with another good session of spanish and mixed reefies and plenty of tale of lost fish.
Afternoon session had Mark/Shane in one dory and Wardy & Tony in the another whilst the rest head out for mixed session in the big boat. Boys in the dories did well again and we ended up with a nice mixed of spanish and good reefies. We caught some good size trout this time and Rakey again handed out a whipping on how to including a good size BARRA(cuda). Night session back behind the reef off the big boat was a ball as a school of decent sized spangled emperor moved in. Shane tied on one of Daz's home made plastics and nailed a few beauties, whilst the rest of us chased them with a mix of bait and lures. After the bight settled, more squid were landed to close out the night.
Next day we all headed out on the big boat for a troll and reef drifting. First lure to get smashed was my big rapala. Happy to finally get to test the new rod I made, I got about the task of landing what I initially though was a good spanish. Fight was much harder (and different) than the others I have caught and when colour was shown, the shape was wrong. Nice GT!! Given my previous best was some little tackers out of the Noosa river, this was a tad bigger step up. Eventually got there for a 30kg GT. Needed a little drink to stop the shakes and give the arm a rest. The spanish turned up on mass and we had a triple hook up with all landed and ended up with 11 for the day (five trolled, five on floaters and I got one dragging my bottom bashing gear in quick trying to get it out of the way. Happy with that as it had no wire). Big session on reefies as well with some nice selection of reds, trouts, etc. I got one decent red in the bin and then hooked up to a horse of one. Had the big gear, so was able to get it off the bottom despite several big runs back down. With it a bit better of halfway up, it seem to give up the fight a bit and I got him to the surface only to find out it had been relieved of everything but the head. The head weighted in at 6.4kgs!! so it was most likely a 14kg red emperor. Look at the photo. That is a very big shark to have done that to that size fish in one clean bight. Returned back to reef with a full fish bin and a lot of tired boys. Still hit the night fish session with a few mixed reefies. Early morning off the back of the big boat, still in the lagoon, saw a few more spangled emperors make it to bin (Rakey of course) and the usual early morning bait catching fest, including two fish on one hook, before we all headed out for a troll/drift on the big boat. Got a quadruple hook up on the way out and somehow Mark ended up landing the only two out of the four. Mixed reefies again with some good sized trout, before we moved on to another reef for an anchor and set of floaters off the back. Couple of big bust offs including one straight through 120lb wire! Mixed bag of reefies flicking plastics or soaking baits whilst swinging on the pick. More squid at night before retiring for the evening.
Last day was an early session drifting shallow water which was tough going, before we moved out to the deep for a bouncy session. This was bucket of fun in 75m with a hot bight of cod, jew, reds, nannies, jobbies and bustoffs. Eventually time was called for the very long steam back into a sea back to port.
Boys were tired, but all had a great time. Some pics below and more to come once I get them.