From: sunshiner
Date: 27/09/2010 2:39 PM
Weather
Cloud cover: cloudless
Wind direction & speed: none
Sea state: flat
If applicable (often at NSR): current: little discernible
Moonrise/set: 9.00pm/9.00am
Participants: Geoff (jag one); Stu (maverick), Kev (sunshiner)
Above: Sunday afternoon's forecast
I hadn't been out for a paddle for over a week, what with foul weather last week and family and work commitments but the opportunity popped up for today so I grabbed it. I'm presently filling in for Jaro as NY trip coordinator as he's shot through to Africa in search of bigger game (mumbling something about a hippo on 30kg gear...). Oh and that reminds me: Jaro asked: "Also could you take me off the yakkers mailing list till I come back and let all the others know." So there, I've done it. Please comply all of you trip report writers.
Today was Geoff's first trip out with Noosa Yakkers so I opted for Jew Shoal (despite the great trip that whalebait and eyetag had at Sunshine yesterday) and a 7.30 am late start (this because I think I'm getting a bit wussy). In retrospect, an early start would have been good but I was knackered last night after all of my other commitments.
Geoff was on the beach really early but hung around until I arrived, shortly after which time Stu also drove in with his Prowler on the roof. Glassy day!
Geoff (jag one), with his double kayak which he drives from the rear seat. Love the tights (he used to be in the Gympie Ballet Squad ;-) ).
As you can see, the sun's well up and the sea's well flat. The launch was a doddle, as you'd expect and as often happens, the Main Beach Mob (dolphins) came up to greet us as we sat out the back preparing for the journey.
Soon we three were paddling for Jew Shoal. Geoff was leading the way, possibly having been overcome by the adventure of it all (as have we all), and left the beach without pausing. But we were all in contact by radio so, Noosa Yakkers, please make an effort to memorise the two new call signs and their identities in the fleet.
Stu was a little in front of me as I had to set up and try out a couple of new modifications (pic later) before paddling off. I saw him pause and point down. When I arrived a couple of minutes later he was enthralled and related how one of the dolphins frolicking nearby had deliberately swum under his yak three times, very close. These are wonderful encounters and if you paddle in the Bay enough, sooner or later it'll happen to you, too! More encounters with larger mammals later...
Just approaching the shoal Geoff got a hookup on his Laser Pro. Turned out to be a nice yellowtail, ideal fresh bait.
Guessing, not completely correctly as it turned out, that there might be a SW breeze I headed for A3 01, on the SW corner of the shoal. We assembled there, like three ducks on a millpond, waiting in vain for a breeze to push us across the reef. After about 15 minutes my GPS showed a slight drift in that direction but the breeze was all but undetectable to humans. And the sun was hot, especially after the 35 minute paddle out to the reef. Memo to self: leave MUCH earlier in future, as we normally do in summer.
A loud yell from Stu woke us up a little. "It's a biggie!" He must have learned this from Jaro, I think. His rod was bent, his reel was screaming and his yak was leaving a wake behind as it ploughed through the ocean powered by WHAT. I called it for a shark and reminded Stu that the max size limit for sharks was 1.5m, also remarking that he'd have to throw it back because there was no way this one was going to be less than 1.5m long. Stu, ever the optimist (a fine trait for a kayak fisherman) reckoned a cobia or a jewie had snaffled his pilchard bait. One thing for sure was that it wasn't a snapper or sweetlip.
Stu (maverick) part way through the fight.
I was ready with the camera but eventually Stu saw it -- a huge stingray. A bust off was the only viable option so Stu put the pressure on and soon the stingray was free.
After this I opted to fish the shallows around the Pinnacles but Stu and Geoff hung around the deeper water to the north. Was that a snort I just heard? The radio came to life. Stu's telling me that "There's a big-ass whale just behind us". I glanced over just in time to see a huge tail disappear as the owner headed straight for my two companions. This next stuff is hearsay (from Stu, in the carpark later) but he asked me to tell all about it. Apparently a whale calf, its mother and another adult whale passed S & G only a few metres away. This last adult whale then turned back and proceeded to roll belly up just under the kayaks, very close. Stu and Geoff had done the right thing and got their lines in but were left in no doubt that the whale was examining them out of curiosity. That's a great whale experience for Geoff on his first trip. Hope you give us an eyewitness account, Geoff. Stu got some pics on his phone which may prove suitable for distribution.
I headed home soon after this but first took a pic or two of the new sounder and GPS setup on the Stealth. Some others may get some ideas from this.
The "tray" on which the fish finder, GPS and big camera are arrayed is stowed in the hatch for surf zone transit (as are the items it holds). It is held in place by a single bungee cord latch. It takes only a few seconds to position and does not interfere with fishing or paddling. The tray sits firmly on top of the plywood panel bolted to the hatch lid and to which are permanently attached my pliers and knife. The GPS sits happily in a specially shaped slot.
On the way home I encountered another whale and calf which swam directly under the yak. I also got a strike on my trolled Laser Pro but when I looked around I could see a dolphin dorsal fin between me and the lure so surmise that perhaps a dolphin collided with the trolling line, causing the drag clicker to scream. In any case there was no fish attached to the lure.
Back at MG it was high tide and there was a tiny wave rolling in so I had three beach landings today, getting a feel for how the Stealth performs on small waves. 'Twas a fast ride in each time although rideable waves were few and far between!
Back in the car park Stu arrived before I left and told me that he'd encountered a quite big shark swimming north between the shark net and the beach, on which were frolicking lots of holidaymakers.
Thanks for coming along, Stu and Geoff. Geoff, please let us know how you finished up.
Above: Forecast for the rest of the week as at 2.30pm today. Anyone considering a trip? Maybe Wednesday?
Kev
Red & white Stealth Supalite, black paddle
VHF channel 09 or 22 (if alone), Call Sign: sunshiner
http://www.noosayakkers.blogspot.com/
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