From: sunshiner
Date: 9/09/2010 3:36 PM
Weather
Cloud cover: up to 5/10, but generally clear sky
Wind direction & speed: calm, except a NE breeze sprang up about 1115
Sea state: low swell, smooth
If applicable (often at NSR): no current at SR or JS
Moonrise/set: new moon, therefore Rise: 0557 Set: 1833
Participants: Pete, Jaro, Kev
Although we weren't aware that he was going fishing this morning, when we saw Pete's car in the carpark we knew he was out there, probably at Jew Shoal. Soon Jaro and I were trundling down to the beach, following Pete's yak trolley trail through the soft sand. During his final pre-launch check at the water's edge Jaro discovered that his paddle was missing. Oops. Fortunately it was in the car to which he scampered (as only a 67 yr old with an artificial hip can scamper) to get it while I took a pre-launch pic.
0555hrs. Way lighter than it was at this time a month ago. We could have got out 30 minutes earlier.
As you've guessed, the launch was a doddle. Even so, I still got a wet arse in the Stealth as that goes with the boat; the seat cavity fills with water in even a tiny little break. Many terns and a few gannets were excitedly hunting just off the beach but there were no surface splashes to get us excited and before long we were heading off for Sunshine Reef on a glassy sea.
I noted that we got to Hells Gates in just 30 minutes so it seems the Stealth has an edge in speed on the Espri, as you'd expect. Jaro opted to try to find a fishing spot closer to the headland while I headed to my A4 05 which is 1.5km out. Despite the fact that there were lots of little fish showing on our fish finders we'd caught nothing except a giant grinner (by Jaro, to his disgust) by the end of the first hour's fishing. Conditions were superb, with a smooth sea and the tiniest of breezes propelling us gently toward the north. A couple of whales appeared close by and distracted me for a while but soon I suggested a run for Jew Shoal and Jaro agreed so off we went, trolling as we travelled.
Half way to JS we encountered Laguna Bay regular Paul from Palmwoods (AKFF: salticrak) in his Adventure Island so we stopped for a chat before he departed toward the SE.
Approaching JS I spotted Pete in his blue Hobie and headed toward him to find out how he'd done. While he reported slow action at least he'd bagged a few keepers (2 small snapper and 2 sweetlip), fishing with pilchards. I noticed that he was much further east on Jew Shoal than I usually fish so I took a good look at the fish finder as I left him to start fishing myself. Very soon a beautiful 2-3m bommie showed up in 20m depth so I paddled upwind a little and then cast the soft plastic in my usual fashion hoping that some of the fish I spotted on the sonar were hungry. Bam! A solid strike followed by several dogged runs told me that I'd hooked a decent fish so I played him gently and before long a beautiful grass sweetlip was brought to the yak.
0857hrs. My day was made. This fish was all I needed.
Close up of sharp end. The last thing seen by many critters.
Conditions continued to be superb but the fishing remained slow. A mother humpback whale and her calf amused me nearby for a few minutes as they sauntered past in playful mood and I spent some time chatting to Pete.
Pete and his boat in Laguna Bay today. Told you conditions were great!
Pete left for the beach some time soon after this pic was taken. Jaro, having fed a whole pack of pilchards to the hungry hordes below, eventually threw out a prawn which had been frozen at least three times and bagged a small keeper sweetlip.
So I then asked him to take a pic of me with his camera as I'd never seen how this boat looks with me in it.
That's a sundeck on the front.
About 1115 the forecast NE breeze started to generate and by 1145 Jaro was out of bait anyway so we headed for home, with an increasing tail wind -- perfect. We did pretty well for a couple of old codgers and covered the 4km in about 35 minutes, non-stop cruise paddling. A gentle surf greeted us at the beach and I deliberately placed the Stealth on a small wave and to my delight it surfed in beautifully with spray shooting sideways on each side of the bow as the boat planed on the wave like a giant surfboard. Keeping it straight was easy using the rudder pedals. We stepped out onto the sand 6.5 hours and about 15km after we'd boarded at sunrise.
Our two fish, the larger 52cm.
Pete did pretty well, I think, with another good sweetlip caught in addition to the four other keepers. Pete, we'd appreciate a pic or two if you have them.
Jaro, Jim, Doc Dog and I (with our kayaks and our wives) are going up to Bargara Beach, near Bundaberg for a few days next week so we won't be organizing any Noosa yakking trips but we'll all be back by Saturday week.
Hope the weather's good next week.
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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