Skip the ice, let’s go billfishing.

[58thecat]

Again an awesome adventure and thx for sharing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Howard Hutchinson]

Yes sir, love your shared family adventures. Thank you so much!

[Coiloil37]

Well, time flies doesn’t it. Last break it went from summer to winter pretty well overnight.
Winter brought with it heavy swell and 20-30 knot winds for the entire two weeks I was home. We walk the pooch down around the ocean every morning after we drop the kids off at school and it looked like this




This is from up on the hill




There’s a coast guard down in that pic in a 15ish meter cutter but when he went behind a wave he would disappear.



The water temp cooled down pretty much over night as well. I typically swim every morning with the dog in the river and it went from 27 deg water to 22 deg water within the two weeks. No more intentional swimming for me until next December.

Then I went back to work and the wind continued. I saw one morning at the Noosa bar on YouTube one of the charter boats screwed the timing pretty good. He caught every set. This is about a 10-12 meter cat.











While I was at work the little man got another package from the Australian game fishing association. He got some more swag and the awards.




This break I got home and had to drop the missus at the airport the next morning. Her mom had a stroke and she had to go be with her. So I’m holding down the fort and the wind was bad for the first week plus. Certainly not good enough to take all three of them out fishing. So we went and caught some small crabs for bait.







We filled that red bucket the little man is holding and will use them this winter for tuskies. We use a 12 volt hot glue gun and glue the hook to the shell so they look undamaged but that’s probably on next months agenda.


Then yesterday I went and walked the pooch and saw the wind had laid down





So after I got them from school we went for another walk and yep, wind was good.

[Coiloil37]

So today I wanted to go try our hand at spanner crabs. We’ve got five good eating crabs here but the only ones we’ve caught before are the mud crabs. The spanner crabs are out in around 40-50m of water on the sandy flats and the trap is flat and called a dilly.
The boys had soccer this morning but after the game we hit the water. I hit the slow boat ramp because it’s after lunch on a Saturday and I know the ramp I like would be busy.







Cruising up the river i again regretted not being born rich. We got a couple hundred mm of rain last week so the waters gross but the boats and houses are nice.



















We stopped at the other boat ramp and grabbed a buddy and his little boy. Then hit the ocean and we ran out about 5 miles until the reef turned to sand and I put the first dilly in 44m of water. I bought two dillies and had 100m of rope. I tied a float to each end of the rope, drove away from the floats holding the rope, evened it up and cut it assuming I had 50m in each string. First trap went out no issues. Then we ran another mile to 48m of water and I threw the second dilly in without thinking very hard. Well the rope went tight and then went under water. I saw what was happening just as it happened but we were to far away to stop it. I drove over to it and could see the float under water as a white glow.
I peeled my shirt off, grabbed some more rope and jumped in before we drifted off the mark and lost it. I swam down but couldn’t reach it the first time. So I came up and got my breath then went for it again. Idk how far down it was but I would guess 5-6m. I pulled the float back up, tied some more rope in-line then swam back to the boat. Once again, a few minutes of thinking would of avoided the polar swim in 22 deg water. You guys go ahead and laugh but I’m no fan of anything cold anymore.

We then went back to a reef and dropped a couple jigs for the few minutes we had to burn. Both of us just bought slow pitch jigging rods and wanted to see how they felt. I bought a PE3 rod and put one of my toriums on it until I find an Ocea jigger on the secondary market. He bought a PE4 and found a Ocea jigger 2000 on marketplace.

So away we went, my jig was on the bottom about 30 seconds when it got nailed. I was more shocked then I’ve ever been when a fish hit my line. He gave a good account of himself





In the end was just a dirty trevally. Not a fish I wanted to catch but it felt really good through that Daiwa and sparked an interest in the jigging game.





We drifted for another ten minutes then had to run back to retrieve the traps. They only soak for an hour and we had a ten minute drive to get there.

The first one had a bit of suspense. Considering it was a recon trip I didn’t expect much. The kids were all eyes and wouldn’t you know it we got a pair of the craziest looking crustaceans. Almost like a big red tick.











That was a good start considering we didn’t expect anything.



The second, deeper trap sounded like work so naturally I got my sidekick to do some of the work.







It got nearly to the boat and I couldn’t see anything. Then as it broke water I realised it was upside down and had a few on the other side.





The crowd went wild










We had six keepers all up out of a bag limit of 120. But we only had two dillies and we aren’t greedy anyway. So we rolled back home on a beauty winters day






Big tower on that black boat in the back.

[Coiloil37]

They got cooked in salted water and we tied into them. Very nice indeed.








Look at his eyeballs






Not much meat in the legs but the body is filled out. The meat isn’t as sweet as most crab. It’s very nice but not like any other crab that I could compare it to. Just mild and delicious.





I can see them becoming a little extra we pick up every time we head offshore. Now to sort out the remaining three types of crab we haven’t caught.

[58thecat]

Wow....what a great lifestyle you have...fishing, family, friends what more is there....ohh yeah work gets in the way

That charter heading out would have been a holy crap moment for those on board

[Coiloil37]

In keeping with the thread, another update. By that I mean, I’ve posted after every outing, not just the success or instagram gold as some do.

Yesterday the little man and I took one of his school mates out for some crabs. We dropped three dillies. During the ~45 min wait we tried a few drifts. The boys struck fishing with bait, I picked up two tuskies, a grinner and this coronation trout on the new jigging outfit.



Then we pulled the three dillies and managed 37 legal crab. I never did a full count but it would of been 50+




The other day I picked up another man sized tiagra. Came with a 100m, 300lb mono topshot and ~2700 meters of 300lb hollow core braid.

Serious bit of kit for large billfish, next to the 30 I typically fish.











Or a 2500 spinning reel.




Not sure if I should mount it on a rod or the front of my truck.

[MoFugger21]

Love these updates!

[sns2]

Crazy good. Obviously, we love your fishing trip reports, and all the different species you are catching, but seeing your kids and their friend enjoy things is what really makes us crusty old buggers smile.

My best buddy’s two boys, and then all their friends came hunting and fishing with us everywhere we went. Lots of trips called early cuz of kids. Now they take us. And one of em is an outfitter now and enjoying crazy success on bears this spring. When we hunt and fish now, they run the show. My buddy and I just smile and go with the flow. Whether it’s big game or birds we just defer to them for the most part. So rewarding.

At the very worst, you are gonna have three kids to take you out when you are a broken down old rig hand

Good deal!

You and the Mrs have any plans of moving back or will your kids be Aussies for all intents and purposes?

[fish99]

that reel would be good on my quad as a hand winch .
or reeling up the anchor on the boat.
enjoy your posts keep them coming

[Coiloil37]

Originally Posted by sns2

At the very worst, you are gonna have three kids to take you out when you are a broken down old rig hand

Good deal!

You and the Mrs have any plans of moving back or will your kids be Aussies for all intents and purposes?

You’re not wrong Shane. They’ll be taking me out and if I’m lucky enough they’ll have the income to buy themselves a nice 60-90’ game boat. I told Nolan I’ll keep it exercised while he’s working and stay on top of where the fish are so he’s not wasting time finding them when he has time to go fishing. We made sure we have their post secondary education covered so I hope he will be a plastic surgeon or something similar. Truth is though, he can do whatever he wants. If I was him I would go be a mate on a game boat up north and then captain myself but it’s his life and only time will tell.

No we have zero interest in moving back. She was just there for two weeks and update me daily how much it’s not the country she grew up in and how bad it’s become. I knew that years ago but it took her a while to see it. I won’t bag it out to much on here but this place is paradise in every way in comparison. Happy to discuss with anyone via pm though if they’re curious.

[Coiloil37]

We got out for some bottom fishing yesterday. Due to the previous success with the jigging that was the flavour of the day and the plan was to scout some new ground off Morton island and find some kingfish and pearl perch.
I bought the little man his own slow/fast pitch setup with the same line of rod as I’m using (different PE rating) and his own shimano Ocea jigging reel (smaller size). However I expected to have it in hand the day after I ordered it and they didn’t ship the day I ordered, instead they shipped the next day. So the rod/reel showed up while we were gone fishing. Figures. So I set him up with a different rod/reel and away we went.

We had great sea conditions when we left which quickly deteriorated on the trip out. After a 25 mile run we stopped on the first bit of ground. His first drop he managed a double to kick the day off. These are called coral cod





We picked up a half doz of them and a few grinners but couldn’t find what we were after so we moved around. Truth is we hunted all day and couldn’t put a solid fish in the kill tank. We eventually found a wreck and started pulling tiny amberjack off it. It must of been a nursery because the larger models weren’t to be found.





Some of the grinners made me wonder how they thought they would eat a bait that big.





He picked up a little jewfish




And a few other species we didn’t get pics of. Taylor, pike, small snapper, parrot fish. Etc.
All up we couldn’t find what we wanted and it was tough trying to drift with as much current and wind as we had. We saw a ton of turtles and whales. At one point we had a whale go under the boat at about 30m and he looked a cm thick on the sounder.

Seems my lack of attention on the demersal species front is coming to haunt us and we will have yet another learning curve if we want to succeed here on the local. Up north it’s easier because there are so many fish.

When we get a nice day we will head wide for some deep drop species. I got an electric reel and bent butt rod to facilitate this endeavour. A mechanic at work was straight out front here a week ago and they caught most of the deep species I want.











Luckily we have all winter to sort this out.

[58thecat]

Again huge wow factor!
Luv the ocean for all it provides on a daily basis, if one targeted species ain’t cooperating well move onto another.

Getting our boat ready to drop down some of your lures....hopefully a Laker gets interested....last outing was chasers but the bite is picking up

Keep posting please

[Coiloil37]

Well like most winters the fishings been on the back burner. I haven’t been home for a decent weather day yet and haven’t had a deep drop with the electric or sunk a sword bait.

We did head out for a jig the other day and struggled to find any quality fish. Caught lots of junk, put a red headed diver down on the troll while sounding out some new ground and picked up half a doz mackerel, tuna and Bonita.






This little sergeant baker was greedy.




Smashed a couple dozen tiny AJ’s off a wreck but couldn’t find a kingfish or full sized model.






A baby jewfish. These things can get huge.







Scorpion fish. These cary a neurotoxin and will spike you almost everywhere. Supposedly very fine eating.





A baby pearl perch. Seems we were in the nursery all day.














Last night the club had their annual presentation night.






The little man was requested to be there. I wasn’t home so mom had to take him. He cleaned house in the junior category. My boat ranked 8th in the under 7.5m category. I didn’t place anywhere at all as I didn’t catch enough fish.














The bodo trophy on the right side there is a annual perpetual trophy that was awarded to the club by the bodo family in 2017 which is why there are only five names in it. The club is still waiting for Nolan’s plaque to be cut before it’s installed which is why his name is missing.

To an Albertan the IGFA wouldn’t mean much but the Australian game fishing club and the international game fishing club have been aligned for a lot longer then I’ve been alive. I had to read about the Bodo trophy and it’s significance and within the game fishing fraternity it’s a milestone. To say I’m proud of the little man is an understatement.












Fingers crossed this next season is even better. Three more months before they’re back.

[Coiloil37]

I just realised I reported on the same trip twice. I need to fish more…

[beerhunter]

I have followed this thread from the beginning. If you haven't looked at it before, start from the beginning.

I appreciate all the time and effort in posting these awesome experiences we will never see over here in land locked Alberta.

If you get a chance some of us who don't usually comment really appreciate viewing all the fun stuff you guys do.

Congrats to your family for all you fishing activities and accomplishments.

[58thecat]

Congrats on the accomplishments, well done!!!!

This does not come easy, many hours spent and the results say it all

[Coiloil37]

Originally Posted by beerhunter

I have followed this thread from the beginning. If you haven't looked at it before, start from the beginning.

I appreciate all the time and effort in posting these awesome experiences we will never see over here in land locked Alberta.

If you get a chance some of us who don't usually comment really appreciate viewing all the fun stuff you guys do.

Congrats to your family for all you fishing activities and accomplishments.

Thanks for the comments Mark. I enjoyed writing it up in spite of the fact it was a fair bit of effort to record the trips. It was never a thread with a lot of conversation although it used to get enough views that I knew people enjoyed (or at least were) looking at it.
I often appreciated the written record of what had happened as it helped me work through my evolution of a blue water fisherman and there were enough comments and PM’s to keep it going.
The last few posts didn’t see many views or comments and the last post regarding my son’s awards at the banquet received ZERO comments and very few views. That was when I decided it wasn’t worth beating a dead horse and took it off life support. I’m not posting here for me so if nobody wants to look or keep it alive I wont waste my time putting our “adventures” on here for people to see.

Keep in mind the last post was nearly a year ago.

There have been zero bumps since so it appeared my observation was correct and it has died and can likely remain dead.

Greg, as much as I appreciate the comment about Nolan’s recognition within our local club… that was posted last July…


It all seems like everything else in life. If something isn’t cultivated it dies. Sometimes we miss it, sometimes not. The community here seems to have decided it wasn’t worth their time to look at the pics, read the stories and make the scattered comment so we can let it be what it naturally became.


Because I’m here though.

In July Nolan was formally invited to Adelaide for the GFAA gala. I was down there on the Yorke peninsula supervising us drilling the first natural hydrogen well in the country and third in the world but couldn’t take my son to work so we didn’t go.

It was cool down south. Few highlights.


Pink sloughs from the salt and minerals





Did a bit of crabbing







Some salmon off the rocks with the boys after work.





If your not familiar with naturally occurring, pure hydrogen look up gold hydrogen here in Aus. It was a success and we are drilling a few more this year for them. They found both pure hydrogen and helium being produced by a bacterial reaction between the granite, saltwater and bacteria. It could be something in a few years if they work out the production and exportation of the gas. The South Australia gov is putting both money and infrastructure into this project and as it’s a fuel source with zero carbon emissions it’s obviously got people’s attention.


We did a bit of hunting with a buddy under the lights and filled the freezer just before the summer fishing kicked off. Unfortunately I was a bit rusty but still managed to knock a few down.







We then did our annual pilgrimage to Hervey Bay and it turned out the baby blacks never showed up this year. We found other species and made some memories.










We kept anchoring next to a beauty game boat but they had another ~30’ quad outboard center console they were fishing out of.




Shortly after I got home I saw them in a write up from the Hervey Bay tackle world.





Tough trip but it’s always nice up there. Still had to put the little man up front to try and see some babies in the shallows.






To be continued

[Coiloil37]

Next up was the start of our palegic season off the local. I took the boys and we had a tough go with the marlin but managed a few other fish






Then the QGFA and our local club put on a junior tournament. I entered the boys and we had a great day with perfect weather.

The final count





Of those 30 fish we tagged 15 of them and killed the only 3 killed in the tournament. So 18 of 33 fish across the fleet of 23 boats and 50ish contestants were landed on my boat. Naturally the boys took the inaugural trophy and about $700 in gift certificates.





On the boat the eldest was wearing this shirt




Once they realised we won the tournament they kindly requested he remove that shirt. Seems being beat by a small trailer boat with some Canadians hurt some pride.


Next up the GFAA trophies I alluded to arrived and they presented them in the monthly meeting by a GFAA executive




He won state champ small fry for capture and tag/release in 22/23 season.

Nolan was also presented with the first shirt given to a junior from the GFAA for tagging a fish.

Pierce was given one a few weeks later





Then we took momma bear and the little one fishing and Nolan showed them how to do it.





Then the missus showed him she knew.



The little one drove us over some bait schools where we loaded up the bait tank with livies.

[Coiloil37]

It glassed out and the dolphins put on a show. The girls loved it as they hadn’t seen it before.



The boys had a swim out in 150 meters of water.




Then we stopped at a fad on the way home and the wife turned a few bait fish into fish tacos






The groceries collected minus the green rockets.






Then we had many trips with mates and smashed a lot of everything. I didn’t take many pictures because I wasn’t doing this thread and I’ve seen plenty of fish







I took my mom and her partner for a day. Fishing with a few seniors was a change but we had a hell of a day. Amongst the tuna, wahoo and marlin we tagged 24 mackerel that morning. I was beat that evening.

[Coiloil37]

In January Nolan’s sail was recaptured a few miles from where he caught it. His tag is removed and a new one put in.




One of our many mackerel was also shot by a spear fisherman so he will get two recapture certificates at the next meeting we make it to.


The club also finally received one of his trophies from last year and presented it to him at the last meeting we were at.




They both won a bit of swag from the GFAA









The palegic season has wound down now and it’s time to focus on some hunting and some reef fishing. There is one month left in the clubs “year” and per the points Nolan is on track to win a few awards in the local club. They mentioned back in December he was the first junior to ever lead the “heavy tackle” category and now he’s a month away from winning it. We had one last trip two months ago and went deep to get some more heavy tackle points. We had a 200+kg black on the line and pierce was driving while I cleared the spread. They didn’t communicate properly and Pierce drove over the line cutting the fish off so we will cross our fingers for another month and hope his lead holds out.










Another week of work and we will head south to hammer some deer and pigs. The boys are practiced up with the .243 to shoot big game and the .22 for rabbits. Should be a bit of camping and hunting on the table then head north for reef fish if and when the weather cooperates.