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Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Reports & Expeditions => Topic started by: Vic Levett on January 17, 2010, 09:00:21 PM
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We arrived around a week after Howler at Stanage . I got a bit side tracked at Awonga on the way up trying to get another metre Barra only to fall short by 2 cms . Kath my wife got smocked by a beast and we vowed we will return to torment that big mumma next season . We towed the Blackrat (6.8 m Noble center cab from South West Rocks and the drive in on the 100 ks of dirt was uneventful as it had been recently graded. I wouldnt like to be doing it now after all the rain and xmas rush We met up with Tony and Steve organized accom and then on the following morning we ventured forth to battle the legendary Shoalwater GTs . Howler headed south and we (Kyle 10 Zane 7 and Kath) east to the Percys . The ramp was easy all but the last 2 hours of the tide . Gts were at most of the fishy looking areas but staying connected or even connecting wasnt that easy . On average we would raise a dozen fish a day but 4 landed was our best . Halcos Dumbells and Nomad Stickbaits were the stand outs for casting distance , popperability ( new word) and strikes . We used standard Saltiga Expedition Rods and reels and 80 lb Cast man braid with 120 bit leader and twisty windons . In all we got dusted by 1 fish in Shite country and broke bite leader on 3.and they were at the knot, 4 turn Uni knot Owner error no doubt .
Each afternoon after fishing we would meet up with the boys to swap bullshit , fry up some coral trout, drink a few beers then crash out till the morning and do it all again . It was a great trip and the weather was perfect . We have llready committed to doing it again next year . The boats going to get an extra fuel and water tank and maybe some new springs on the trailer .
Word of note
If ya planning to go to Stanage take all your supplies and fishing gear .
its a Very Small Town
Cheers
Vic
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Well done Vic and family.
Great report and wonderful pics.
Awoonga is an addiction isn't it, my PB is 109cm caught casting a Classic in the sticks.
Ken
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awesome Vic with some good one's caught and a variety of fish caught obviously (with-out being rude).
i have heard and also from what i can remember, if you get or c or catch a Longtom(s) it mean's - very, very good quality and good temp, e.t.c water present in that area, just curious as to if anyone know's if that is true?
Vic,
just wondering do you know if there is or are any charter's which take angler's popper fishing at Stanage?
just wondering, what was the king caught on?
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good stuff vic. Nothing to beat a family trip! that Barra a beauty ! my favourite fish
Jeen
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Gday Sam Yepoon is the only port were u could charter a sportsfishing boat , and really its not that far away . Theres miles of country from Yepoon to Stanage and u probablly wouldnt need to go that far north to get into good GT fishing . Summer the best time of year for them and then its just a matter of getting good weather
Kingy was caught on Soft Plastic , i wouldve sworn it was a big GT . regards Vic
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Hey Vic,good work mate,some great shots there,always a kingy lurking around somewhere to catch to! ;)
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Nice report mate.
The picture of ur wife got a lot of views! but she has got a couple of nice fish
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Great Report, fantastic area.
I reckon the kids will remember it forever.
I know others will disagree, but for my money the coast between Yeppoon and Mackay is the best in QLD (and probably the whole east coast)
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Graham, would you stretch that to bowen?
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Allright ya dirty Perves ya suppose to checking out the fish not the chicks ..... concentrate !!!!!!
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Geoff,
If you removed about 3000 people from the Whitsunday Islands then yes definitely agree to extend my favourite area to Bowen. Might even jump over the Whitsundays and still add Bowen. I have only fished there a couple of times but had a great time, lots of options....and not many people. I think the first fish I caught out of my little tinnie at Bowen was a small GT.
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Hey guys
definately count Bowen in, i have a friend down there who i started GT popping and he regularly catches
fish between 10 and 20 kg from spots that get flogged by the locals, i would say even a little further north to
the Burdekin but not many options here unless you go to the reef
Cheers John
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When you head up to Stanage Bay or the country north of Yeppoon you enter a different time Zone, for much of the area you have to put your watch back about 40 years, and some spots you might have to go back 200 years.... a bit like some of the residents at Stanage.
Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area was purchased in the 1960's and since then the destructive predators (humans) have been removed.
I know Bowen is the best little country town on the coast, but not sure if its 40 years behind the times.
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Very well described Graham it does have that untouched feeling about it, a bit like when you head to
the eastern side of Cape York, you know that your not the first people to fish it but it sure feels
like it when you loose count of how many barra and jacks you catch after the first day !!!
John
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Great report and pics - awesome trip! Which model rod did you match to the 6500exp reel?
Cheers Cam
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top report and some solid fish there, those kids would still be smiling over that trip.
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It's quite apparent that the fish have generated little interest in your thread :D
Allright ya dirty Perves ya suppose to checking out the fish not the chicks ..... concentrate !!!!!!
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Anybody fished Stanage lately?
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Anybody fished Stanage lately?
nope, not lately - on the cards in the near future though I think
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Me neither.
Tried the outside coast just after Christmas but the water was still very dirty fron the floods.
Here's hoping for a good winter
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Did the dirty water make it up that far?
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Did the dirty water make it up that far?
I know a guy who knows a guy and he said the dirty water was visible on satellite images all the way out to the Swains...
nope, not lately - on the cards in the near future though I think
Damn - beat me to it!
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Nice trip Vic. Good that you can bring your family together on a fishing trip.
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Top Stuff Vic,
Good to see a DIY trip rewarded so well.
Pete
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The freshwater from the Fitzroy does some funny things when it enters the GBR lagoon. It basically flows north every time no matter wind or currents. About 30km due east of the river at Hummocky it was about 99% salt.
But along the coast it was at least as far as Island Head Creek. The satellites showed at least a stain all the way along the coast, almost continous. As far as I am aware the flood plume didn't go out to the Capricorn Bunker Islands and I would be very surprised if it made it to the Swains, thats 200km
Salinity around the Keppel Islands was down to about 50% seawater on the surface and the fresh effect was also down to about 10m.
When we were up along the coast we had the weird experience of the surface waters flowing north towards shoalwater, but about 10m down it was roaring south in the normal tidal pattern.
In general the fish love the fresh and we should have a very good year, but the increased turbidity and low salinity might have sent the GT's down too deep.
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Graham, do you fish for barra up there? Are you expecting good years to follow?
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Hi geoff,
We'll have to call the barra estuary Gt's to stay on topic, but yes I fish for barra and yes this will be the best year probably in the last 30 years. After the 1991 flood I was catching 2 or 3 good barra in my lunch hour off the rocks near work.There has been excellent recruitment from breedings in November 2008 2009 and 2010. There were huge numbers of undersize barra in the system which will now have been gorging themselves up on the floodplains for the last 2 months. We also had the unusual event of up to 50000 large barra go over the wall at Awoonga dam, survival rates are reportedly between 50 and 80%. Most of these fish were over a metre. These will also migrate and improve the estuary fishery.I believe its already a turkey shoot in the Boyne below the dam.
Only problem will be to see how the professional catch goes. the local pros are sensible and respectful, but courtesy of dumb QLD legislation as we get a few barra we get a huge influx of foreign net fisherman who pulse fish the hell out of the river.
Getting back to GT's we (capreef) have proven a link beyond doubt between improved catch rates on reef species and a big flood in the river. The effect lasts 2 to 3 years. it is not just better breeding as coral trout don't get to 38cm in 6 months. I think its improved growth rates, actively feeding and better recruitment, also possibly migration, but not really any tag data to prove it.
I don't see why this effect would not extend to GT's as the same improved conditions would apply.
So here's my tip....
We'll see the best GT fishing for a generation along the Capricorn Coast and Shoalwater Bay in the next 2 years....
Hows that for setting me up for a fall.
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Hi geoff,
We'll have to call the barra estuary Gt's to stay on topic, but yes I fish for barra and yes this will be the best year probably in the last 30 years. After the 1991 flood I was catching 2 or 3 good barra in my lunch hour off the rocks near work.There has been excellent recruitment from breedings in November 2008 2009 and 2010. There were huge numbers of undersize barra in the system which will now have been gorging themselves up on the floodplains for the last 2 months. We also had the unusual event of up to 50000 large barra go over the wall at Awoonga dam, survival rates are reportedly between 50 and 80%. Most of these fish were over a metre. These will also migrate and improve the estuary fishery.I believe its already a turkey shoot in the Boyne below the dam.
Only problem will be to see how the professional catch goes. the local pros are sensible and respectful, but courtesy of dumb QLD legislation as we get a few barra we get a huge influx of foreign net fisherman who pulse fish the hell out of the river.
Getting back to GT's we (capreef) have proven a link beyond doubt between improved catch rates on reef species and a big flood in the river. The effect lasts 2 to 3 years. it is not just better breeding as coral trout don't get to 38cm in 6 months. I think its improved growth rates, actively feeding and better recruitment, also possibly migration, but not really any tag data to prove it.
I don't see why this effect would not extend to GT's as the same improved conditions would apply.
So here's my tip....
We'll see the best GT fishing for a generation along the Capricorn Coast and Shoalwater Bay in the next 2 years....
Hows that for setting me up for a fall.
Graham, thanks for the detailed reply. Very informative. Thats great news about the "estuary gt's" and hopefully about the big real ones too
Do you ever pop the reefs off 1770- lady musgrave etc?
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Geoff - are you up this way in CQ?
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Geoff - are you up this way in CQ?
No mate, I am in brisbane. I've spent some time there over the years through work and travel.
One of my mates heads upto the reefs up that way regularly, I want to head up there with him and have a go at some GT's and reefies.
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Geoff,
I haven't fished south of Keppel Bay off Yeppoon for GT's. If you head south of Yeppoon you pass Gladstone boats heading north. If you head north of Yeppoon you pass....nobody.
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I hope one day I can go on a trip with my family like this.
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This years trip was cancelled due to family illness .. and sounds like we were lucky in respect to the crap weather Qland experienced . Yepoon and the reefs North will be our focus for years to come . Hopefully this year we will make the trip and spend more time exploring this amazing piece of Oz ,... Exmouth is the only other place that stirred such a desire to travel and fish ... Just remember that the only thing that stops us all to do such trips is ourselves . Commit ... we only get one chance in this world ... go and enjoy all this world has to offer ,,,.... all too soon we will cease to exist ....Lifes too short use it wisely
Regards Vic
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Exmouth is the only other place that stirred such a desire to travel and fish ...
Hi Vic, have you had the opportunity to fish Exmouth much?
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Been over there twice and managed to hook up with Matt and Jenny Gates (bluewater tackle ) .. great place and worth the hassle to get to
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Exmouth
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This years trip was cancelled due to family illness .. and sounds like we were lucky in respect to the crap weather Qland experienced . Yepoon and the reefs North will be our focus for years to come . Hopefully this year we will make the trip and spend more time exploring this amazing piece of Oz ,... Exmouth is the only other place that stirred such a desire to travel and fish ... Just remember that the only thing that stops us all to do such trips is ourselves . Commit ... we only get one chance in this world ... go and enjoy all this world has to offer ,,,.... all too soon we will cease to exist ....Lifes too short use it wisely Regards Vic
Never a truer word spoken - Love it !