Monte Bello

[Tim Mitsopoulos]

Hi guys.
Have any of you fished Monte Bello islands off WA, how did you find it for popping .
I'll be going there for my first jigging / popping mothership trip ( for the matter my first jigging popping of any kind    ) .Would you have to go as heavy on the popping rod as you would in the Coral Sea etc .
I was thinking of using 50 - 80 lb braid on my popping rod over there as i understand the fish don't get as big over there .Was going to pop my cherry over there before upping the anty and heading over to the GBR with 100lb + lines for the big bruisers.I'll be using either a custom Calstar 700H or the new Shimano GT rod with a Stella 10000.

[MikeOsborn]

Post a report and some pics when you get back please Tim......

I have been thinking of a surf trip there

[Tim Mitsopoulos]

Will do for sure Mike , but will have to wait a while as the trip won't be until Aug/Sep next year.
It's being organized by one of the Complete Angler stores down here in Melbourne.
At least it gives me some time to aquire all the  correct tackle .

[Zac Chilvers]

Hi guys.
Have any of you fished Monte Bello islands off WA, how did you find it for popping .
I'll be going there for my first jigging / popping mothership trip ( for the matter my first jigging popping of any kind    ) .Would you have to go as heavy on the popping rod as you would in the Coral Sea etc .
I was thinking of using 50 - 80 lb braid on my popping rod over there as i understand the fish don't get as big over there .Was going to pop my cherry over there before upping the anty and heading over to the GBR with 100lb + lines for the big bruisers.I'll be using either a custom Calstar 700H or the new Shimano GT rod with a Stella 10000.

Hi Tim
I have fished the Montes about 6 times now it's about 75km from my home town and go over there in a mates boat. I use a 700h and Saltiga expedition with 80lb, the fish around the islands and monopods from what I've seen wouldn't be any bigger than around 30kg, but I'm sure there are some bigger. There are also heaps of trout mangrove jacks etc inside the islands that will take poppers. I would like to try up around the north end more and get out to Tryal rocks looks to have more potential areas for GT's. Jigging around the monopods that are on eastern side is good for all types of trevally and a few reef fish cod etc. It's a lovely spot over there and you should have a ball ,I'm hoping I get out there a few more times next year.

Cheers Zac

[Hal Harvey]

Tim, if your email can handle a 3mb email, I'll send you a little video of some GT stuff at Tryal Rocks - might make you keener on loading up with 80lb... send a pm with your email address if you want.

[Tim Mitsopoulos]

Sounds good Zac , not too sure on which area we will be fishing compared to were you have been but was told from the last group that went there that there was plenty of smaller gt 20kg ( big to me ) , coral trout , and Spanish Macs. They had to use a small section of wire on the end of there leader  as the Spaniards were making off with the poppers and jigs intended for the GT's.

Hal thanks for the offer , just PM'd you my email.

[Tim Mitsopoulos]

Got the vid Hal on Tyral rocks ,looks like a fun area . Costly exercise for the guy in the vid , he should of been on 80lb gear instead of 30 lb no chance at all.
Will be happily setting up all my gear with 80lb.

[Jay Burgess]

G'day Tim what charter company did you organise the jigging/popping trip through?? I've looked into it before but only found crews that wanted to do bottom bouncing. The only option for me was to take a private vessel as I live close by but would be good to do a charter as it's the closest decent GT grounds to here.

[Tim Mitsopoulos]

G'day Tim what charter company did you organise the jigging/popping trip through?? I've looked into it before but only found crews that wanted to do bottom bouncing. The only option for me was to take a private vessel as I live close by but would be good to do a charter as it's the closest decent GT grounds to here.

Jay i'm not organising the trip , the guys at one of the Complete Angler stores in Melbourne i go to are doing all that.
They did the same charter this year with great success .
Once i get the full confirmed details i can let you know about it if you like by PM  such as price , boat dates etc.
So far it looks like 7 days fishing from the 2nd - 8 th August 08 ,whole trip from Melbourne will take from the 1st - 9 th August, another trip in Sep but that is already booked out by the guys that went this year.

[Jay Burgess]

yeah mate if you could let me know the details when u find out that would be good.

[Jay Burgess]

Hi guys.
Have any of you fished Monte Bello islands off WA, how did you find it for popping .
I'll be going there for my first jigging / popping mothership trip ( for the matter my first jigging popping of any kind    ) .Would you have to go as heavy on the popping rod as you would in the Coral Sea etc .
I was thinking of using 50 - 80 lb braid on my popping rod over there as i understand the fish don't get as big over there .Was going to pop my cherry over there before upping the anty and heading over to the GBR with 100lb + lines for the big bruisers.I'll be using either a custom Calstar 700H or the new Shimano GT rod with a Stella 10000.

Hi Tim
I have fished the Montes about 6 times now it's about 75km from my home town and go over there in a mates boat. I use a 700h and Saltiga expedition with 80lb, the fish around the islands and monopods from what I've seen wouldn't be any bigger than around 30kg, but I'm sure there are some bigger. There are also heaps of trout mangrove jacks etc inside the islands that will take poppers. I would like to try up around the north end more and get out to Tryal rocks looks to have more potential areas for GT's. Jigging around the monopods that are on eastern side is good for all types of trevally and a few reef fish cod etc. It's a lovely spot over there and you should have a ball ,I'm hoping I get out there a few more times next year.

Cheers Zac

G'day Zac, if your mate ever has a spot free on his boat let me know  Would love the opportunity to fish the Montes with other mad keen GT fishos