Email: out a lot and plenty of fish caught. Mackerel were abundant at the beginning of the month
but have gone quiet for a while now. They have been replaced by multitudes of small yellow-fin
tuna around 3kgs, hitting anything that moves. The continuous hook ups are a bit annoying for
those after better fish but lots of fun on lighter gear.
Christmas Mac Attack
Chad Stonehouse and 6 mates were up over the Christmas New Year break, taking the 7.8m for 5 days.
Here they are heading out early one morning in the 7.8m.
Chad writes in an email to me:
“We rented a house in town and hired the big 7.85m Bamba Zonke from Murchison Boat Hire, awesome boat heaps of room and deck set out
spot on. The weather looked bad as we rolled into town but after a quick chat at the tackle shop got told that it would
blow its self out tonight and be good for the morning . Early start fishing was slow as we trolled the Sand Patch
and cliffs only picking up a small long tail tuna and some spotted mac no sign of the spanairds.”
So next day we headed a bit more north than the Sand Patch and a little deeper around 23m found some bait fish jumping everywhere so
worked that for a while and nothing so headed away from the bait then to have 4 rods screaming off, we landed all
the fish. The biggest one being about 10kg
Most of these Mackies where caught on triple hook ups even four rods going off at the same time and all landed.
The pink 7m diving lures worked the best as did a 3m gold one. We where getting our biggest ones north of the Sand
Patch.
Next couple of days we bagged out before 9 o’clock with 6 to 8 mackies on board heaps of triple hook ups, a
lot of small long tail around so all in all had a awsome time, will definitely come back next year.”
One incident happened when one crew member tried to remove the lure from a raging amberjack
with his bare hands. Cost them a trip back to the Medical Centre to get it removed!
The rest of the crew went out again after that.
Outriggers
I am in the process of fixing up the outriggers I bought last month. Repainting, rebinding etc.
The stainless steel brackets will be fixed to my 7.8m boat and will be offered as an optional extra to hire for those
who want to chase marlin and sails up north.
Optional extras?
Flying visit to Kalbarri.
Paul Seamer rang to say he was on his way up at the end of the week and wanted to grab a boat, my accommodation and just fish.
The long range weather report looked good so he dully arrived with mate Clint Olszowy. Unfortunately the forecast high
moved a bit quicker and it was quite ugly on the Friday, but we went out and had a go taking the 7.8m due to the conditions.
Experimenting with a few different methods a deep heavy metal jig was savaged by something big and just as the fish
came into sight Clint dropped it. He was doing all the right things, just bad luck!
A spotted mackerel kept us interested but in the end we came in defeated by the green water.
The Almanac showed a major bite time as we were returning so I suggested to Paul to tie on a popper for
a shot at a tailor at Black Rock. It did not take long, second cast and 4 or 5 greenbacks followed the popper in.
Third cast, hook up! Paul shows off the first.
Clint then takes the rod for a shot. A couple of casts and a monster greenback misses the popper, but this smaller one gets it instead.
Paul’s turn again; bang this big one hits the popper, about 4kgs. It was followed in by a smallish sambo.
Clint then takes the next cast, he is about to lift the lure from the water after his first cast when the sambo hits
it from under cover of the boat! Bang back under the boat, screaming drag, too much pressure, something’s
got to give, bang, bust off round the front of the boat! It was fun, but no more poppers!
(Paul had a great trip in the 6.1m boat last year in Exmouth with one of the crew landing a Marlin just out the
entrance to Tandabidi boat ramp.)
Small tuna, dirty water
Mike Safy, and his family group asked for a trip out early January. With the water still green and the wind up and no alternative day,
we had a go out at the 3 mile reef. Things were looking promising when some birds started to form up, but not much happened.
We then made a move to the Red Bluff/Pot Ally area where the day before I had seen schools of baitfish on the surface.
A little yellow-fin first up to Chris Ray,
then a second hook up to Quinten Ray and Rod Ray got his reeling in his lure.
The 4th tuna went to Chris and then again a bigger fish that was giving Chris a bit of stick, only for it to go around the props of the 7.8m
and busting off without a sighting. Wonder what it was? Mike Safy waited patiently for his lure to go off, but without a sniff all day!
Testing the waters 
Out for a social fish with Jason Agrela, we picked up a small mackerel
and a little yellow-fin on 2kg line. More practice for the forthcoming Kalbarri Sports Fishing Classic next month
Ockey Jigs perfected
It’s taken me a while, but I have at last got my Ockey Jigs perfected. I am sure you all know how
effective they are, I wouldn’t be making them for myself and for sale if they didn’t work.
Designed for medium and deep water, getting down fast, just imitate an octopus moving from rock to rock.
They get hammered by snapper, dhuies, cod, baldchin, and mackerel when pulled up fast.
Available from the “Boat Shed Shop” or by mail order. Just ask, $8.50 each.
Kalbarri Offshore & Angling Club Monthly Comp.
The Kalbarri Electrical Services Ultralight
The Ultra light this month fell on a couple of very ordinary days, just after the little cyclone late this month.
It was a slow morning but Jason started the day well landing a very nice dolphin fish on 4 kg line, winning his section.
See the Bite of the Month below for details.
Sue opened her account with a little yellow-fin on 2kg line that went just over 3kgs. Then landed another on
2kg line to win the 2kg line section with ease.
I got one on 2kg line class, but not good enough to beat Sues, and any caught on 3kg line
just did not break the 3kg minimum.
The river section produced a 1.3kg bream for Cheryl
and a mulloway for Di.
This month goes to Jason for his unusual catch. Trolling out on the 9 mile during the
Ultra Light comp this 7.3kg dolphin fish took his scorpion 125 on 4kg line.
Putting up a great aerial display and dogged fight on 4kg line, this was
a great meritorious catch.
See all the previous Bite of the Month winners on my website.
First Time Tourist
Chris Kimberley-Bowen hales from England and was over visiting brother Rafael who organised a trip out for the day.
Only day available was just after a couple of real nice days and as you can see in the pics, the wind picked up
and the swell increased, but the water was clear! Having never caught anything bigger than an English mackerel so he was in for a surprise when a 10kg mac struck his lure!
Wrestling it in without a pump and wind action look some time,
but a quick photo and release after made his day.
Brother Rafael got his a few minutes later; equally please with himself, releasing it as well.
Well done guys in difficult conditions.
8 guys 3 days cyclonic weather
Les Nel brought a bunch of mates up last week end, rented my accommodation and the 7.8m boat,
They picked the same week end as the Ultra Light just after the cyclone, luckily having the 7.8m making it dry and comfortable. (Leaving me the 6.5m to get wet and bashed around!)
The first day they only scored a spotted mackerel, but the conditions were bad.
The second day was the first day of the Ultra Light and they followed me out to the 3 mile, with the intention of
getting out to the 9 mile. The wind was up and we had 3 spotted mackerel within an hour so we all stayed
at the 3 mile hoping for more action, but to no avail.
Third day I was determined to get to the 9 mile regardless of the weather so we pushed through it, only to find the day improving
every hour. The day started very slow but we got the dolphin fish early and Les got into a couple of small tuna. Just after lunch it was like flicking a switch!
Little yellow-fin all over the place, boiling on the surface, birds working, double hook-ups, crossed lines, lost lures, the lot.
They were all about this size, with the pink lures working the best. They landed 12 yellow-fin on the 7.8m boat, their bag limit with 6 on board.
Utilising the filleting table at my accommodation. It’s all set up for anglers with freezer, filleting table, boat wash down and you get boat hire discounts if staying here.
Popular Northern Destinations
Thevenard Island
There are new managers at the Onslow Mackerel Motel, Colin and Rosa will now look after you on the mainland.
Rosa will take your accommodation booking if you would like to visit. Phone her on 9184 6586
Colin will sort you out with a lock up storage area for trailers and your vehicle when you are at the island.
Drew is still the Island manager: 9184 6444.
This year the 6.1m and 7.8m boats are already booked for Thevenard Island but there are still spaces available for adventures in this great place.
bookings@mackerelislands.com.au
Check out the website: http://www.mackerelislands.com.au/
Gnaraloo Station
Gnaraloo contacts for accommodation:
Barbara: 9315 4809
Email: bookings@gnaraloo.com.au
Website: Gnaraloo.com.au
Game, Bottom and Beach Fishing Action
These links will take you to Youtube showing some great action video clips taken from
my boats and also a very good mulloway from the beach.
Triple tuna hook-up
Dhuie and snapperBeach mulloway
