AKFF BASH - South West Rocks February 2008

[Gatesy]

Guys

OK time for some information

Dates
They have a triathlon on from 14 - 17 Feb and the woman from the place i investigated strongly urged against coming on that weekend (place is packed and the accom is more expensive). This leaves the weekends of the 9th and 10th or 23rd and 24th of February. the prices for these 2 periods are below. I think we need some discussion as to which series of dates is better.

Accommodation
It seems SWR is a very difficult place to get accommodation and a number of places i called seemed to be totally booked for weekends from the start of January until Easter (end of March).

I found a place (happens to be one of the ones Davey G put in the other post) that have availability and the facilities sound similar to those down at the Barlings Beach

http://www.trialbay.com.au

The location of the place is in the attached link
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=e ... &z=14&om=1

At the moment they have accommodation in the form of cabins and powered camping sites and have a communal camping kitchen similar to Barlings. They even offered if there was a big group they could organise a pasta night or similar one evening for us in their Cafe.

Prices
Information is al follows:
Powered campsite - $28 per night (for 2 people) and $14 for every extra additional person on that site
Cabins - $120 per night (for 2 people) and $20 for every additional person in cabin

Deposits
They require $50 to hold a camp site and the first night cabin fee to hold a cabin.

Timing of bookings
The woman was very helpful in indicating that at about October the bookings start coming in thick and fast for the following year so if we are organising a big group we may want to try and book it before then.

Fish Species
We all know i am mainly going to be trying to get myself a marlin PB but there are a multitude of other species both estuary and offshore available at that time of year.

Some information relating to the pelagic species can be found at this website http://www.sportsfish.com.au/fishing/to ... rocks.html

In relation to chasing offshore species we will be at a distinct advantage because we will not be required to deal with the bar or the boat ramp which i believe caters some very cranky ramp ragers at this time of year. I would expect us to be able to make a launch from the surf and head out towards the Jail.

I am sure more information will come to light as this thread continues

I know there are a few AKFFers that live up that way and perhaps they could offer some more insight into the area and what it has to offer.

[Gatesy]

If someone could add information regarding the estuary options etc that would be great

[Davey G]

If someone could add information regarding the estuary options etc that would be great

There are also estuary options available.

There y'go Michael. Don't say I never do anything for ya.


I'm in - probably the later date is better although I'm flexi - I'll also be staying for 4 nights - probably head up Wednesday and come back on the following Sunday or Monday. Better get myself a gaff.

[Davey G]

some serios looking river systems around there as well. mulloway, flatties, bream, GT's, Mangrove jacks are all on offer.

roll on february!

[keza]

I Have fished here from the yak.
I stayed at the Gaol campground so launch from there.
If the surf was to big i had to head back into the bay and go quite wide around the breakwall.
On the way back in i would stow the gear and catch the end of one of the waves, what an amazing ride, goes on for ever.
A beach launch from a bit further round would be ideal.

kerry

[caught2]

Looks fantastic - I'm in for either set of dates, just lets decide asap and get our bookings locked in!!!

Don't know that I'll have the guts to go after marlin but.......hell, why not?

Kim

[justcrusin]

i'll need to confirm with SWMBO (she won't have a problem) so I'm in. Too chicken to chase marlin I will probably fish between the breakwall and the main beach.
Knowing my luck i'll hook a marlin in there and be totally undergunned

I have fished the esturary system at the other end of stuarts point and it was great fishing for the usual suspects, plenty of oyster racks to hit aswell up that way. Long drive from SWR but i can't see why the other end wouldn't be similar. Hat head isn't too far away i think the river there holds some good fish.

Cheers dave

[Gatesy]

I would like to emphasise that there is no pressure to fish for Marlin. There are many estuary options and other offshore species that don’t have sharp bills and jump.

All I meant is this will be the species I will be there to target. There is a good chance some of you guys live baiting for Cobia or Kingy’s will hook marlin and visa versa. I just think the smorgasboard of options of available at that time is brilliant and we should get up there and give it a go.

Cobia, Kingfish, Mackeral, Bonito, Tailor can all be caught there at that time of year.

[Davey G]

I would like to emphasise that there is no pressure to fish for Marlin.

Absolutely - I won't be targeting these buggers myself (hopefully kings, tuna and cobia), but when floating a livey out on the big blue wobbly you never know what will scoff it. If I happen to hook a marlin I'll hang on and enjoy the sleigh ride, then i'll cut the bugger off before he drags me to New Zealand.......

[kraley]

I vote for the 23rd-24th. I'll probably stay for about a week, tho.

Anyone totally against those dates? I just figure the water will be that much warmer.....

[caught2]

mmmm....cobia are good. I caught a 16kg one in the Gulf on lure - had very sore arms and nearly cried at one point and tried to give the rod to one of the guys, but they made me land it - I was glad later (when i stopped shaking).

Now something like that off a yak........could be a loooong tow.

[RedPhoenix]

A tentative possibly maybe from me at this stage (how's that for commitment!).

9 hours from CBR, 7 hours from Brisi, 6.4 hours from gold coast - could be an option for the brisi boys too eh?

Red.

[Gatesy]

The way i look at it, Barlings was pretty much a 5 hour drive for me. An extra 1/2 hour sure ain't going to kill me

[Dan A]

In regards to fishing spots, I haven't fish SWR area much yet but have been there a couple times.

You have the options of fishing "Back Creek", "Spencers Creek" and the Macleay river itself which is where I recently got my new PB bream, water is beautiful and clear.

Then you have places like Smithtown up river, and Kempsey for good Bass.

Look at Hat Head National park camping areas, I drove through there the other day, very nice camping areas and all facilities and right on the beach, from what I can tell that Tourist Park you will still need to drive to the water and if there are that many tourists around, I wouldn't be leaving my yak unsecured overnight.


Dan

[Dan A]

Oh yeah, I'll be there.

There is also a local Coastal Patrol which you can register with when going out and check in on return, which is good to have makes it that little bit safer.