[Dodge]

After 3 weeks off the water wanted to roll the shoulder over after some repairs so thought a run on Coombabah might be a nice change from the freshwater, and my SP guru teacher LizardWizard said he would tag along for a late start to suit the making tide

Was nearly finished with equipping the Swing when LW arrived, was sucking on a tallie in brownpaper bag and in cheerful mood he went to the ramp and launched from the ramp with the yak cart.

He walked back 20m for a chat before departure on the merits of HBs [my plan] and SPs [his plan], while we yarned over his shoulder I spotted his Nomad about 15meters off shore, he was distressed to say the least, and after the same at Hinze Dam a few weeks ago I was :lol: :lol:... Dodge to rescue.

We finally headed off and I trolled a Poltergeist 35 without success, and spotted LW netting something up ahead 30 mins later, while my HB was bouncing over big pressure ridges on the bottom.

I had in the gear a Kokoda Shad SP that had come in a Kokoda fishing shirt pocket at Christmas and attached it because it had a larger head and 1/0 hook, within 300m I had my first ever SP lizard in the net at 38cms, so had to put him back, another 100m and another strike, anther 200m and a third strike.

We landed on a dry bank for a cuppa and a yap, and this SP apprentice told the teacher that full yak control from the outset, as well as 2 misses and 1 landed, were better than his lonely small trevally; he intended to re-assert after our break.

On the return there was a very bad patch of language from the Wizard when he missed a couple of strikes, while I carried my lucky form with a 35 flathead...so nothing for home but a fantastic day on the water with a lot of laughs, and the only downside is I think the FF is playing up so a warranty claim maybe

 

[Peril]

Congratulations Richo, a legal sp lizard can't be far off. If its any help, drifting a few metres out from mangroves and casting lightly weighted stickbaits (eg 3" power minnow in pumpkinseed or bloodworm) along the mangroves and working them back with the current has worked for me and my crew

 

[hairymick]

Good on ya Richo, Congrats mate on the SP breakthru. Legal lizards can't be far off Up here they seem to like the gulp minnow grubbies in white. I use em with a 1/32oz jig head.

These are about the only SP that I have had any real luck with.

 

[PoddyMullet]

Nice read Dodge. The Wizard's yak is really sticking it to some of the great Ghost Ships of the world, ranking right up there with the Mary Celeste :wink:

 

[LizardWizard]

shame kept me away overnight...

i thought the beer would give me superhuman fish catching ability and "no fear".... instead, it turned me into a useless giggling mess.. for a while at least.....

it was great getting a second chance to head up to the Coombabah Lakes.. what i wasnt ready for was a second deep water baptism.

luckilly dodge was with me and pointed out the interesting floaty drifting downstream, at first i thought "oh hes pointing out a splash of fish or something" . but NOOOOooooo it was my kayak.. adrift.. AGAIN !!!

after retrieving the yak using the anchor as a towing line, we quickly headed out for some heavy duty fishing.

after pulling in a 15 to 20 cm trevally, i knew i had too bright a colour on, and after meeting again with Richo, we decided to change our colours. i went to the bloody sandworm, while he changed to an "el cheapo" lure that came free in the pocket of a shirt. originally designed as a packaging material, he decided it was worth a try (cant do worse than nothing).

his plan worked well, landing a decent flathead, so now he has the right lure, and the right depth, amazing considering his sounder was playing up, showing 18m when it was really 2m.

an hour or so later i reached what looked to be a good flathead spot, and with a few casts ofver the 6" deep plateau, i did get a few good strong nibbles, but nothing would swallow the hook... with a walk over the area i notice small whiting everywhere.. lot and LOTS of them.

Dodge caught up and we decided to have morning tea, while checking out the terrain we decided to go only a little further and then return.

i went just a little further than Dodge and saw the signs for the environmental park, Dodge got the head start on the return, and on the return jouney he lost a few minutes.. to some good fishing, and to some even better snags.

on the return as we reached the spot we ended up last time, i had some serious bits happening, something huge just wouldnt let go. until it was 15 m from the yak.. dammit !!
every cast was getting hit continuously, but nothing would take the lure.. this was getting frustrating... @#*$%^~%*#@ !!!!!

what was really annoying me most was that Dodge pointed out he had disturbed a 65cm flathead, that was first identified as a "lie" until it moved !! so i KNEW there were big flathead there. they obviously hadnt heard about me yet though

with a small distance to go i continued with a steady paddle , and nearing shore (like 5m away) i got snagged on a bouy chain, my luck was bad starrt, and now with a matching finish, i couldnt position to retrieve the line and paddle same time.. im in serious need of a hobie.... i snapped off the line, then paddled over and retrieved the lure from the top of the chain...

at the end of the day the only thing lost by me was a 20cm flathead, that was looking at the net, but never got the chance to get cozy in it, and some pride (1 kayak adrift, and 1 snag)

i love the days out with other kayak fishermen, but i really need to remember to moor the kayak better, i think i will get back into the habit of tossing the anchor to shore before i go a for a walk. it could have been worse.. Dodge could have taken a photo, but kindness to return the yak got the better of him, or was it just that he forgot that its moments like these.. anyways it was a great day out, looking forward to another go on the salt before i prepare for Wivenhoe.

sorry guys, no pics, just a good story.

 

[yakfly]

guys
those touches but not hookups were probly whiting had a similar experience in the pimpama a couple of years ago.try the smallest squidgy wriggller or similar in jellyprawn(gold) colour,worked wonders as they hammered them,flatties didnt mind them either.Could be due to prawn breeding season finishing and the small ones coming back up the estuarys

 

[troppo]

Good story Dodge and LizardWizard. I think the way LizardWizard has trained his yak is the secret to his success. He just puts it near the water and it goes finds the fish. Bit more training and his yak will wait patiently for him while he chats.

Dodge, I think your mistake, if you don't mind me saying, was in bringing the yak back to LizardWizard when it was on the scent of a big flattie. Probably bettter if you had simply followed it around and caught the fish it was tracking, not catch the yak.

 

[YakAtak]

lol Troppo
Nice weather for a paddle at the moment, hope I get a chance to get out before heading up north.

 

[Scott]

Dodge/Wizard, good report guys.

Troppo, man you crack me up.

Catch ya Scott