Hi all we were at Neds Camp in the Cape Range National park to the west of Exmouth Gulf, @ about the same latitude as Rockhampton. Now this place is kayak heaven, in the lagoon protected by Ningaloo Reef, and infested with fish. The everpresent wind is challenging but good for the soul or something, despite all the names I call it.
Neds Camp is basic $9.oo a night for the pretty self sufficent camper, there are dunny's & thats about all. The WA National park camping areas have voluntary Camp Hosts who collect fees & allocate sites etc. The hosts @ Neds, Norm & Gwenda, have been here for 6 months of the year, for the last 19 years and are great. Attemdance at the 17 30hr happy hour while not compulsary, nearly is. We met people from all round the world, sitting beside the beach with the sun setting behind us, bliss.
On sunday I went for a fish, with a fresh NW'er I padled & flicked sp's around on the way out for no results, Then pulled it all on board and paddled out to the closest break. Where I hung off, just clear of the formidable break & flicked & spun various bits of expensive plastic around. I caught a smallish Charlie Court, a small cod, named after well loved WA former Premier, because of its large mouth and thick skin.
A little later I caught the mother of all Spangle Emperors, 53cm. The spanglie put up a gutsy fight for a while,& by the time I got it on board it was spent & hardly wriggled.
While trying to get it in a really big set came through, and several waves broke right across, I thought OH Great, but they dispersed themselves sufficiently before they got to me. But I was a bit dodgey for a time.
Another magic moment today was a large green wave, with the setting sun behind it
with a squillion big fish surfing the wave in; brilliant.
The next day while paddling home with a nice Spanglie, & Charlie court and trolling a 5in SP, with the rod in a Berkley rod holder, The SP was hit by a golden trevalley, which shattered the base of the rod holder, releasing the rod which was disapearing rapidly over the side. As the rod passed me, I reched over & caught it. The golden did several big runs and cameback toward the kayak. I was checking the amount of line remaining on the reel, & braking with my hand around the spool.
I though with a really big fish I would just hold the rod tip toward the bow to ease the load on the fish. But I couldnt the rod was bent double generally towing me side ways for much of the time.
Anyway eventually I got it along side, & lifted it by the leader & tail, and it came on board as calm as you like. It measured at 97cm and I popped it back over the side & it swam off.
Neds Camp is basic $9.oo a night for the pretty self sufficent camper, there are dunny's & thats about all. The WA National park camping areas have voluntary Camp Hosts who collect fees & allocate sites etc. The hosts @ Neds, Norm & Gwenda, have been here for 6 months of the year, for the last 19 years and are great. Attemdance at the 17 30hr happy hour while not compulsary, nearly is. We met people from all round the world, sitting beside the beach with the sun setting behind us, bliss.
On sunday I went for a fish, with a fresh NW'er I padled & flicked sp's around on the way out for no results, Then pulled it all on board and paddled out to the closest break. Where I hung off, just clear of the formidable break & flicked & spun various bits of expensive plastic around. I caught a smallish Charlie Court, a small cod, named after well loved WA former Premier, because of its large mouth and thick skin.
A little later I caught the mother of all Spangle Emperors, 53cm. The spanglie put up a gutsy fight for a while,& by the time I got it on board it was spent & hardly wriggled.
While trying to get it in a really big set came through, and several waves broke right across, I thought OH Great, but they dispersed themselves sufficiently before they got to me. But I was a bit dodgey for a time.
Another magic moment today was a large green wave, with the setting sun behind it
with a squillion big fish surfing the wave in; brilliant.
The next day while paddling home with a nice Spanglie, & Charlie court and trolling a 5in SP, with the rod in a Berkley rod holder, The SP was hit by a golden trevalley, which shattered the base of the rod holder, releasing the rod which was disapearing rapidly over the side. As the rod passed me, I reched over & caught it. The golden did several big runs and cameback toward the kayak. I was checking the amount of line remaining on the reel, & braking with my hand around the spool.
I though with a really big fish I would just hold the rod tip toward the bow to ease the load on the fish. But I couldnt the rod was bent double generally towing me side ways for much of the time.
Anyway eventually I got it along side, & lifted it by the leader & tail, and it came on board as calm as you like. It measured at 97cm and I popped it back over the side & it swam off.
If you get a chance, get hold of a copy of the latest Western Angler magazine, as there's a good kayak fishing around Exmouth article that you should get some tips from ;-) 
