Fishing Before Work

The title of this blip is a bit misleading. It is Fishing Before Work, not Fishing Before Work.

Get it?

Never mind.

I got up at 3am this morning and went out on the bay in my boat. Unfortunately for me it rained and when it rains on the bay there are squally wind gusts. So, there I was, about 1/3 of the way to Moreton Island when a squally rainshower hit. I took my shirt off and stowed it to keep it dry. It was pitch dark and because my boat is open and not that big, I headed back to the relative cover of StHelena Island. There I sat there shirtless in the rain and thought to myself: This is not much fun. It wasn't what I would call cold but the ocean was about 10 degrees warmer than the air temp. I was tempted to go for a swim. So I went back to port, trailered the boat and went home.

For a cup of tea.

By that time the worst of the rain had passed so I hitched the boat back up and went back down to the water. This time I braved the squally winds because I knew it would all calm down and sure enough, after sitting anchored for 15 minutes the wind died and I crossed the bay to Moreton Island.

I spent the next 3 hours fishing out there. Did I catch anything? No. Some things never change. I did however manage to track down some schools of baitfish thanks to the seabirds and I also saw my target fish, mackerel, thrashing through the schools of baitfish. These aren't the mackerel you get in a tin with tomato sauce. The mackerel I am after are a metre long plus and need some heavy gear to land. One would feed Jo and me for a week.

So as far as my fishing learning curve goes I can chalk up one for finding the fish but leave a blank for catching them. Maybe next time or maybe next summer. I am pleased that I found them and catching one might take a little longer. It is a fairly specialised field of fishing after all.

There trip to Moreton Island in my boat takes 50 minutes each way. About 25 km. This photo was taken on my way home (for the second time) about 8km for Manly Harbour. Distances are not what they seem on the water. The clouds are actually moving away from me but behind the were more squally showers coming through. It was 10.30am and probably a good time to call it a day.

This was all before work today. I had tried to get the day off but my boss was unavailable. Bugger! In the end I did a half day. It is very quiet at the moment. Too quiet.

Windy conditions are predicted for tomorrow so no boating. Maybe I will take my kayak up Lota Creek again in the morning and see what is about.