Ph: (08) 9937 2043MURCHISON BOAT HIRE MAY 2009 ELETTER
Marlin Trip
My long awaited marlin trip turned out a success in the end. I considered Success as actually getting one to the boat over the 10 days.
None of us had caught one before; we knew the theory, the area, had the right tackle, the right boat but no experience.
It took us a while but it happened in the end.
We stayed at Yardie Homestead Caravan Park, in one of the units that are fairly basic but adequate for our needs. The park has a swimming pool and a shop with limited stock, but handy for bread and milk etc. Located on the West side close to Tandabidi Boat Ramp. This is our trip and my assumptions. I am no expert and I am only telling it as we experienced it. More experienced anglers may have other and better ideas.
The gear we used were Penn 50TW Internationals, Tiagra 30s and similar loaded with 24kg mono. We also used a Stella 20000 and a Riobi Safari spinning reel. The spinning reels were invaluable for dropping back baits, and accounted for most of the fish caught.
My long awaited marlin trip turned out a success in the end. I considered Success as actually getting one to the boat over the 10 days.
None of us had caught one before; we knew the theory, the area, had the right tackle, the right boat but no experience.
It took us a while but it happened in the end.
We stayed at Yardie Homestead Caravan Park, in one of the units that are fairly basic but adequate for our needs. The park has a swimming pool and a shop with limited stock, but handy for bread and milk etc. Located on the West side close to Tandabidi Boat Ramp. This is our trip and my assumptions. I am no expert and I am only telling it as we experienced it. More experienced anglers may have other and better ideas.The gear we used were Penn 50TW Internationals, Tiagra 30s and similar loaded with 24kg mono. We also used a Stella 20000 and a Riobi Safari spinning reel. The spinning reels were invaluable for dropping back baits, and accounted for most of the fish caught.Lures were pre ordered from Bluewater Tackle in Exmouth. Matt Gates and Jenny Lerch will supply info regarding tackle and stuff, so it is best to get your gear from them, as they have the local knowledge and will supply what’s hot at the time. Prices are much the same as in Perth.
The Riobi Safari and Stella 20000 in actionThe first day the bite was hot and we got numerous hits on lures but we were a bit inexperienced and dropped them all. The rest of the week we noticed that the water had turned green and the strike rate dropped off dramatically. We switched to baits and found the strike rate improved as did the hook-up rate.
Skipping gardies and waiting waiting waiting. I made up a couple of mini outriggers from old broken rods with an outrigger clip fixed to the end. It is important to be able to immediately drop back the baits once a fish strikes. We found that the big overheads gave too much resistance even in free spool and the fish often dropped the bait. The spinning reels, with the bail arm open let line out without any resistance allowing the fish to swallow the bait.
The baited rig we used was a standard garfish attached to the biggest chemically sharpened circle hook we could find by a no. 32 rubber band through the eyes. 300lb leader attached to a clip on a 300lb wind on leader, loop to looped to a Bimini Twist double.
Trust me: these fish go off the scale when they feel the weight come on!
A lot of the time is spent down deep but with explosive jumps when they come to the top.
Any where between 70 and 120 metres deep is the norm. We also found ground that went up and down very steeply from 100m down to 160m and out of the range of the sounder. Most of our strikes came from this area but on the top side around 100m to 120m. Numerous spots we tried were: West of the light house, The Steps, North West of the light house and South West of Tandabidi ramp. My GPS on the 7.8m boat now has all the spots that we got strikes so you can just go to them and put the lures or baits out.
I also got a really big sailfish! A strong easterly kept us in close and we trolled gardies for sails between 35m and 50m. This one hammered my gardie on my Stella 20000 giving me an hour’s work out. When the easterly died down we moved out to the marlin grounds and I got the bigger of the three marlin landed for the trip!
The new ramp at Tandabidi was a pleasure! We managed to launch and retrieve even at close to low tide, though a launch at a very low tide is asking a lot.
Paul Youngman celebrates his first marlin release right on dusk, with his Riobi Safari, circle hook and 50lb braid with crew Daniel Jenks and Ashley Van Viersen.
The second day we had about a 1000 dolphins around the boat, they all took turns surfing the bow wave in front of the boat. The water colour shown here is what it should be, but for the rest of the week it was a bit greenish. All in all, marlin fishing is quite achievable and economical from a small boat without the great expenses of a fully equipped game fishing charter.If you are considering doing it, feel free to give me a call and I will help out where I can.
Yardie Homestead Caravan Park – 08 9949 138
P.O. Box 925 Exmouth WA 6707
No website or email yet.
The Warroora Station Lagoon from a high spot, where the 7.8m boat is moored.
They got into some good fish. Kevin and his group are Gnaraloo regulars and decided to try somewhere new. They did not have to go too far out, but they said the ground was not as good out from the station as they have seen out from Gnaraloo. Accommodation is a bit cheaper but the logistics of travelling down from Coral Bay, mooring the boat and then getting to it with a smaller boat each day was a bit of a pain. The lagoon is not that well protected so receives a fair bit of swell on the beach, so bringing a big boat to the beach is not an option. 
One km of long, boring, flat, treeless, straight, uneventful, goat ravaged country not far from Overlander Roadhouse. 1 thirteen hundredth of the trip!
A small spares kit will now be included with each hire going out of Kalbarri.
No website or email yet.
Warroora Station
After my Exmouth trip Kevin Hick was waiting at the Coral Bay turn off as arranged and he took over the hire of the 7.8m saving me the tow all the way back to Kalbarri. Launching in Coral Bay, Kevin and the group drove the boat 40k south to Warroora Station Lagoon while the rest of the group drove their vehicles to Warroora Station Homestead. The boat was left on a secure
mooring and they fished out from there each day with a couple of other boats.
After my Exmouth trip Kevin Hick was waiting at the Coral Bay turn off as arranged and he took over the hire of the 7.8m saving me the tow all the way back to Kalbarri. Launching in Coral Bay, Kevin and the group drove the boat 40k south to Warroora Station Lagoon while the rest of the group drove their vehicles to Warroora Station Homestead. The boat was left on a secure
mooring and they fished out from there each day with a couple of other boats.
The Warroora Station Lagoon from a high spot, where the 7.8m boat is moored.They got into some good fish. Kevin and his group are Gnaraloo regulars and decided to try somewhere new. They did not have to go too far out, but they said the ground was not as good out from the station as they have seen out from Gnaraloo. Accommodation is a bit cheaper but the logistics of travelling down from Coral Bay, mooring the boat and then getting to it with a smaller boat each day was a bit of a pain. The lagoon is not that well protected so receives a fair bit of swell on the beach, so bringing a big boat to the beach is not an option. During the hire the hydraulic steering failed. They tried to repair it but lacking the right gear had to call for assistance. It was decided that the best option was for me to drive up, buy the brass fittings needed in Carnarvon, fix the steering and get them going quick. Well it was a problem getting the gear in Carnarvon but found it in the end, continued to the Station and repaired the steering. 1300km return trip, Half hour repair job and a $2.00 brass fitting did the job!
One km of long, boring, flat, treeless, straight, uneventful, goat ravaged country not far from Overlander Roadhouse. 1 thirteen hundredth of the trip!A small spares kit will now be included with each hire going out of Kalbarri.
Coral Bay Trip
While I was in Exmouth the 5.3m boat was in Coral Bay with Chris Glenn. They had a great time and have booked the 6.1m for next year.
Chris’s email says it all
The 5.3m boat was excellent for fishing at Coral Bay and we managed to get out 5 of the 6 days we were in town. The colour sounder helped us pick out the spots to fish as the ground was predominantly flat and we needed to look for “clouds of fish sitting off the bottom.
The first couple of days were spent fishing at a couple of spots that were already on the GPS and we picked up a couple of rankin cods and a heap of charlie courts. My Father-in-law and Brother-in-law also pick up a big sand snapper and a few small sharks which were a lot of fun and made some beautiful curry. We spent a bit of time on each day trawling and I picked up some fun small Tuna, unfortunately we didn't get any mackerel while trawling.
The rest of the time we fished some spots that showed nice colour on the sounder and managed to bag out on Spangled emperor up to 69cm. I also picked up a 1.2m Mackerel and my dad got a 70cm Queenie while floating whole mullies down a burley trail.
One of the boys hooked something big on the last day and nearly managed to spooled, I think he learnt his lesson and will be using stronger line next year.
While I was in Exmouth the 5.3m boat was in Coral Bay with Chris Glenn. They had a great time and have booked the 6.1m for next year.
Chris’s email says it all
The 5.3m boat was excellent for fishing at Coral Bay and we managed to get out 5 of the 6 days we were in town. The colour sounder helped us pick out the spots to fish as the ground was predominantly flat and we needed to look for “clouds of fish sitting off the bottom.
The first couple of days were spent fishing at a couple of spots that were already on the GPS and we picked up a couple of rankin cods and a heap of charlie courts. My Father-in-law and Brother-in-law also pick up a big sand snapper and a few small sharks which were a lot of fun and made some beautiful curry. We spent a bit of time on each day trawling and I picked up some fun small Tuna, unfortunately we didn't get any mackerel while trawling.
The rest of the time we fished some spots that showed nice colour on the sounder and managed to bag out on Spangled emperor up to 69cm. I also picked up a 1.2m Mackerel and my dad got a 70cm Queenie while floating whole mullies down a burley trail.
One of the boys hooked something big on the last day and nearly managed to spooled, I think he learnt his lesson and will be using stronger line next year.
Cheers. Chris.
CSIRO Field Trip
Scientists from CSIRO needed a research dive boat and were set on a Preston Craft design. They needed to test out a boat before committing and contacted me for a short hire to see what the boat was like and how it handled the conditions out from Tandabidi in Exmouth.
They are not permitted to endorse a product but this is what they had to say about the boat and their trip.
Perth scientists from the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship hired a 7.85 m Preston Craft for a research fieldtrip in Exmouth from 16-27 January this year.
The scientists were specifically interested in using this vessel to assess its suitability for their research in the Ningaloo Marine Park. During November 2007 an arrangement of acoustic tracking stations was deployed along Ningaloo Reef and at Coral Bay.
These acoustic receivers can pick up sounds from ultrasonic tags on a range of marine animals; however fish in particular have been targeted for this research.
In the previous field trips scientists have tagged over 250 fish, namely Spangled Emperor, Rankin cod, Trevally and reef sharks. During the January trip researchers expanded the types of fish targeted to include Buffalo Bream, Parrotfish and Cobia.
The scientists are using thin yellow tags about the size of a matchstick to tag fish.
The public are asked to assist the research by reporting details of any tagged animals (size, location, date, tag number) by contacting number found on the tag.
One of the aims of the research is to determine how the park zoning affects the fish targeted by recreational fishers in the Ningaloo Marine Park and whether the zones are in the most appropriate areas. The tagging program is supported through collaborations with the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) as well as Australian Acoustic Tracking and Monitoring System (AATAMS), which is part of the Integrated Marine Observation System (IMOS). The sea-trial proved successful and the Preston Craft was found to be well suited to their work demands, most importantly the vessel had good stability, high flow deck hose, plenty of deck space and environmental friendly four-stroke outboards.
"Photos courtesy of CSIRO"One of the tagged fish & they did send me a nice pic of the boat from a divers point of view
They are just about to take possession of their new 7.5m Preston Craft boat. It is a half walkaround with the cab to one side!
This is it above. I can’t say much for the colour!Bite of the month
Bite of the Month must surly go to Paul Youngman with his marlin taken during our Exmouth trip this month.Without a fish for the whole 10 days, and at 8 minutes to the agreed 6pm lines in, he took his hat off, threw it on the ground and said. “All right, that’s it, might as well reel in and head back!”
We all said, no, no wait; we still have 8 minutes left! Four minutes later he was hooked up to this fish, which gave him a thorough work out on his Riobi Safari and 50lb braid outfit!
See all the previous Bite of the Month winners on my website.
Gnaraloo Trip
John Desmond got an early trip in up to Gnaraloo Station, hiring the 6.1m boat.
He was the first to take up the steel mesh grates that I supply for hirers up there and he left them on the beach for anyone who needs them especially my hirers. I was in Exmouth during his hire but delivered the boat to the Kalbarri/Ajana turn off before I left. They had a few problems with a trailer bearing collapse, (first time for a hirer) but they just pulled the hub off and replaced it with the supplied spare hub that I give each hirer on any long trip.
Hi Laurie, no problems about the boat as we well know things can happen and at least you had the spare's for us to keep going.
I have attached a few photos of our trip for you.
The Red's were between 7kg & 8kg and we boated many.
The Red's were between 7kg & 8kg and we boated many.
The Rankin's were plentiful as well, even being a pest at some stages.
At one point we moved spot's because the Rankin's were like Blowie's.
Regard's John Desmond.
P.S. We look forward to once again hiring your boat (possibly next year? yet)
P.S. We look forward to once again hiring your boat (possibly next year? yet)
April School Holidays
The school holidays were very busy with all the boats out each day. This was mainly due to the great weather we had. The mackerel were out there in great numbers and some days it was a blood bath with so many mackerel being caught.
It’s great to see some of the kids getting into it and Michael Viljoen pictured below got his first ever mackerel.
Michael hales from Kalgoorlie so he doesn’t get much fishing done, and he did well fighting sea sickness as well as the fish.First mackerel blood (and lots of it)
Chris Dunbar was in Kalbarri for the first time ever. He is from Australind and has never caught mackerel before. Mainly a beach fisherman catching salmon around Australind, he considered using his beach rod on the 5.3m boat to troll for mackerel, but relented and hired a couple of my rods and reels, bought a couple of lures and had a ball!
First mackerel and above average size for Pete and Chris holds his first mackerel.Caught just out from the Sand Patch. Just following instructions that I gave him he said.
Thevenard Island
This year the 6.1m and 7.8m boats are already booked for Thevenard Island in the Mackerel Islands group off Onslow.
Helen will take your accommodation booking if you would like to visit. Phone her on 9184 6444
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
