G’day Crew!!
It that time of the year again and the silly season is here guys. Silly is how busy the shop has been the last few weeks it feels like there was never less than six people in the shop and that’s not including the staff.
The Marina has been humming lately. Lots of boats up on the hardstand having work done to them and loads of holiday makers staying in the marina villas taking advantage of the free ten metre berth you get when you book one of the villas. The town just seems to be getting busier and busier and that’s not just the holiday periods. I personally think it’s great to see and it’s great for the local economy too.
By now I’m sure you have all heard, we have been running the 2021 Tin Can Bay Tag A Jack competition. The comp kicked off on at 12am on Saturday 20 November after the briefing Friday night.
We ended up with 31 keen anglers and they got busy from the get go. By sunup we had about 15 recorded captures entered by some very keen anglers. The comp wrapped up at 11.59am on the 19 December and didn’t we have some cracking results in the end!
The group managed to tag 217 Mangrove Jacks at a combined length of 8194cm, an awesome effort by all involved. So, who won what I hear you ask….?
Longest Jack: Simon Williams 51cm
Longest amount of Jacks Tagged: Joe Hauzer with a total of 60 fish and they measured 2093.5cm. Also worthy of a mention for this category are the following anglers;
Simon Williams: 40 fish with a total length of 1690cm; John Maslen 37 fish with a total length of 1365cm; Malcom Kay 23 fish with a total length of 913.5cm.
Biggest Other Species: Shannon Dawes with a 87cm Barra
There were also a photo competition prizes up for grabs we had four sub winners and the main prize is now out on our Facebook page and is up for public voting. So, like n share Crew! The winner will be announced next week on our face book page.
Just a quick one to say thank you to all our sponsors for the comp, Shimano, Spotter Sunglasses, E.J.Todd, Profishent Tackle & Garmin Marine. Also, a very special mention and a BIG THANK YOU to the Tin Can Bay Fishing Club for the use of the BBQ facilities for the presentation and a special thank you to Jim and Debbie George for once again giving up their own time on Sunday to help out with the BBQ.
So, besides a heap of mangrove jack being caught what else has been biting? The rain sure has got things moving in the creeks. Reports of some great crabs getting flushed out have been coming in thick & fast.
Quite a few of our regulars have been smacking them the last week and many fisho’s have been getting their personal bag with ease. Reports from Snapper, Crab and Kauri creeks have all been producing. As always fresh baits are the key to consistent success.
Don’t forget that the personal bag limit for muddies is seven per person or fourteen per boat with two or more people on board. Stay updated with the latest rules and regs at www.daf.qld.gov.au
The cod have also been out in good number and make for a great feed if you are looking for a feed of fresh fish. Black spot & gold spot estuary cod or as I like to call them “Estuary Trout” are abundant in all our creeks.
I have been spending a bit of time up around Boonooroo the last few trips and we have had days where they are almost annoying as bycatch when targeting mangrove jack. Not that I will ever turn my nose up to my rod getting buckled and violently hit by any fish, that’s half the fun, isn’t it…? Cod aren’t the fussiest of critters and will eat almost any bait the is put in front of them, as long as it fits in their mouth it is fair game for them. Even if it does not fit, they will have a crack at making it fit. Lure wise we have been finding that 3.5’’ – 4.5’’ weedless rigged plastics like Zman Slim Swimz, Molix RT Shads & the Chapo Special Zerek Live Cherabin have been working the best in a variety of colours.
The reef stuff up around Inskip and The Bluff has been producing a few nice tuskies, cod and nanagi the last few weeks. Strip baits & livies have been working best for most fisho chasing a feed of reefies. Teebar Ledge has also been producing a nice mix of smaller reef fish. Slow pitch metal jig will also work well on these grounds and jig in the 30gm, 40gm are what you will be needing and maybe a couple of 60gmers if the tide is pushing. A personal favorited of mine are the Palms Slow Blatts Wides rigger with BKK Sea Rangers.
It shouldn’t be too long now till we start to see a few mackerel show up in The Bay and offshore. I know firsthand that the spotties and a few Spanish have arrived up in Hervey Bay and it should not be too long till we see our fair share. Our HookEm Planning Board have arrived just in time and will prove deadly on the mackerel especially trolling 3’’ spoons for spotties.
Well, that’s me done for this month, this year actually. Stay safe have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year all!! Enjoy your time off if you have any and spending time with your family and loved ones. As always if you are on the way to or from the ramp pop in for a yarn and let us know how your day was.
Tight Lines and a very Merry Christmas to you all
The Chandlery Bait & Tackle for all your boating and fishing needs.
Find us at the front of the Tin Can Bay Marina on Emperor St.
