Headed out from Buff Creek at 8am high tide last Thursday with 3 mates for a run to Cobourg Peninsula.Had glassy seas all the way and reached Vashon Head at 12.30, sitting on 40km/hr @ 4500revs- Boat did it pretty easy considering we were pushing 3.5tonnes this trip...So we decided to hit some reef we found a few years back, where we got a heap of coral trout 3 weeks ago.We got a few but they weren't as easy as last time, when we were disappointed if the colour WASNT red!!!!This time the Trickies and red throat emperor were more aggressive than last, so we decided to head in to Coral Bay and drop off some luggage we had bought around from town for a staff member at Seven Spirit Bay Resort...Took the good folks there, up on a feed and some , then anchored for the night keen for the next few days.....
Up early-ish and into the bacon n eggs, then went looking at some more reef, where once again if the trickies didn't get us , the sharks did.We were doing 500 metre moves and still caught one big fellow 3 times Got onto some nice goldies in a spot we never usually get them, which saved our day;and we picked up a cracking Spaniard trolling a Green/Black/Silver Rapala x-rap at Orontes coming back into Port Essington on sunset-a lure that is getting 75% of our hits.Decided on a quick feed of goldies in flour with lemon pepper spice tossed in a pan with hot olive oil, so simple but still my favourite, and so easy;Often wonder how it never tastes that good at home!!!!!Then we tried a mark inside the harbour that looked an ok bottom , and nailed a couple of nice jewies and goldies, before we dropped a couple more and they shut down.We moved a couple more times and got sharked, so pulled the pick and anchored up inside the bay again....and were rocked to sleep by Powderfinger live
Saturday we poked around Port Essington for most of the day, getting some queeenfish at Record Point and a feed of oysters at Smith Point, which were pretty good chilled and washed down with ice cold beer chasers.....Threw the mate up onto a bommie thinking he would bring back a bag full, but every time I went to check on his progress, all we saw was ol mate scoffing his face!!!!Then he called out to us for a pick up as he had busted the pliers;moral to the story is throw the skinny mate up next lap.......
We bottom-bashed a bit of ground just outside a bit further and had a frenzied little session on GTs, Skinny and Golden Trevors, on GT chunk baits, till the sharks spoilt our fun again Ol mate can cook a bit and dished up a Thai red curry, spring onion, and rice macky feed that hit the spot and after some pretty good Tarzan calls, and a 60s/70s request hour , the bar was closed..
Sunday saw us trying some offshore reefs for big trout , but again the sharks moved in on any action and if they didn't, the trickies did.We got a nice Spaniard on a Stripey under a balloon out the back, but it was pretty quiet till a storm came over and some nice goldies caused chaos for half hour.Most were over 700mm and pulled hard in the deeper water, nailing a big goldie we had cut up into fish baits.Once back in Coral Bay , we refuelled with some drums I'd had barged around a fortnight earlier, and took some Seven Spirit mates out for a fish on sunset, but got smashed by trickies, although they did pull some nice goldies and small jewies from among them.....Hit the sack way too late
Up early, we wanted to get past the Cape Don corner of Dundas Strait before the tide turned and ran against the west breeze, which we just did, although we did go over and hug Melville as it was going to be a long 100 km run down towards Hotham.We stopped bang on low tide between Condor and Cape Keith, cooked up a cracking feed of Coral trout fillets,tried for a bazza but failed, then pointed "Seastorm" home around the top of the Vernons.Pulled into Buff Creek with just enough water to get in, another good trip had by all.It definitely was sobering news to hear a couple of days later about Finatics boat going down , so all you fffrs be safe on the water, keep your life jackets handy, and triple check everything for everyones sake........

Nice post mate, I love reading about those remote trips!

awesome trip mate. looks like some happy lads!

How many Km's was it over to Cobourg? Just wondering if it is shorter to launch from Buff or come down the East Alligator.

Great post, you got love Cobourg not another boat in sight for days.

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Mate, they are awesome fish and a great post. I agree with cooking fish as simple as possible too.... yummo

Uniball we did 765km using 700lt for that trip.Is 150km to Cape Don Corner, 200km on the knocker to Seven Spirit Bay.It is only 5 km difference if you go around the Vernons instead of thru the mainland channel and past Hotham.Saves 60km from town (Dinah), and Leaders is 50km less again, but you do 50km to tow there and me thinks that road aint worth it mate-dunno via the East...

Thanks for the info mate. Has been in my wish list for a while.

Let me know next time your up Craig Im sure I could round up a crew for a bit of a trip. If not that far far then just far, I could hold 700 ltrs ok on a long first leg trip like that.

jeez those fish look tasty

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No worries AM-are you Pete's mate?Will go for another run 1st week of Feb if the weather is good but won't know til later.Be either Marie, Cobourg or maybe Pococks for a barra mate.Will barge some fuel to Coral Bay anyway, and use it in March if we don't get there in Feb. We will go for 5 days ok mate.

What a cracker post and some bl..dy nice fish

top stuff

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Cheers for the replies, always more fun with a couple of boats so while it is flat those trips are easier.And I couldn't speak more highly of the new management at Seven Spirit, they want to help you-it is their pleasure.....