On the road a gentlemen’s hours and on the ramp by 0830. The punters were already on the guide boats and the car park was looking to have about 20 trailers in it. We headed for the Rock Hole to see what was on offer. As I rounded a corner sat band in the middle of the waterway was a hire boat with two people fishing the Pandanus and lilies. I backed the boat off and came to a crawl as I passes them.
The GS at full noise only puts out a ripple but I didn’t want to scare these two avid fishers. 
Into the Rock Hole and out with the lures. Green Nilsmaster Spearhead on mine and the deckie tries his luck with near everything in his tackle box. The Rock Hole has lilies extending out further into the main basin which makes trawling a bit of a struggle and with 4.5m under you I wasn’t feeling the love as the environment was pushing me away from the 2.5-3.0m range I like trawling in when in the Rock Hole.
A couple of runs and no hits, so I head for the fence line. Trawling up on the right hand side to the fence line has always been old faithful for me. We began working the lures hard with the boat in and out of gear to keep the troll speed down. The big 21 in prop on the back of the 140 Suzuki is great for cruising but the troll speed is way too high. As I come up to a nice little open section I start getting tapped, so I drop the boat out of gear and work the lure as we drift forward. Next thing I’m on and in between the lilies and weed jumps a nice little Barra. We got him to the boat with not much of a fight. 53cm of Corroboree Barra and I have my pants for the day. I only just managed a lip hook up on him so the fish weren’t really interested in the lures. I’ve had them smack the lures and have them jammed in their throats.
Hardly any crocs out there compared to previous years, so maybe the fish are smaller in numbers?
We picked up a couple of smaller fish and then the wind picked up, so we headed for the cutting. I anchored up and started placing a Zman white frog into the back of the lilies and second cast I wake up a nice Saratoga. My weedless hook has decided to become fishless also. The Toga has the frog in its mouth but the hook is not set but the fish is dancing all over the water and I’m still connected because the frog is jammed in its mouth. I get it half way to the boat but it drops off. The wind then picks up more and I’ve had enough and we head home.
Nice day on the water topped off with a Burger with the lot at the Tavern and life is good.
Dex
