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Bribie Island #1

Thursday, 09 August 2007

Flathead found, exctly where you'd expect

Launch:	- 2:45 PM
Landed:	- 5.45 PM
Tide:	- 6:00 PM, High
Weather:	- Warm, 24 °C, Sth Easterly, 5- 10 knots
Caught:	- Flathead
Method:	- Trolling soft plastic lures at varying speeds

It's been at least 20 years since I've been to Bribie Island, but geographically at least, it's much like I remember. Even the dolphins are hanging around their same old spot. Having only a few hours spare to devote to the cause today, I decided to just put in a brief 2-hour afternoon stint in the protected inner side of the island. Launching from the boat ramp opposite the Bongaree caravan park I trolled a single soft plastic lure in a north direction towards the bridge, for the most part hugging the shoreline about 10 meters out.

The tide was moving in rapidly, so I didn't have to pedal / paddle much at all as I was swept towards the bridge. As fate would have it, my rate of speed was perfectly appealing to a nice Flathead, which took a 4" berkley shad soft plastic as I crossed the sandbars. At the ideal size of 36cm, this guy was a keeper for sure. I hooked another about 100 meters away from the bridge but let this one go to fight another day.

Flathead, taken near Bribie Island bridge

I'd been told of a nice hole under the bridge closer to the mainland side that can at times produce Snapper, so I made a beeline for that area. The closer I got to the bridge the more I could visualise how fast the current was really travelling, which was fairly powerful. I was able to hold position with a light kicking stroke, however, so although I had one on hand I didn't bother anchoring up, instead opting to drift soft platics over the proposed area. it took some time but eventually I did get a nice hook up and if asked to put money on it, I'd have called Snapper. I didn't get to find out, however, because my leader snapped soon after the bite. Hrmm...

I'd neglected to bring out any more leader lines with me so decided to retire that rod for the day. From that point I continued to fish around the bridge for half an hour before turning back and heading back to the launching destination.

With only one Flathead to show for my efforts I decided to put it on ice and wait to add to the collection before doing a cook-up. I'm going to spend this morning putting in some research and will determine a plan of attack for Thursday and Friday. At least one of those trips will involve venturing out into the ocean. Word has it the Longtail Tuna are about