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Trip Reports QLD Emu Park - Pelican Island | Emu Park - Pelican Island | | Print | |
| Tuesday, 02 October 2007 | ||||||||||||||||
Teasing tuna Doh!
 Yeah, it'll be much safer here! The reality checks kept on coming because I'd only paddled out about 200 meters past the rocky point when I heard a loud splash about 100 meters to the south. I looked over to see a splish, a splash, and black fin and tail slashing the water. Aha... a shark! I couldn't tell you what species it was, nor an accurate account of it's size, although I'd guess about 2 metres or thereabouts. Apparently a 3.5 meter Tiger shark was caught in nets a couple hundred metres to the north of here just last week. I did paddle over to the exact position where I saw it but it was gone by the time I got there (at least, I think it was). Soon after, however, I did see what I think it might have been interested in. Tuna. Lots of them. Again, I'm not exactly sure what species these were because they were moving pretty fast, appearing quickly and then disappearing again. I continued to see them in schools all the way from Emu Point right out to Pelican Island. Some of them were relatively small for Tuna, yet some of them were really very big. A few of them materialized suddenly only meters from the kayak and their size was impressive. I estimated one of them to be about 100cm in length.  Estuary cod, approx 35cm Once again, however, despite chasing them around for kilometres, I was unable to even score a bite. They knew exactly what they felt like eating (obviously in abundance) and I failed to suitably match the hatch. Dammit! I only managed to catch one fish for the day, being this Estuary cod, which was caught over the inner reef on the return voyage. I suspected it was undersize (which it turned out to be) so after a couple of quick snaps it was quickly returned to fight again. Upon landing I met up with one of the local anglers, who I suspect will end up catching that cod again in the future. This guy also fishes from a kayak, both with a rod or spear - depending on the clarity of the water. He was using a Tandem Viking Tempo, outfitted with a small outboard. 'Paddles like a pig,' he said, 'but it's great to fish and dive from'. Apparently he gets 20km on a litre of fuel using his outboard. Not bad at all! I'll definitely be heading back to this area in the coming days so hopefully I'll see him out on the water next time.  Pelican Island backdropped by Great Keppel Island Oh, I did also pluck this bottle out of the water. Surprise, surprise, it just happened to have a message tucked into it. I guess you'd say it was a love-letter, but not at all romantic if you know what I mean. It was really pretty pointless actually, probably scribbled out and tossed into the ocean by some piss-head on Great Keppel island. It's one thing to find bottles floating in the water that may have got there by accident, but another thing when someone does it deliberately. So if by chance the person who wrote this stumbles upon this site, guess what buddy - you're a wanker.  Message in a bottle 
   
02-10-2007 17:57 i second the wanker vote 04-10-2007 07:04 have you tried metal slices on those tuna or poppers? cheers 04-10-2007 10:40 I did indeed resort to poppers Astro, and I did feel as if that would be my best chance. Didn't try the metal slice though, but yeah, it's on the list of things to experiment with. I've been eyeing off a bunch of lures in tackle shops, but am hesitant to spend the $ at this stage, until I'm positive they work really well for tuna. I'm open to sugestions, because I keep on seeing the buggers. 04-10-2007 12:57 save your $$$ and stock up on sps barra style...hehehehehe i am not addicted....really...i can quit anytime....... cheers 04-10-2007 14:16 I reckon I have plenty of SPs that should work for Barra. Then again, you may well point me toward the errors of my ways. One things for sure - I certainly have the right rod. The Nitros arrived today. Oh my... By the way, I reckon I'll be there in Mackay about a week mate. How's that suit? 04-10-2007 18:39 pity i was free this week and weekend, next week will have kids but all is good let me know when and i can try and make some arrangements you are still welcome to come and stay i have ten acres and plenty of room for all cheers 04-10-2007 20:02 cool mate. It might just take me 10 days yet (will PM you closer to the time, so it might work out a bit better than it otherwise would in a week. Only registered users can write comments. Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 |
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