I’m Back

G'day Al,

I wish you were right, only a few more years in the salt mine for me! But alas not so and anyway it is impossible to leave without getting the good advice needed to do any trip first from EO - right.

Kind regards

Theo

Hey it worked hehehehehehe

G'day Wayne,

The bird stayed home, one of my work mates looked after him. Good piccie Wayne, yeah we had a great time at Copeton and planning to attend again next year. It is truely amazing the extent of the EO membership and where they turn up and as always great to catch up.

Kind regards

Theo

Thanks Norm, I was hoping that I wouldn't have to admit that I didn't catch one at all, zero, nil but now the world knows that I am hopeless at catching barra. The biggest disappointment was that my dad didn't catch one either. It is one of those typical fishing excuses stories, didn't know the area well enough, only had one avo and or evening and the winds were atrocious.

Our first night was at Gin Gin so we took the boat to Monduran (been there before) and launched it in a steady rain late afternoon, the rain disappeared for about an hour but a huge thunderstorm was rolling in from the West. We only just made it back to the ramp before the heavens opened up - total about 2 hours fishing there. Next was Pete Faust, blowing about 20 knots but we get away just after lunch. I could see that the rest of the fleet was back at Camp Kanga and I guessed this was not the best time to be out there BUT we only had that afternoon. Ironically they were all going out when we were back at the ramp. Yep, we spoke to them next morning and they were quoting double digit fish for the night.

Decided to fish Tinarro at night but managed to get lost so the less said about that the better.

We did actually catch some fish in the Boyne and off Cardwell so it wasn't a total drought, too bad they were sharks but my dad had a ball when his poddy mullet got slammed and he was thinking barra (I was hoping so also) turned out to be a river whaler, probably about 10 kilos.

Better luck next time and maybe a little more time at each. Still it is not just the fish that gets me out there, just being out on the water is reward enough.

Kind regards

Theo

That is a great looking fish you have there!

Fair point Theo. We had five fishing sessions over 3 days I think, before we got the barra in the pic. Before that, just a couple of cat fish. It takes a couple of sessions to find your way around some of the dams and check out the likely spots, particularly if you are going to do something other than troll the channels.

I assume you have a sounder? Apart from depth, finding underwater structure where the barra hang around can be helpful.

Hope you enjoyed the time with your dad anyway.

Lenthels isn't far from you. I have't fished it yet, but it is stocked with barra and bass. Another option is a couple of private fishing parks up near the Sunshine Coast. One is Rainbow Villas Barra Park. Don't know much about it, but I've read reports of good barra being caught. I think it costs $35 for 3 or 4 hours of fishing. Sounds steep, but when you consider the cost of fuel to get to Awoonga or Tinaroo, it is worth considering.

Thanks for the support and pointers Norm. I have a sounder (extremely useful) but I don't run a lecy motor - seems everyone doing the dams has one of these (including you - I see in the picture) and they obviously make life a little easier working around the snags etc.

I haven't given up on the barra by any stretch and will put in some serious effort once I remove some obstacles. I see Awoonga as a doable long weekend (4 day kind) adventure as it is about 6 hours away so that could happen this summer. Other than that I have a trip to Cape Melville in Sept 07 and will give it another shot then.

I have thought about these fishing parks and am of 2 thoughts there but it may be a way of securing a decent photo.

Kind regards

Theo