Fishing with Paul

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Hi all, 

I hope you have been enjoying this awesome fishing weather. It’s been a different month with the snapper and pearl perch closure - I'm dying to get back to some deep water again. However, I’ve had a ball, fishing grounds where I first started my offshore adventures many years ago, and fishing from the shore. 

First, the shore fishing. Armed with my little three-piece traveller rod, I headed to Bowen in the north for a week. I certainly wasn’t prepared for what I managed to haul in. In the creek just down from the marina, I snagged barra, threadfin and some brutes even though I only had 10lb line chasing them up the creek. Even though I knew I wasn't stopping them, it was awesome! Fished off the beach close to rocks pulling in sweetlip, spangled emperor and tuskfish. Fishing up there is next level.  

On the local scene, I've had a few trips to Caloundra 9 Mile. What a great area in 34-42m. Snapper were thick over the rocky ground in 34m, couldn't fish floaters. (Good way to get BIG sweetlip) as the snapper were hitting everything. Not big fish, only 40-50cm, but good fun to catch and release. Dropping down bottom bashers, yep more snapper, even an 8oz lead was to slow to get through them needing 14oz lead to get down. But good sweetlip, various cod species, moses perch, husser, tuskfish, oh yeah plenty of SNAPPER. It's fishing very well up there. I'll add a couple of photos for you.  

They say 12 Mile and I used to believe it was. No! 12 Mile is four miles northeast of there in 50m. Now that I’m aware of that, I can't be bothered editing the name. A great area for people who don't yet have the confidence to travel to the deep water or have smaller boats. Plenty of tinnies from Caloundra out there, 14-16 footers from bottom end of Bribie. When you get the weather, give this area a go. I don't take fish from here; I leave them for the boats that don't or can't get to where I fish. If you don't take my fish, I'm not taking yours. It's just a place to enjoy the excellent fishing - on its day because like anywhere it has its bad days. Enjoy our beautiful marine life with whales and dolphins to complete perfection. Such a beautiful fishing spot!  

End of September - early November it will fill up with cobia. If that's all you can catch, consider it a great trip. Keep one or two and put the rest back. They fight very hard but fair - a great fish. They won't brick you, they like to slug it out in midwater to the surface, but when one person hooks up clear all other lines from the water, you need space for these as they'll do loops around the boat. Very strong fish. 

Sandstone Point Hotel has a big fishing competition September 24-27. With only $50 per entry and a prize pool of $100,000 - I’m in! Along with my regular mate Richard, Cooper and his dad Aemon, competed in this event a few times – fantastic! 

Until next month, have fun, fill your eskies, but most of all stay safe out there. 

Paul.