Moffats damned beach!

Author: dunebuggy

Category: Trip Reports

Created on Thursday, 06 January 2011 20:07

Written by Stuart Whitehouse

I launched solo from Moffat beach this morning to overcast conditions and the occasional passing shower. My companion (Paddleparra) was running about 40 minutes late and caught up with me north east of Brays Rock. We decided to troll out to the blinker off Caloundra headland. With calm seas and light wind it was an ideal day for it. 

Neither myself nor my companion caught anything on the troll and while at the blinker we were joined by Greg (AKA Hardplastic) who we had been expecting but he had launched from Kings beach ramp. After about an hour in the vicinity of the blinker with no results, Greg and I trolled back toward Brays rock. Brian followed shortly after. 

Again we caught nothing while trolling and I had switched to two different lures with no change in result. The water was the colour of dirty tea, if that is a colour. We continued chasing showings on the sounder with nothing to show for our efforts. Birds were scarce and surface action non existent. 

Eventually I made my way back toward Moffat beach and was about level with the headland when Brian called to find out where I was and to wait for him. It turned out to be a good phone call. I pulled in my lures and dropped a soft plastic and scored 2 sweetlip in two drops. Both were legal but I only kept the one over 40cms as is my usual practice.

Brian joined me again and we tried to find the patch of sweetlip again but couldn't. We worked our way to shore investigating everything fishy but got nothing. The little dumpers at Moffats were a little larger and a little more frequent. I jumped off the yak in waist deep water and turned around to see another wave about to break at about head height. ooooooh bugger! 

All the gear is still in the car and I have been napping in front of the TV all afternoon. I washed everything at the beach but I am yet to thoroughly investigate the damage but so far, the list is as follows; 

1 x 5 - 9kg ATC Hardstick - 2 inches snapped off the tip.

1 x old faithful fibreglass rod - broken guide.

1 x Hobie rod extention tube - snapped.

1 x mirage drive mast - bent.

1 x scotty rod holder - god knows how - sheared off a rivet. (easy fix)

1 x hand towel - lost (beginning to be a habit) 

4 reels will need to be stripped and cleaned and the mirage drive, which was misbehaving anyway, will need to be stripped, lubricated, repaired if possible and reassembled. Oh well....stuff happens!