Avast! There be Tuna Here.

Author: dunebuggy

Category: Trip Reports

Created on Thursday, 16 December 2010 13:08

Written by Stuart Whitehouse

Thursday December 16th presented an opportunity to get offshore for a fish in my Hobie AI for the first time in, well, what seems like forever. With a drop in wind and swell I hit the water about 5am (ish) and caught up with Greg (aka; Hardplastic) out wide of Brays rock. The water was a little dirty after recent rains but it didn't seem to put the fish off. Greg dropped 3 good fish this morning on the troll. How sharp are your hooks? I asked. Good point! said Greg. 

I myself got nothing on the troll, not even a touch. Eventually I found myself chasing birds and surface action about 2 thirds of the way to the blinker. The large flock of birds that Greg had spotted earlier had split up into groups and were following a few different schools of fish. The only school that I got close enough to be able to identify was a school of rat kings, all about the half metre size.

After a quick phone call to Greg I went closer to shore to catch up with him as he had sighted a school of longtail tuna about the metre size getting into a school of bait fish. He had seen them Jumping about and had been close enough for a positive I.D. Woo hooo tuna ! We spent a bit more time chasing them but to no avail. They were moving fast and not staying in one spot very long. By this stage the wind had picked up from a pleasant 8 to 10 knots to 15 plus knots and quickly kicked up a northerly slop and Greg had to get to work. 

We put the trolling lures out again but got nothing on the way home. I would love to show you photos of the surface action but when it was really going off it was too far away for a decent shot. No photos of fish either I'm afraid, I got none. It's been so long since I went offshore that I forgot a couple of things on this trip too. My sea anchor, my tail rope, and most importantly, my sounder battery. Grrr. I knew I should have packed that last night. 

This brief report is merely to let interested partys know that there are indeed fish about. So, if you plan on heading to Caloundra this weekend ..... There be tuna here!