Wilderness Island Rewards

Author: Shufoy

Category: Trip Reports

Created on Monday, 10 October 2011 12:30

Written by Brett Ozanne

I recently returned to my favourite fishing destination at Wilderness Island in the Exmouth Gulf, this was my 4th trip to this area and was a mates week, with fellow Yakfishwest members Fisherking and Mattyoga joining me. The aim of the 5 days Kayak fishing was to explore some new areas around the island, as well as fish other spots we have had previous success on a spring tide, to see how the tide effects the fishing as well as the logistics of fishing the tidal flats and reefs in the area. This was the largest tide i have experienced at Wilderness Island and it was amazing to see the amount of dry reef and sand flats exposed on the low that i'd never seen before, the abundance of marine life on these areas as well is a great sign of a healthy ecosystem in the area.

Unfortunatley for us, the unseasonal winds over the last month or so had left the Gulf waters very dirty and cold, meaning the fish were few and far between, well initially anyways! Over the course of the week the wind ebbed considerably, and by the end of the week we were starting to see cleaner, clearer water and water temps on the rise, and as a result the fishing was heating up, but just in time for us to leave! We had no problems landing the usual suspects in Cod, Jacks, Bluelines and Spango's, and over the course of the week i found where the XOS Giant Trevally were hiding, and despite my best efforts i was undergunned in my pursuit of these fish, losing many lures and meters of leader to these brutes. I will certainly bring a heavier rod back nest time to even the stakes when clashing with these bulldogs of the sea!

Midweek tho, whilst trolling the gutters along the back of one of my favourite rocky areas on a hefty building tide, i found an area that seemed to have clear water at this time most days, and was absolutely smashed on the Nitro Viper! With line screaming off the reel, i turned for open water, attempting to lead my opposition away from structure before commencing the fight. Out of the corner of my vision i saw a silver torpedo launch from the water, and i screamed "QUEENY!!!!!!!!", and settled in for a torrid battle, the fish didn't jump again, which whilst unusual for a big Queenie, didn't second guess my call. his fish had the stamina expected of the beasts in these waters, and the first few runs were impressive to say the least, and soon after regaining a good amount of line, the fish settled in to a slog fest at 20-30m from the yak, refusing to give an inch, and taking line in short savage bursts. I soon managed to coerce the fish to the yak, and in shock, realised the long silver specimen wasn't a Queenie at all, Mackie? I wasn't sure till it flicked side on within a few meters of the yak, and I gasped the words Giant Herring!!!

Landing this fella wasn't an easy task, he was way to big for my net, and slimy to grab, but eventually i had it onboard, and i was beyond stoked! An absolute monster of a Giant Herring well over a meter, and my first of the species, a PB i'll be lucky to eclipse. To say this fish made my week was an understatement, there were other fish landed, but none gave me the sort of thrill of this capture, watching it swim away strongly after a few pics was a humbling experience, and one i will never forget.

Wilderness Island never ceases to amaze me with its sportfishing, possibly the best venue on earth to pit your skills on a yak with the oceans best opposition, and truly a beautiful part of the world. The months till my April 2012 return cannot past quick enough...