Another pretty great bermi trip
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:06 pm
Just got back from a great long weekend away at Bermagui. Lucky I didn't book for the previous weekend!
We headed up Friday arvo after knocking off early and got to Bermi at 9pm, nice and easy run down.
Saturday, Day 1:
I knew the water was going to be pretty dirty due to the heavy rainfall of the previous week, so my initial plan of heading wide for a crack at yellowfin was scratched and we headed out to Montague island instead.
We were one of the first boats out having launched at first light, however they began to show up one by one in admittedly sloppy conditions. I spent a good hour and a half sounding the various reefs around the island for no sign of kingies. Then suddenly, all on our own away from any other boats, we passed right over a school and it was on straight away, first jigs in the water!
They were thick, and all thumping size at that! On the light microjig gear they certainly put up a great fight, as always.
The biggest for the day was this 98cm model, not a bad fish and a PB for the boat, hopefully these size fish become more and more regular, as they really pack a punch. As you can see, my mate James looks pretty chuffed, as this was his first ever kingfish, bastard!
We ended up with 20 or so for the day, kept a few and headed in early for a relaxing afternoon with a few beers and the footy.
Interestingly enough, no one else managed any kingfish for the day, save a few undersized rats.
Sunday, Day 2:
With the weather forecast improving throughout the day, I figured this was the day to head out wide. The charts were showing a good line and there were reports of clean cobalt blue water at the Sea Mounts, about a 55km run offshore at around the 2500m depth line.
We shot out after a late launch to avoid the early wind, and were out at the sea mounts in no time, only to find murky green water, no good for yellowfin. I gave it a few hours trolling but there was no sign of any action, so we changed tactic and set up a burley trail hopefully to lure a mako.
Sure enough after just over an hour, this guy showed up:
A 100kg+ blue shark, that enjoyed playing around the boat for 15 minutes, but wasn't interested in taking a bait.
We headed in with no fish to our name, but a good day none-the-less, and it was exciting enough having a big shark cruising around the boat.
Monday, Day 3:
Another morning out on the kings, however this time not so successful. A very quiet day, with the island being mostly quiet, didn't hear of any kingfish being caught all day. We hooked 1 80cm or so king trolling lures, but he won his freedom at the side of the boat with a quick flick of the x-rap.
We did have some fun on a school of solid bonito on the micro jigs, but otherwise was a quiet morning, and we were back at the ramp at 12 to head home.
All in all a decent trip, I had hoped to have a better crack at the Yellowfin, but unfortunately the previous weeks weather ruined that chance. Ahh well, next time! Can't think of a better way to spend a long weekend.
We headed up Friday arvo after knocking off early and got to Bermi at 9pm, nice and easy run down.
Saturday, Day 1:
I knew the water was going to be pretty dirty due to the heavy rainfall of the previous week, so my initial plan of heading wide for a crack at yellowfin was scratched and we headed out to Montague island instead.
We were one of the first boats out having launched at first light, however they began to show up one by one in admittedly sloppy conditions. I spent a good hour and a half sounding the various reefs around the island for no sign of kingies. Then suddenly, all on our own away from any other boats, we passed right over a school and it was on straight away, first jigs in the water!
Interestingly enough, no one else managed any kingfish for the day, save a few undersized rats.
Sunday, Day 2:
With the weather forecast improving throughout the day, I figured this was the day to head out wide. The charts were showing a good line and there were reports of clean cobalt blue water at the Sea Mounts, about a 55km run offshore at around the 2500m depth line.
We shot out after a late launch to avoid the early wind, and were out at the sea mounts in no time, only to find murky green water, no good for yellowfin. I gave it a few hours trolling but there was no sign of any action, so we changed tactic and set up a burley trail hopefully to lure a mako.
Sure enough after just over an hour, this guy showed up:
We headed in with no fish to our name, but a good day none-the-less, and it was exciting enough having a big shark cruising around the boat.
Monday, Day 3:
Another morning out on the kings, however this time not so successful. A very quiet day, with the island being mostly quiet, didn't hear of any kingfish being caught all day. We hooked 1 80cm or so king trolling lures, but he won his freedom at the side of the boat with a quick flick of the x-rap.
We did have some fun on a school of solid bonito on the micro jigs, but otherwise was a quiet morning, and we were back at the ramp at 12 to head home.
All in all a decent trip, I had hoped to have a better crack at the Yellowfin, but unfortunately the previous weeks weather ruined that chance. Ahh well, next time! Can't think of a better way to spend a long weekend.