Crew up early as usual,heard them talking at seven.Worrying about the crays getting out of the pots as usual.Not a lot of bait in them.
We set them outside the reef which was breaking heavily.My tactics are to try and find a small piece of bottom away from where the main area people normally set them.In this case it was not safe to go in too close to the reef as every now and then a big one would pick up and break.Saw a buoy in close,probably the sea had made and it had been abandoned.
We had steamed up and down well away a couple of times and found some spots which had the right weed on them.
We had a cuppa and then pulled the first one ,it had three crays in it ,one size.I thought the second one had a better chance and so it was,sixteen fish with four size crays.A very nice haul.Most of the ones we threw back were just unders,a common event where an area is fished hard.This being a popular place for fishermen when the weather is bad.
Motored slowly into Hannant Inlet to tidy up and have breakfast.Crept in further past Lourah island in a NE direction.i was surprised how far we could get in there.Nearly up to the beach.
Left for Clayton's showing Tamo the sights on the way,the waterfall was running well.We had decided not to go to the BBQ on in Brambles as it would really waste a day.
We were lucky when we arrived one side of the jetty was vacant so we tied up there for lunch and to cook the crays.We met a couple of walkers who had slept in the house as there were quite a few Victorian walkers at Melaleuca who they did not approve of.
I cooked the crays while the crew climbed the hill behind Clayton's .The ladies had put us off Mount Beattie as they encountered horizontal rain there during the morning.Freezing they said.
Ross whipped up a seafood pizza with flathead and crayfish for lunch.He had brought a ceramic stone which you put into the oven first to heat up.It does do a good job cooking the bottom of the bases making them light and crispy.
A young pilot showed up in the large dinghy to pick up the bush walking Occupational Therapists to fly them back home.One was from St Johns and Simmo informed her the Simpson Ward was named after his father.
He had a half day tour on and unloaded his charges for lunch in Clayton's house.We had a talk to the elderly travelers,they were a walking group of friends,one trom the Hydro,one exForestry and one worked for Ray Kemp building Iluka at Woodbridge.Their wives already in the boat we did not get any further as the pilot was keen to get going.They got a ten minute tour around the corner at twenty knots and passed us going like a bat out of hell up to Melaleuca and the aircraft.Not a lot for $460 bucks each,but a memorable trip I am sure.
Tied up at the old piles for crew to go up to Dennie's for a walk.Andrew had told me there is a new jetty near the Tasair set up but I was not sure If I could turn around there or how deep the water was.I have a good dinghy now courtesy of Essential Media and SBS so they were not wanting.The boys sounded a few places and said I would be ok so maybe next time.I recon the old one is going to get the chop soon.Both would be nice,yachts would have trouble at the new one I recon.
Fargo showed up and anchored,I told Barrie I would be off as soon as my crew returned,good oh he said,some of his crew followed mine up to the airstrip.
Crew returned and we went around to Moulters Inlet for the night,anchored as the evening sched came on.A few boats already made the trip to the Coal Bins.
Had a roast pork dinner and watched Two Men in a Punt video made by Gary Kerr and Ron Morrison about the Gordon River Piners,I think Tamo was fascinated being in the business .
Turned in about ten after washing up.
It was as black as out side as the moon is late now,this is the place to see the Southern Cross.No city lights looming here,just a bit cold to hang around outside.
Colourful sky early morning Spain Bay.
Nice catch,threw 18 just unders back.
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