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Heading into the eye of the monsoon for our 2022 trip in Black Watch 40 “Mood Swings” with the six metre “Blue Boat” in tow. Eventually forced to shelter at Lizard Island. But not before smashing some great fish.
This playlist covers our adventures on the trip.
Karen decides to go to the boat spirits to get rid of our boat bad luck!
Due to the split water tank we aborted the trip down to the Swain Reefs but are finally back in business heading north to Lizard Island and beyond.
But not before a bad luck purge!
We are finally on our way north from Cairns fishing on our way to Cooktown.
Often we tow the tender (our 6.5 m blue boat) but note to self… check the tow ropes regularly!
Whoah big fella! Fishing topwater and Smashed by a huge GT we struggled to lift into the boat.
Max is 6’4″ and the GT still looks huge!
Caught on a barra lure!
We can’t leave a good session, wait too long and get smashed on the way back to Mood Swings who had swung on anchor around a bommie!
Trapped by bad weather and a green zone, we had a tiny window for fishing.
Is fishing beside green zones more productive??
Or does it depend on other factors?
Can I get to Lizard Island in a small boat?
On good weather the 57 mile jouney can be undertaken by a 6-7 metre boat and you can reduce weight in the boat due to the amenities at the island.
There are BBQ’s, shelter, toilets and a fresh water bore.
Well worth the effort to get there with the super friendly trout that swim up to you when you snorkel.
After running out of fresh fish due to the never-ending bad weather, we leave the blue boat behind and head out into the maelstrom in Mood Swings. It’s pretty gnarly out there but we have a great session in the big girl with Karen driving backwards into the swell as Max and Ryan hang on!
Finding and fishing isolated spots is one of the great joys of my fishing career.
I LOVE going to new places, exploring with my fish finder unit.
Circumnavigating Lizard Island in the blue boat was a real treat.
Waterfalls dropping from the cliffs into the azure blue sea, interesting rock formations and stunning white beaches. Too bad about the rubbish!
Valuable tips from Ryan on slow pitch jigging isolated spots to catch a great feed of coral trout.
If you’re only fishing reefs you’re missing out!
A good anchorage is critical when cruising and fishing in the northern section of the Great Barrier Reef during the monsoon.
On the hunt for supreme eating fish Golden Snapper! Learning fish behaviour and sounder skills get you on the fish fast – and not just any fish. SUPREME EATING FISH. HEAPS more info on the topic on the blog: Exploring remote areas for Golden Snapper!
A spate of bad weather had us stuck in Cooktown for over a week. In that time the boat was ROBBED and we got to see the spectacular Trevathan Falls in flood. Cooktown really is the gateway to remote fishing in FNQ.
Woman says I want a Golden Snapper for dinner. Man says I can get one in 20 minutes! Can he get the job done? Self sustainable boat life – Fishing alongside one of the BEST BEACHES in the WORLD!
Slow pitch jigging is all the craze at the moment for big red demersal foragers. My mate Maxy (alias the Red Baron – I guess that makes me Snoopy) – lost his favourite jig. Find out why it was his favourite!
The 19 islands and cays in the Howick Island group provide an excellent anchorage when cruising the Great Barrier Reef. Be aware – the midgies are fierce going ashore. And several of the islands have mangrove swamps so probably not the best for snorkelling due to crocs and irrikandji.