My 12th oz report

[Snatcher]

Well it was my last morning in Port Douglas and despite the fact that the rain was hammering down I was determined to have one last fishing session down the harbour. As the dawn broke the rain did ease off a bit

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt292/dstephenson1950/1-14.jpg

As usual had bread and squid with me to try and tempt out some of the locals

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt292/dstephenson1950/4-12.jpg

Before tackling up in went the groundbait of minced up bread and squid.It did not take long before the fish started nibbling at the squid bait. After a spirited fight on light gear in cane this little fellah

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt292/dstephenson1950/3-13.jpg

Now I am not sure what the species is to be truthful.I managed to rack up nearly 20 species in Australia,all the photos of which I sent off to Vagabond for identification.I omitted this one in error.Feel free to jump in if anyone is clued up!!!.Well the action was non stop for about an hour,all of the fish being carefully returned.

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt292/dstephenson1950/2-14.jpg

At this point onto the jetty walked a guy I had been talking to the previous day,Dennis. Now Dennis was on holiday from Canada and despite being a keen angler was at Port Douglas to go diving on the reef.

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt292/dstephenson1950/8-7.jpg

He had about 15 minutes to kill before his boat arrived so I asked him if he wanted to try his hand with my gear in the meanwhile. He jumped at the chance and despite getting quite a few bites never managed to hook up..As Dennis was fishing I was watching one of the big gane boats heading down the channel towards the open sea.

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt292/dstephenson1950/6-9.jpg

Now the sea looked very lumpy and I know that these boats target their game fish outside the Barrier Reef.I did think he was pushing his luck a bit.Correct call,here he is returning back into Port Douglas about 20 minutes later

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt292/dstephenson1950/7-7.jpg

Dennis thanked me for the loan of the gear and went off to join his dive boat.I put in more groundbait and concentrated on the fishing again. A shoal of Moses Perch had moved into the swim and I started getting these about every other drop and they were good scrappers

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt292/dstephenson1950/5-10.jpg

Well it had been a good last session at Port Douglas,I was just a bit dissapointed that those diamond scaled mullet never made a show. As I was walking off the jetty the sun broke through the clouds and I spotted another archer fish "shooting" flies off the jetty pylons.They are facinating to watch

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt292/dstephenson1950/19-3.jpg

Hope you enjoyed my penultimate oz report team.

[Norrie]

Cracking pics John...how many new species did you get on the trip more than a few I would reckon....???

[toonfireman]

I hope you brought back a few home for the species hunt in June in the bay?

[Snatcher]

Cracking pics John...how many new species did you get on the trip more than a few I would reckon....???

Just under 20 I think Norrie,maybe should update my profile with them,what you think?

Tom the species hunt,actually brought some live ones back with me.I bet I will be the only one to catch a spanish mackerel in Luce Bay this year!!! :sun:

[dentix]

they are butter bream, at least in southern queensland, they are good fun to catch, there are so many you can catch them all day non stop.

unfortunately not very good eating.

[Snatcher]

they are butter bream, at least in southern queensland, they are good fun to catch, there are so many you can catch them all day non stop.

unfortunately not very good eating.

Someone on another forum identified it as a mono angel.Possibly just an alternative name to the butter bream. :sun:

[dentix]

mainly known as butterbream, also as mono angel, check this link http://aquavisie.retry.org/Database/Aquariumfish/Monodactylus_argenteus.html

if very small use them as live bait while float fishing, big tailor love them



Someone on another forum identified it as a mono angel.Possibly just an alternative name to the butter bream. :sun: