September 2006

PO Box 63 KALBARRI WA 6536 PH/FAX (08) 9937 2043
www.murchisonboathire.com.au

The month started very well for me! A mate of mine, Paul Youngman, from Perth was up for a weeks rest and had to wait around a few days for a big blow to end but managed to get out with me towards the end of his break. The blow was not quite over and when we got out wide, the easterlies picked up Paul threw up over the side and I had trouble holding bottom even with my new very effective drift anchor out and extra lead! It wasn’t until around lunchtime when the wind calmed a few knots that we started to pick up a few fish. Then on one spot all hell broke loose with a double hook-up. Paul got his in but I could not lift mine from the bottom even with my 80lb braid! It would come up a few metres and then pull drag all the way down again, eventually getting off!

A second drift and Paul was into his second and I landed a very respectable 10kg dhuie.
Paul with his two dhuies.
Third drift and this 13.5kg dhuie came to the surface; I wonder how big the first one was? My personal best dhuie 13.5kgs

Well it has finally happened! The 2-stroke motor on the 5.3m boat called it a day, the pistons were scoured and a rebuild would cost as much as the motor was worth. So we have bitten the bullet and extended a loan and bought a new 100hp 4-stroke for the 5.3m boat.

The good news now is that all my boats have 4-stroke motors giving you extraordinary fuel savings. The bad news part is that the price rise we were thinking of having is now going to happen. We haven’t had a price rise since September 2003, so I don’t feel that guilty. The price rise will come into effect as soon as the brochures are printed which will be about the end of this month (October). Those of you who have already booked and paid your deposit, you are safe and we will hold the old price for you.

Peter Thompson was up with Derek early in the month having booked the 6.1m boat for 2 days a couple of months before. He split the days giving himself the best chance of striking a good day and with luck picked 2 fine days. The fist day out was a bit of a disappointment only picking up a few undersize snapper and a couple of breaksea cods, (I blame the full moon) but they made up for it the second day landing a dhuie on the first drop, snapper and this huge cod that was released all down south of the river mouth out from Natural Bridge. You made “Bite of the Month” Peter!
Derek with his honky snapper,

the big cod and Peter’s dhuie.

They also landed a couple of these, big black stingrays. Boy do they put up a fight!
And who was the bunny who had to lean over and release them???


Early morning on the Murchison River and the result.


Number 2 son was back from boarding school with a mate Matt Baker and we had a fish up river in my dinghy. The “low high tide” did not help but there were plenty of baby 200mm mulloway around to keep them busy and the odd black bream. Again this must be another hatching as the last swarm of mulloway were around 300mm 4 weeks ago. There sure is going to be a few good mulloway years to come!

During the school holidays my brother-in-law, Kim Burnell, from Melbourne came for a visit with his wife Jo (My wife’s sister) and two kids Patrick and Sarah. Itching for a fish I took Kim and son Patrick out for a shot at a tailor. First up Kim lost two fish on two casts, (not sure what to expect I think) and then Patrick hooked up on a nice one. Quite a long fish but a bit skinny but would have pulled the scales down to about 3.5kgs. Quick photo and release. Kim then made up for his early misses with a small fish as shown and it was also released.

The next (Grand Final Day, go the Eagles!) we made a quick trip out in the 6.1m boat between a couple of fronts. The swell was up and the southerly was early and the fishing very quiet. It happens sometimes, but a small samson and shark made an appearance to make his day. (They don’t catch much in Victoria, or win grand finals). And back for the final at lunchtime.

A couple of days later another shot at a tailor and this very respectable fish hammered his gardie bait at Black Rock. Estimated at 4.5kgs, it was also released.

A trip up river resulted in a few mulloway and bream for Sarah and Kim

Kalbarri Offshore & Angling Club, Local comp 23rd September.
Such crappy weather, we cancelled the offshore section so Sue and I went for a fish up river. A total of 19 bream were brought to the weigh-in all alive and were released. I had 3 bream but not big enough to beat Gary Ivey who had 3 as well with one a weighing 938grams.
Gary Ivey with his 938g fish

“The caravan park at Port Gregory is under new management and a booking agent for my boats. You can now book a boat and pick it up in Port Gregory.

Remember if you rent our accommodation you get big discounts on our boats. Have a look on my website for the details, and check out the savings.

5-day weather forecasts, http://www.buoyweather.com/ go to virtual buoys, pick the location you want. This is the one I go by!

Big bait – big fish
Laurie
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