Maggie Island Flats Gold!!!

[Shortlite]

A couple of weeks back my girlfriend and I got a call inviting us to go flats fishing with a friend of ours aboard his boat.

6 am found us at the boat ramp for pickup. Terry had slept out on the water after a nice afternoon's fishing the previous day, and rocked up just as we got there. All aboard, and in the low light it was off to a few spots in the bay for a bit of a troll and jig before the sun was high enough to have a go at sight fishing the flats.

After a slow start we started getting hits on the big deep diving Scorpions. First solid strike had us all gesticulating and screaming, while no-one grabbed the rod (Laura smoking, me at the stern, and Terry driving). Missed it. Next strike, just a little tap tap: I grabbed the rod and up came a grinner even smaller than the plug. A while later a better inquiry saw me boat a small (just legal) doggie mackerel, which we released. Then it went kinda sour for a while, before finally the light rod keeled over under some good weight. Unfortunately that fish also came off before any of use could react. Minutes later the heavy rod slammed down and the tight drag wailed as a solid fish tried to make off with a fake dinner. I pulled up and stuck it, then held on as 80 lb braid crackled off, then slack. Pulled hooks again. Dammit!!!

So it went for a bit longer, with more grinners and halfhearted strikes from small mackerel. The decision was made to drift and jig placcies over some rough ground in 30 feet of water. We set up and dropped down, and then up came grinner after grinner. Quite annoying. Just as we were about to pull the plug I got a solid hit on my 4" bass minnow. My little All Star hooped over and the Biomaster screamed in protest, then snip! Up came the leader, neatly sliced through the lknot to the jig. Rerigged and dropped down, but right back into the grinners.

So we pulled the pinand shot over to the protected inside flats of Magnetic island. I rigged up with an Atomic jerkbait, Laura a bass minnow, and Terry his 5wt fly rod and some tan coloured fluff. We cruised the flat, trying to get into shallow water, but even with a neap tide and little movement there was still not enough to get into the shallows where we could see GT's and goldies tailing and devouring all sorts of coral rubble living critters. So we worked the deeper parts and edges, looking for cruising fish, feeding fish and feeding rays. Pretty soon we found the goldies, but while we were after them with the leccy, a bustup behind us galvanised me into action. A quick backhand flick, two jerks and I came tight to a very angry GT that proceeded to throw his weight around in a fit of splashing and running. First time on the flats for me, and first cast with intent puts one in the boat.