Fishing with Happygilmore

[Two Utes]

While l was in Townsville, l was fortunate enough to catch up with Aaron (Happygilmore), who was kind enough to invite my son in law and l for an early morning fishing session on his boat on th Bohle River. We met at the boat ramp at Bushland beach at 4:30 am and set out to gather some live bait, prawns. This in its self was an experiance for me as l have never seen anyone cast a 'cast net' before, and Aaron did it very well. He even went as far as teaching my son in law and l how to cast as well, and in the process got mud over my Active Angler shirt. You could tell that Aaron knew this river system well, as he pointed out some of his favorite fishing haunts, as we made our way to the entrance.
It was low tide, and we deployed the baits while waiting for the water's edge to reach the mangroves, which would be the best time to cast lures at our querry awaiting to ambush its prey. There was ample activity on the surface with mullet fleeing from hungry thredfin (l think)and clearing the surface. We even spotted a small crocodile on the muddy bank
I was slow to start, as my son in law caught a bream or two, Aaron also had a few hits, when finally l was on. My first fish caught at Townsville. The rod had a nice bend and the fish was pulling drag as it made its way downstream, but to my dissapointment it was to be a small stingray.
We ventured around and fished a rocky headland and had a few hits,but failed to hook up. Aaron tried everything to get us onto some fish, and succeded in getting my son in law his first fish on a lure. Would you believe it a whiting. We though this was a bit of a fluke, but he caught another soon afterwards, but this one got snagged on the surface and hammered by a hungry Jack. What a sight that was!
Aaron and l caught a small barra each, and a couple of cod. I also managed to capture a Chiclid fish, another first for me.
We were having such a great time and getting on well with our new friend Aaron, but sadly we had to cease fishing, as we had another appointment with my daughter and her one day old baby Isabella at the Townsville Hospital.
Once again, l would like to thank Aaron ver much for taking my son in law and l out on this trip. He had never met me before and only knew of me through 'Active Angler'.
Now is that a good reason to be a member of this great forum or what?

[happygilmour]

Hi Joe,

Great report and pics. I had a ball fishing with Aaron and you. I am sorry i couldn't get you any jacks but thats fishing.Just gives you another reason to wet a line when you are next up to visit your lovely grandchild Isabella.

Sorry about your AA shirt, its a messy business throwing a cast net. Watching Aaron get his first lure caught fish was a highlight as well as seeing his 2nd whiting be nailed by that jack

That Sickle fish also went pretty hard on that light spin stick.
I enjoy fishing with different people as I always learn something new,different techniques,point of veiw, fish habits etc and our session together was no different. It was a pleasure to have both of you Joe on my boat.

See ya soon when you are next up

Cheers

Aaron

[virty]

Top stuff Two Ute's and Happy - Good write up and pix's mate, good to see AA member's get together and having a great time out there and getting some fish.

[Mak579]

Great write up Joe and good karma to Happy for taking you guys out. I'm sure you'll be up here again some time in the future to experience our awesome local fisheries!

Cheers
Matt C

[TinarooTriumph]

That is the best thing about Forums guys... is meeting up with new fisho's, wetting a line and having a good time. As Happy'G said you always learn something new whenever you hit the water with different anglers etc... time well spent.

Bloody fantastic guys!

Cheers

Theo

[ActiveAngler]

Joe / Aaron,

Bloody terrific to have see two AA members from the vastly different locations on the east cost of Aussie - catch up. That is brilliant!!!

Glad you got stuck into some reasonable fish and a few firsts by the sounds of it - which is always good.

It really is wonderful to see people from the site catching up with each other and the generosity. True fisherman spirit!!!

Well done, and looks like a good day, both fishing and company wise.

Thumbs up.

Ben

[ActiveAngler]

Oh yeah - Joe - glad that shirt got a little bit of mud on it mate - about time it got some north queensland mud on it. he he!

[adidaspeteman]

Good to hear AA'ers meeting up and having a ball. Nice photos, fish and company hey?!

[Rob Pirie]

Great report and some nice pics , would have loved to have seen that Jack slam the whiting.

Rob

[stargazer]

Hello everyone,
I am two utes son in law Aaron.
I would just like to thank happy gilmour for taking me and the 'father in law' out in the bohle river on thursday morning. we had a great time, and learnt ALOT of valuable information on fishing estuaries.
Thanks Joe for hooking me up to active angler. i hope to post alot of great stories of future fishing and spear fishing.
tight lines