RAM ROAD TRIP PART 4
I’ve traveled hundreds of kilometers in my Ram 1500 Laramie Truck to launch my Yellowfin and join the mothership Elysium on an adventure to the southern Whitsunday Islands.
The Ram has everything you need to get you to your fishing hot spots with plenty of space for all our fishing and filming gear in the truck and with its huge towing capacity of 4500 kilo it easily pulls my Yellowfin plate boat. I have a Hobie Compass on the roof and that will come in handy where I’m going.
The amount of storage in the Ram Cab is unbelievable. 2 Fold centre console space, indoor storage space, 2 glove compartment’s, floor storage bins and a split folding rear seat to reveal a folding flat floor in the back, great for luggage.
I’ve spent the last two days fishing out of my Hobie at the Percy’s. Now its time to pull her aboard Elysium. as we head towards the mainland and crocodile country.I’ve swapped my Hobie compass for my Yellowfin 650. Along with mothership Elysium, we’re proceeding west to Shoalwater Bay.
My Evinrude 200 HD makes light work of powering the 650 Yellowfin through the fast tide in Shoalwater Bay North Queensland.
The tides here can reach 10 metres and the creeks drain rapidly.
We work our way out toward the mouth into deeper water.
And because of the tropical heat as always I’m wearing my belt PDF. And I’m really aware that alcohol can affect my judgment, coordination and reaction time. Please realise that when you’re driving a vessel the point 05 alcohol limit ruling is in place.I hook up to a Moses Perch and quickly send this beautiful fish home.
Home is a reefy configuration that I’m dropping a pilchard on a snelled hook rig down into. I’m using a short trace with a medium ball sinker above the swivel.
We’re wearing our cool, colorful and coolly comfortable sun protective Big Fish shirts. Bright and cheerful these shirts are designed in Darwin by keen fisho’s who know their stuff.
Graham comes up tight to a strong fighting reef fish. Were not sure what it is but its definitely a fish not a shark so we wait in anticipation.
From out of the blue this blazing blue bottler slides into the net. These parrot or Bluebone as their called have remarkable markings and brilliant colour’s. Bluebone are delicious to eat so we’re taking it back to Elysium for a true blue lunchtime feast.
After a delicious Bluebone, chips and salad lunch its back out to explore this amazing country around Stannage Bay.
The Garmin keeps us safe as well as finding us fish and we decide to try a 10 metre hole at the mouth of the bay.
Stannage Bay is a renown fishing hot spot. Estuary, Bay and offshore coral reef species all find a place to live here. Crocodiles and Sharks make their presence felt and Box Jellyfish top off three very dangerous marine animals that keep everyone on their toes.
Mud Crabs reign supreme with crabs over 2 kilos a regular catch for those fishers in the know.
After watching Graham hook and land that beaut Bluebone before lunch I was hoping that I could come up trumps with a special catch before the sun went down.
We start hooking solid Grassy Sweetlips which are great eating. Then Graham mentions that he has fished close to here many years ago and caught some Red Emperor. Dean and I had a laugh as you don’t get Red Emperor in water of 10 metres or less.
Or so we thought, next minute my lightly weighted line takes off and its no Shark. The fight is a brutal one with the fish shaking its head violently then powering off in another direction. 10 minutes later I cant believe it as a large Red Emperor slides into the net. We were elated, Graham was spot on and I will never doubt him again.
That fish capped off another incredible day on our Ram Road trip north through Queensland.
Next week we fish the mighty Fitzroy River near Rockhampton and our Ram 1500 Truck brings us more fishing luck with a big Barramundi.
