RAM Road Trip Part 1

I’m rambling north in my new RAM truck. It’s a brand new series and I’ve got a brand new 4x4.

And I’m grateful for that because I’m on a journey that will cover more than seventeen hundred kilometres along Queensland’s Bruce Highway.And the RAM certainly lives up to its namesake when it comes to performance on the job. It easily tows my Yellowfin and rack mounted Hobie perched above the roomy comfortable cab.The first step of my trip is from South Queensland’s Gold Coast to Keppel Bay on the Capricorn Coast.

Keppel Bay Marina is superbly situated to allow access to numerous islands dotting this section of waterway. I’ll be staying aboard the comfortable Elysium cruiser and fishing from both my Yellowfin and Hobie Compass. Joining me are good mates Graham and Dean and we’re preparing for a lengthy cruise of around 200 kilometres. Dean has fished these waters for years and has loaded some of his waypoints into the Garmin.

During the first stage from Keppel Bay Marina we’re keeping company with Elysium.

Dale Elyss is the skipper of his namesake and he regularly cruises the Capricorn Coast. It’s a bonus to have a roomy mothership to carry our excess gear and fuel, It means we travel aboard my Yellowfin in uncluttered safetyOur plan is for Elyssium to head to the Percy Islands anchorage while we check Deans Garmin hotspots.

Dean’s mark lives up to it’s promise.

It’s good alright. A large-mouth Nannygai has smashed Dean’s pilchard Dean’s Garmin waypoint has well and truly led us to a top spot here.

To get the most out of your marine electronics visit Garmin’s website.

I’m in my Yellowfin on the way with Dean from Keppel Bay Marina to the Percy Island group. But we’ve been waylaid at Dean’s hotspot Garmin waypoint. I’m using short sharp pump and winds to keep the Nannygai’s head up so it can’t turn down toward the bottom and use its broad tail to kick away. If this Nannygai stops me even for a split second it could be shark bait.

Dinner for us and not the sharks this time round.

As always out here I’m wearing a life jacket. But there’s a lot more to being safe when you’re boating. Always stick to a safe speed suitable to the conditions when you’re out on the water. If in doubt slow down. Often slower is surer for a safe, great day out and about in your watercraft

And a basket case is what you don’t want to end up as out here. Safety is paramount for many happy returns back to base

And we’re not let down by the Nannygais either.
This will be my last good fish caught here because the Nannygai are experiencing barotrauma and probably won’t survive if released.

But Dean’s on too so this will mean plenty of good fish meals for all aboard Elysium when we catch up with them.

This is a whole lot bigger.

Humpback whales migrate north from Antarctica. During winter, pregnant females give birth in these warm tropical waters.

For the first year of their life baby humpbacks remain at their mother's side. They nurse on her nutrient rich high-fat milk for at least six and sometimes up to twelve months.

These young humpbacks can daily drink up to 10% of their weight in milk. They grow rapidly to 8 or 9 meters.

Time for us to head for a feed too. We’re joining Elysium at Middle Percy Island. This is a superb anchorage and we have company as we snug down for the night.

The evening glow matches the colour of our catch