Monday, March 23, 2009

SEVEN MILE CREEK

After spending the day in Bundaberg, where we were able to organise a replacement aerial for our HF radio, the decision was made to take off early the next morning to Seven Mile Creek, a 12 hour sail further north. Due to another cyclone forming in the Coral Sea, the winds were going to increase with each passing day, so the quicker we arrived to the relatively safe waters of Seven Mile Creek, the better!


We had 20-25 knot S.E. winds blowing the whole day which made for quick sailing although the seas were a little lumpy & uncomfortable. Thankfully we'd taken our sea-sickness remedies so there wasn't any need of buckets along the way but we were all glad to finally drop anchor at the end of the day so we could sit back, relax & think of the fishing that awaited us.


Initially we had scattered showers, which was annoying more than anything else, but that finally cleared, leaving us with bright sunny skies. Unfortunately though, the winds had increased as predicted, leaving pretty blustery conditions for fishing.


We couldn't wait to get to our favourite fishing spot the next day, so after rigging our lines & pumping the yabbies for bait, we set about finding the best spot. We all become pretty competitive when we're fishing, hoping that we'll be the one to take out that sort after prize of a chocolate, for being the "fisherman of the day", so the "best spot" is essential.


Our first day of fishing turned out to be a circus! When we first went ashore onto the exposing sandbanks, we hadn't really noticed the sludgy mud that we'd walked through to get there. However, after a few hours of fishing & with the tide dropping rapidly, we certainly noticed the mud when we tried to return to the tender. Suddenly the four of us, with rods & buckets in hand, quickly sank to our knees in thick, sucking, grey mud. What a predicament! As we tried to take each step, we'd sink deeper, fearing that we'd be up to our thighs at any minute, or possibly our necks! The harder we tried to get out of there, the more impossible it became until we all got a fit of the giggles & just about lost the plot. Rees was the first one to get to the tender & somehow managed to take our buckets & rods from us to free our hands, giving us better balance. Then Mum decided that it'd be better to crawl on her hands & knees, so there she was, laughing her head off as she slowly made her way forward. That left Dad, hopelessly bogged like a pig stuck in mud, holding my hand as I pulled with all my might to free him. Where was the video & camera when you needed it? At least we had a bag full of fish to make our efforts worth while. Needless to say, we didn't fish that area again!

As each day passed we gradually fell into a routine, where we'd wake around 7.00am, have brekky, fill in time reading while we awaited the correct tides for fishing, fish for a few hours , then be back at the boat ready for lunch when the fish went off the bite. Nannie naps usually followed, before waking in time for "happy hour" & our afternoon card games. Oh, such a hectic life!

Competitions are always an interesting way to pass the day & because we're always being out-fished by Mum, we decided to see who could catch the most fish with just 20 yabbies. There wasn't a time limit but within about half an hour, we'd all used our bait & the champion was declared. YEAH!! I was the winner with a total of 11 fish, followed by Rees with 7, then Mum & Dad with 4 each. I finally got a look in!

Besides fish, we've also caught a few crabs during the week & although more would've been eaten if they'd been caught, 6 crabs over 6 days, wasn't too bad an effort. With this morning being our last day at Seven Mile Creek, Rees really proved to be the "crab catcher from hell" when he returned with 2 monsters. Their claws were as big as Rees's hands, so as you can imagine, he was extremely careful taking them from the pots. I wonder how the crabbing & fishing will be at Yellow Patch?

No comments:

Post a Comment