I've just spent 4 days fishing Hervey Bay at the north of Queenslands Sunshine coast.
I booked November because the weather is predictably good and the Tuna come into the bay to feed
I must have been keeping the Good Scottish weather for a special occasion because it found me
20-25knots wind and lashing rain, the rain came and went over the days but the wind was always there. Thank god i learned how to double haul
It was really hard work for 4 days and on day 3 we called it off after 3 hours it got unsafe
However it was a fantastic experience with a Guide that was as Mad as i am and we persevered to catch a few fish.
This was a common sight
I came home every day soaking wet, wicked good fun, fortunatley it was around 20-21'C
However when we did find some birds there were a few fish with them, and i got to put a proper bend in my 9wt.
This bend resulted in a cracking 4.5kg Mac Tuna, my first proper sized one on the fly, awesome fight, first time i've genuinely been taking into my backing by any fish and it took a good 50m before i had control.
The Polar candies i've spent ages tying work a treat and when i got a "shot" the fish nailed them with such a force it was amazing.
What got me though, was the fishing, despite the waves and wind, when we got close enough to the school, you could see the fish working the bait in the surface, get a cast across the nearest one and someone behind would rush the fly.
Over the week i had 10 clear Shots in the wind, i managed to stuff 2 of the casts with tangled line, but had 8 clean casts and hooked and landed 4 Mac tuna from 4kg to 5 kg, The guide seemed to be impressed at the statistics given the conditions, i was pleased as 4 eats = 4 fish all on Barbless hooks
We found a large school of Finny Scad on the last Day so i changed to the 7wt and gave it some abuse with a smaller candy
Bonny fish about 1.5-2kg that go like stink, not a tuna but a healthy predator
I had a wicked time despite the conditions, and i have to go back next year as i have a score to settle with some Longtail's
we saw a few that were in excess of 15kgs and they will eat the fly too, if you can get it in front of them
My mind can only imagine what that is like, the 15mins scrap with a Mac was fantastic fun and arm aching, the guide promises me the Longies will go for an hour+
If you find yourself in OZ you have to give it a go
Sandy
