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Fredericks Reef 2001 - Kanimbla Charter
April 21- 28, 2001

A very lonely place!.The Frederick Reef sand cay at high tide.(Thanks Bruce R for the pic)

As our departure date approached, I jested to the keen guests that I would sacrifice some virgins to the weather gods to ensure favourable conditions....

Come the day and I am sure I noticed some of them looking at me very suspiciously for we had lucked upon perfect conditions yet again! Given the ideal outlook, we decided to go straight to the northern end of Saumarez Reef and spend the evening there before venturing on to the even more remote Frederick Reef.

Sunday's trolling and jigging at Saumarez was a little slow at times by it's usual standards but everyone managed a nice fish or two, mostly jobfish with a few dogtooth, dolphin fish and GT for variety. It had been a good day but would pale when compared to what we were to experience at Frederick.

Departing Saumarez at 2.00 am Monday, most weren't even awakened as we left the shelter of the reef for the open sea. The sea conditions were no different!

We arrived at Frederick approximately 8.00 and, after a hearty breakfast, the dories were launched and the serious fishing began. To detail every capture (or lost lure)
would probably require a few more megs of webspace, there were many good fish taken!

Unfortunately Bill's 100kg marlin was caught and released from a dory with no camera. As was Shane's 40kg yellowfin.... Jason was fishing with Shane and did have a camera aboard but was preoccupied with a similar size 'fin and unable to take any photos. Other great fish were Dave's 30kg+ GT, Leon's 34kg wahoo and my own 16kg coral trout.
The variety included many wahoo between 20-30kg, heaps of small to medium yellowfin and quite a few dogtooth to 18kg, the big doggies weren't seen but some of the BIG bustups seemed to indicate they were around.

Some great fish - (from left) Leon's 34kg wahoo. Dave and a big GT prior to release. Allan with a bruiser trout. (click to enlarge)

All the other Coral Sea inhabitants seemed to be present in good numbers. We caught Barracuda, various trevallies, Japanese sea bream, Blue maori and 'trout' cod, coral and coronation trout, green and smalltooth jobfish, rainbow runners, red bass, long nose emperor and various small unnamed reef dwellers, not to mention the everpresent sharks.

From left - Bill had a break from marlin to catch this pesky cuda. - Our chef Steve, showing he also knows how to catch em, a good longnose emperor. - Paul with a nice doggie. (click to enlarge)

Each trip I make out here is unique and there are always amazing and memorable images not always captured on film. Many lure fishermen have seen or captured fish no bigger than the lure. It doesn't normally raise my eyebrows, but when Bruce captured a 5 inch goatfish on a 10 inch bibless minnow it defied all logic. Here was a small bottom forager lip hooked on a trolled big game lure in 50 metres of water!?

The small transparent eels that appeared around the lights at night were also a novelty. We eventually deduced that they were freshwater eel larvae, their amazing transparency obviously the only reason they could exist out here in an ocean of teeth. The journey these eels must undertake to reach our east coast streams and then the return to sea as adults is a truly epic migration.
Even our equipment provided some memorable sights. Broken rods and reels were not uncommon, but it was the state of some of the terminal tackle after hookups that was difficult to explain. Pete lost a big fish then retrieved the nose section (about 2cm) of a Halco Laser Pro, the rest was missing, neatly cut away as if with a bandsaw.
Dave caught the unluckiest wahoo, the snap connecting his lure was completely straightened and the little bend at the end of the snap managed to stay hooked around the tow ring of the lure for the duration of the battle only to fall off as soon as the pressure was released.
Our ace deckie Ash displayed yet another of his talents when he managed to kill a 6ft shark outright with a pea-sized ball sinker and slingshot.

(From left) A dory returning at sunset.- Geoff with a nice trout taken spearfishing. - One of the amazing young eels. Pics by Allan (click to enlarge)

On Wednesday evening we celebrated Anzac Day and two members of our group's birthdays. The music was turned up and the fine Scotch and Cuban cigars were produced. The nearest other human was probably at least 100 miles away so it was unlikely we would receive complaints from neighbours. Various size balloons were tethered behind Kanimbla and pot shots were taken with Ash's slingshot for the 'dead-eye'award.
We found it necessary to blow the balloons up bigger and tether them closer as the night progressed.

The main sand cay and lighthouse at Frederick provided a fascinating diversion from fishing. Several of us explored this tiny patch of land and found some interesting shells and sea life, as well as a close up look at the many terns, frigate birds and other fauna. Those who cast lure or fly into the surrounding lagoon landed some nice bluefin trevally and were wiped out by giant trevally.
Spearfishing was also excellent, a few of us ventured into the crystal clear water to take some beautiful coral trout. The water clarity is phenomenal, to see the bottom in detail while fishing in 50 metres of water simply doesn't occur around the mainland whilst the overall colour of the surrounding ocean redefines 'blue'.

From left. Grant, Paul and Leon with good wahoo. - George and a black trevally. - Bruce's Swains Spanish Mackeral.(click to enlarge)

Finally, on Thursday evening, after four sensational days at Frederick, we retrieved our lures for the last time, secured the five dories atop Kanimbla then set course into the setting sun. The lonely light beacon eventually disappeared into the blackness behind us but our memories of this place were indelibly etched. The sea conditions were again a treat and sleep came easy.
Our fishing however was not over. The skipper had planned the departure time to enable us a day at the Swains Reefs to break up the long trip home and provide us the opportunity to sample some of the fine reef fishing along this section of the Great Barrier Reef.
Dawn broke and, with the GPS indicating our position only a couple of miles seaward of the Swains, some of the early risers who still had lures left in their tackle box, hung them out the back. Bruce disrupted breakfast when his was taken by a nice 15kg+ spanish mackeral.
The reef fish too didn't disappoint and some tasty coral trout and sweetlip supplemented our already fine collection of fillets.

From left. Wahoo boatside. - Another dory caught wahoo - Smalltooth jobfish. (Click to enlarge)

I don't think anybody was too upset when we finally packed up and headed home. Weary smiles all round, it had been a great week but we were all 'fished out' and physically spent.

Once again the crew excelled. The many hours of travel added considerably to their regular duties yet they worked tirelessly and ensured we had an absolutely great time. Steve the cook produced one superb meal after another, nothing was ever a problem for Superdeckie Ash or his apprentice Vic, while our captain, Bruce maintained his highly professional, yet friendly manner that has made himself and Kanimbla one of the most successful charter operations in Queensland. Thanks again fellas for your efforts.

Often on these trips, during the excitement of the action, a catch phrase or term is spawned. We had watched a highly entertaining video on board called Áround Cape Horn'. It details the voyage of one of the last square rigger ships in the 1920's, has some amazing footage and a dryly humorous narrative, often referring to various sailors as 'Super Seamen'. Indeed they were, but at times we felt that we too, were worthy of the title.
Thanks guys for your great company. More thanks also to Allan, Leon and Jason for some of the better pictures hereabouts.

Super Seamen? Or Scurvy Sea dogs! The gang heading home after a big week, (click to enlarge)

A very informative account of Coral Sea Charter fishing, observations and techniques by regular charterer, Bruce Robson Coral Sea Impressions.