Col Merriman's Weipa Trip

Col Merriman, from Southern NSW recently spent a week up here predominantly fly fishing. Although the fishing was a little tough at times, Col still managed some nice fish on fly. Having never caught a barramundi before, he was keen to fly fish for them on the low tide drains. Finding the barras wasn't as hard as it was to get them to bite. They were feeding on a particular small type of baitfish on a low tide drain and after several changes in fly, the "hatch was matched" and Col caught his first barra ever, about 30cm. To prove it wasn't a fluke, he then proceeded to catch another couple, the biggest, 62cm (pictured).

Windy's week

Windy Wilson from Mornington peninsular with his first blue bastard or painted sweetlip.

These fish can be caught sightfishing the shallows and are a great challenge as they do not alway's respond to the fly, hence the name blue bastard.

These fish are becoming a challenging capture around the country, as they frequent very shallow water and tail in the sand as they fossic the flats for crustaceans and the like.

What more could a fly fisherman ask for? Almost like a poor man's permit!

Windy has been trying to catch one of these for the past 3 years and caught 3 on this trip.

2 while wading and the first was cast to from the boat.

Congratulations Windy, a great fly caster! A very enjoyable day for me also, you as alway's were a pleasure to fish with.

Bill Jeans also made a few great casts that day to catch his first sight cast blue bastard.

With blue skies and clear water and plenty of fish generally makes for a memorable fly fishing day. On ya Bill!

Sunny Days

At last, some nice sunny dry season weather has given our latest group of fly fishers some spectacular sight fishing along the coast. Pictured here is John who has only salt water fly fished for a couple of days with a giant herring he spotted and made a perfect cast to.

Wet Season Scenery

The late wet season is producing some spectacular scenery here at the moment. Here a waterfall has formed at red cliffs with Fish guiding some clients in the foreground.

Bruce Scott trip

Bruce Scottbraved the incessant rain to catch this little barra on fly from a drain up the Hay river.

Scotty, with his first ever longtail tuna on fly. Last year was Scott's first year of saltwater flyfishing and he tried very hard to get one but either pulled the hook or lost them to sharks.
This year he caught and released this fine specimen to his great delight.

Illegal fishing

Yet another illegal indonesian fishing boat. This one being destroyed by customs. It burnt for over 4 hours before finally the remains below the waterline being extinguished by the sea.

The authorities are having a much larger presence here in Weipa of late with more and more of these illegal vessels being apprehended every week.

Maybe the plane ride home is not enough of a deterrant to keep them from returning.

Imagine if they captured one of our boats fishing illegally in their waters, do you think they would give us a free ticket home??

Maybe we are just a little too politically correct?

The wet continues

The last few days have been a little tougher with some more unseasonal rain and a low creating some large swell making the beaches inaccessable for a couple of days. There has still beeen some great fishing to be had though, with some great bait ball action to the south.
Pictured here is Clavin from Hong Kong with his first ever "Blue Bastard" taken on a Gotcha pattern. These fish are commonly taken while reef fishing on cut baits, however to fly fish for them on the flats is quite a challenge.

Some more of the Cooper's great fish

Steve with his first ever Permit on a crab fly he tied himself - first cast! This was on day 3 of a great 14 day introduction to fly fishing.














While we were having a cuppa, Tom spied a Giant Herring over the sand and aimed a perfect cast to trick this speedy fish.












It was David's mission to catch his first cobia on fly while in Weipa this trip and he was rewarded with this fine 15lb fish.