Coral Bay (Advice)
Hi all
Family holiday to Coral Bay 18th to 25th April and as this will be my first visit I would like some advice. I have searched and read all the posts here on Fishwrecked that I could find and have a reasonable idea of what to expect.
Weather and swell permitting I would like to get my boat outside the reef (via north passage) but am unsure if my 4.8 m side console Stacer Nomad is up to the task. Could those that go regularly/know the area well advise please? Would I be better off staying inside the reef and fishing inside the south passage, five fingers etc?
Anyone willing to share some rough locations to try? My girls think that the fish will literally be jumping into the boat ....:/
I know about the Bateman and Maud sanctuary zones, any others to know about?
The area to the south of the south passage looks like a place to chuck some poppers around for GTs, am I correct in thinking this.
Really excited to get to Coral Bay and hope to find some fish
Cheers
Matt
wildinp
Posts: 89
Date Joined: 30/03/09
North Passage North passage
North Passage
North passage is easy, just understand the charts and keep well clear of the reef - it can be a bit deceptive as to when you pass it, but you will see breakers where it sits not far under.
All along the back of the reef - particularly 26m for mackies is good fun, about 4km south of the Nth end of the reef (Southern end of north passage), lots of lumps there as well, just need to dodge the sharks. Have a look at the charts for a couple of lumps not far out, all hold fish.
As for a 4.8m boat, its the same as everywhere, pay attention to the weather, understand the charts and you wont have an issue!
slothwan
Posts: 145
Date Joined: 02/02/09
if the swell and wind is
if the swell and wind is down, South passage is ok in that size boat too.
I found the squid behave a bit different up there. Keep an eye out on the surface for groups of half a dozen or so.
Matty05
Posts: 28
Date Joined: 10/05/10
Thanks for the advice
Thanks for the advice @wildinp and @slothwan
Slothwan how do you mean the squid behave different? Are you saying they more likely to be on the surface rather than just above the grass beds?
Lets hope the swell and wind behave when I get there :)
Cheers
Matt
duges66
Posts: 140
Date Joined: 07/03/12
Been once happy to share.
PM sent.
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