Chris and Ellen Pike have been hard at work improving the already great service they offer their clients.

Remote Times Approach

OCTOBER 2011

Hello to everyone who follows our news reports. Because of an extremely busy schedule with both the Tura and the Eastern Voyager at the end of the 2011 and Jason heading home to his family in the Philippines,   this is a very late posting.

Swains:
Fishing at the Swain Reefs in October through to end of November was very consistent with Coral Trout not as easy to find and catch but the Red Throat Emperor were still good in numbers, other species were still around the same, not many Mackerel as per usual this time of year as the water warms up and the weather was pretty good, a strong gale force south east finished the year in December with both Jason and Bill requesting a switch  to control the weather but all said and done the fish and conditions were pretty good for all of 2011 and are hoping 2012 will bring the same if not better.

Coral Sea:
Our coral sea trips have been good as well, lots of big Tuna but the Wahoo hard to find, the sharks have been a pain for our spearo’s,  one 20kg Dog Tooth Tuna head would be a record with the rest attached!!! The record Maori Sea Perch helped relieve the pain and the reef varieties are still prolific. Good company and reasonable weather made a good time for all. 

Victoria & Tassie
Left home late November for Victoria with the Eastern Voyager, didn’t get to spend a night onshore as the weather window was too good to pass up, with the Dive survey 100% complete we were then off to Tasmania for a fishing charter before heading to Beauty Point (Tamar River) for modifications for the Blue Whale Survey in January and March 2012 where Bill will be joining us on-board the Eastern Voyager for these trips.

We would like to thank you all for your support and  wish each and everyone one who joined us this year aboard both of our vessels along with the  our new passengers joining us in 2012 a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Regards

Jason the Decky

Red Emperor Action

AUGUST 2011

Hi Web surfers, Jason with a very overdue report on recent trips out to the Swain Reefs. Near all groups have been blessed with weeks of spectacular weather with clear sky’s light winds and many whales and bow surfing dolphins delighting all on board Tura Charters two great vessels. 

Climate change, Global warming polar cap reduction, who knows what the academics will come with next but the unseasonal cold water has seen trout numbers become very sparse across most trips but other species have come to the party producing spectacular fishing with some very fast action.  Red Throat are in good supply but the stand out has been some awesome Red Emperor action , the best was Danny drifting the Eastern Voyager through large schools that produced 14 Reds all over 5kilo with many coming to the rails as double hook-ups.   Big GT’s have been active and  two stand out fish aboard Eastern Voyager were Bertie “the ring in deckie” with a solid 26 kilo fish and a thumping 38.6 kilo brute that I manage to subdue on a blue & silver cotton cordel pencil popper.
                                                                                                                                               
12 year old Robbie had some great catches on the Tura with the Frog Dive Fishing Group. This was just one of some great Pearl Perch caught that week.

The Tura has seen Chris and Bill harassing me for a couple of trips and the boys call to adventure out into deeper chartered waters was a massive success with full bins of Rosie job fish, bar cod, massive Tusk fish and thumping Pearl Perch and Snapper.   As the season reaches September some Coral Sea trips begin and I promise to post some photos of the amazing pelagic action from these remote locations in the near future.  Luke from Frog Dive with a couple of mates – Pearl Perch were on the bite and good catches were made as you can see.

Till next report,  keep 'em coming .

Regards Jason the Decky

Closing In

JUNE 2011

Hi all. Jason the decky here again to report on our last few Swains adventures. A mixed bag of splendid to average weather has greeted the 2011 season and fishing has been pretty darn hot with most groups encountering good numbers of quality reef fish during their weeks at sea.

Captain Bill has found great action on solid coral trout and dory fisherman are returning to the mother ship with great numbers of red throat emperor destine for the dinner table.  Captain Dan is producing quality numbers as usual and one trip we managed a solid sailfish on the troll from the Voyager with a lucky angler tested to his gears limits.  Mackerel are rearing their toothy heads with fish around the 20 kilo class captured on bibbles lures, float lines and even bottom bouncing rigs

As forty years young closes in on me next week I seem to be steaming along strongly still catching red emperor and good trout for clients and regulars have labelled me “the every ready deckie” as I buzz around completing my daily tasks. We are looking forward to seeing all groups having a great weeks fishing in 2011

To all our clients that help aboard our vessels with dishes and other chores, all of the crew would like to say a big thank you guys, your efforts are greatly appreciated and we hope we supply you with a quality holiday that includes many laughs and memories as the characters we have on board our vessels defiantly entertain us. 

Book a trip, pack your tackle and join us on an adventure to the fish rich waters of the Swain Reefs, you will love it.

Regards Jason the Decky

News and Fishing Gear Info

APRIL 2011

Hello once again to all that follow our reports with Tura Charters, “this is Jason the decky “ back on the job to cover another season of adventures out into the Great Barrier Reef and beyond to the Coral Sea.

Since my last report I have completed my surf comp in the Philippines and our new baby boy “Cohnen” has progressed to stumbling around his cot and sleeping all through the night with great joy to his red eyed parents. Eastern Voyager’s trip south was by all feedback a great success and the Tura’s first Swains journey saw good fish captured despite the daily 40knt winds that rattled doors and blew hats off.   The season is now getting rolling and the next few months will have some awesome action, so for those wanting to join a prearranged trip looking for extra fisherman I would book soon as I’m sure available spaces will fill.  I had the chance to fish at Coffs Harbour a little while ago and not only where the mighty jewfish as thick as I’ve encountered for many a season but the number of Spanish mackerel off shore heading back our way should excite clients who enjoy live baiting or dragging a lazor or rapala behind the boat.

A new season with a few small changes and we are all delighted Uncle Bill is Captain again for our trips on the Tura for not only is he a skipper with countless years of experience who consistently puts us onto fantastic fish but is a top bloke as well with a cheeky personality that creates many laughs.  Hope all had a great and safe festive season and looking forward to seeing everyone aboard for their 2011 trips.

Gear Required:

After many a request from numerous clients last season the following is a rough guide on what our crews conisider the best tackle to bring on your trip to the Swains or Capricorn Bunker Group, the Coral Sea trips require a different approach.

• Line:  As regular clients know for worse or better I personally am not a fan of braid for reef bouncing or trolling.  Spinning high speed metals, working plastics for trout or fishing 90 metres plus braid is perfect but all other techniques – mono main line of around 45 pound has less complications and greater abrasion resistance.  Far less fish are lost due to hooks working free and complicated knots are frustrating to tie during a hot bite in 30 knot winds.
• Leader: Two types of leader are required to cover all species on the Swains –        A:  All coral dwelling species either have large peg teeth and or serious jaw strength so considering this and the fact we first hook them amongst sharp coral, a tough thick quality 70-80lb mono like Schnider is the best with maxima a close second.  B: Wire – any lures trolled or spun have a high chance of being smashed by fish with very sharp teeth like mackerel or wahoo so wire is a necessity.  We find single strand nickel wire of 124lb test very strong but subtle enough to allow lures to swim true.  Make sure all lures carry at least 4 x rings and trebles or a massive Spanish, Wahoo, or GT will not be connected for long.
• Hooks: There is really no need to bring 8000 different patern hooks on a trip as most fish encountered have one size mouth ( Large).  Hooks should be very strong thick gauge but not necessarily a super large shank as gape is more relevant. For example I carry 4 boxes of the exact same hook a shorter shank 9/0 mustad big gun that catches 25cm bait fish to 40kg Spanish Mackerel and everything in between.
• Lead: a range of snapper leads up to 1 pound is required for drifting but a good selection of ball sinkers will put the cream on your results.   Fringe fishing reefs in dory’s , floating are perfect situations for ball sinkers and adjusting subtle weight at night can be the difference between catching bait or nothing to a good box of Red Throat Emperor.  Watch the decky’s , they catch a few rippers at night to add you your tally.
• Lures: an endless tackle shop bill but there are the ones that I do well on and this form of angling is a personal favourite. A: Big Boat Troll: Unless sea conditions are calm the only lures to run true at 10 knots with sloppy ocean are tremblers.  Halco giant trembler in blue or purple colours for Mackerel are our greatest weapons. B: Calm Big Boat: When calmer seas bless us trolling behind the big boats is most successful with rapala magnums in blue, purple or green as they run perfectly true at speed and the flashing metal bib is an added attractent.  The larger magnums are the go for this trolling. C: Dory Trolling: Slower speed reef trolling is a high success method on the Swains and we regularly catch Spanish Mackerel, Wahoo, Yellow Fin with the odd Job fish and monster Trout as well.  The next size down magnum in blue, purple or green is the gun but cheaper and sometimes more productive options are Halco lazer 160 DEL to 4 metres, mini tremblers (halco) or rapala XRap, all lures most results in blue, purple, or green with white & gold a close second. D: Spinning: Fish exploding through bait will smash any metal but when prospecting bait schools or structure a spoon metal will get best results and can be worked at a more comfortable speed.  Flasher brand lulres are the guns the 55gm nails me plenty of Mackerel and the 20 to 35 gm models are perfect for finicky Tuna feeding on small prey.  I have caught Coral Trout , red throat and even Green Job fish working the 35gm in 40 metres of water.  Also bumper bar lures of all sizes are fantastic with yellow or green – my choices.
• Plastics: Once again an endless tackle shop bill but most of our results are from berkly gulps or jerk shads in around the 110mm plus range.  White watermelon and “Gary Glitter” do best and unless your working the shallows from the dory’s all jig heads need to be a large weight to make sure the lure is down in the strike zone.  Lare hooks ar a must as Cobia and GT’s also love plastics.
• Rods & Reels:  Endless choices and personal preference but I personally carry 3 outfits to combat all species. A: Trolling / Live Bait : A sturdy rod of 25kg with a TLD 25 covers all big critters excluding the Coral Sea Atolls, massive reels with huge line capacity are not really necessary at the Swains. B: Bottom Bouncing / Night Fishing: I use a 24kg live fibre and a penn 330 and find it’s a nice weight to use but has the power to turn big reds and other trophy fish that take a liking to my bait.  C: Spinning: I use a custom 18kg Tuna stick with penn 750 spinfisher that allows me to catch Mackerel, GT”s and Yellow fin and is faster at getting smaller bait size Tuna to the boat to keep out of fellow anglers way.
• Note: Both Chris and Danny reckon a Kmart handline with 60lb mono works just as well and having fished with them many times, let’s just say I would have to agree.

PS: Bring large pliers they will be your best item on the trip as spike free hands feel way better!!

Hope this helps – Regards Jason the Decky
“We will get em brother”  

Our Great Southern Lands

23 NOVEMBER 2010

Hi Everyone. I have finally found time to give you all a heads up on some of our Southern trips.  We have been away for 15 weeks and have had a really enjoyable time with some great clients.

We left Gladstone early December and arrived to undertake our first trip almost a week later.  Our first trip was mostly dive surveys around Wilsons Promontory with a local Victorian company, the group achieved all they set out to do and were a pleasure to be at sea with.  Most of our time was spent in the Marine National Park at the Prom so no fishing but spectacular scenery, weather was pretty good apart from a couple of days of gale to storm force winds and big seas, spent two nights anchored outside the limits of the Marine Park and had some fun with Gummy Sharks and Flat Head, Danny’s battered flake was special.  Into Port Welshpool at the conclusion of the trip then departed the next morning for Tassie via the Kent and Furneaux Group of Islands, only the crew on board but had a few nights to see if we could still catch the elusive Southern Rock Lobster, apparently the pro’s  have been doing it tough for 12 months but luck had it that we caught our legal bag limit in 3 nights with the biggest cray over 5 kilos and the smallest around 1.5 kilo, don’t  you really appreciate these big Flinders Island crays when you are lucky enough to catch a few.

We arrived at Beauty Point (on the west side of the Tamar River and approx. 60 kilometres north of Launceston) – have a few days up our sleeves for maintenance before our next rip on Boxing day, don’t mind painting but would rather be at sea.

Off to Clark Island early morning on boxing day with fresh to strong Sou Wester but our course is NE so good travelling had us arriving early evening straight in with the cray pots and then back to the Eastern Voyager to try our luck at the gummies and flat head which were really on, ladies in front of the gents in the fish stakes so far, calamari squid came on later , credit to the guys and gals for catching them cleanly and leaving no mess.  Out to retrieve the pots at first light.  7 pots – 24 good crays, Ellen in front in the count so far, off to a small island to try and trick a cray in daylight, Zoe in front this time, two big crays, everybody else into a nice few flat head from the dories.  Fresh Easterly forcast so a 2 hour trip to the western side of Clark, pots back in the water  with gummies, flat head, salmon, pike and wrass all caught late in the afternoon with a couple of yellow tail kingies spotted amongst some couta.  Time out now for a rock lobster dinner (yum).

Another 20 odd crays this morning, weather fine, fish still biting and crays still on for remainder of the trip, gale force westerlies forecast for New Years eve so decided to head to port early arriving late on the 31st.  HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.
We have another break for maintenance in front of us till the next trip, unbelievable how much damage nature is causing back home in Qld, NSW and Victoria and to top it off severe fires in W.A.   We hope everybody is ok, not to badly affected, wishing you all the best.

Away again to the Furneaux Group with half divers and half fisher people, 30-40 knot south easter forecast later tonight, arrived Spike Cove early morning found the wind about midnight so only a couple of hours of sloppy stuff to contend with, next day still uncomfortably fresh,  fisho’s persevered with dories but hard going, divers in for first dive , few crays but not great.  We moved on to McLeans Bay, much more user friendly with pike etc on the troll, one group of divers cleaned up, Alex, Binsy, Scotty and Tai take a bow.  There were few day fish in the cray pots with a few more next morning so we moved north to Preservation Island, lovely Island with some famous ship wrecks like Sydney Cove and Cambridge Shine, apparently the few survivors were washed up on a little Island with the remainder of the rum in casks – Rum Island appropriately named.

Large amounts of big  Green Lip Abalone in this area but the crays seem to be the focus.  A strong to gale force westerly change forecast for early tomorrow, rotten thing was approximately 4 hours early so not much of a day, one group of divers still got wet otherwise cards and stories were the main features of the day.  Wind was supposed to moderate fairly quickly but we are running out of time.  Last dive with few crays but  Binsy’s dad cleaned up on shark in his grab-alls. It’s time to head home. The group  averaged 5 crays each of 2kilo plus with the best being close to 6kg with a nice few fish to top it off, thanks  guys, a great group of people having a relaxing fun time, what more do you need.

It’s time to slip the Eastern Voyager  in Devonport for her annual maintenance , eight days later all went well with thanks to Kiwi and his staff we are back in the water ready to head off tomorrow with Brian and his group to Cape Barron.  We arrived on the east side of Cape Barron early am with a change of weather coming through as we were dropping anchor which didn’t deter the divers or fishers.  The morning saw a nice few crays, gummies , lots of flat head and as everywhere else hundreds of wrass. 

The weather was moderating and the fishing still very good so we decided we would tackle the Tasmanian Trumpeter (stripeys) tomorrow.  Pots were back onboard early and then we were underway to stripey grounds which are usually well off shore and fairly deep, luck still with us a nice amount of stipey’s  were caught which meant dinner for all with one of the best eating fish I have tried including coral reef species and still plenty for the group to take home.

Getting toward the end of the trip we head toward Passage Island late arvo to set the pots and one last dive,  Brian, Roger and crew went fishing instead but they had already set the standards for diving for crays so time to give the others a go.  With a nice few crays onboard again and the weather calm we had a great scenic tour through Sea Lion Narrows then dodging the sand schoals through the sounds between Cape Barron and Clark Islands then west to Beauty Point, another great trip with terrific people, have to name Whitey the flat head and cray pot king and special mention to Keith for his efforts with shark lines and drop lines, we will get you onto them one day mate!!!

Victoria is our next stop and purposely divert a course to the NW Coast for the crew to try and pot a cray again.  First stop 3 Gullies at Three Hummock Island, 3 days later our bag limit caught again so it’s time to head as Willo has to catch a wedding in Victoria (not his though) and Danny and I are ready to chill out in San Remo for a few
days before our next charter (easy job in this lovely place).

We are up and running again and heading to the Kent group – a National Park area well known because of Deal Island.  Weather is good but the forecast not so good.  Lots of gummies caught as soon as we anchor, Brett the star supervised closely by Graham. We can fish one side of the Island here but not the other, that’s easy but read the DPIWE rules and regs, can’t keep or take abs according to booklet but sign on beach say you can (thanks bureaucrats for stuffing something up again) anyway let’s move on from there I don’t want to waste all of Tassies forests in paper to describe my views on the inconsistent crap from people whose wage we tax payers supply.

A really vigorous  west sou west  change has arrived , winds are storm force with swell to 5 metres and seas the same – 5 + 5 + 40% equals 14 metre waves, it’s time to hide behind an Island until we have to go, the group are still fishing but weather has quietened everything down, big feed of crays for dinner then off to port in the early hours, 12 hour run certainly felt like more but all was good with another great group who handled the inclement weather in their stride.

SKULL ROCK

We are straight back out the next day with Denny and his group, Roy the legend at 83 is the senior member.  Weather is now easterly- fresh to strong so its overnight at Wilsons Prom.  Gummies, flat head and cleanly caught squid again on the move, diving, sightseeing and fishing around the Prom for the next couple of days, Skull Rock will never lose its attraction, spectacular views with hundreds of seals and dolphins around us, weather has moderated so off to the Kent Group and Deal Island. 

Fishing was real good on arrival, Couta and Pike everywhere trolling and the occasional Yellow tail king fish, crays a bit harder to find in the pots now but still plenty to eat, weather is still good so off to the Hogan Group of Islands for the last bit with couta still about with  Trav and Angie having worked out the yellow tail kings.  Up early and steaming for port via the east side of the Prom including Waterloo Bay, Refuge Cove and Sealers Cove then out to Cliffy Islands where we caught more flat head than snapper and again another great group of people.  The weather has mostly been good and the fishing better, Swal is another year older today and Denny has had us all laughing the entire trip, but it’s time to head back to port and drop our guests off, pick up Bill (Tura’s skipper) from port Welshpool for the long steam home.

Weather 20-25 knots easterly on departure with a bit of sea until Gabo Island, then calm for 24 hours before a 30-35 knot southerly arrives. 

Our course is north so the wind is welcome, it will hopefully offset the effects of the East Australian Coast Current which can run south at 4 knots.  Pulled into Coffs Harbour for a few hours on day 4, bunkered some diesel, grabbed some fresh produce and we are underway again, smooth sailing all the way from Coffs to Gladstone for the next 3 days arriving early hours of Saturday morning 19th March – It’s good to be home but still only have a week or so to prepare both vessels for our annual Swains trips.  Crew have taken some time off to believe it or not to go fishing and mud crabbing.

We have been asked a few times to introduce  3 – 5 day trips to the Capricorn Bunker group , so if you have a group that would be interested in these trips , even  better if you  live locally and have some rostered time off , a vacation coming up  or even  a business / company looking for a different but enjoyable team building exercise why not get out there for some great fishing which is right on our back door  or if  you would like to head out to the Swains on a 7 day trip we still have availability for group bookings this year.

Thanks everybody for your time, will get Jason (the deckie) back on the job real soon.

Cheers from Chris

Jason a happy 'sleep deprived' dad

23 NOVEMBER 2010

It’s been a while since Jason did a fishing report so we thought that we would catch everyone up on what’s been happening the past few weeks.

Firstly “Congratulations “ to Jason on the birth of his son , from all accounts he is already growing like a weed as Jason put it, and he is a very happy but sleep deprived new dad.

The fish are still on the chew both at the Swains and further out to the Coral Sea.
Tura and crew have been onto the reds again but it looks like Bags from the Gold Coast still holds the record for the year.  Good on you Ron!
There are still good numbers of Red Jew and Gold Band Snapper from Bob and the crew in the channel aboard the Tura hile Rizzo and crew are onto the Wahoo, Dog Tooth and Yellow Fin out in the Coral Sea aboard the Eastern Voyager. There have been a nice few Coronation Trout as well. 

The weather has been really turning it on this past week and it will be sad to see the end of the season approaching.  Tura will be in port soon for a coat of paint and some maintenance work while the Eastern Voyager is heading off to Victoria, then across to Tasmania for some very different charter work from the end of November to the end of March 2011.
We will post a couple of news reports along with some pictures from some of the areas we will be operating in while we are down there  to share with everyone………

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS YEAR IN 2011.

Cheers from all at Tura Charters for 2010

Pre-arranged Trip = Laughing + Good Fish

18-25 SEPTEMBER 2010

G’day once again groovers. We are steaming back toward Gladstone very happy the weather man was way off on his forecast. Besides a lack of days good to launch dories, the week was nowhere near the chaos BOM predicted on our departure last Saturday.

Drifting was pretty good and besides our first week with no legal red emperor the big trout and red throat came to the party and our pre arranged mixed trip ended up with good tally’s of fish with excellent quality. With just minimum numbers onboard us deckies got to fish a bit more than usual and we managed to help the boy’s daily numbers with some great fish as well. Wednesday night saw a hot bite of red throat, big spangles with two reds dropped near the boat but the 30knt wind and torrential rain had us testing our nerve to persist rather than head for warm showers and comfy beds. Characters a plenty this week, we had a Santa, Col the doctor, Barry the biscuit muncher and even captain chaos gives you inkling into the antics that unfolded during the week. In summary a very fun week with average weather overshadowed by clients and crew laughing plenty and landing some very good fish as well.

I have been asked a lot by clients lately about our Shoal Water Bay trips and let me tell you it’s one of my favourite ones with mud crabs the highlight for me as they are the biggest pre historic bucks I’ve encountered , so if you would like to get a trip organised get in contact with Chris & Ellen and if the better half has been asking about a holiday the boys can be up the pristine creeks potting muddies, chasing barra jacks, red emperor and bar cheek trout while the girls relax on the Tura, have a glass of wine and dine on mud crabs. Food for thought beats carrying shopping bags around Pacific Fair I think. Till next report, grab the gaff! Jason the deckie

Hottest Anchorage Bites Seen

11-18 SEPTEMBER 2010

Last trip out was pretty special indeed and clients from Coffs Harbour, Woolgoolga and Newcastle caught steady fish all week.

On the Thursday afternoon Bill drifted a new patch of bottom to productive results with two nice red throat emperor and Graham and John invited me trolling and spinning aboard dory number 4 and we caught 2 nice little Spanish and our bait re stock of sharky mackerel was laughed upon returning to the Tura but only briefly as Bill’s new anchorage yielded a good red for Neil the taxi driver before dinner that had him walking around the boat so no one missed out seeing it. I decided to have a drop after dinner and hooked up straight away on a good red emperor which started on of the hottest anchorage bites I’ve seen , within a couple of hours our sharky mackerel baits attached to five fisherman’s lines saw 3 overflowing tubs of good red emperor with some monster spaniards and red throat joining them. Awesome fishing capped off by a half days drifting on the Friday with red throat and quality trout boated. Exciting times are ahead as my partner and I are expecting our first child and talking to Ellen yesterday the new pontoon to be constructed is not too far away and after so many years in the charter game the enthusiasm and professional service Chris and Ellen provide for clients is truly amazing and I am sure everyone has a great time aboard a vessel crewed by staff happy at their work and with nick names like “Lurch”, “Klinger” and the “Garden Gnome” the crew are full of banter and cheek. While I am at my other home on Catanduane Island in the Philippines the Eastern Voyager is heading to Victoria and Tasmania for charter, so after maintenance and our new facility are completed and exciting new season will be upon us once again. Till then, sunny skies and screaming drags!!!!!!

Red Throat Abounds

4-11 SEPTEMBER 2010

Firstly I would like to thank all the positive comments as it seems to be a popular site so I will endeavour to keep up an account of how the fishing goes each journey out to the Swain Reefs.

At present the Tura is carving her way through slight south east conditions, 30 nautical miles from reaching the first group of reefs and at 3.30 am on dogwatch the weather forecast is a slightly unknown entity with possible scenarios of dual low pressure systems coming midweek, talk of 30knt plus fetches affecting Barrier Reef waters and possibly a major swell by end of the week, so I’m sure glad we are aboard a Tasmania built vessel that has steamed through far worse and lets hope the weather turns for the better so clients have a much smoother weeks holiday. Fishing on our last 2 journeys has been pretty darn awesome with the group two weeks ago reaching their bag limit on red throat by mid week and with trout, tusk fish and a few big green job fish thrown in the tubs, it was a case of happy days. First day we drifted a gutter in 90 metres of water and found emperor, red jew and gold band snapper reasonably on the feed and drifting proved productive with awesome conditions making a very pleasant start to the trip. Heading north on the Monday the groups experience in dory fishing was produced and the boys started filling the filleting table with great quality red throat each session. We had turf farmers, tradesmen and even a doctor onboard and when Bill made a call to fish a reef new to the Tura it just got better with Ben getting a nice red emperor and Graeme and crew came back to the boat after only one hour on the reef with a large full tub of great sized red throat, what great fishing for all aboard. I fought a big yellow fin tuna off the top deck for half an hour only to have the 20 odd kilo fish spit out my flasher lure at the boat much to the enjoyment of our owner Chris.

Red Moon Rising

28 AUGUST 2010

Hi everyone Jason the deckie logging in again for Tura Charters week that was. 

Steaming towards North West Island at present showered in a reddish glow from a rising   gibbous moon, dolphins are surfing below the bow, ocean is as glassy as can be and I am rugged up in the wheel house with hot coffee admiring nature’s splendours.

This past week was mainly spent drifting off the Tura as a SE slop caused dory’s to be difficult to give away and clients enjoyed some pretty good results dropping fresh baits off the stable comfort of the Tura as fish were not in huge numbers but the clients caught great quality and the banter around the decks kept all laughing and having a great time.  Bill continues his whispering of the Red Emperor with 9 great fish boated through the week with a thumping red throat and missive Tusk fish being the other stand outs. Hoag’s and Clay, two great anglers from Rocky really filled the bins with quality fish daily and were great value as well, even if they called me a peanut farmer all week.

Nigel managed 3 good Mackerel around the 15kilo mark, lots of large Cobia as well with fish 20 kilo plus falling to fresh baits, spinners and plastics.
My chinaman hoodoo ended as everyone caught them for me with my few drops this week. I managed 5 horse lippers, a 3.8 kilo trout and a 2 kilo trout on a spinner and the best red of the trip, a nice 9.2 kilo bad boy, yeah I’m back. Hoag’s topped off a great week by hooking a big Sail fish on the troll and the result is “Mrs Hoag’s I would suggest Santa bring a reel with more line capacity this Xmas so hubby is in with a show”, there you go mate, dropped the hint, that cheque better be in the mail!!!!!!!!!!

Till next week, screaming ratchets you peanut farmers.

High flying at the Swains

21 AUGUST 2010

Hi there once again Jason the deckie reporting from the MV Tura.

On our last trip to the piscatorial wonderland east of Gladstone, Qld as I monitor the Sat Nav equipment, its 2.30 am on Sunday morning 66 nautical miles west of the Swains, passengers are comatose in bunks dreaming away and I sit high in the wheelhouse pondering what splendours  await us for this weeks Tura tour.  Last week saw a group experience the reefs at their best and most amazing as not only did we catch a great number of quality trout, red throat, mackerel etc but the many humpback whales on their way back south breached, flipped, rolled and put on a display short distances from the boat that would make the most avid of whale watches green with envy. Trout remain a dominant part of the catch and were hitting baits around the 30m mark with great gusto causing a few grunts and groans as anglers held them from returning down into the coral and filled fish tubs with this northern delicacy.

Big green job fish, blue maori cod and big tusk fish were also going great guns and by Thursday night we knew that this week was a good one as anglers aching arms kept bringing fish aboard.  Mackerel are still here in very good numbers, I managed a dory trip with two clients one morning and we boated eight good fish as well as a solid little yellow fin tuna that I prepared a great tray of sashimi with that was promptly devoured and probably even converted a few sceptics to the joys of correctly prepared raw fish.  Clients rested up at night to have a break from landed fish but a nice quiet game of Iuka in the saloon came to an abrupt halt, a very loud thud against the starboard side window had clients and crew alike investigating, what could it be so far from land and at night and that loud? Was it a bird?  No it was a 13 kilo mackerel that decided to jump into the boat at full speed and fall onto the deck, a first for us, even as crew that see some awesome things out here at times.   So floaters, lures, live baits catch some good mackerel , but a game of cards , a nice tumbler of red wine and some good company is all that’s needed sometimes.  This place keeps surprising people weekly and such things have us all shaking our heads in amazement.

My time is approaching to hit the bunk so till next week, tight lines and if you’re on your way for a trip on the Tura or our sister ship the Eastern Voyager you may consider bringing a hard hat in case a Spaniard falls from the night sky.

Strange but true, Jason

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The week that was not!!

14 AUGUST 2010

Hi once again anglers, this is Jason aboard the Tura in the wheelhouse and its 11pm Friday night. 

We are 25 nautical miles out from the east channel delivering a top bunch of clients from Tamworth safely back to port then reloading and steaming 130 miles back north east.  Well folks, simple report this week.  Nearly the whole week the Swains was in shut down making fishing very darn unproductive and frustrating, to have colour on the sounder but very few fish hungry at all.  Bill’s red whispering was the best of few highlights in a slow week with the Tassie locating a dozen red emperor the best pulling the scales down to a respectable 8.4 kilo.  I resorted to a Jason “Special” floating rig that produced a 20 kg cobia in the afternoon then a 24 kg mackerel that night, great buzz for the anglers I passed the loaded rods over to.

Fishing was very average but clients had a ball entertained by the crews banter and we in turn laughing at the comedy abounding.   We meet so many characters each week we see all types, dry, crass, witty and down right hilarious, that’s what makes our work so interesting, all the strange fish that make up the giant aquarium that is life, so even when things get tuff share a laugh especially at your own expense and enjoy all that floats your way in the current as we are a long time dead.

Jason signing off

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Our new skipper, the Red Throat Emperor Whisperer

31ST JULY TO 7TH AUGUST 2010

Hi there anglers. Another week aboard the M.V. TURA is coming to a close as we are heading 188 degrees in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

Weather has been good this past week and our trip out was pretty calm running the 130 odd nautical miles up north of the green.   Our first 2 days saw SW winds at 20 -25 knots that had all and sundry reaching for jackets and when our skipper of Tasmanian origin agreed it was chilly, well you get the idea. 

This week the fishing was pretty darn good with some solid red throat emperor returning to the tubs and one dory had a solid catch that kept me busy on the filleting table for a while.   A loud thumping noise awoke me before dawn one morning and as I arrived on the back deck was relieved to see a good 15kg mackerel being put to sleep and not anything astray (people who live or work aboard boats are tuned into any odd noise).  Six other mackerel followed this one on clients float lines and Nathan our other crew member was a bit dubious when I handed him my spinning outfit, but line screaming off and a devoured Bumper Bar lure put pay to his suspicions as I laughed and smiled.   Our skipper Bill seems to be the Red Emperor whisperer as once again his drifts produced great fish with school size 5 kilo ones and Ron Bags from the Gold Coast got his PB in 23 years of fishing the Swains with a thumping 12.8 kg that grabbed his squid and got the blood pumping. 

My odd drop produced good red throat but I seem to be cursed at the moment by 10kg plus chinaman.  I have caught plenty of the darn buggers and they are probably the hardest fighter out there.  Strangely it has all eventuated since our boss Chris was on a trip, I may have to look through my gear for hex bags or a voodoo chinaman fish.

Till next trip - Hook up and wind.

Humpback and Minki Whales provide a great show.

3RD TO 31ST JULY 2010

Hi this is Jason your deckie with a summary of our last three trips aboard the M.V. Tura. 

July produced some pretty breezy weather of late and the 120 nautical mile trip to parts of the Swain Reefs has seen a few green sailors, but some good fishing and plenty of great times.  It’s amazing the diversity of demographic we have aboard during a season, from trades people to financiers, but all share a common love of fishing and the sea.  We laugh, heckle and comic our way through a weeks adventure and manage to land some quality fish as well. Regular clients would be aware that Red Throat Emperor  are usually a major part of our weekly fish tally, but lately with the exception of 30 odd horse size specimens, each trip they are being beaten to baits by nice size Coral Trout and big Venus Tusk fish. Can’t complain about that, as both are exceptionally tasty treats even if Red Throat fight that bit more. 

As I scribe my report we have passed 50 odd Humpback and Minki whales and the ocean is as slight as a river cruise. What a great steam home compared to dancing around the deck in 30knt winds with 2 or 3 metres of sea.  Dory trolling is still producing great numbers of Spanish Mackerel around the 20 kg mark that the boys and I butterfly, fillet and snap freeze to create a very tasty treat on the clients return.  Fast and hot in quality oil for Spanish, a squeeze of lemon and yum, honey I’m home.
Good reds have been caught on fresh tuna baits and this week 8kg and 10kg models were landed along with school size fish.

The Tura has a new Skipper with a wealth of sea and drift knowledge. Not so good for yours truly, as Bill is the bosses brother - same tree, same apple. He is as good at dishing out cheek as the boss. Great bloke that knows his trade. Better go and look at more whales leaping skyward. Till next time, setup up, hook up and hang on.

Regards - Your deckie ... Jason.

Light winds and awesome fishing at the Swains

8 JUNE 2010

Jason the deckie reporting in on our latest journey to the Swains Reef, 120 nautical miles north east of our home port of Gladstone.

This week our guests enjoyed awesome fishing around the middle of the Swains with light winds daily and good size Coral Trout attacking bottom rig pretty much each session.  Red throat have been a great size but seem to get beaten to bait of late by big trout (leopard and bar cheek). Catches in the dories fringe fishing the reefs have been producing good trout and red throat with one of our guests snaring a good 10kg green job fish making up some exciting surprise packages.  A few red emperor were also boated in reasonable shallow water with one of the guests and yours truly catching nice ones around the 4kg mark.  As June and July roll on the numerous bait that visits the Swains is arriving.  One of the dory trips produced an afternoon of world class action for two of our guests from Brisbane, both really great guys who made my afternoon by high fiving frequently and stating “We have never seen fishing this great before”.

I explored a long vertical weather face for an hour and a half with no reels turning and little bait found but a diving gannet and some distant splashing had me skipping west of the vertical drop to land us in about 400 metres of spine smoking kuoss.  First searching pattern around the bait had Don’s reel screaming in protest and me chasing a solid fish before the Penn was spooled.  After putting the first 20 kilo Wahoo on the floor we trolled only 50 more metres that resulted in a double hook up of Spanish mackerel around the same size.  Our day was looking really good  when a couple of horse Wahoo leapt 20 ft in the air nailing bait and for the next two hours the boys sweated and groaned as each pattern I drove produced constant  double hook ups.  We had fish piled over the dory seats and I was that covered in blood I had trouble holding the gaff and standing to drive.  We plodded  our way back to the Tura a little late with guests and crew helping chain our over loaded dories catch up to the cleaning table.  Cameras flashed and guests were astounded at our 5 Wahoo and 6 Spanish mackerel that totalled 180kg.  What an afternoon shared with calm wind and seas, great guests laughing and high fiving. Spanish mackerel, Wahoo, Tuna, GT, Turrum or any other brutes you wish to test with your gear are out there, so get onboard. 

Regards - Your deckie ... Jason.

Flying fish are at the Swains

30 MAY 2010

The latest news from the past couple of weeks out at the Swains from the Tura is that small flying fish have invaded the eastern Swains and as their size increases over June as will the size of the Spanish that enjoy them for a meal.

We have already boated fair numbers of these splendid fighting fish in the 18 kilo class and we have also seen a couple of passengers boating 4 spanish @ 15kg a couple of thumper gold spot trevally and a large giant trevally that was released unharmed back into the eastern ledge. Lurch (Adam) has created some more interest in the use of soft plastics by landing some good Trout and good trout surprisingly have out numbered Red Throat on our last two trips. Weather on the Swains is slowly improving and sunny 10knt days have been much more enjoyable for crew and passengers than the garbage weather that April had.

So for those booked on the Tura in the coming months bring lures in blue and purple for Mackerel a wide brim hat for those balmy afternoons and make sure your feet leave the deck when you strike. Hope to see you soon, any questions on tackle I will endeavour to respond to on land. Till next post stay swell!

Regards - Your deckie ... Jason.

Excellent fishing despite wet weather

27 APRIL 2010

Apologies for the missing report last week, the sloppy seas and first back to back trip for the season had me catching up on some bunk time. 

Weather of late has been pretty average with constant days of 30knt SE winds so it’s been wet and uncomfortable but a positive is the fishing has been rather good.  The trip a fortnight ago jagged 2 days of  windless ocean and Mikes call to fish the deep was a great one with numerous Red Jew, Red Emperor , Rosy Job fish and Coral Trout all coming on board, steadily enough to keep yours truly on gaff duty.

The trip just completed saw some terrible weather all week but the passengers from Coffs Harbour did really well and deserved to after some of the squalls they endured on day 3, 4 and 5. Drifting from the Tura has been a nice comfy option and all week saw quality Red Throat, Trout, Venus Tusk and a couple of Red Emperor with one nearing 10kg, nice fish indeed.  

Mackerel are starting to show up through the Swains and of the dozen  we captured a 21kg slugger was the best taken trolling a Halco Grunt trembler in electric blue.  Dory fishing was hot and cold but day 4 saw some great Red Throat boated plus a couple of good Spanish that the guys trolled up on slow worked bibed lures around the reef edges where conditions allowed.  The owner Chris came along for a steam and even though he harassed me  all the week it was awesome to have all that experience onboard although Ellen can use him on land for a while I think.

Blue Maori Cod have been very active and welcome as they are fantastic eating and great sport in 5 metres of water.  We are now steaming back to Gladstone.  Hope to see you on the Tura this year.

Regards - Your deckie ... Jason.

Ready for the new season of charters

21 APRIL 2010

After  a long slipping and maintenance programme Chris, Michael and crew have the M.V. Tura sparkling for another season of charters, both crew and passengers are  very excited about the first trip and a favourable weather report is great news opposed to 2009 with cyclone Hamish causing havoc through the Swains System.

Chris & Michael have been busy refitting the wheelhouse and bathrooms , there are a couple of more things to finish between trips ,  Mike has a cheeky smile each time he walks past his new sounder.  All in all the Tura is up and ready for passengers eager to get out on the water again with us this year.

I was fortunate to have a week on the mid north coast where my grandfather was a pro – Mackeral fisherman and not only were the species of bait in abundant supply but it has been the best mackerel and pelagic season the crew down there have seen  in at least a decade and the fantastic news  is they are now heading on up our way.  I threw 75g bumper bar lures off a headland late one drizzly afternoon and managed two Spanish to 16kg and a pair of northern longtails both in the 20kg class, a load of fun and a screaming reel!  Swains Reef is a perfect location to target Spanish Mackerel as huge schools of bait congregate throughout the system and many other pelagics set our reels peeling when trolling, spinning and live baiting. 

June is our hottest month for Spanish and surprisingly there are still a couple of weeks available for charter, so if you can organise numbers for a trip I will be more than happy to show a few mackerel secrets and smile away as you are getting smoked.  Most fish are in the 12kg to 25kg range but I managed a few in the 30kg last season and these fish get the blood pumping.  Must go now, time for some fishing, hope all had a happy and safe easter break and hope to see you getting your arms stretched  on the Tura in 2010.

Regards - Your deckie ... Jason.

New pontoon being developed

12 DECEMBER 2009

BIG NEWS ... You will soon be able to enjoy Gladstone’s first and only dedicated charter vessel loading and unloading facility.

We have some great news for all of our past and future guests who travel aboard either of our vessels from the Gladstone Harbour. Chris & Ellen have secured a 1650 square metre foreshore block in the Gladstone Marina which will incorporate a 24 metre by 3 metre pontoon for our vessels “Tura” 78ft and “Eastern Voyager” 90ft for departures and arrivals to and from the Capricorn Bunker Group, Swain Reefs and the Coral Sea Reefs. The development has been in the planning and application process since 2007 with the last hurdle, ministerial approval expected within weeks.

"We have been involved in the Charter Industry in Gladstone since 1989 and have felt for some time that while Gladstone’s service wharf is a good facility for charter departures and arrivals, to be able to avoid congestion caused by all the boats returning at the same time and to be able to offer our guests a waiting room for early arrivals and late departures as well as secure parking all in the one area is great news for our guests."

The facility will be on Alf O’Rourke Drive in the South Western corner of the Marina precinct, and will mean unprecedented comfort for our passengers:
• Vehicles can approach to within 40 metres of either vessel for loading and unloading
• Undercover parking will be available at a reasonable cost. 
• Waiting room with tea and coffee facilities
• a lounge, waiting area and bathroom facilities will be available for our guests comfort
• outside waiting area with seating and shade for our guests to enjoy while taking in the sights of the Marina awaiting their departure on either of the well appointed and proven charter boats “Tura” and “Eastern Voyager”.

Pre-arranged Trips

15 JANUARY 2010

The introduction of pre-arranged trips is new to our itinerary, and are filling fast, so don't delay in making your enquiry. Click here to register your interest now..

Accommodation Deal

28 JANUARY 2010

If you're coming in from out of town, we can organise a reduced rate for you at Quest Gladstone.

We negotiated a special rate for our clients with Quest Gladstone, to help make their stay here a great one. Simply contact us to find out how we can save you some money next time you're in town for one of our Charters.