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

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.