Written by Dr Stewart Hase, a friend of mine who tries to visit Hervey Bay each year. He seems to always out fish me and kindly wrote this blog about his most recently visit.
Thanks Stewart.
Booking.comHitting The Water
Passing through as part of a 8000km drive around Queensland. I’d contacted my old friend Luke and asked him for a trip in his new boat and a quick look at Fraser Island and the bay. He’d eagerly agreed. He insisted that we flick a few lures around in the process-any opportunity.
It was the perfect morning as we navigated our way through the Urangan Boat Harbour. The sea was a mirror, shimmering as the sun rose slowly above the horizon, a vast blue sky. The early morning quiet was disturbed only by one or two other small boats launching on the ramp. It was too early, yet, for the whale watching boats that lay still, waiting for eager tourists from all over the world and Australia to go visit the annual whale migration to the waters off Hervey Bay.
Out in the Bay, Luke released the Evinrude 175 G2 from its shackles. The bow of the Fusion 19 lifted with the sudden rush of raw power and we were on the plane, skimming across the water. Luke backed off the throttle just a tad and we hit a comfortable 52km per hour heading for the first channel marker. There was no need to worry about gear flying around with the sudden increase in speed. Everything is below deck in the more than adequate storage lockers-including our rods. Even the anchor was invisible at the bow under its hatch.
Fraser Coast Waters
Sitting on the comfortable bench seat next to the skipper I could see everything on the well-equipped instrument panel. Dominating was the huge Humminbird combination sonar and navigation unit. It showed the boat clearly in the channels as we navigated between the various sand banks on the inside of Fraser Island. And we needed that screen because there was an early morning fog and we could barely see 50-metres in any direction.
A large splash to the side of us made Luke back off the throttle. It is the first of dozens of green turtles that we got to see over the next couple of hours. Some of them were huge, often just sitting in the shallows until they saw or sensed the boat. With a thrust of their flippers they would glide swiftly away. Often with a majestic bow wave before them as they disappeared into the distance to find a quieter spot. Sometimes, when we were slowly drifting, they came close to inspect. Their heads breaking the surface for just a quick look before disappearing again.
The Beauty of Fraser Island
The sun gradually burnt away the fog and we could see the bush, ancient jetties and cliffs of Fraser Island as we slowly motor along the shore. The water was crystal clear and probably accounted for the fact that we didn’t find any hungry flathead. As we had often had on previous occasions, as we cast into shallows and gutters. We caught and released a couple of cod and a school mackerel, avoiding a fishing doughnut at least.
The Ride
A quite brisk northerly wind sprang up making conditions lumpy as we headed back on the incoming tide. The Fusion 19 just skimmed across the top of the chop. Shrugging off the whitecaps with ease. The solid, streamlined fibreglass hull provided a very comfortable ride. Even side on to the wind and swell, with very little lateral movement.
We just beat two whale watching boats back into the safety of the harbour and the extremely well-appointed boat ramps that awaited us. All in all, a great trip in a great rig. Even though the fish were hiding that day. The scenery and the beauty of the islands and the bay, Fraser in particular. Made it a very worthwhile trip out on the water.
Like many that visit this area, I’ll be back.
Booking.com