P22 - FISH & BOAT, April 2019 Fishing Keepin’ it Real Mollie with a couple of Keppel Island tiger squid that she caught herself. By John Boon Mother nature shares some won-able here, Mollie loves her island derful moments that just seems to cruising days. We will usually head In the modern day, technologystop time. I do my best to infect asover to Great Keppel Island and find is slowly taking hold. Walking many people with those sorts of mo- our own piece of paradise which is through a shopping centre will ments as possible. never too far away. A deserted beach only reinforce the point. I’ve seen close friends and family with some reef close by is a sure fire How many people are sitting orwith that look on their face. A lookway of hitting the relaxed button. I standing with their heads buried in of wtf just happened, a look of disbe- would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy their phones? I’m certainly one that lief but above all a look of “please sir, playing tour guide. Don the flippers shouldn’t be throwing stones. I want some more”. and snorkel and chase the local fish Administrating fishing Facebook My sister Cassee and her family live life around for a few hours. Once pages, staying in contact with friends out in a sleepy little outback town you get bored of that (which rarely and looking for that next big bar- called Moura in happens), it’s back gain on the buy, swap and sell pages Central Queens Moments like these haveonto the boat and - takes up a fair amount of time. I’ve land. Cassee was the ability tostop youin youroff to find some seen people standing in line at fast also brought up to tracks and youmake gaze in productive fish- food counters glued to the floor. appreciate the fin- amazement. ing and squidding The cashier is raising her voice on er things in life like grounds. Mollies each request. “Next please”. “NEXT fishing and boating. Unfortunately, first trip over she had never caught PLEASE”. Some of the time, it just with three of her own kids and work a squid before. After a short ses- falls on deaf ears, and people waiting commitments, she doesn’t get a lot of sion, she had half a dozen beauties in line will simply walk around the time to get out on the water. Fishing on board and bragging rights. The person who seems to be otherwise dates need to be set well in advance. smiles always tell the story. We fin- occupied to leave the virtual world Winter seems to be her quiet period ished the day off with a stop in at the and join back into reality. I believe of the year. I think she would be here Hideaway Tavern on GKI for lunch that we can’t get away from technol- every weekend if it was allowed. My and a few beverages before one final ogy. It’s inevitable. What I also be- nephews and niece are quickly being swim and home to clean the boat lieve is that there has to be a balance. shown the light. Mollie has never and the squid. Job done. Allocating time to being pluggedreally taken to the online life. SheLinkin and Jake have been in- into the world of social media and would much rather be outside prac- troduced to the Rocky locals a few allocating time to the great outdoors. tising netball drills than curled up in times. The barra were on, and I I can tell you straight that watching front of the phone. Jake and Linkin couldn’t get them over and onto the the sun come up out on the big blue on the other hand, just like the large water quick enough. Cassee was ac- with a glass-out will take your mind percentage of teenagers do like their companying her boys on this trip to away from the struggles of everyday “Instagram” time. Over the past cou- keep them in line. Or was it to catch We made our way up into the town to the ramp. We were idling back to life. Moments like these have the ple of years, I’ve had the privilege her first barra as well? I think it may reaches of the Fitzroy. We had done our spot from the ramp when a barra ability to stop you in your tracks and to share with them what the Cap- have been a bit of both. the rounds with a bit of casting and was identified on the Humminbird make you gaze in amazement. It’s a ricorn Coast has to offer. Crabbing, The start of the day was very try- were still having a bit of trouble Helix. We kept going and another type of unprescribed therapy. Fresh offshore, island cruising and no visit ing. Over 6 hours trolling, casting boating our first fish for the day. The went past. And another and anoth- air fills the lungs, and all your trou- to the Rockhampton region wouldand searching for zip. These are veryjokes the boys were coming out wither and another. We spun the boat bles just seem to melt away. You can’t be complete without sampling the trying times, and it can be hard to was the only thing keeping us going around and flicked the lures out. get that feeling from any website or barramundi fishing that we have on keep newbies focused during those I reckon. Cassee had an hours’ ap- Facebook page. offer. I believe out of all what’s avail- boring periods. pointment, so I had to drop her back Continued next page SIZES FROM SIZES FROM SIZES FROM #2/0-8/0 #14-10/0 #4-3/0 BIG BAIT CIRCLE OCTOPUS T14 Heavier gauge circle A strong hook perfect A strong treble with hook for big fish! for baits such as awesome hooking power Perfect for a paternos- squid and cut fish. and sticky sharp ter rig, or a live points. This 3X hooks bait rig is equivalent to a 4X in other brands. INSTAGRAM:@GAMAKATSU_AUS WWW.GAMAKATSU.COM.AU CMHCIEOCMNRIIOCC AABLLAL RYHB OOSCHKAHA RIRPBGPOOHEIN NN QETWUDIARLEI TCYO NTSETMRPUECRTEIDONHHOHOOOOKOK K S BHEEAYNNEDK GAPE THROATT