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Wilderness Island : Kayak Heaven
- Category: Destinations
- Published on Thursday, 27 May 2010 10:57
- Written by Brett Ozanne
To say i'd been looking forward to this kayak fishing trip would've been an understatement. 6 months of looking at maps, talking to people who have been there, and checking out tackle was really starting to get to me, but by the Friday night of our Exmouth Trip, meeting Jim and Shane from the Island at the pub, and Scott and Daryl from Western Angler was the icing on the cake, and i was getting excited. On the saturday, we moved out of our pokey little Lighthouse cabin, and into the Ningaloo Novatel, and opulent luxury! Warm freshwater showers, which i took my entire kayak gear bag into, the boys were laughing as i carried rod holders, shark shields and sounders into the shower with me, washing a weeks salt buildup off them!
That afternoon we went to Shane's place and dropped off the kayaks, and any gear we could pre-load. Watching the yaks getting strapped to the front of the boat was certainly pushing me closer to kayak nirvana, and I had to consume much alchohol that night to enable a decent nights sleep!
We certainly wasted no time, and by the time the kayaks were offloaded on the beach, and most of the gear stowed, we were scurrying around settng up our yaks, and after a quick bite on the water heading south to Burnside Island for an afternoon session. We explored the eastern side of Burnside Island, throwing surface lures for all kinds of Trevally, Bream and Whiting. Taking in the scenery, and occasionally getting smashed by big prey, we eventually found ourselves on the southern end of the island on dusk, where the water came alive with fish for one of the hottest hour long sessions i have ever experienced! Reluctantly, we returned to base just after dark, where a superb meal was prepared by Daryl and our french maid Corin, and washed down with, you guessed it, Corona!!! My appetite for the week to come was well and truly wetted, and i eventually got to bed around 11pm, ready for a 6am start.
Day 2 brought more sublime weather conditions, and we decided to head south again to the same areas we hit last night. Many fish were boated over the day, and by the time we were met for lunch by shanes boat, we had scored some crackers. Scotty had an epic battle with a meter plus Queenie, which i have on video that was a standout fish for the trip.
After lunch Scotty and i did a circumnavigation of Simpson Island, the next island south of Burnside, where we enjoyed the amazing scenery of 30' cliffs along the back edge, and more mangroves on the inside, truly spectacular! The rock wall produced a few more GT's, and Jacks, also ravenous Tusk fish that were smashing the poppers before i even managed a single bloop!!
Day 2 ended much the same as the rest of the week, a huge seafood feast, Chilli mud crabs if i remember correctly, and as Ningaloo Harry had also joined us today, he and i sat up till midnight drinking and chatting.
We decided to head north on tuesday, up and around the northern point of the island, down into the mangrove creek areas, and up along the flats, and rock bars across the front of Tent Island, and up to tent point. This was one of my best days, landing a nice GT that SMASHED a popper blooped up the edge of a large coral bombie, and giving me a workout that i'll never forget. After releasing this particular fish, i cast back to the same bombie, where what looked like a larger fish crunched my popper, sending it 6 foot in the air in a shower of spray!! I was impressed!!
The boat boys joined us for lunch again just off Tent Point, and Daryl dived for lobster while we enjoyed our roast sandwiches! We got back into it, and as the tide dropped, pulled up on a beautiful beach for a breather, before fishng our way back to camp, and another geat evening, great food, beer, and company.
So on the wednesay, we called a rest day, and Shane took us all out on his boat. The weather was awesome, with glass-offs all day, so we headed to Fly Island, and got off the boat for a stroll around the island throwing lures. As we cheated, wednesday doesn't deserve a full report, as it's corrupted by screaming motors, metallic hull slap and the stench of fuel. But i'll let the pics do the talking!!
A great day was had by all, and it really got me hot for some more yak fishing the next day!!
We awake Thursday morning to a fresh sou'wester brewing on dawn, and the smell of bacon and eggs! After a hearty breakfast, we are enthused enough to head into a headwind and find some shelter behind the islands. Hugging the mangroves, we cast an assortment of surface lures around for reward of small Trevally and the occasional Cod, we end up hiding from the wind well around the island, and along the rock walls and inside the little inlets behind the islands. We eventually meet Jimi for lunch, inside a little inlet, no more than 40m across, with a 3m opening!!
After lunch we headed back around the island, across the flats, and ending up trolling up the channel, with a little Rapalla out, i get hit by a little School Mackie, puts up a good bit of resistance. Back on the troll again i pick up a fish that almost looked like a Cobia!! Turns out to be a Slender Sucker Fish, which the boys tell me are usually attached to large sharks!
We arrived back to camp to find Jimi, Corin and Eric building a bonfire! Jimi was kind enough to light this for us late in the evening, as it was tough going with the breeze up!! We then had a pool on to see what time the water on the incoming tide would hit the fire!@ Another great night followed, refreshing the mind for the next days fishing... Oh and my favourite beer batter made an appearance!!
Friday comes, and the last day for Paul and Trev, i luckily had some time and was allowed to hang around till the following Tuesday!! We decided to head north around the corner of the island, and into some of the multitudes of mangrove creeks this side of the Gulf. Onto the light gear, flicking beam lures we hook into many Bream, Javelin Fish, Cod, Jacks and occasional Flathead and Trevvs!!
After another strenuous days fishing, i settled back into the night, with my second, and last shower for the week in the island ensuite, before another great seafood meal, and the last of the beers. The lads leaving shed a few tears, and relived their stories from the week. Swearing to return, we all eventally head to bed!!
Saturday i had an easy day, chasing big queenies right up the creeks for unfortunatley little result. Best fish i saw all day tried to smash a popper in the last 4' of my retrieve, as i was about to pull it up!! A huge silver swirl was all the action i saw, and after catching a bunch of smaller fish on light gear, i returned to the camp just after midday, to find the lads about to leave. This left the camp a lot quieter, but less competition for beer, so i settled in for a restful afternoon, reading and chilling on the front deck of Camp WI!
Sunday morning i got away early, and with perfect conditions, decided to go to one of my favourite spots i had found, north of the island. Fishing the flats early, i caught a stack of small trevvors and cod around the bombies, also managing a great Spango off a lonely rock bar on the building tide. Smashing a popper, it did all it could trying to get back to its rock, but i got it in, with a pic, it was on its way!
At the top of the tides, i hit the small creeks in the area, landing a heap of smaller fish, as well as getting smoked by a good sized Cod that shot out of the mangroves and enguled an SX48!! I got back to camp mid arvo, to a cracking sunset, and a relaxing night in conserving energy for my last full day tomorrow!!
Last day i woke up with a new found energy, and again headed to my favourite (so far) northern spot, fishing in and around a creek for great effect, landing a bevvy of Jacks, a few good fish in there too! Also in the creek, hooked into a ton of smaller fish on 4lb gear and bream lures, losing a heap to the mangroves and bigger fish! Was the best fun i'd had all week, i basically fished all day and returned to camp around 4ish before settling in for the night. That night, in desperation, the lads sprung a cheap cask of port on us, something i'd never been a fan off.. But....
On the way out of the creek, i threw some poppers toward the numerous rock bars in this area, and on the last bloop, barely 2m from the yak, a dirty big Jack sneaks up and woofs my popper in a bubble and swirl!! The fight is short but violent, and i get him into the net, very green, and manage a few snaps, before spearing him back to his bouder. A fitting fish to end a cracking trip, wetting the appetite for more, and leaving me with the kind of memories that feed my passion for the sport further. I am in love with this place, yakking nirvana, unbelievable. And the funny thing is, they told us it was really quiet!
The morning of the last day dawns, and i spend the morning disassembling the yak, and packing away all my gear ready for the boat trip back later in the day. Tho with plenty of time up my sleeve, i stroll the beach out the front of the camp with light gear and a popper, landing two great farewell fish, before putting the rods away, and heading home.....
Once returning to Exmouth, and back to Jims place, we all have a fresh water shower and shave!!! Bliss, before i take the boys out for dinner and a few drinks as a thankyou, which predictably turns into a big night out, and many more memories, i think...
I have to say, a huge thankyou to Trev and Paul, for the great company over the trip, and also to Jimi, Shane and Harry for being gracious and welcoming hosts. Schooling us in the area, and putting us onto some amazing fish. I have to say, for best options, fishing and scenery, Wilderness Island will take some beating as my personal number 1 Kayak Fishing destination in WA.
I'm looking to getting back, REAL soon!
1 hour ago
