This was the earliest in the season we've ever headed west Mulloway hunting, so we were somewhat nervous about being too early, but equally as excited to hopefully avoid the crazy crowds that have gathered there in recent years through the November/December period.
We rolled in to Fowler's Bay mid afternoon, on an overcast but otherwise fine day. Kym & I in were riding in the white Patrol, and Will & Darren in the Hilux. We had two 65 litre fridges and a 40 litre freezer on board. Expectations must have been good (or at least, plenty of room for cold beers).
Being a little bit earlier in the season, we hoped that few salmon schools might still be hanging around, but it wasn't to be. I think this was the 12th or 13th trip we've had out there, and we still hang our hopes based on that ONE year where Scotts beach was filled with Salmon. Anyway, there was no salmon. We trekked around the beaches and various rock ledges, but it was dead everywhere. The weather forecast was for strong south westerly winds coming in after dark, so we sought out a sheltered campsite amongst the dunes at sunset, for the first night. Zero fish on board.
The following day was more of the same. Searching the coast line for schools and coming up with nothing. With the strong winds still persisting, we camped out on the ledge, and decided to hit up the dog fence beach the following day. If we weren't catching bait, we may as well not catch bait at the dog fence instead.
After a failed attempt to short cut from Mexican Hat back to Nundroo, we finally made it back to the coast around 1pm, almost right on high tide. We didn't travel far up the beach before sighting a nice look patch of water - however since it was only 100 metres from another group, and we figured there would be plenty of space up the beach, we persisted on. Turns out the beach was still pretty popular, and we turned back and set up camp at the original spot we liked.
The wind dropped off and the weather turned golden, but no fish come to play that first day on the beach.
The next morning, we slowly got ourselves organised after breakfast, with a baits getting casted out one by one into the seemingly shrinking gutter. At low tide it became quite narrow and hard for us to all fit in the 'good spot' without encroaching on the nearby camp too much. I declared that 11:30am would be the time to get my bait out as that was the start of the incoming tide. I apparently mistimed this though, as just after 11, Will got a big bite and line started peeling out.
Amongst getting caught up in his other line, he untangled that one and then landed a very nice mulloway, which seemed to increase in size every time it was sighted in the waves. The fish measured in at about 125cm long and 42 pound. The gutter held mulloway, we were all happy.
We set up our 4th and final campfire for the night (4 fires - a FWC record), conveniently the last day before fire bans came in and also before the weather really heated up. As it got dark, around 9pm, Darren's LED light started flashing like crazy and he soon found himself with his very first legal mulloway on the beach. Always a good feeling, and a nice opener at 93cm long.
It got hot after that. Northerly winds made casting baits out far very easy, but the fish weren't coming to play. A managed a rare salmon for fresh bait, but it was slim pickings
The following day it must have been 40+ degrees by 10am and gusting hot northerly winds into camp. The only relief was a dip in the ocean, and some Dolphins came over to inspect Will - very cool!
As hot and as uncomfortable as it was, we decided to pack it up and head back towards Fowlers Bay. At least we'd have some time in the air conditioned car. We only had two nights left, so getting closer to home was a bonus. It was getting close to sunset when we finally arrived back on the beach east of Fowlers. It is a small, but very steep beach, and unfortunately there was some huge lumps of seaweed holding in the little bay. After a hot and exhausting day, a feed and a few beers were had and then it was an early night.
There was some temptation to start the journey home the next morning as the weather was again predicted to be in the high 30's. Thankfully it was quite overcast and even a few drops of rain came through, keeping the temperature down. So the final day was upon us, and Kym and I sitting on big fat donuts for the mulloway catching comp. Team Patrol needed a big day.
A few fat salmon were caught which provided us with some nice fresh bait, but the sun was soon setting with out much action. The best catch being this nice flathead caught by Will.
By time the sun was well and truly down and the moon up, my gear was all packed up ready for the early start the next morning. It was about that time that Will got a solid hit and landed a very nice gummy shark. For half a second I contemplated getting the rod back out, but common sense prevailed. A nice cherry on top of an easy Gashes win for him.
