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Random Quote: You know what they say about common sense-it ain't so common!
Location: Quebec, Canada and Pirates Cove, OBX, NC
Posts: 17,813
Australia Here We Come
My wife and I will be celebrating out 35th wedding anniversary this summer
We are strong believers in celebrating major events, and since she is such a great sport and lets me go fishing whenever I want without complaining, we agreed to a budget and I said that she could chose any location and any event as long as it does not include then opera or classic theatre . . . distance is no objective as we have tons of air miles
I am in Vancouver on business and I just got her e-mail with her decision
#1 Australia for 6 weeks
#2 Some time between October/November or February/March . . . even though our anniversary is this August because she knows that I love my fishing and golf and that we plan to be in the OBX in January for tuna fishing . . . we will get to miss most of the winter
#3 Two weeks at the Great Barrier Reef so I can do some scuba diving
#4 She has agreed to do all of the planning and coordination so that I can have a reel vacation
Auguste....
sounds like a great trip....but tell the mrs ya wanna see NZ too.....real beautiful there....and you will be right around the corner....BTW are ya takin the MissBHaven...and is this why all the top secret additions to the boat?......did ya have to use the boat stretcher to get them liberty engines in place?
Location: Quebec, Canada and Pirates Cove, OBX, NC
Posts: 17,813
RE: Australia Here We Come
Blue Marlin . . . six weeks . . . hmmmm, it will take some work and sacrifice but we will work it out somehow
Chalkie . . . yeah, those Liberty engines remind me of some of the biggest snowblowers that were hooked up with WWII aircraft type engines . . . putting them in a boat as narrow as the Miss-Be-Haven would require someone with a less prosperous girth (than me) to change the oil . . .
Yup, this is a special once in a lifetime trip but we are only doing Australia as we are renting a vehicle and doing the entire East Coast with tons of stops . . . the Admiral has a good friend there and I am sure that they will have all things worked out best beaches . . . best reefs . . . best watering holes . . . and more
Location: Quebec, Canada and Pirates Cove, OBX, NC
Posts: 17,813
RE: Australia Here We Come
If I understand, Trouty is on the North West Coast and I will be on the East Coast . . . doubt that I will see Trouty . . . Australia is one really big country
It appears that August's good wife has already fallen for the classic mistake most visiting Americans make - and that is to assume that all there is to see of Australia is on the East coast.
Theres some lovelly places to visit in Qld and the GBR for sure, no one could deny that - but fact is we have better reefs for diving here in the West, less spoiled - more & bigger fish - less people etc etc etc.
Aussie's such a big place tho - it's very hard to "see it all" in 6 weeks (or 6 months).
Either way, I would be happy to help out if you get as far west as this side of the pizza.
I doubt I could see all there is too see in the USA in 6 weeks visit - likely I'd miss your west coast (and it's california girls?) in such a short visit....just how much can you see in 6 weeks and still have a good relaxing holiday?. So it is downunder, few venture past the east coast - some make it as far as Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the middle of the continent, but few make it out west.
Of the few who make it out west tho - some never leave...
Many find the peace, cheap real estate, beaches, fishing etc so unexploited - they just buy up and stay - some use it as a winter hideaway from your snow.
Plenty worse places in the world than the West of Oz.
Course - the suggestion to see Kiwi land while down here is a pretty good one also...
Best of luck Auguste - if you are in Queensland - maybe our member Kerry would take you out for a fish on the GBR in his Kevla cat? I've seen the photo's - Kerry catches fish and then some - he just don't make a lot of noise about it.
He's based out of Yeppoon just above Rockhampton in Qld from memory.
Oz is certainly on my short list of places to visit, and who knows, maybe I'll bring along some of my "old faithful" trolling lures when I go, and convince Trouty and Flash to give 'em a try.
I'm sure we can raise a Marlin or two, or perhaps get some dogtooth or Yellowfin tuna to give 'em a try.
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a
pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly
used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming--WOW--What a ride!!!"
-Stuart Wilde-
Flash n I, spotted one of reggies 31 Fountains before we went away fishing, a few weeks ago, and it's still for sale this weekend when we got back.
We have been scheeming the whole 3 weeks - since we saw it how we can buy it.
Options have run from him selling his new boat + me selling mine & then some..
Trouble is Flash now has his first nipper well on the way and Mrs Flash has said no ways - over her dead body etc...to the fountain, so it's not lookin good...sadly.
Flash & i tried hard to troll a few lures while away - but our host preferred bottom bouncing to trolling so we got little opportunity except for about an hour...testing some new secret weapons, which brought not 1 strike.
Later in the day while hauling lobster traps I spotted a free jumping Marlin....man did it get the juices flowing but by then we were working for our supper, not playing so had to just watch in amazement...
That 31 fountain of Reggies with the cuddy cab up front is the answer Flash n I both reckon...we could be the 50 miles offshore in an hour on the right day - and right amongst all those big fish.
The fuel capacty might be a problem tho...probably need bigger tanks and 4 strokes....she has a real drinking problem apparently.
With the right boat it's doable....but right now affording the right boat is a problem for both Flash & I.
Getting out there and sampling it only makes the desire stronger not weaker, so we will get our own big boat one day...just how we do it without the inevitable threatened divorces that go with it is the issue right now!.
God willing we will get there. Theres a marlin or 3 with our names written all over them.....just waiting for us!
Location: Quebec, Canada and Pirates Cove, OBX, NC
Posts: 17,813
RE: Australia Here We Come
Trouty and Fubar512
Maybe there is something that could be coordinated . . . I just talked to the Admiral (I am in British Columbia and she is about 3000 km from here) and she said if we organized something she would try to plan around it . . . lets talk later this year
Happens to me all the time Madaff.
Don't give up! - new boat here yet?
I'll bet ya bustin ya balls to get it by now!.
I reckon we could put on a pretty good itinerary for a THT visit with Auguste and Fubar eh?...
Be good to see the west get the praise it's due in the USA - those eastern staters get all the press - tain't fair!
What would be THE THREE 'must see' attractions / fishing destinations for visiting USA guests in West oz?
Hard to list just 3 but i reckon...
Rowley Shoals?
Abrolhos Islands?
Kimberleies / Mitchell plateau, live aboard cruise?
Shark Bay?
(heck thats 4 and even then, I left out the southwest wine/forest areas!!!
It is a shame the easterners get all the exposure, as the west coast offers at least 50% more. Spectacular scenery, the very best fishing available, rugged and remote with luxury live aboard cruise ships. I think Sheer Delight a 75foot cat offers 5 star accommodation in the Kimberley with 3 x custom built 18foot alloy sport fishers. Traveling into the most remote rivers with 300 foot red sandstone cliff's and amazing waterfalls and the very best fishing available.
How about the rest Trouty::
Tagging 30 Sailfish per day out of Broome.
Awesome Barramundi fishing in Kununurra.
Huge Dog Tooth Tuna at the Rowley shoals.
Mackerel fishing at the Mackerel Islands, and The Pilbara.
Exmouth gulf and Ningaloo reef, diving with Whale Sharks, and sport fishing for just about every game fish you can think of. From Queen fish the Blue Marlin to around 300kg. Fishing the shallow flats of Exmouth gulf with a 9 weight fly battling massive Giant Trevally.
Hand feeding monster Samson fish at the Houtmans, then dive the crystal clear waters for jumbo lobsters. Bottom fishing for some of the best table fare around.
Massive Bluefish to 20lb off Dirk Hartog Island, and throw in all the pelagic fish you can think of and then add some more. Shark feeding frenzies everywhere.
Thats just boat fishing.
How about two of the most famous Land Based Game fishing platforms on the planet. Steep Point and Point Quobba. Rock fishing for Bill fish, more pelagics you can through hard bodies at, Gas ballooning for King Mackerel.
Where do I stop mate, that will do for now.
A down under fishing fishing expedition for THT members, why not.
Stopped in to Tim Browns "Fine Entry Marine" on the fishing boat harbor in Geraldton last week - he was finnishing a new 75 ft luxury charter cat for broome - Blue Pearl or something. Awesome - looked like an air craft carrier inside the shed - 3 stories high...
I supply Tim with sheoke for trimming out his luxury charter vessels...one of Gavin Mairs new designs. Bloody flash - dammned if I know where they get enough bookings to maintain so many cruise boats outta Broome these days....amazing the size the luxury liveaboard cruise industry has become up there...although the scenery is indeed spectacular to say the least.
Pretty big list we got there fella - they'd need 6 months, not 6 weeks!
Seeing this is a boating crew we could probably rule out the land based stuff....or maybe let em experience it off the cliff side of Dirk Hartog isl while staying at Kieran & Tori's island resort. Fishings probably as good there as steep point & quobba anyway?.
Would make an interesting challenge to put something together for em eh?
Maybe ONE liveaboard where they do Broome, the Rowleys and Monties..and work their way down to Shark bay then the Abrolhos...
How many takers do we need to fill the NEW True North?????...
Man, I REALLY envy your being able to take a trip "down there" - ESPECIALLY for 4 WEEKS!
I'd LOVE to go to Oz - watched a feature on TV on Ayer's Rock a while back - fascinating! Always watch "Crock Dundee" to see the "scenery" - WHAT a place!
Also, a friend of mine went to New Zealand years ago and loved it - such beauty!
Even with 4 weeks, I'd concentrate on Aussieland though!
Just make sure you take plenty of "B.S. Spray" if you meet up with Trout!!!
Just kidding, Trout - I actually BELIEVE "most" of what you say about W. Oz!
Fishn and politics don't mix Auguste, Fishn and boats is one thing - the internets another - when I fish - i fish, I don't internet.
All we need is some idea what you'd like to do and see - always hard to ensure visitors get to see what they want to see rather than what someone local wants to show them.
Maybe if Madaff and I get our heads together twixt now n then we can give you the links to tourist web sites showing the areas we recommend you should see and you and the admiral take a look and see if it looks like your cup of tea.
Not hard to put together an itinerary..
West Oz is fully half as big as all of Oz...which is like 25 of the 50 mainland states...how much do you want to travell to see stuff and how much do you want to kick back relax - walk the beach, swim and soak up the atmosphere?
You could have a holiday, that saw it all and yet left you run ragged, or you could have something a little less hectic, see less but enjoy it more maybe.
Only you can tell us what it is you think you'd like, we have some spectacular stuff to see but it's largely separated by miles and miles of bloody nuthin.....which gets real boring real fast, an 18 hour road trip is a mere short jaunt hereabouts....
With some planning and airtime - you can see more faster but of course it's dearer.
Are you into boats? (Dumb Question) well do you want overnight boat charter cruise type travell - or daytrips at selcted locales etc.
Really - we need some guidelines in order to put together something you might enjoy.
Accom, 5 star hotels or something more modest but still comfortable?
It all affects what links we throiw your way to look at.
The thing is, you need to remember the admiral in all this - how keen a boater / fisherwoman is she? Maybe a couple days lay time to relax around Broome and allow the admiral time to hunt out some Broome pearls jewelery to take home???? (Ouch!)..
You tell us what you are looking for and we will soon send you links to consider.
In 1988, we took our honeymoon to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti. We were gone for a month and loved it. We were in Australia for their bicentennial, they put on quite a show in Sydney Harbor, and quite a drinking exhibition at "the rocks".
They were extremely friendly and we had a great time. We took the "Quicksilver" at the Great Barrier reef for a day of snorkeling - it was awesome.
We promised to return for our five year anniversary, now we say it will be for our 20th, one thing is for sure - to paraphrase Arnold: "We'll be back".
Australia Here We Come 
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