Cooktown to Torres Strait
Blue Hound
Phil Marks & Rosy Jensen
Fri 16 Sep 2022 08:44
8th September -10th September
On the 8th September we anchored in the appropriately named Ninian Bay, to celebrate daughter Nina's birthday!
There on we headed from Flinders Island to Wilkie Island. My new fishing rod was truly tested. Fortunately we were motoring so could give all our effort to landing the catch. It was quickly apparent that the landing net was something akin to using a tea strainer to strain vegetables so I grabbed the yet unused gaff. I managed to gaff the fish but I didn't have the strength to lift it aboard over the solar panels etc. Phil took over and we soon had a furious Spanish Mackerel with sharp teeth (plus a loose hook) flying round the deck....It was over a metre long and definitely a game fish! Weight probably 8-9kg and after filleting 4.5kgs went in the deep freeze. Excellent eating!
I got hooked, a torn finger, skipper used steri strips to bind it. All well and healed now.
13th September 2 nights Margaret Bay, Cape Grenville
There are few boats heading north this late in the year but in Margaret Bay we caught up with Ian and Manuela on Mister X, whom we had previously met in Russell, New Zealand. Also there was an Australian boat Sea Karma heading south. Beaver and Craig collected us all in their rib to show us the oyster covered WW11 plane in the shallows. On a spring low it is completely uncovered but even with the neap low we could make out the shapes of the remains of the wings under water.
Beaver also explained to me the best way to deal with an angry Spanish Mackerel.
The SE trade winds had blown us north as we hoped. We anchored off countless islands and include a few photos. Mount Adolphus Island was the last before arriving at Thursday Island, and offered us a very peaceful night.
Photos: Spanish mackerel, Phil and the plane, One of the many simple structures marking the reef, Wilkie island beach & reef, Birds roosting on Night island , Boydong island & rainbow. Adolphus a proper island anchorage. Playful dolphin.
