Holidays....Its all about the kids with a little fishing thrown in
A couple of nights at my parents at Hope Island QLD to start the break then.......

5 nights at Daydream island, what a beautiful place for a break, the staff were great especially with our 3yo son. Accommodation was comfortable. Activities were enough and a lot of fun for the kids. Pool side lounges-are there ever enough? The food-breakfast was included and was well prepared and ample-lunch and dinner were a choice of restaurants on the island-bring your money it isn't cheap but the food was very nice, drinks-beer $8.50-spirits $7.50-thankfully I brought along a bottle of beam and arranged to have a case of crowns delivered.

Day 1 big day-flight from Brisbane to Hamilton island, all kids great on the flight including Mr 3 and Miss 1, arvo spent swimming, nice dinner at tavern.

Day 2, Mrs and 3 older kids off @ 8am to outer reef for snorkelling, swimming, mini sub, seafood lunch and plenty of fun. I stayed back with Mr 3 and Miss 1 for a big brekky, even bigger walk then many hours of sleep for the littleuns and a arvo dip.

Day 3, Big brekky, swimming, catamaran, swimming, walking, buggy ride and more swimming.

Day 4, 6am start, 6.30 leaving dock on Sea Fever headed to outer reef...Very interesting trip out wind 15-20kt, chop 2ft, 1hr and a bit later hit edge of reef wind 5kt, swell-non existant, chop-nothing.
Bottom bouncing to start with red throar emporer first fish onboard, my first catch was a 4ft shark soon followed by a healthy red throat. Other catches at first spot were GT-lost, coral trout x 2, red throat x lots, sharks from 1-6ft moved in so time for a move.
The reef we were fishing went for 16km so a short motor(10 mins) saw big lumps on the sounder so we dropped the pick and got back into it. My first was a 3-4kg red throat soon followed by a little cod, then a larger model, best catch for me was the coral trout-such a beautiful fish to look at, 4 or 5 sharks were also caught. Also caught a this spot were spanish mackerel, other reef species, 2 GT's both lost after tearing runs(1 was mine I'v got a pic of my briused arm from where the rod butt was), man do these fish all stretch you we were fishing with shimano saragosa 18000's, 50lb braid, 80lb leader, wilson 10-15kg rods, locked up drag.....great gear, almost every fish hooked pulled drag, many got straight back into their hidey holes, the bigger fish caught are beasts, not time for mucking around you feel these little nibbles then the rod loads up and you're into it no time to waste or the fish would bust you off on the reef, when you did get them up still no time for a rest or your fish would turn into a arm stretching toothy critter which often resulted in a few trips around the boat, a line tangle or two and finally another shark thrashing at the side of the boat.
Time for lunch then some trolling....5 rods were set out with straws drawn to get first pick-I was the lucky one and didn't have to wait long for the downrigged gar to get crunched, a few minutes later and a nice spaniard was gaffed, I'v caught them before and that first run is awesome-line tearing from the reel, get some line back then a second run, a good fight to get it in.
3 more spanish mac were caught on the troll with 1 big loss....When you catch a fish we changed rods so all had a chance to fight a mac, on the second hook-up we all grab the rods and bring them in-mine was smashed by a large silver flash meters from the back of the boat-as I had already caught a mac I handed the rod to another fellow so he could enjoy the battle-the call came once I handed the rod over that it was a big GT on the line-drag was screaming, reel put into overstrike and a little line was gained before the battle ended on the reef.
We headed back to a reef where the bigger GT's hang out and the popping started, 1st cast was smashed and the young fellow was busted up on the reef-was only 10m where we were fishing, a few casts later and the other young fellow was winning the fight unfortunately another reefing...next cast was mine-these gt's hit like a ton of bricks the instant power is amazing-I got it close to the boat and was unable to stop it-I really wanted that fish to enjoy his photo being taken with me unfortunately it didnt happen and another bustoff.....A few more casts and all was quiet so time to head home.
Walking back through the resort many people admired the large bag of Trout, red throat, cod and mac slabs I was taking to the restaurant to be cooked for dinner....the head chef/head waiter were stoked to be given the cod and a few mac slabs for themselves(feedback from those working that night was the fish was very tasty).
Wow what a day, I can highly recommend Ash owner of Sea Fever charters for anyone heading to Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island or and of the islands in the Whitsundays-it will be a great day and he knows his stuff and will get you into some fish..

Day 5 was another big brekky, swimming, fish feeding, glass bottom boat adventure around the island, more swimming, early dinner, watching the queenies smash baitfish while enjoying a beam, the queenies were on fire most days-I was going to take a rod but decided there would be enough to keep me busy between the islands activities and the kids-that 1 day on the reef was enough of a fishing fix for a few weeks for me.

Day 6 big brekky, pack up, swim, boat ride, plane ride and back to my parents for a couple of nights then home and back to work.

Some pic's to enjoy!

sounds like you had a great time, and the fishing must have been mind blowing.

Paul

Good holiday and nice fish. My sister lived up there for a few years and managed the marina at Laguna Quays. Spent a few hols up there and went out in the tinny for some great sessions as well. A lovely place and many memories for you.

Sounds like a great holiday Storms I bet you were glad to get home and have a rest.
Every time I see a fishing show on Qldland I spew, the water is always flat & the fishing is unreal.

Storms sell the kids & you can go on more holidays

Great write up. love it when someone has a good time and tells us about it, well done Jas.
Great part of the world and great for you to be able to enjoy it with the family, some good fish taken as well, which is always a bonus.

The weather was awesome FED and the water colour-the camera didn't do it justice, visibility down 10+m and a beautiful blue..just wanted to dive in and play with the sharks...seeing some xl fishies swimming mid water while sweating like pigs and getting our arms stretched is a memory I will enjoy for many moons.

JG, are you willing to make an offer, some good little deckhands and a couple of great cook's and cleaners, if you like donuts Miss 16 is the donut and cake king-makes a good pastry thingy too....

nope

Nah it's good fun watching kids fishing they crack me up