MONDAY 26 OCTOBER.   The forecast for stronger winds saw us depart the Keppels & head back south to Yellow Patch. We were so impressed first time around we just had to go back for a second visit. This time we got our anchoring position exactly right first go, courtesy of the soundings from our previous visit.

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AKAMA—ABORIGINAL FOR ‘WHALE’

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Returning to Yellow Patch proved to be a good move. We were sitting in the cockpit one morning watching the two Sea Eagles that lived in a tree opposite us, when a dinghy with three people pulled alongside. Von and Maurie introduced themselves, along with their friend Len. They were off the Wilf O’Kell designed and Bundaberg built 44 foot catamaran Akama. The catamaran is highly unusual in that it is built of steel! This I had to see.

We headed off in the dinghy. We pumped and pumped and pumped and ended up with about a dozen yabbies that we thought were a reasonable size, and sore backs. We motored back to Akama, returned the bait pump, and proudly showed them our haul. We weren’t sure why they were all grinning so much. Later we saw their huge pile of well-fed yabbies – then we knew. Oh well, it’s not as easy as it looks.

We were invited on board for a look and a cooked lunch of freshly caught Whiting. Turns out these three are highly skilled hunter gatherers. Leanne hung on every word as they regaled us with fishing tips. The outcome was a loan of their spare bait pump, instructions on how to use it, and where to go to pump yabbies out of the sand.

Above: White-breasted Sea Eagle at Yellow Patch

Above: Brahminy Kite in flight, Yellow Patch

Right: Akama, Von up front and Maurie astern.

“Come with us,” they said. “We’re going fishing at our favourite spot . We’ll show you how to catch Whiting. Should be fun.” We followed in our dinghy with our paltry tub of yabbies.

Threading the soft little suckers on a hook is also much more difficult than it looks. Len showed us over and over again, until we got the hang of it, more or less. Soon we were casting and pulling in fish one after the other. Amazing!

We repaid the Whiting lessons with date scones and cappuccinos on board Masala. Maurie told us the sad story of his electronic navigation system. “Don’t worry,” I said. “We’ll come over tomorrow and get something going for you.”