Cruising Log—10...GKI & North Keppel Island

Not to be distracted from the task at hand I proceeded to place some bread on the hook and cover it with peanut butter. A very sticky and messy activity, I ended up with more on me than on the hook. So down to the back of the boat I go all excited at the prospect of fishing. I didn’t quite know what I was fishing for but then again I never do. It’s just pot luck!

So I cast my hand line out into the clear water and let it sit for a while, but nothing seemed interested in my bait. I thought I’d better pull it in and check that the bread hadn’t fallen off. So I started to pull it in slowly (due to the fragile bait) and lo and behold I caught a fish. I yelled with excitement for Grant to come and help with the net and to both our surprise I had caught a very nice flathead. Grant thought it was a fluke so to prove him wrong (no I’m not the slightest bit competitive) I rebaited my hook and cast again. It only took another 10 minutes and I had another one. Grant then filleted the fish so I could use some of the carcase for bait and I caught another one.

GKI is just one of a number of islands in Keppel Bay. We have also visited North Keppel Island. We had the anchorage to ourselves, very romantic. There is a wonderful walking track around the island and to its summit, and another shorter one to Maisie Bay. It is quite different from GKI and definitely worth the visit, despite the guide book complaints about the rolly anchorage (it isn’t any worse than Svendsen’s).

Grant got excited and decided to join in. I wanted 6 fish to make a really nice lunch as we hadn’t had fresh food for quite a number of days. Grant thought that I was a bit cocky and had no chance of succeeding. So while I cast and caught fish Grant cast and caught nothing. Eventually he got tired of trying and thought he’ll get in the dingy and troll for flatties, again he was unsuccessful. In the meanwhile I caught my 6 fish and Grant just shook his head in total amazement. He happily cleaned all the fish and what a lovely lunch it all made.

I also caught a Queensland School Mackerel, a beautiful spotted fish, while trolling from the dinghy. It is our yummiest fish to date…..All for now, Leanne.

The crystal clear water at GKI makes for good snorkeling, but at this time of year you need a full wetsuit to last very long. Our favourite places are Shelving Beach and at Monkeys Beach, both south of the resort. On Middle Island at the now closed Underwater Observatory , where we were part of the exhibit, on the outside looking in, there were giant cod, groper, trevally, you name it. At all these places the coral is only average but the fish life is exceptional.