July served up the kind of fishing conditions you dream about — calm seas, cool mornings, and steady action right through the month. While winter can sometimes throw us a curveball or two, this year it turned it on, and the fish didn’t disappoint.
The month kicked off with our first trip, and while we didn’t get the full rundown from that one, we know it was a solid start to the season’s mid-point. Good weather held, the reef played nice, and the crew came back with no shortage of stories (and fish) to clean down.
From the 12th to the 19th, we headed back out to Swains Reef with a mixed group from Queensland and New South Wales. It was one of those rare weeks where the weather stays on your side the whole time — light winds, blue skies, and glassy mornings that made even the travel days a breeze. While fishing the channel, we had a few extra guests swing by — pods of dolphins cruised past the bow, and a couple of whales made their presence known not far from the boat. When that happens, you just put the rod down and enjoy the show.
The fishing held up across the week with a solid mix of species. Coral trout were around in numbers, including a few blue-spotted standouts, and there were plenty of quality reef fish coming over the side — red throat emperor, gold band snapper, hussar, and the always-reliable spangled emperor. One of the biggest highlights was a 10.2kg red emperor, which earned its spot at the top of the brag board. A few no-take species like paddle tail and chinaman also made an appearance and were safely released. Spanish mackerel were lurking as well, keeping things interesting for anyone after a bit of a run.
Then, one our last July charter to the Swains, we had another great group join us — this time from all over: Melbourne, Gladstone, Brisbane, and Leyburn. The weather kept playing ball, and the catches didn’t slow down. Hayley landed a 20kg Spanish mackerel, a proper effort that left everyone grinning. Her brother Hayden wasn’t far behind — hooking into a sailfish estimated at around 40kg. You don’t see that every trip, and it’s not the kind of catch that goes unnoticed. The crew handled it like pros, and Hayden walked away with a story he won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
All up, July was a reminder of why we do this. Good people, good weather, and those moments where everything lines up — that’s what makes these trips special. We’re already looking ahead to the next run, with rods rigged and eskies ready.
If you’re thinking about booking a trip, or just need a few days off the grid, we’ve got space coming up. You bring the hat and the sunscreen — we’ll take care of the rest.
With warm regards,
Tony and the team
