The ten of us slept while the Skipper and Deckhand steamed the 44 ft HMV James Cook out the mouth of Round Hill Creek to Fitzroy Lagoon four hours out from the Town of Seventeen Seventy. We spent three days on the clear blue ocean on our latest deep sea disability fishing adventure.
Seventeen Seventy Hill Creek
Fitzroy Lagoon is a horse shoe shaped coral reef we anchored in of a night as it breaks the ocean swell and is quite calm inside. The boys stayed up most nights drinking Rum & Coke catching foot long squid. We did see one near a meter long which is to big and dangerous to bring aboard as squid ink can blind you permanently.
A farting contest had us all up at 4:00 am. Scrambling from the lower hull with tears in our eyes. Sunrises are eerie surrounded by nothing but water, and a suspicious fog. The weather conditions were excellent, 10 knot winds and a 1 to 1.5m swell.
Seventeen Seventy Fitzroy Lagoon
We ventured out to fish the 100 meter deep Continental Shelf deep one day but mostly fished the reefs and bombies around Fitzroy Lagoon catching a wide range of species such as Red Throat, Red Emperor, Husser, Parrot, Slatey Bream, Squire and Coral Cod.
With my power wheelchair tied to the fridge and my fishing rod bent 90° over the rail I dead winched a 9 pound Red Emperor up 60m with my power wheelchair fishing rod. I was sure the rod was going to snap. I did break the top two runners off one rod by over-winding. As the boat rocked to my side dipping down I learnt to wind a little faster and ease off the power as it rose up again.
Seventeen Seventy Fitzroy Lagoon
Rib fillet steak burgers, bacon and eggs, curried sausages, apple crumble and custard were just some of what the deckhand cooked up for us. We left my wheelchair tied to the fridge on the shaded rear deck and carried me in and out of bed.
This three day fishing charter was awesome. We had many laughs and kept around 150 fish including 8 Red Emperor which are sought after when reef fishing as they’re a great table fish (very nice to eat). The biggest was a 13 pound Red Emperor caught by Big Chris. We filled Dad’s 6×4 box trailer with fish laiden eskies and then some.
Adult Red Emperor
This was the first time I fished the Continental Shelf. The Skipper and Deckhand were greatly impressed by my “ability” how Gavin turned my powerchair into a power fishing rod and the way I’m treated like just another one of the guys.
Being a wheelchair bound quadriplegic I found it ironic I needed to find my “land legs” still rocking for a day or two afterwards. I had never really thought about it, obviously as a quadriplegic my legs don’t work but I still got the sensation as it’s an eye to brain connection that makes your legs feel wobbly after three days at sea.
Town of Seventeen Seventy Map
Two hours from home my van’s alternator died at Gympie. With 150 fish on ice we needed quick thinking. My brother Gavin took one of the batteries from my power wheelchair and drove the rest of the way by Dolphin torch light following Dad’s car. My pre-existing pressure area had broken down from all the rocking on the boat but has healed over again after a week in bed, well worth it.
I recently heard the HMV James Cook no longer operates, apparently replaced by a bigger boat. There are many fishing charters available from the Town of Seventeen Seventy.
Where: Town of Seventeen Seventy, QLD. Australia.
Cost: 3 Days at sea $380.00 per person. All meals included. BYO alcohol and sea sick tablets.
Rating: ***** Awesome, if you enjoy deep sea reef fishing a must do.
