Denham and the giant Cobia

Monday, August 11 to Sunday, August 17:

Took a break for a week and stayed at Denham. The Blue Dophin Caravan Park was a little funny and meant for fisher people but we had a good spot out of the way.

It is a wonderful place – quiet but the IGA store was great but we didn’t try the hotels or restaurants.

Looking westward across the salt flats to Shark Bay.

Some of the many tributes left by travellers in memory of family and friends.

Stromatolites at Hamelin Pool near Denham. Stromatolites are most primitive form of life.

Dolphins put on a show at Monkey Mia.

The very salty part of Shark Bay where only small shells can survive.

Guys this one is big!

We filled our time with a trip from Monkey Mia on the Aristocat2 followed by lunch at the beach. We watched the dolphins being fed – very controlled but still gorgeous. We also visited the aquarium which was fantastic as we learnt so much from the very knowledgeable young guides; did a spot of fishing – only fed the tiddlers and crabs – went swimming a couple of times  and of course did the day fishing charter on Sunday, the day before we were to leave. It was disastrous in lots of ways – the other couple had their young daughter with them. The mother got sea sick; the skipper was new and had trouble with the speed and crashed about and stopped suddenly pitching everyone off their seats.

We were heading out to Turtle Island 1.5hrs away. After 1.25 hours the wife demanded we turn around. So it was another 1.25hrs lost taking her and her daughter back. We then went in closer – another half hour of fishing lost – to the snapper sandbanks.  With my second cast I hooked a hugh fish. I started winding and a big Cobia came up. Everyone moved out of the way as he took off. The rod hadn’t been serviced and I couldn’t turn to handle as it was so stiff so Jules the assistant had to take over and landed my fish. Boy he was a beauty and I felt sorry for him. He was abut 1.2m long and 20 plus kilos.

Wow he is a big Cobia.

We all caught lots of pink snapper  but because Shark Bay is a prime breeding ground we are only allowed to keep those between 500mm and 700mm. either side they have to go back. We finished the day with only one keeper snapper. I hooked a couple of Norwesters (puffer fish to us) so they weren’t landed.

We were back at the dock by 4.30 and the boys kindly filleted my Cobia for me. They reckoned he was 40 years old and would have fetched $500 at the fish market as the fish is prized by the Japanese. Apparently they catch one every week or so but not as big as mine!

Sue with her Cobia before he hit the table to create lots and lots of fillets.

We had also met Dave and Val from Queensland who spent a few days opposite us. We shared a couple of happy hours together and will catch up with them again at Kalbarri where they are staying in the same park.