VMR BRIBIE ISLAND

HAPPY HOUR -

Friday 13th January 2023

18 Active members and partners attended the first Happy Hour for the year. The bar was manned by Peter Morton and Heather Pearson and also provided bar snacks.

Trainee Crew Night Training

What a stunning evening for the Trainee Crew’s night training in Moreton Bay. They will be heading out in the dark for the first time on Bribie 1

JAN VESSEL

ASSISTS:

JANUARY VESSEL

ASSISTS:

SUN 01/01 1034AM –

MOP reported drifting vessel near Brennan Park. Investigated and owner was on board no further action required.

TUE 03/01 1015AM –

5.9m Cruiser member with motor problems, required a tow from neat Avon Wreck to Toorbul.

WED 04/01 0908AM –3m Jet Ski non-member with no oil pressure, required a tow from Red Beach to Scarborough.

WED 04/01 1010AM –

9m Cruiser member with fuel issues required a tow from Pacific Harbour to Spinnaker Sound Marina.

WED 04/01 1153AM –7m Bayliner member broken down near Bribie

Bridge required a tow to Spinnaker Sound Marina.

THU 05/01 1428PM – 16.4m Cruiser non-member stuck on sand bank in front od Sandstone Point Hotel, required a tow to deeper water.

MON 09/01 0950AM – MOP reported a non-member vessel with motor that won’t start requiring a short tow back to the Bellara Boat Ramp.

THU 12/01 1122AM –4.8m Runabout member with motor problems required a tow from Sandstone Point area to Spinnaker Sound Marina.

THU 12/01 1124AM –tender to 14.8 Cruiser member motor issues required a tow from 100m North of the Base

Safety Dave

THE FRENCHIE’S MESSAGE:

“With the weather improving check that your boat is in good order, check that you have all your safety gear and everyone on board knows its location, ensure it is easy to get at in an emergency, ensure your flares are in date, that your torch works, check your battery and your fuel. Ensure you let someone know of your plans, who is with you, where you are leaving from, where you are going, what time you are returning, and make sure you have either a mobile phone, VHF or 27Mhz marine radio on board.”“PLEASE WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKETS!”

PLEASE WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKETS!” to the Base Boat Ramp.

THU 12/01 1152AM – 6.2m Cuddy Cabin member with motor continually cutting out, required a tow from Cape Moreton area to Spinnaker Sound Marina.

SUN 15/01 0836AM – 8.2m Sports Cruiser member with motor issues near Pacific Harbour entrance required a tow to Spinnaker Sound Marina.

WED 18/01 1154 AM –3m Jet Ski non-member with engine that won’t start, required a tow from Avon Wreck to Bellara Boat Ramp.

THU 19/01 1306PM –3m Polycraft nonmember with motor issues required a tow from front of Base to Banksia Beach.

FISHING, BOATING AND ADVENTURES

Early Days Of Vmr

(Continued) 1981-1992

Some early names associated with the club include Ken Mackay, Chas Drew, Julie Walters who acted as Secretary for 4 years and Treasurer for 9 years, whilst Ron Walters was Rescue Coordinator for 9 years. The name change to Bribie Island Air Sea Rescue and Bribie Island Boating and Fishing Club brought the organisation into line with other similar organisations. It also provided the mechanism for the Boating and Fishing Club to donate its finances to the Air Sea Rescue (ASR) part of the club, entitling ASR to eligibility for dollar-fordollar funding from the State Government.

The Royal Humane Society saw fit to invest Ron Walters with a medal for bravery, an indication of the risk members took in saving lives.

By 1992 the BIASR was a far cry from the early beginnings, with 2 rescue boats, modern equipment and a membership in excess of 450, of which about 100 were active members working on the Radios, Training, Safety issues and Boat Crews. At that time the Squadron also had its own printing facilities producing a monthly Bay Watch of about 500 copies with advertising paying for some of the costs. Safety weekends were conducted as well as other training for radio operators, navigation, first aid, national powerboat handling and rescue boat endorsement.

“BUT importantly – Always remember if you are heading out on the water LOG ON with your local VMR or Coast Guard, its a free service for everyone, so why wouldn't you! - It just may save your life!"

RADIO ROOM STATS

2023 YEAR RADIO ROOM STATISTICS

889 Calls, 295 vessels logged on,

13 Vessel Assists, 74 Sitreps, 26 Requests,

38 overdue vessels, 32 Vessel Tracking,

66 Radio Checks, 1 Weather Broadcasts,

0 Securite Broadcasts, 0 Pan Pan 0 Mayday.

VHF 66.9%, 27MHz 0%, Phone 18.2%. GWN 0.8%

WE HAVE CERTAINLY ENJOYED SOME BEAUTIFUL SUMMER WEATHER SO FAR IN 2023. LOTS OF DAYS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CLOUD AND LIGHT WINDS- THE SUN HAS BEEN WARM, AND THE WATER IS TOO.

Almost all our winds in January have swung from the south in the mornings to the northeast in the afternoons. The fishing, over this lovely spell of good weather, has been predictable. Looking for good, deep holes and some fresh, in-coming tidal flow has been the trick. Strong incoming tidal flows have been making all the difference over the Chinese New Year. The outgoing tides have given fishers lots of nibbles, mostly under-sized catches and some very nice keepers. Up at Whitepatch, in some of the deeper sections, there have been some big snap-offs and good catches of bream and tarwhine.

Drifting on the incoming tide, north of Pacific Harbour has been a lot of fun for families, with plenty of juvenile fish hanging about the structures. Ross and Jo broke a 100kg line on something very big there, on an afternoon rising tide.

The rising tide has also been a good time to try fishing at Ningi Creek, but flathead has gone quiet – and those caught are not huge. That being said, Richard tells me he was right up into Ningi Creek a few days ago and caught two big flatheads and three good breams, using pilchards. Ben and Linton brought in 3 keeper breams, after a busy afternoon hanging around the Ningi Creek mangroves on a big falling tide and casting out mullet.

Further north, there are lots of grunters at Bullocky Creek; Ross’ best was only 36cm, but he reckoned he lost a few bigger ones. South of Donnybrook, Dennis and Rob caught a few breams, using squid

Under the bridge has been a useful spot to pull up for casting a line; the shade offered by the bridge is good for the fish

Family owned since the 90’s

Bribie Island AND Moreton Bay

and fishers alike. The best time under the bridge has been at the turn of the tide; over the past few days, coming up off low tide has seen a few hungry bream - and good sizes among them. Scott got onto good whiting, using prawns, and also caught a shovelnose with a pilchard. Barra Bob told me the other day that there is good whiting everywhere at the moment – “look for the sand banks with good ribbon weed and toss out a surface lure.” He’d just come from Buckley’s Hole, where he’d caught an 80cm flathead with a soft plastic.

A little further out beyond the Passage, reports are that mackerel are in good numbers, schooling up and feeding on baitfish. A good bit of splashing and a few birds’ overhead will show you the way, then cast with a lure in amongst them, just near the edge of the action. Fish-shaped lures are the go and, usually, the shinier, the better!

There have also been great sightings of dolphins, dugongs, turtles, and sea birds.

Who wouldn’t enjoy watching a mother and baby dugong, or a pod of frolicking dolphins? So, there are plenty of good reasons to get out, on or beside the water.