20. Triumph off Wakaya Island

It was a very windy and overcast day when I started my walk and I saw none of the regular early starters until I reached the pier. There I found Dan, Logan, Jules, John and Joe, all busy fishing. They were not the only ones either. I guess there must have been a dozen or so others, all trying their luck in the windy conditions.

According to John, the fact that there were so many people on the pier today could be explained by a post that the local tackle shop had put up on Facebook. The post had been about a school of tuna which had been visiting the bay close to the pier the day before. I then heard the same story from Jules, so it seems that the news had spread. However, sadly for all the hopeful fishing enthusiasts, there appeared to be no tuna around this morning, as far as I could see.

Since hearing about the tuna, I’ve been trying to learn more about the different types found here in Moreton Bay. Longtails seem to be the most common variety, but I also read about Northern Bluefin, Yellowfin and Striped and Mackerel tuna. Perhaps some of these names refer to the same fish? I will have to ask the old hands here on the pier. They will almost certainly know a lot more anyway.  From what I’ve read, both tuna and mackerel are plentiful in Moreton Bay. 

As I was writing this, I suddenly remembered that I had kept a photo of myself catching a tuna once, 43 years ago, in 1980!  This happened off the coast of Wakaya, a small island in Fiji, when I was on a business trip for my American employer. He was interested in knowing more about this island, hence my exploratory visit. I flew to Fiji and was welcomed by the managing director of the company which operated the Pacific Harbour resort on the main island of Viti Levu. Quite amazingly, I was treated to a private show by Fijian dancers and singers. It was unexpected and I was suitably impressed.

The next day I was flown from Pacific Harbour to the nearby island of Wakaya. I remember that we were in a very small plane for this short flight which managed to land safely on a strip of dirt on a level part of the island. Wakaya has a fascinating history and its Canadian owner had obviously fallen in love with all that it had to offer. It is now known as a “Private Island Resort” but when I was there it was still being developed.

The day after my arrival I was taken out on a deep-sea game fishing boat, for an exhausting day of game fishing. With a lot of help from the skipper and the Fijian crew, who knew where to go and who had all the right equipment on board, I managed to catch a tuna. As you can see from the smile on my face it was a moment of great excitement for me. Back on shore after our fishing trip the local chef took our catch and used it to create an amazing seafood platter, which was served in the evening and formed part of our Fijian dinner.

Back to our windy day on the pier. We did not spot any tuna, however, we did see plenty of mullet. Logan and Jules were kept quite busy, as the schools of mullet were very close and Logan was very keen to catch some. Sam and Zoe arrived in the midst of all the activity and everyone was running from one side of the pier to the other. I could actually see lots of mullet very close to the surface.

Local John, who caught 4 big ones, told me that they would be around until May, when they usually move further out into the bay. That is when the trawlers go out trying to make big catches, because by then the females are full of eggs. The female mullet roe is highly priced and is sold overseas.  It’s considered a delicacy and is popular in Mediterranean cuisine where, according to what I have read, it is known as “Bottarga, the poor man’s caviar”.

Mullet has been caught in commercial quantities in the Bay for many years. However, I would guess that, on the fishing trawlers, it is all hard physical work and probably not as much fun as it is for the recreational fishers we see here on the pier.

I wonder what we will see on our walk next week?

O.P.

P.S. Next Sunday you’ll meet my daughter Michelle and her family.