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Big day out on the Explorer nets a catch to be proud of

IT had been a few years since I last had a fish out from Dundee – a long overdue trip which I addressed just last week.

Mick Cull’s favourite table fish is the golden snapper – sometimes it’s good that you get what you wish for. Caught off the Dundee Explorer
Mick Cull’s favourite table fish is the golden snapper – sometimes it’s good that you get what you wish for. Caught off the Dundee Explorer

IT had been a few years since I last had a fish out from Dundee – a long overdue trip which I addressed just last week.

I must say this trip was in a bit of style: travelling aboard and fishing from the Dundee Explorer, a terrific 10m aluminium boat built specifically to charter fish out from the Lodge of Dundee.

It’s a great big trailer boat which is surveyed for 10 people plus crew, although most of the trips are with between six and eight fishos aboard.

Mainly the Dundee Explorer works the wide grounds off Dundee, in close around Point Blaze and down towards the Peron Islands.

Bonnie Keogh and Con Pizanias with a brace of coral trout.
Bonnie Keogh and Con Pizanias with a brace of coral trout.

It’s pretty hard to fish all three in one day, but the weather was kind and skipper Ricky Harris made sure we got a good taste of what’s available.

“Taste” is the operative word here because we got stuck into all manner of quality table fish.

As usual, tricky snapper were abundant in these waters … nothing’s changed there.

But there was also a swag of coral trout caught, including on soft plastic jigs.

Con Pizanias with a quality Dundee catch – a tasty bluebone.
Con Pizanias with a quality Dundee catch – a tasty bluebone.

I never argue the toss about what fish is the best one to eat – it’s a personal thing and, over the years, I have discovered a great disparity among anglers when it comes to nominating their favourite fish species to munch on.

For my money, it’s coral trout. I love the way it flakes and the delicate flavour that goes with it.

But it doesn’t surprise me at all that others prefer golden snapper or bluebone or saddletail or red emperor.

Fortunately, all those choices were available to our crew of fish-eating connoisseurs, and everyone had plenty of amazing fish – within Territory legal limits – to take home at the end of the day.

A day out with Dundee Explorer is not just about catching heaps of quality fish – it’s also a bit like being on the set of MasterChef.

The road to Dundee Beach is practically all sealed now, and we arrived at 7am to be greeted with possibly the best damn breakfast wraps I have ever experienced.

Prepared in the Lodge of Dundee kitchen, these were simply a taste sensation, with basically a full cooked breakfast arranged into a wrap that was somehow sealed as if it were one big sausage.

Then the food kept coming out all day on this beautifully kitted-out boat: homemade sausage rolls, beautiful meats cooked at the Lodge, delicious tiger prawns, nice cheeses and plenty of fresh salad and local fruit to help keep the health up.

One of many things I liked about this slick operation is that fish are processed as they come on board.

The Dundee Explorer is about as big as they get on a trailer.
The Dundee Explorer is about as big as they get on a trailer.

Decky Kyran Kent humanely delivers the last rites ike jime style by inserting a thin metal rod into a fish’s brain cavity, slits its throat, bleeds it in a large tub of seawater and finally fillets it or guts and gills it before putting it straight on ice.

Particularly on the rich grounds down Dundee way, this style of “bottom bouncing” can lead to some fast and furious action.

Often it seemed that, when one angler was on, three or four others hooked up, too.

It sure kept me busy taking endless photos and shooting quite a bit of fast-paced video action, as well.

At the end of the day, I really appreciated being able to take home some freshly processed fillets and a couple of whole reef fish – at the same time making absolutely damn sure I got more than my fair share of coral trout.

You can book a trip on the Dundee Explorer by phoning 8978 2557 or emailing info@lodgeofdundee.com.au, or you can visit the website at thelodgeofdundee.com.au to find out more details.

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/lifestyle/fishing/big-day-out-on-the-explorer-nets-a-catch-to-be-proud-of/news-story/e5e34cfb5f49e5431bf87574444226e1