64th year......

[Orchidman]

5 sleeps to go until opening morning of our duck season. It will be my 64th opening day, having started by accompanying my father when I was 7.
Still shooting in the same spot
Managed to fix the leak in my boat. All the decoys are restrung, shotguns cleaned, ammo purchased. ..just need to buy food.
Purchased a new cooker for this year........( Cigarette lighter for scale)

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Means I am not limited to a one fry pan meal. Already tested it, can get 8 rashers of bacon, 2 eggs and a couple of hash browns all cooked at the same time. Progress Baby!!
Looks like the weather is going to be south westerlies at 25knots.. with heavy, possible torrential rain, will be a rough trip out if it eventuates.

Hunt report will follow after next weekend.

[Wambli Ska]

That is absolutely awesome! I’m a little jealous but really happy for you. Quite the accomplishment

[Chiro1989]

A little vicarious hunting to get me through the next the next 4 months, can’t wait for the report

[GrapeApe]

Happy hunting, my friend!

[jaywapiti]

Way to go Alec, your hunting and fishing post remind me of times long ago, Stay healthy and safe.

JAY

[Orchidman]

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[Orchidman]

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[Orchidman]

Well, I got the forecast right, almost.....

Now, the 25knot southerly I predicted, (based on the weather map and after studying the entrails of a 3 week dead roadkill possum,) is going to be south west 25-35knots rising to 45knots at times........seas very rough....being a shallow harbour with that kind of forecast, the waves will be 2-4m to get to where BH and I are heading. Will make for an interesting trip in our 13' boats. Did I mention torrential rain....with a possibility of thunderstorms?

Had an idea this year would be rough, so I bought a 12v deep cycle battery and have mounted a 1000Gallon per hour bilge pump to supplement the 500gph one already in the boat...neither are as effective as a frightened man with a bucket of course, but they do give some peace of mind..

Taking the above into account we have abandoned our idea of catching the tide at midnight on friday and are going to head out at lunchtime on friday to make the trip in daylight.

[Orchidman]

.Even my laptop is not playing the game tonight........Just lost my carport to the SW wind which is blowing at around 25-30knots. Aint going outside to survey the damage till it gets light as there are broken sheets of fibreglass flying all over the section.....

[Wambli Ska]

Damn!!! Are you towing an extra boat to carry your boulder sized cojones!!!!! I had a 22’ center console totally set up for off-shore and I wouldn’t have had the balls for going out in that weather.

Best of luck and PLEASE be careful. My list of people I like is on a single page and that is a global tally. Can’t afford to lose any

[Orchidman]

Damn!!! Are you towing an extra boat to carry your boulder sized cojones!!!!! I had a 22’ center console totally set up for off-shore and I wouldn’t have had the balls for going out in that weather.

Best of luck and PLEASE be careful. My list of people I like is on a single page and that is a global tally. Can’t afford to lose any

No extra boat......just decades of experience at how weather affects that area.
The decision to 'Go/No Go' will be made as we turn the last bend in the river and assess the actual conditions. By following the edge of the mangroves around the coast we will have some shelter from the worst of it.

Here is a map/pic of the area......North is up....wind is expected from the south west

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The destination mark shows the 2 mangrove islands to the south west of the river mouth. Once we exit the river we can follow the mangroves SW until we get to a point where the islands have blunted the worst of the weather and then head directly towards them by remaining in their 'shadow'. If we time our run on an incoming tide, the waves will be less as opposed to an outgoing tide when the wind is opposing the tidal flow.
It all comes down to assessing the conditions.

I appreciate your concern......and its good to have input cos it causes me to be even more careful my friend.