10th – 21st September | 4 foot ++
Hard work pays off
Wardy wrangled the all-star misfits for another southern run aboard the Mighty Mango. This time we had two fresh recruits along for the ride.
ITS NOT ALL POSTCARDS MATE
Wardy’s last trip in October 2024 was the golden run — blue skies & bluer barrels. But this year? Different story. The swell was softer, the skies and winds moody. We copped all four seasons before lunch most days, but with Foxy Lady & speed to burn that doesn’t matter – we hunted out epic waves daily and mostly on our own. The lads unanimously agreed it was the best waves they’ve had since their last Mango run, just this year, they didn’t go home with a sun tan.
NUGGETS TIMBER YARD
Fishing? … What a circus.
We tried everything - binned the bad juju items onboard, kissed the old faithful lucky lures, eventually pulling out a stock of fresh Rapala’s and even sacrificed ourselves to the late night fishing gods at the Karaoke bar, all in an effort to break the curse but it just wasn’t our week.
Finally Nugget hooks into a monster on a morning troll - twenty minutes of sweat, curses, with the peanut gallery howling — only to land… a bloody log. Thus was born Nugget’s Timber Yard.
Still, credit where it’s due: Nugget nailed a blue-spotted trevally and the sashimi it produced was enough to silence the deck for a good half hour with most of the guys trying this type of fish sashimi style for the first time and they were suitably impressed.
CAME, SAW AND CONQUERED
Last time, the Hole dished out some serious slabs, so the goofies onboard hinted for another crack this year. The Mango gods smiled — swell swung, skies cleared, and suddenly we had the joint to ourselves with perfect timing for a day of tube riding mayhem.
Nothing but mates trading barrels while Foxy Lady floated nearby with an esky full of ice-cold Bintangs and more mates watching on enjoying the show. Whether you were in the pit or sinking tins in the channel, it was pure gold.
OUR FAVORITE TRIP OF THE YEAR
We look forward to every trip, but this one’s got that special sauce. From the meet-up at the Bat’n’Arrow to the bleary stumble off the Mango 12 days later, it’s wall-to-wall banter, good times and barrels on repeat.
Extra beers, extra Joss, extra chaos — the sort of cocktail you just know will blow up in your face in the best possible way.
TRADITION IS TRADITION
Sikakap karaoke. Enough said. The Café Belle has seen things, and now so have we for the second year running. Dexie — now known exclusively as Burt — led the charge. A slow burn at first, then all hell broke loose. Mics screamed, shirts came off, and by the end we’d redefined what passes for entertainment in that sleepy harbour town. Tradition honoured, voices ruined, and the Café Belle legend lives on.
CONTENDER FOR QUOTE OF THE YEAR!
“It’s too much stress manning the fishing rod, I came here for a holiday.”
Thelpsie, philosopher and rod-dodger
Special Thanks
Nugget and Thelps for jumping aboard last-minute and adding the perfect dose of chaos. Wardy for herding the cats. And every salty soul onboard who made this another trip we’ll be telling stories about till the next one rolls around.
Yours truly, Uncle Lip.
