Check out Richard Cornish's article about the mighty Jillian from The Age. Gotta love Rosebud!
The Jillian, a stately former rescue boat, was hand-built in 1969 by renowned Mordialloc boat builder Jack Pompei. The timber boat is now used for fishing tours, leaving Rosebud jetty twice daily on four-hour tours. What the boat lacks in speed is made up for in comfort and grace. Captained by brothers Jonathan and Stephen Dart, The Jillian takes passengers down the bay, the great sloping dome of Arthurs Seat forming a dramatic backdrop to the east. "We guarantee you will catch a fish or your money back," Jonathan says. We went out on the The Jillian two weeks back, drifting around the edge of the shipping channel. Within an hour we had caught enough flathead to feed the family. We also caught and released a small banjo shark and saw a large seal cooling off in the shallows by holding its flippers in the breeze. This is a fun, family-friendly way to explore the bay, learn about the history of the region and catch fish. Soft drinks, fishing gear, bait and fish cleaning all provided.
Jillian Fishing Trips, daily 8am-noon and 1pm-5pm, adults $60, concession $40, 0418 148 426, thejillian.com.au
