FISHING
NEWS FROM NORTH AUSTRALIA
With Alex Julius - 10 August 2006
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If not by Saturday, hopefully the slow-moving high in the Great Australian Bight will have crossed Victoria , the current strong wind warning will be lifted and once we can experience outstanding bluewater fishing along the coast either side of Darwin .
There’s no denying that this has been a boomer of a fishing year.
It began with that great wet season which rewarded us all with memorable barra fishing – some of which is still continuing, by the way.
Then the dry season came, albeit late, heralding the arrival of spectacular bluewater sportfishing.
It’s happening now with vast schools of Spanish mackerel (aka narrow-barred mackerel) feasting on those shoals carpeted with baitfish.
Mixed in with them are broad-barred mackerel, an interesting smaller cousin which doesn’t have the endurance of the Spaniard.
Once dead, the broad-barred turns grey, hence the reason why it is also called the grey mackerel.
In my days of light-tackle gamefishing during the ‘80s and early ‘90s, the broad-barred was a beaut fish to tackle on 2 kg line class, mainly because it was a cinch to land.
Visit our incredible fishing destination:
ARNHEMLAND BARRAMUNDI NATURE LODGE
 Justin Matthews fished the Peron Islands for a great double of coral trout and golden snapper.
Stephen Hansen’s first-ever jewie came from a trip with King Contis Fishing Charters. |
Andy Houghton caught this 19.8 kg Spanish mackerel at the Town Hall on a pilchard bait. 
Back to the moment, out there with the mackerel schools, you’re also likely to encounter queenfish, both long-tail and mack tuna, and, of course, GTs.
Mind you, if the winds keep blowing, you don’t have to go right out on the blue yonder to have a crack at some great bluewater action.
Darwin Harbour is rippling with schools of tuna feeding mainly on the incoming tide, and that will only get better with the making springs this weekend.
Lee Point and the artificial reefs out further continue to be the small-boat angler’s mackerel hotspot.
Apparently Nightcliff boat ramp was bustling with car and trailer rigs last Sunday, and that was definitely bad news for any macks looking for an easy snack in the vicinity of Lee Point .
Actually, there have been some very large mackerel caught of late.
At the historic Town Hall spot adjacent to Channel Island , Andy Houghton drifted pilchard baits in a berley trail and caught two mackerel, the biggest tipping the scales at 19.8 kg.
Not so fortunate was an angler fishing the Catalina wrecks in East Arm.
Apparently, he took a break after a serious bout of jigging the new River2Sea 200mm Live Squid Rig, and placed his new Charter Special combo back in the rod holder in order to grab a beer.
You guessed it: his jig got slammed, and the reel drag was on full lock. His combo now forms part of Catalina wreck 'C'.
Another mob did well on a shallow rockbar way up Elizabeth River in Darwin harbour.
Using local squid and prawn baits on the incoming tide, they caught a mixed bag of pikey bream, pan-sized goldies, mangrove jacks and two big muddies.
The dry season barra bite continues unabated.
Dave Russell hired a dinghy from Shoal Bay Boat Hire and caught barra to 72 cm up Scrubby Creek.
Saltwater barra will definitely be the go up any of Darwin Harbour ’s arms this weekend.
You couldn’t pray for better tides, and they facilitate a comfortable mid-morning start, fishing through the low tide early in the afternoon, and heading back to the ramp well before dark.
On the inland scene, Shady Camp Billabong continues to fish well, including for quality barra between 85 cm and 90 cm.
The Finniss River fished well over the long weekend.
The hotspot is the second rockbar where one crew caught 25 barra in a single session.
The Daly River has refused to let up, with barra biting all the way up to Bamboo Creek.
Cricketing fans might have spotted Australian wicket-keeping legend, Ian Healy, enjoying lunch at Buzz Café on Tuesday.
Heals is part of a large Toyota corporate group from Queensland , currently in the Top End for a remote Arnhem Land barramundi fishing trip.
He’s never seen a barra before, let alone caught one; but by week’s end that situation should be remedied.
Alex Julius Fishing Media
PO Box 571, Howard Springs NT Australia 0835
International phone: (618) 89832167
International fax: (618) 89831914
Fax (from within Australia): (08) 89831914
E-mail: AJFM@hotspot.com.au