FISHING
NEWS FROM NORTH AUSTRALIA
With Alex Julius - 2 November 2006
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If barra are your favourite thing, this is a great time of the year.
Warm buildup conditions have got the fish stirred up, and there are some bragging-sized barra being caught from a range of locations.
I haven’t heard any reports of anglers blitzing a cricket-score catch, but everyone I spoke to who fished around Darwin during the last week had caught at least a few keepers. It’s well worth persisting when the next fish to climb on could be a big one.
This Saturday is perfect for barra in Darwin Harbour, Bynoe Harbour or Shoal Bay, with a 1m low in the middle of the day, and good tidal movement overall.
An early start is essential if you want to fish popular spots like The Rock though.
Ronald Voukolos from Fishing & Outdoor World has had a number of reports of good captures on both lures and livebaits.
One of his customers livebaited at Bleesers and landed two fish around the 70 cm mark, before dropping a much bigger fish that unfortunately spat the hook.
Another fished King Creek, and almost cracked the magic metre mark with an agonisingly close 99 cm fish.
“Racecourse Creek has also produced some excellent barra for land-based anglers, with most falling to livebait,” Ronald said.
Visit our incredible fishing destination:
ARNHEMLAND BARRAMUNDI NATURE LODGE
Local radio identity Julia Christensen was delighted with her first harbour barra, a solid 76cm model. It was caught on a red-tailed soft plastic, weighted to suspend in the strike zone.
Nick Papas nailed this 111cm horse on a 20+ River Rat in the popular guns and roses colour scheme. |
This is a productive spot to cast lures on an incoming tide as well.
George Voukolos went offshore to fish Lorna Shoals, and landed some excellent trickies and Spanish flag before the big noahs moved in and started helping themselves to a free feed of reef fish.
Craig Grosvenor from Got One reports some big barra falling to switched on anglers, as well as some welcome late season mackerel action.
“Plenty of big barra reports filtered through the shop recently. Local fisho Rick Jensen cracked a 120 cm fish in Hope Inlet last week, and King Creek also produced at least two over the metre mark. Early this week a 110 cm and 85 cm came from East Point/Ludmilla Creek mouth at first incoming tide on hard bodied lures. Dundee rocks were also dynamite during the new moon phase. Mick Mannix scored a 37 lb fish and got smoked by a couple more. Mick reported ideal conditions early morning, the arvos not so good. Mal Strong from Got One attacked East Point again, and reported fifteen Macks for the day, most around 8 kg.”
Dundee wide is also producing catches of mackerel.
The most successful approach has been to troll deep diving lures to find the fish, and then keep working the area thoroughly.
RECREATIONAL FISHING GRANTS
Under Round 3 of its $15 million Recreational Fishing Community Grants Programme, the Australian Government has provided $2.1 million for 55 projects across the country There were 3 projects approved in the NT, which is great news for local fishos.
Bromby Islet Remote VHF Radio Repeater Project
The Nhulunbuy Regional Sports Fishing Club Inc will receive up to $30,015 to purchase and install a VHF radio transmission/repeater tower, solar powered recharging system, vandal proof enclosures and the installation works necessary for this cyclone prone area. The project will improve the VHF radio transmission and emergency monitoring service in this popular yet remote area of the East Arnhem Regional area. Improved communications will also enhance the coast watch capabilities of the region, as this area is known for illegal fishing operations by foreign vessels.
Melville Bay Public Boat Ramp Redevelopment Project
The Nhulunbuy Regional Sports Fishing Club Inc will also receive up to $97,510 for the purchase and installation of two floating pontoons, four area flood lighting towers, existing concrete ramp extension to zero tide, wash down facilities, provision of site power, waste collection point, boating safety signage and recreational fisheries signage. This is part of the redevelopment of the existing public trailer boat launching facilities at Melville Bay opposite the Alcan Gove Alumina Refinery, to ensure safe and sheltered access when launching and retrieving recreational craft.
AFANT - Fish Smart
The Amateur Fishermen's Association of the NT Inc will receive up to $74,000 to promote better understanding amongst recreational fishers and the general public in the Northern Territory of sustainable, legal, ethical and desirable recreational fishing practices. The project funds, and support from other organizations, will be used to develop an intensive television advertising campaign featuring issues such as legal and ethical recreational fishing practices, not exceeding possession or size limits, taking only reasonable amounts of fish for personal consumption and handling fish intended for release to maximise their survival.
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