The Year as it was on the water…
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
happy day fish that people dream about..
With another year coming to a close, it has been another great oner for fishing in both
blue water and the fresh. I guess the standout was the Sailfish mayhem off Dundee and
around the Peron Islands earlier in the year. The lucky ones that tangled with them had many
stories to tell, getting every one fired up to go out and chase these speed demons of the sea.
One sailfish was caught on the every trusty Maribou jig intended for a tuna! more
The wet season finish a month early but despite that the run off was short and sweet with most big rivers firing up like the Daly river and the Shady Camp S bend with plenty of quality
Barramundi being caught and lots of them.
The Billabongs fished well this year with Corroborree being the most visited freshwater water hole with some real large fish coming from the area.
Most boats have been fishing around the Harbour with some nice mixed reef fish. Others have been heading a bit wider around Charlies Point for the many jewfish being caught but l have heard of snapper other reef fish been in good numbers out there as well.
Charles Pt and the mouth of Bynoe Harbour have been the pick of areas , with the Adelaide Narrows also
producing Snapper and Barramundi as the tide comes in. Still in that area the Vernons has been very good
for the bait fisherman, as well as for the jig fishing folk with some great sized snapper and the odd coral
trout thrown in the mix of things.
The Shoal bay area came alive last week with qaulity barra being caught and lost, live bait as well as big lures like bombers and killalures were the most effective, and kept fisho’s on the toes with nice action as the tide rolled back in – some were too big and busted off on the rock. Maybe jewfish l’m thinking.
With most bigger rivers now starting to flow there have been some great reports from them, with the first push of water to get things flowing it seems that alot of land locked barra are on the move trying to get to better parts of the river or the salt water sections of the river system. Heaps of fish were stuck as the wet stopped so quickly.
Shady camp last week was going nuts. Almost a fish a cast on surface lures. Awesome fishing up to 85cm and consistent 70cm fish. As it,s flowing over the Barrage the fishing has slowed right down and the fish kill that happens every year is now happening. Very sad to see so many barra dead.
The Daly river at the crossing also went gang busters and the Finnis River and the Marrikai Road where the Adelaide river flows over had its fair share of great barra action with fish on the move down the river eating anything they could get their mouth around.
Iin the New Year the Harbour will be a great spot to try to kick start the barra count for the year. l might be giving West Arm and Little West arm a hit and even Woods Inlet on the incoming tide which are around lunch time.
If you are planning to get away for a couple of days the Daly river is another place to try. We’ve been hearing good reports from there with some nice barra on the chew. If the river does not rise it should be good.
Bynoe Harbour will be another place if you want to get out of town. l like the area around Six Pack Creek. As you come out of the creek you are at the bottom of Indian Island and can sneak up to Sims Reef on the change of tide for a jewfish.
Six pack is a fine river system for snapper, barra and jewfish. Crabs are also plentiful in the system and ita good place to get out of the wind if it blows up.
Closer to home the Narrows will be worth a shot on the change of tide for a jewfish. Its a big tide so a small
window before the tide becomes too strong and you can’t keep connected to the bottom but the area will be worth a troll or a cast around the rocks at the mouth of Saltwater Arm and along the Narrows itself.
It is a bit early for the culverts but Scotts Creek is starting to run and there have been some barra caught there.
Remember to play it safe and keep one eye on the weather- no fish is worth put yourself in danger for, if the rain keeps falling l cant wait for next year hopefully we can get a few more monsoons in mix of things. Should be good, keep safe from the team at Happy Micks Happy New Year..
