Happy Micks Fishing Report

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..

Allison Smart takes the trifecta with these three beauties caught at the Perons last weekend. Come in and collect a FREE Octo Sniper Jig, Alison.

With neap tides last week there was a lot bait sold,  and the number of crab pots walking out the door tells the story.

 The weather has been good to get out in the blue water and have a crack at those hard pulling fish, as well as getting up in those estuary creeks chasing muddies and barra. It’s looking like 10 knots or less in the morning calming down after lunch both days. Hope they’re right!

Reef fisho's note. Things are changing out there. Check out the bait! All these fish were taken on the new Octo Sniper jigs currently available instore.

Folks fishing creeks around Darwin Harbour and Bynoe are reporting quality catches of muddies up to 10 or so a trip. Shoal Bay has been another hot spot for muddies and the Narrows and Leeders Creek been producing muddies and some big blue salmon around the mouth,  as well the odd jewfish abit further east. The Adelaide has been doing well on jewfish and barramundi. It seems all tides are working, and  one regular customer has been fishing nearly every weekend while the wife was away. He said he’s not going to miss out. 

 Dundee has been going great guns around Blaze and more towards the Perons Islands,  with 2 to 3 kilo golden Snapper being boated. The Mackerel are everywhere and there are plenty of sailfish being reported at Sail City, with one boat raising a dozen last weekend.  There are some big bait schools out there at the moment,  and trolling  in between reef spots has been producing Mackerel,  so this area has been fishing really well. The Finnis River has been consistent,  with barra and the odd mud crab coming in on the bigger tides.

This weekend you may have to change your fishing tactics.  One southerner just cast a Classic lure in at the mouth of the Finnis,  and just trolled up the river one side then back down the other side and boated 12 nice barra up to 75cm. Not bad for the first time on the river. Closer to home Lee Point has seen some pelagic action. Tuna schools have mackerel mixed in with them.  Bottlewasher  has been fishing well with mack’s and the odd jewfish. In the harbour around Larrakeyah  and Emery Point and  Talc Head has seen tuna action,  busting into schools of fleeing bait,  but they are getting flighty so remember try to get in front of them cut the motor they will hang around more if you do this.. (Click here for more on catching tuna)

 If Coroborree was a race track it would be marked down to slow. They are still getting small fish in the billabong, but  only a few people are getting more than ten fish a trip. Saratoga are in good numbers and they are putting up a good show. Shady camp has a lot of smaller fish in the fresh water side. The lillies up on the top rock bar are thick and you hear a lot of boofing going on in amongst them. There are still catching them off the Barrage at night.  Hardies has been very spasmodic but they are mainly getting fish early morning or at night…

 Daly has been fishing very well, with some good numbers of 65 to 85cm fish caught.  l have been told of  a metre fish landed up near the crossing. It  goes to show that you do not have to travel to get big barramundi down the Daly. People have been getting up above the crossing to keep clear of the Barra Classic that is on at the moment,  and banging some good fish on live bait around snags. With this weekend’s large tides it should be good to chase a few muddies and a barra on live bait. Cast a lure around if you are live baiting,  you never know.

The forecast is looking good for the weekend so  if you want to give the motor a good run, The Vernons Bathurst, and Dundee Wide should be your sights. In closer,  chase some tuna either at Lee Point or Darwin Harbour.  Be sun smart and tight lines.