Happy Micks Fishing Report

My name is Christos Despotis and I need your help

I was out fishing on Saturday Morning 21/03/2009. We tried to launch from Buffalo Creek Boat Ramp at 7AM but could not get out so we decided to launch from the Nightcliff Boat Ramp. I had placed my rod in the vertical rod holder in front of the centre console. But once we got to Nightcliff boat ramp at 7:25AM and launched I realized the rod was missing! The route we had taken from Buffalo Creek boat ramp was Buffalo Creek Road, Lee Point Road, Vanderlin Drive, Trower Road, Nightcliff Road then Casuarina Drive. But we suspected that the vine forests that hang down over Buffalo Creek Road may have snagged the rod. As we had already launched the boat I immediately called my wife who drove down to Buffalo Creek Boat Ramp at 7:45AM and could not find the rod. She asked the guy at the private facility if anyone had handed it in but no luck, he said that nobody hands lost gear in anymore!

I am guessing the rod would have come off at about 40km/h and hit the bitumen road. Some damage must have occurred, possibly broken eyelets or broken tip. I am hoping, if the rod was picked up by someone, they may have decided to get it fixed and may take it to a fishing tackle store. If you see this rod PLEASE let me know because I can identify it!

The rod is a G.Loomis Pelagic Series. Model PSR 84-40C SU. Its 7 foot long, 30-50 pound line rating with a fast action. The rod is all black with gold writing and threads.

As you have guessed this is a VERY expensive rod. I purchased it as a gift for my father and he is not impressed that I lost it. PLEASE keep an eye out if it is brought in for repairs, or replacement under the G.Loomis lifetime warranty. This rod has sentimental value as well.

I have reported it to the Police on Saturday. If you hear or see something come into your store PLEASE contact me. My phone number is 0427340058. Thanks for your help, everyone’s honesty is appreciated…

Well the run off has well and truly kicked in, some would say a little early, with  reports that rivers have dropped in a big way, and good coloured water is flowing from the flood plains into the main river system. This is just like Christmas for every hot blooded barra fisho”s.  

The Daly River is the must go to river this weekend and l reckon,  with the weather looking as it does it might fire up rightaway. The river is now at 5.5 metres and the run off creeks below Browns are  in full swing. The fishing has been pretty good to say the least with some reports of  catches coming near Moon and Clear creek, with some of the closer creeks  likes No Fish, Diesel and Elizabeth going well.

Further away on the west side of the Top End,  Shady camp is still producing good numbers of huge barra and threadies with the bigger tides last week. The coastal creeks were no place for the faint hearted with big barra rampaging at will creating havoc with lures, landing nets and other boats! The tides this coming weekend will be not as good for the coastal run off,  and more time spent at  the mouths of Sampan and Tommys  would be more profitable.

Judging by the reports from last week flowing  into the shop,  Shady camp has dropped down a lot and there are healthy numbers of  mullet and tarpon roaming the top of Shady, so it will not be long before  you won’t have to travel far to get a big barra,  as they will be busy chasing these big bait fish around. So happy days! On these tides  l would still go down to the mouth for a chance of a big girl,  and to get into the threadfin Salmon that are hanging around in good numbers.  The early morning charge will be on again.  l had a couple of folk telling of near misses from  other boats. Remember  to drive with respect and be safe. It’s  not a good place  to come unstuck,  so treat others how you like to be treated when driving a boat,  and keep a cool head.

The South Alligator  is another place that is primed,  with some mixed reports,  but the fish are there already, so l think the Kakadu Klash might be good next weekend. The run down to the mouth has also been good, with the mouth producing some big Goldies. Brooks and surrounding creeks have been producing big barra on the change of tides , East Alligator is fishable from what l have been hearing, and Megilla  has not much water flowing from it, so the run off there might not be as long as the other rivers, but that they are getting good numbers of barra..     

 Much close to home myself and Mitch from the bike shop next door had a great session on Mangrove Jacks in the harbour up Middle Arm. Some were  getting up around 47cm, and one spewed out a 15cm fingerling barra. In all we landed nine and only three of them were under 20cm,  the  rest were up around the 30cm plus. They are  hard pulling and so much fun. The day  before that the barra were  on the job,  and as the tide falls from the mangrove and into the gutters, barra  form up ion schools waiting to give  the local mullet population a  dent in numbers!

There were   boofs all over the show and some pretty impressive in size, fish up to 65cm landed  and bigger lost at the boat. The whole run out tide was alive with fish feeding on very nervous mullet until the dead low,  and only a little when the tide moved back in. It was a great day in the harbour and l have been hearing simila reports  from most of the harbour arms. Bombers and B52’s  were the main choice, slow twitching retreives, and the plastics also did the job.

Weather wise you could not ask for a better weekend coming up. Weekend tides are great for the bottom bouncers ,b we’ve been hearing of a few mackerel around Lee Point already, and jewfish have been in good numbers around the place. The Charter boys have been putting clients onto good fish out wider, and mackerel are every where at Dundee,  ranging from 5 to 20kg. There are alot of free jumping macks so this is another likely spot for a fish.

Be sun smart and drive safely and get stuck into some good fishing while it’s there …

Barra goes Nuclear! Chicken that is!

We went for another pilgrimage up the Adelaide last weekend.

We were scheduled for a bluewater trip to take advantage of wind and tides, but motor probs took care of that. The river turned on a bonus for us, and we were home a few hours later with six barra around the seventy mark and a few lost. As we do!

The river looked great, with nice clear water coming up on the full tide, and colour on most of the creeks feeders and drains. We pulled up at Beatrice Creek, but I imagine those who either went up above Goat Island or down stream to fish run off would have done very well also.

As last year the fish were fat, fit, fiesty and a great silver colour. We kept one each and they were great eating, not at all like your normal fresh water fish.

Tony Considine with Sunday lunch!

Gulp Pogy’s and Atomic plastics proved effective. Haven’t used the Atomics before but there are a biodegradable, good feeling lure made from protein with a strong scent and quite elastic.

In response to demand we have a good range in stock now, and by the look of them they will do well on all the run off rivers. there is also a range of prawns that look OK for the Harbour.

Jeromie"s secret spot!

With nice clear days and little wind over the last week, for most keen fisho’s its a hard decision where to go. A lot of folks have been heading out wide and with mixed results,  but they have been getting and seeing some bill fish so that’s great news. 

On the bottom bouncing scene l have heard of more big snapper and jewfish coming from no further out then 6 Mile Buoy,  and even inside the harbour itself,  with some getting their bag limits within a short session. During the last neaps sharks played havoc with bait fisherman,  moving in on good snapper bites and shutting them down. The trick is, once they move in, you move out! Go find another spot, as they will take a toll on your fish and tackle pretty quickly. Pull anchor and scout another likely spot. 

The Town Hall hole seemed to be one place that they got both goldies and jewfish and on many other  wrecks around the harbour. Bigger tides this weekend will  give you a smaller window so fish on either low or high tide on the changes,  before you need a house brick or two to keep you in the zone..

Apparently there was a line up of boats400 metres long  at Shady Camp. Anyone would think that the fish are jumping into the boat,  as many  as 60 to 70 boats lined up waiting to get their feet wet.  Since you have to go a long way into the water to get the boat off the trailer, it’s not a real nice feeling standing in knee deep plus water  with a lot of  healthy hungry crocs haning around.

There are numbers of smaller fish along the coastal run offs with odd bigger barra getting caught. Its the law of averages: with that many boats down at the mouth and that many lures getting dragged through the strike zone the bigger fish must be having a hard time picking which lure to crunch. The mouth of Sampan had a nice run of metre plus salmon and a lot of barra around the 65 to 75cm mark,  with some boats landing some real stonker threadies. Great to see good numbers getting around the mouth – just imagine if the government brought back those licences,  what kind of holy mecca  would this area become for barra and salmon –  it would be simply awesome!

The normal lures,  Killalures and Classics and also Reidys B52’s have been the weapon of choice. There are also plenty of jewfish out on the reef  from Shady Camp mouth,  so that whole system is looking good. We should still get another monsoon, so it’s going be a great run off  well into April, easter and beyond. And another great year for the billabongs – how good is this place?

 A bit closer to home the Adelaide river below the bridge,  with a week of little rain has,  dropped a bit and good colour change is coming from many run-offs into the main river system. Some good fish coming from Beatrice and a few “no name” creeks,  and well formed drains along the river producing nice tea colour water, bait coming from them late in the tide. One crew fishing a moonlight session heard some big boofs like gun shots going off,  as they braved the millions of mozzies,  but had a good sessions on  quality saltwater barra. It seems there have been good results right above Goat Island. The Daly river is a sleeping Gaint waiting for the water to drop,  when  l will think it will be ”GAME ON.”  Its still over 11 metres and has been for the last four weeks,  but it is starting to drop now, and this weekend should be right on the money, except that the Wooliana Road is still closed and omly access is from the crossing. Be patient – it will happen!  A couple of boats fishing around the mouth have been getting cricket scores,  but thats a big trip,  so remember safety in remote areas at this time of year is paramount.

The South is still up, and they have been getting a few fish up top,  and around the run off’s. Down at the mouth its been really good  for soaking baits for big goldies and jewfish,  with  some good  vibes coming from people who  went for a look down that area!  For the barra  it may take bigger tides to kick start the barra bite – all up the river the creeks are primed,  so if we get a bit more rstorm rain all well and good. 

 Big tides this weekend: the harbour is one place worth a shot for the barra. Like l said last week they have been taking bigger lures and  plastics are still working but the Bombers and the B52 have been the undoing of a few quality barra; even  getting good size goldies on the many rock bars. West Arm and the Little West Arm have been the quet acheivers,  with some nice barra and a few salmon coming from them. There have been a few crabs around, but mostly the crabs have been out along the sides of the creek mouths,  not up in them. Not great numbers,  but the lucky few have been getting a nice feed. Elizabeth River and Middle Arm have been the pick for them.

Town Hall will be a chance for a jewfish or a goldie on the change of tide and for the land based fisherman l think Buffalo Creek would be as good as any for a barra or a salmon. Even a few culverts out along the Stuart and Arnhem highways, but  make sure you don’t leave rubbish laying around.  Further out,  the Adelaide river might be good as well. If the water drops down on the bigger tides you should be able to find some great colour change and some good fish moving in on the incoming tides, so be sun smart and safe and  hook into this great fishing while it’s there.

 The weather is still giving us the rain we need, and with a couple of clear mornings will give many keen anglers a chance to get out and tangle with a few fish.

l  went out to see how Shady Camp was shaping up. There is a lot of water over the flood plains and the tides never really made too much difference. While we were there the water level was sitting around the filleting table where the bins are so,  it’s at a good level. We saw a bit of bait around the side of the edges but the water was flowing into the run-off,  not out,  as you moved down towards the mouth. Even got the six metre boat up on the flood plains with a good metre of water over as far as the eye could see, so maybe in a couple weeks or so it might be game on.  Only heard of two fish coming out of Tommys and the mouth of Sampan,  but l think the people that went outside and along the coast had a better time of it,  with some good catches reported.

The Mary River was about 1.5 metres from the top of the bridge,  so there was a lot of water giving the Mary a good flush out, and all the little creeks seemed to be flowing well on the road out so signs are good. The Daly river has gone under 12 metres so two of the main river systems are primed and ready to go. The fishing this year will be awesome … cant wait

 The harbour is also fishing well,  with barra on the menu with trusty old  Green and the Gold Bombers undoing some barra. There are still huge amounts of prawns about but it seems that on the last big tides at least they were chasing bigger bait,  so match the hatch.

A few anglers that put in the effort over last weekend were rewarded with barra around the harbour arms,  snapper and the odd mangrove jack.  These have been truly on the chew in the estuaries and on a number of rock bars in Middle Arm Elizabeth River and the top of Blessers around the wreck. One jack was a impressive 48cm! Crabs are still around despite the rain; one crew got five very healthy specimens in Middle Arm so he was happy with a very nice feed..

With neap-er tides this weekend bottom bouncing would be the go,  weather permitting,  even jigging a Gulp or any other form of soft plastic should be interesting. For two days running people have been  coming into the shop to buy  bigger filleting knives to clean their catches! Six Mile buoy grounds have been going well, and inside the harbour  the wrecks and even Town Hall is getting in on the act. On the changes of  tide, snapper are still getting caught in good healthy numbers, with some fish around the 1.5kg mark and other reef fish  in numbers. Chasing a few crabs might be another good way to pass the day this weekend

 Further afield the top of the South is getting a good volume of water pushing over it.  The mouth has been good with Brooks and the Rookery producing nice size barra and salmon, with plenty out the  front if not too windy. Jewfish and snapper are there but its another place where you have to watch the weather,  and play it safe,  because you are a long way from anywhere if things go pear shaped. Just make sure everything is running well and you have updated the EPIRB.

The Narrows on the Adelaide would be another good spot to hit if wanting to chase jewfish on the slack water so there a few options to think about. Keep an eye on the weather and tight lines and sun smart ..