NT Fishing Report
With Alex Julius 3 June 2010
Just when you thought the recent epic sessions on sailfish down around Point Blaze could not get any more profound, a bunch of swoffers from the Darwin Fly Rodders had a shot at it last week and literally killed the pig.
Up until then, all the billfish action had been on neap tides – to do with water clarity, reduced currents and all of that.
But these nine swoffers chose to camp at the great new Parks and Wildlife-managed campground at Channel Point, so needed a spring high tide in the morning and late afternoon to simplify boat launching.
According to Warren Jeffery: “Tim Harding (BC) and I, along with three other boats, fished from Bateman Shoals up to Sail City.
“Although a couple were raised in other areas, the main concentration of billfish was found in an area about 8km south of Sail City.
“We managed to raise 12 fish with only one small marlin landed and tagged – at least the monkey was off our back and we had runs on the board,” Warren said.
I must say that a marlin on fly, let alone in our local Darwin waters, is an historic catch, no matter how small the fish was.
Warren continued: “Next morning saw storms forming everywhere and some lightning flashing around…not really what you expect for the last week in May.
“After a bit of a detour towing a broken down boat back to Channel Point ramp, we were again on our way.
“The sails came on first thing in the morning and lasted throughout most of the day.
“We raised 32 fish for the day, hooked up on 7 but only managed to land and tag 2 sailfish with the biggest at 15kg; both BC and I had our first ever sailfish on fly,” Warren told me.
“Friday morning the fish were on early again with the first billie teased up by 8.30.
“In all we raised 25 billfish and hooked six.
“BC had a great day, landing and tagging three sails with the biggest at 18kg.
“I managed to get one marlin up to the side of the boat and grabbed the leader and bill before it twisted and was gone into the deep blue,” Warren explained.
According to Edan Fisher, who fished with Andy Congram on the trip: “The fish were all around 1.4 metres with the biggest at 1.45 metres.
“We raised about 25 and tagged and released all boated fish, and they were teased up and then cast at as the teaser was pulled out and the boat was knocked out of gear, so all the sails were legal captures on fly.”
“Our teasers consisted of a bird, squid chains and the stitched up belly flap of a barra which the sails loved and came right up to the boat to make for easy fly presentations. “Each fight was around 10 minute, with my sail pulling approximately 300 metres of backing and smoking a cork drag washer!
“Multiple jumps and some awesome tail-walking displays were encountered,” Edan told me.
Also in the group were Jackie Gould, Roger Basset, Cathy Basset and George Vlazney.
George fished on his own and apparently had a lot of fun trying to tease sails to the boat and pick up a rod and cast at the same time.
All up, the swoffers raised close to 100 sails and a couple of marlin, and tagged six sailfish and one black marlin. Tim Harding was the star with the capture of three sails and a marlin.
Congratulations to the Darwin Fly Rodders for getting down there and showing that this amazing fishery is also available to fly fishermen. The Darwin Fly Rodders meet on the last Wednesday of every month at the Darwin Golf Club.
Fly casting tuition is available from about 6.30pm and the formal part of the meeting starts at 7.30pm, following a quick barbecue.
Go to www.darwinflyrodders.org.au or email
Tim Harding with the biggest sail of the amazing swoffing session.
Edan Fisher with his sail which took 10 minutes to land.
Warren Jeffery was delighted with his sail on fly.
Andy Congram’s sail took a popper fly.
Tim Harding’s little black marlin on fly.