NT Fishing Report
With Alex Julius 10 March 2011
It seems that just about everyone venturing onto barra waters this last week has been bombing out. There was definitely a frenzy last weekend but, as I reported last week, we still need the flood waters to begin receding in earnest before the true Run-off begins.
Actually, as the rains continue to pour, it seems that the opposite is happening.
The Daly River Crossing is sitting at 9.6m but it’s 11m at Beeboom Crossing so there’s more flood on the way down. In any event, I understand the Daly River Road is closed at present; ie unless you have special reason to travel there. There’s no doubt the Daly will produce the goods once water levels start dropping quickly.
The floodplains either side of the river in the tidal sections were truly inundated by all the recent rains, and that’s where most of the run-off action takes place.
Craig Grosvenor from Got One reckons we have jumped the gun.
“Results so far would indicate that maybe we have, although what else would we rather be doing!” Craig told me.
“Shady Camp looked like it was hosting a party like no other at the weekend with close to 100 boat trailers parked up.
“Many couldn’t help but attempt a big fish assault around the coastal creek mouths but unfortunately most boat loads were greeted with a persistent rolling swell from the north.
“This did no favours for water clarity as it washed mud from the flats into the main channels. A few fish came from the tree line along the coast but it was slim pickings.” Crag said.
Matty West from Fishing and Outdoor World also said there was not much to report.
“Mostly people caught ones and twos, although I did hear of a 109cm barra caught at the South, and a 105 and 107 at Swim and Love Creeks,” Matty said.
The most-consistent fishing seems to have been in Darwin Harbour, albeit for barely-legal barra. The harbour usually takes a while to settle down after the sorts of rains we’ve been getting.
One humorous report I received about the harbour came from Gavin Bedford.
“Alan Need from country Victoria has come to the Territory on guided fishing trips three times and once to Cape York, and spent close to $5000 on the experience to catch a legal barra, all to no avail.” Gavin said.
“He achieved his goal on Saturday with two legal fish, 65 and 63, with long term Darwin Harbour fisherman, Gavin “DOA Prawn” Bedford.
“Alan was delighted with the catch and the fishing trip which he said had basically cost nothing until it was pointed out that each fish had cost him $2500 over the fishing trips.” DOA said.
Probably the best bet this weekend on approaching neap tides will be the South Alligator. Sure, there’ll be a sea of water up the top, but it’s an easy bitumen drive and there’s always somewhere to cast to when its high.
The rock-bar below Leichardt Creek often fishes well when the river’s flooding as it is, especially as the incoming tide begins to push back the flow and slows the current down.
A handy roadside spot that has been fishing extremely well at night on soft plastics is the little bridge along Girraween Road heading to Humpty Doo.
Finalising negotiations for recreational fishing access to waters covered by the Blue Mud Bay decision and consideration of possible new size and possession limits will be key issues at AFANT’s 2011 Annual General
Meeting which will be held at 10:00 am this Sunday 13 March at Tracy Village Social and Sports Club, Tambling Terrace, Lyons.
“Negotiations between the NT Government, the Northern Land Council and the Anandilyakwa Land Council should now be nearing a final settlement and we have asked Fisheries Minister Kon Vatskalis to update members on progress at our AGM,” said AFANT President Warren de With.
“Chief Minister Paul Henderson has reaffirmed his commitment to permit and payment- free access but we saw the Tiwi Land Council pull out of the negotiations during 2010 and introduce a paid fishing permit system.”
“With funding support from the NT Government, AFANT is able to refund fishers the cost of the permits but the prospect of any similar process for the rest of the Territory would make it extremely difficult for recreational fishers so it is critical that these negotiations are brought to a satisfactory conclusion as soon as possible.
“A system for boat identification was raised by the Land Councils as a significant issue for them in settling the Blue Mud Bay negotiations and, while AFANT has asked the NT Government to attempt to resolve the access issue without the need for boat ID, we have indicated that we will assist in its implementation under certain conditions if it becomes a necessary component of the settlement.” Warren said.
“The process we kicked off in 2010 to have a look at recreational possession limits and other regulations will also be discussed at the meeting.
“We have now released a second discussion paper based on some terrific input from many recreational fishers and, while we are currently waiting for data from the NT Recreational Fishing Survey before we move on with the process, the AGM will be an opportunity for fishers to ask questions or provide further feedback.”
Sacha Matthews 68cm barra was caught trolling on the Adelaide River last Saturday.
Alan Need fished with Gavin “DOA Prawn” Bedford in the harbour for his two fish.