Some Barra lazing around
Submitted by karratha on Mon, 2012-07-16 00:04
Been recently 4wd touring around the Kimberley for last 3 weeks for the first time.
Did'nt get too much fishing time in to much to see up there.
On one of the many gorges we visited the girlfreind spotted this school of Barra in the Windjana National off the Gibb River Road.
The Barra don't have to worry about lures being flicked at them as fishing is not allowed, there only predator is the 100 plus freshwater crocs in the Gorge.
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4.88mt Quintrex Seabreeze, 70HP Johnson 2 stroke
Malibu Pro Explorer fishing kayak
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trymyluck
Posts: 908
Date Joined: 06/05/12
Nice photos, Gotta love the
Nice photos, Gotta love the Kimberley and Barra !!
katsy85
Posts: 209
Date Joined: 13/02/12
That would be FUN!
That would be FUN!
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
That is awesome hey, you can
That is awesome hey, you can learn a hell of a lot about a fish just by watching them like that
good stuff
SABRE
Posts: 404
Date Joined: 17/05/12
Thats awesome would be like
Thats awesome would be like shooting fish in a barrel
If fishing is a sport I,m an elite athlete
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Is it fishing if you cast a lure with hooks removed
That could have been fun, but is it still against the law to tease??
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Andy
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 08/10/05
Gibb river road
What was the road like, I am leaving Katherine Sunday heading to broome
Wes F
Posts: 1067
Date Joined: 07/01/12
Gotta love the Kimberley
Been up there a couple of times now Love the place always some thing to see. Not a bad spot to camp at Windjana. I was up that way this time last year a lot of work being done on the Gibb river road Not all for the best either, carting in some nasty sharp fill to build up the road on either side of Mount Barnett station, will chew ya tyres out pretty quick if you have them to hard.
Old fishermen never die they just smell that way.
karratha
Posts: 11
Date Joined: 07/03/11
Watch out for the sharp rocks on the Gibb River Road
Andy, the road was'nt too bad, plenty of sharp rocks on the road, plenty of dust when cars passing in the opposite direction and watch out for cattle they sometimes come out of nowhere.
I was running my tyres at 28 psi on the 80 series and dodging sharp rocks where ever possible on the Gibb.
Got talking to another traveler and he staked a tyre on a tree branch on the road to Bell Gorge, cost $440 to get it fixed at one of the mechanical workshops on the Gibb.
One thing I don't understand is why so many people don't drive with their headlights on when on dusty roads. Makes it alot easier to spot them as the Gibb River road gets quite busy in some spots.
4.88mt Quintrex Seabreeze, 70HP Johnson 2 stroke
Malibu Pro Explorer fishing kayak
Paul Cunningham
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 14/07/09
Karratha, we just got back
Karratha, we just got back yesterday from up there. Was it you that told us about the Barra in the pools in Windjana? Someone was telling us up there, possibly at Mt Barnett Servo?
We made the trip out to the Walcott inlet. It was a huge trip, 3 days of 4wdriving from Mt Elizabeth station just to get there. I smashed in my fuel tank dropping into a creek crossing and snapped my fuel pump on the second day!!! We got it going after a bit of bush mechanics and made it all the way back to Hedland.
I will chuck up some photos in the next few days.
Paul
twicther
Posts: 202
Date Joined: 31/12/11
The perils of the north
Lived in Knx for 20 plus years now and the Gibb still continues to take casualities, the track into Port Warrender has claimed engine mounts,radiator mounts, springs, tyres you name it. If attempting to go full blown off road a lot of preperations are needed as well as a fair dose of bush mechanic skills. Back in '89 i was in at Windjana by myself and at the time there where no ' no fishing ' and yes i did throw a lure around, caught ox eyed tarpon and a few small barra all released, there were also plenty of small crocs waiting for a feed.
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15644
Date Joined: 29/11/05
Great pics
Awesome pics, on the to-do list thats for sure!
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karratha
Posts: 11
Date Joined: 07/03/11
Hi Paul,
Hi Paul, that was'nt me at Mt Barnett servo.
I've read about that track going to Walcott inlet before I set off on my Kimberley trip. Did you have to get permits from Mt Elizabeth to go there?
Did you have another vehicle with you?
Can't wait to here you're fishing exploits there.
When I was on the road heard about how bad the track is to the Mitchell Falls and all the vehicle damaged caused by that track. I did'nt have enough time to head up there myself, one for next time.
Thanks Adam, over the 3 week trip taken just over 600 photos.
4.88mt Quintrex Seabreeze, 70HP Johnson 2 stroke
Malibu Pro Explorer fishing kayak
Paul Cunningham
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 14/07/09
We spoke to Mt Elizabeth
We spoke to Mt Elizabeth before we went in there. You pay them some cash for track upkeep and they keep a log of who goes in and out there. We had 6 cars with us. Our friends have been there 4 times now and we all jumped on board the chance to get up there with them. A Jackaroo snapped a CV joint on the Gibb somewhere and had to make the whole trek in 2wd. Quite impressive as it did not get towed up one jump-up on the way back. An Amorak snapped a shock mount and his camper trailer snapped its entire right hand side leaf springs. We manufactured a temp log and wire spring with a chainsaw and it made it the whole way in. My Paj blew a tire in the creek when I smashed the tank and I leaked fuel from a split in my tank from Windjana all the way home. I can't believe some of the camper/boat setups that were being towed in there! We met a guy on the track and he had made a mad dash to Kunanurra to get an axle made as they snapped theirs on the way in.
The fishing was quiet, we saw 2 barra caught for the 3 days that we were there. I got a couple of sharks and a heap of muddies too.
I'm stoked that I made the trip in there but next time I'm thinking that a chopper ride in there would be easier =).
Paul
batts83
Posts: 11
Date Joined: 30/09/08
Paul,Have recently been
Paul,
Have recently been looking into doing the Walcott inlet track in the next year or two, it sounds like a pretty full on mission...was that 3 full days of 4wding to make it in?!
Would love to see some pics of the track/walcott inlet if you get a chance to throw some up.
Cheers mate
Brett
cutter
Posts: 150
Date Joined: 30/12/10
Was up that couple weeks ago
We did the Gibb river road up to Kalumburu and on to Darwin, the roads were excellent and did manage to see all the Barra in Windjana
nifty01
Posts: 11
Date Joined: 10/03/12
The Barra aren't completely
The Barra aren't completely safe in Winjana. We saw a group of indigenious people walking in late arvo with a handline each. Next morning we walked to the end of the track and found a dead barra about 400mm long right where the track finishes.