Worldfisher's latest Adventure: two weeks of ridiculously good fishing in NT bushland and now a big tiger shark from Darwinjetty
Hi Guys,
While in the Northern Territory I wanted to get after some good Barramundi and some of the other spp. like Saratoga. I have been a little reluctant to fish the tidal stretches of the rivers mainly because I have no boat but more so because the upstream clearer non tidal stretches must be far more pleasant to fish. Sure the fish might not be as big but sometimes its not all about size:)
So I had a plan when the guy who has kindly put me up in Darwin suggests his secret spot in Kakadu. Sounds good and Graham even kindly offers to drop me and my bike out there which is good as it means I can easily carry enough supplies to keep me going for two weeks no problem.
So we headed out a few weeks ago, me with some bags bulging with tins of baked beans, noodles, snickers and a heap of new lures that I suspect might tempt some fish. Graham with a few bits to camp for a night before heading back to Darwin for work.
Well as soon as we found a spot and saw the river I knew it was going to be a very interesting two weeks. grabbing my rod and attaching a small rubber shad within 5 casts a small Barra graced the bank, followed a few casts later by one of his mates. I then tried a small rubber crayfish (that twitchemup had kindly given me) and bang! on the drop a Saratoga nails it..hmm interesting indeed! three fish so a cup of tea was in order before having a wander up stream.
The rest of the afternoon passed with four species nailling the crap out of my lures. Barra, Saratoga,tarpon and Sooty Grunter. The river is shallow with a golden sand bed and every so often a pool will be found that more often than not is full of fish. Personal fishing as you see the follow, the take, the fight and then the fish swim back to it's spot. By the end of the afternoon I ended up landing around 24 fish and losing countless others. The last one was the heftiest. A nice Barra that tried to eat my spinner bait 5 times before finally getting it on the 6th cast. past the shallows are deeper strecthed where bigger fish lurk
On the way up I nearly stood on this crocodile
In the shallows many of the Barra were small but still very entertaining thanks to their cartwheels and tail walks
So the next morning Graham went back to Darwin and I started exploring and fishing hard. Its a long story which I can't really complete here but over the next 10 days I didn't see a single other person and caught probably around 250 fish of the above mentioned spp. and also some good Archer Fish. Most came to surface lure which made for some heart stopping takes. Plenty of great jumping antics from the barra and Saratoga and hard fights from the Sooties.
A barra that wanted the heddon baby torpedo
Hard fighting Sooty grunter on the surface lure
The Saratoga were big and strong. great fights with jumps and acrobatics. Hard bony mouths tho so often they would throw the hooks right at the bank
One of the better Barra on the surface lure
The Archer fish were something to behold and fought hard for their size. I remember reading them when I was a tiddler in one of my nature books..shit a fish that shoots insects out of a tree! wow and here they were nailing my surface lures! great
The Saratoga had some serious chompers so you must feel sorry for any frog that ventures into the river...or for that matter a r2s tango prop. most of the paint had been removed after 3 days.
battered and bruised after just three days. Sometimes the fish were really keen. One day from up in a tree i watched a 4kg Saratoga and a 4kg Barra both homing in on the lure from different directions. needless to say they both missed but it was pretty good viewing. At one spot I found a shoal of Barra..all around 40-60cm...they became frenzied after a few casts so I removed the hooks from the baby torpedo and had 13 strikes in 16 casts. some took the lure so hard and fast they even took line from the clutch.
Nice shot of a Saratoga in the shallow water
I had plenty of run ins with crocs...some a bit too close for comfort. One come up and try to smash the rubber frog. I had been casting for a few minutes in one spot so must have pissed him off. It was quite a strike with plenty of white water. Luckily i could get the lure out of the way. After that had three more follow froggy to with in 4 metres of the bank.
This was the lure that the crocs didn't like!
food stash for two weeks. I had to eat my through some before I could move on the bicycle.
Lure stash. most didn't get used but you never never know when you might need one..better to be prepared!!
A highly overloaded bicycle! because of all the buffalo hoof prints and the fact I had hurt my leg I pushed 50km down stream. after that the road got better and the bike lighter so I could ride again
Pushing to a new fishing spot
river at dusk before a big croc came out to thrash the fish all night..and scare the shit out of me!
After 700+nights my tent zip eventually broke. great luck to be next to a kakadu swamp. that was day three so for the nest 11 days the mozzies had a field day! luckily graham had left me some spray that helped a bit. I still struggled to sleep..and here I was contemplating the merits of mosquitoes! I came to the conclusion that they are w**"£Rers:)
The fish were pretty keen for a feed!:)
I nearly forgot the high speed ox eye tarpon. Plenty to put on a jumping show. a real delightful fish to catch
Fished out and exhausted after a long push downstream..march flies were sorting me out here!
there was great wildlife. lots of birds and also saw pigs, buff and horses, snakes, goannas, turtles, crocs, loads of fruit bats and heaps of interesting insects
Nice
stinking feral pigs
casting lures
Good Barra that couldn't resist the surface fizzer
I hated these ants in India and now I hate them even more! they haven't got much going for them apart from having green bums but i don't even know if thats a good thing!
After exploring around 40km of river and walking over 12okm in the first ten days I decided to start moving. On the way I met a doctor from Darwin who invited me to join him in his tinny. It was nice to have company after ten days of solitude. At least I didn't have to talk to myself quite so much and he had cold beers!!
The DR
A good barra that we decided to throw on the coals for lunch
waiting for the fire to burn down
barra cooked to perfection
crocs came for a look when we were in the tinny.
Saying goodbye to DR Keith. Luckily my bike was lighter now having eaten most of my food in the previous 12 days. After a 10km push I could cycle for remaining few hundred kms back to darwin. Somehow with my shot leg I made it back in record time. I feel very priviledged to have got to fish this pristine place. The water tasted sweet and everything about the place was perfect. (apart from the mozzies) I hope one day I get to go back. Hope you guys enjoyed. There are many more photos on my site,
all the best, Scott
Daisy
Posts: 789
Date Joined: 24/01/08
Now that was an exceptional
Now that was an exceptional post, quality fish and photos and how's that 'Toga. Thanks Scott.
The view expressed in this post is that of a self opinionated bullshitter and does not reflect that of this website, it's owners, mediators, other members or anyone else for that matter :-P
mullows
Posts: 738
Date Joined: 25/12/08
Mate that is just fantastic
Mate that is just fantastic stuff, Thanks for sharing!
Cheers
Mullows
The Older I get the better I was :-)
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15645
Date Joined: 29/11/05
siiick
How goods that, well and truly on my to-do list. Top photos again Scott, can't wait for the next instalment.
Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance
worldfisher
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 06/03/11
Thanks mate! gald you liked.
Thanks mate! gald you liked. It was my little dream to get some decent Saratoga and I was over the moon to get a few gooduns!
all the best, Scott
www.worldbiker.blogspot.com
MattMiller
Posts: 4171
Date Joined: 15/06/09
Great report
keep these up mate. Has been great to see your travels
STEVE231
Posts: 1443
Date Joined: 05/01/10
Awesome write up and pics!!
Awesome write up and pics!! That second Saratoga is a romper!!
southcity104
Posts: 1659
Date Joined: 27/01/09
Sensational!!
And inspiring! I cant believe with so little you have achieved so much.
Great story which should be in a magazine.
"Its a life style job"
snappermiles
Posts: 2100
Date Joined: 05/11/10
another awesome post!!
you really have a great life out there!! plenty of nice fish too boot!!! thanks your posts make great reading
ALL FISHERMEN ARE LIARS EXCEPT YOU AND ME! AND IM NOT SO SURE ABOUT YOU!
darth
Posts: 27
Date Joined: 20/06/09
Awesome
Great read.....
DhuBoi
Posts: 896
Date Joined: 25/05/09
with all the shit iv put up
with all the shit iv put up with from university today , its posts like yours that can turn a shit day right around. Thanks for putting in so much effort into your posts i always enjoy reading them . looks like the adventure of a life time something that i would definatly not hesitate to take if the chance arrived.
living is fishing
Lamby
Posts: 3145
Date Joined: 04/08/09
Absolutely brilliant,
Absolutely brilliant, that's one thing I loved doing in my late teens / 20's. You have inspired me to do it all again.
Great report, thanks Scott
scottland
Posts: 3039
Date Joined: 10/05/10
You are a lucky sod
Besides the bike rides haha nah good stuff mate
i support two teams eagles and whoever is playing the dockers
J_doggy
Posts: 161
Date Joined: 01/05/11
Awesome read and pics dude,
Awesome read and pics dude, well done :)
DazSamFishing
Posts: 1518
Date Joined: 19/08/09
fantastic read. You're living
fantastic read. You're living the dream mate!
grantarctic1
Posts: 2546
Date Joined: 03/03/11
Awsome
Awsome,Awsome,Awsome, what else can i say, You have prob seen more of the West than most of us that have lived here all our lives.
Love your work bro, thanks for sharing.
Cheers Grant..
milsey
Posts: 1462
Date Joined: 22/08/07
Very special mate, Looks
Very special mate, Looks like your living the life.
alfred
Posts: 3097
Date Joined: 12/01/07
Bloody fantastic experience!
Bloody fantastic experience! You lucky dog you! Thanks for sharing!
TWITCHEMUP
Posts: 274
Date Joined: 12/05/10
Awesome...
Awesome as always Scott that story needs to be in a magazine for sure, makes us all jealous reading posts like this thanks for sharing...
Looks like that little Toga didn't mind the rubber cray fish aye mate lol, hope to catch up with ya soon..
Lloyd
SHIMANO PRO ANGLER
Ben Derecki
Posts: 1926
Date Joined: 10/10/07
Hell write-up mate.A couple
Hell write-up mate.
A couple of those 'toga are huge! Nice work.
Markie
Posts: 2153
Date Joined: 06/08/10
Living the life buddy good on
Living the life buddy good on ya for what ya doin. Love the saratogas and the crocs
soupster51
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 29/11/06
Mag quality
Awesome adventure. I've read plenty mag articles that don't meet the quality of this post. Living the dream for sure.
The best reason for doing what's right today is tomorrow.
Brucesta
Posts: 1721
Date Joined: 29/05/09
Keep these posts coming
Keep these posts coming Scotty loving the pics and some stonking fish there mate, great stuff!!!
Las Vegas - Rolling the dice and trying your luck. 1M+ Barra summer target. 100kg Black Marlin winter target
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
Love it! That's epic :-)
Love it! That's epic :-)
makai
Posts: 459
Date Joined: 28/10/08
Great post Scott
Excellent photos. I know that kind of country and you made me feel like I was there too.
Have you tried eating some green ants?? Grab them by the head (yes, they will try to bite you...), and bite off their green bum. They have citric acid in them, not formic acid like most ants, so you get a really strong lemon/lime hit. You can only eat a few though, or your tongue starts to go numb. The Aborigines used to (maybe some still do) make a lemon flavoured drink by just grabbing the whole green ants nest out of the tree and crushing it in a container of water. It is a painful process though, as the ants aren't particularly keen on the idea.
uncle
Posts: 9485
Date Joined: 10/02/07
thats an epic adventure
great fish,love that big saratoga, great story and great adventure by the look of it, some hard yards there, well done
all aggressive fish love bigjohnsjigs
dkonig82
Posts: 2091
Date Joined: 06/07/10
One of best reports I've read
One of best reports I've read in a while.
Some very hot fishing and a great adventure!
When asked by a non-fisherman 'how many fishing rods do you really need?' the correct answer is either:
n+1 (where n is the number of fishing rods you currently own); or
n-1 (where n is the number of fishing rods which would cause your significant other to dump you.
mattyoga
Posts: 67
Date Joined: 03/04/08
Fantastic report - My partner
Fantastic report - My partner lived in Darwin for 8 years and is always trying to get me to move back there with her one day - Think that may have been the first post that has inspired me to do so, though my kayak would become fairly redundant with all those crocs!
GusG
Posts: 547
Date Joined: 07/04/08
That has to be the best
That has to be the best report ever!
GrahamM
Posts: 648
Date Joined: 19/01/09
Love it awsome shows us what
Love it awsome shows us what it truely is like and gives me someting to dream about
Mitch300491
Posts: 166
Date Joined: 21/03/11
Awesome! definitely on the to
Awesome! definitely on the to do list
Teflon Coated
Posts: 33
Date Joined: 28/03/11
Good on ya Scott!
What a great trip! Its gone straight to the "bucket list" and i have sent the link and your blog to a few mates to get the ball rolling on a barra trip!
Awesome report! Well done
RUSS - Another punter in the Pilbara!
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Livin the dream!!! Great
Livin the dream!!! Great shots!
My photography pictures... http://westernhorizonsmedia.wordpress.com/
Lucky Tim
Posts: 2536
Date Joined: 28/11/07
it's all been said Scott,
it's all been said Scott, totally awesome. Love those bigger barra and saratoga from the shore. You've inspired me to do some northern freshwater fishing now instead of always hitting the salt.
I might go for a bike ride now!
Ringy35
Posts: 138
Date Joined: 30/04/11
Good read mate, Wheres the
Good read mate, Wheres the next stop?
SamC
Posts: 2013
Date Joined: 30/08/06
Could read that again and
Could read that again and again!
Love your work Scott, priveldged would be an understatment...
Cheers,
Sam
worldfisher
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 06/03/11
Hi guys, Thanks very much
Hi guys, Thanks very much for all the great comments. Really great to know you guys enjoyed!
Makai I vaguely remember hearing that so thanks for the advice. I'll give the ants a try next time, with pleasure!
I went out last night to nightcliff jetty with my two crocodile handler friends for a spot of fishing. I had the plan to catch a shark and as it happens my wish came true. An 8/9ft Tiger Shark kicked the shit out of me for 40 minutes.
I brought out my big shimano beastmaster and fin nor offshore 6500 loaded with 80 lb power pro, 100lb mono leader and 150lb wire trace and large circle hook.
So I caught a fish of some unknown variety of around a pound and prepared a tasty shark snack, cast a little way off the jetty and lay back on my sleeping bag talking to Mitch. 4 minutes before high tide the reel woke up and started a little clicking so I was on it like a shot..gently winding down and then bam..all hell breaks loose. A gentle biet for the resulting fallout!!
I briefly saw the fish under the lights as he took off high speed out to sea. I hung on as at least 150 yards of power pro zipped from the singing reel. Over the next 15 minutes I ran from one side of the jetty to the other pumping, getting hammered and hoping he would stay out from the structure until the pressure started to wear him out.
Then after this the shark came up and headed around the southern edge of the structure. Under the lights we could now see it perfectly and the tiger markings. Deon announced 'it's a big tiger mate..keep it up man' maybe 8 or 9 feet'
For the next 15 minutes I brought him back and forth to the shore. Mitchell went down on the rocks and prepared to land the fish somehow. At one point he declared he would jump in. I said that was maybe a bad idea and continued with the workout. By this time I was wearing down because of the long rod and the angle i was fighting the fish. Sweat was running off my skin in buckets.
For the last ten minutes, after the shark had come in close to the rocks in just 3 ft of water, the battle was under the jetty... the fish came under my feet and headed to the north side of the jetty. So this put the rod at a hard angle. For a good few minutes the rod was actually clamped hard handle to the stars..tip to the water..held fast against the side of the jetty and I had no way to lift it. I asked deon to help and slowly we worked the fish back. This happened three times until he passed around a pilling at a weird angle which spelt disaster.The wire gave way just above the circle and thay was that. I lay down for ten minutes as my whole body took a very good pounding! well i got my wish and am still hurting now!!:)
initial long run
Now it was getting really painful:)
well and truly SMOKED!
all the best Scott,
www.worldbiker.blogspot.com
dkonig82
Posts: 2091
Date Joined: 06/07/10
That first pick there is
That first pick there is looking the most painful!
Rod looks like it is in a very uncomforable position haha
When asked by a non-fisherman 'how many fishing rods do you really need?' the correct answer is either:
n+1 (where n is the number of fishing rods you currently own); or
n-1 (where n is the number of fishing rods which would cause your significant other to dump you.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
He has a brooks saddle, can't
He has a brooks saddle, can't be much feeling left down there.
worldfisher
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 06/03/11
AH yeah, Ringy, I'm going to
AH yeah, Ringy, I'm going to South Africa this evening for 5 weeks so will be back end of october :)
Ringy35
Posts: 138
Date Joined: 30/04/11
haha
Tuff life brother!! You gunna keep ya tales of adventure comin on FW????
Webby
Posts: 835
Date Joined: 24/09/08
Not sure what to say mate,
Not sure what to say mate, truly epic...
I live with fear every day... sometimes she lets me go fishing.
worldfisher
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 06/03/11
The first
The first run
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAfhci0rQ78
Scott,
www.worldbiker.blogspot
sarcasm0
Posts: 1396
Date Joined: 25/06/09
Phwoar!
Listen to that reel sing:D
worldfisher
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 06/03/11
And a good clip of the Barra
And a good clip of the Barra getting excited in Kakadu!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvSIstj4XuU
All the best,
www.worldbiker.blogspot.com
Goodz
Posts: 2332
Date Joined: 20/07/09
Thats an awesome little vid!
Thats an awesome little vid! Looks like so much fun mate, love the sound of those barra boofs! Nice one you land at the end there too!!!
madfisher
Posts: 206
Date Joined: 10/10/07
Awesome reading worldfisher
Awesome reading worldfisher loved all of it and the shots especially the Toga. Looking forward to your next installment mate
worldfisher
Posts: 103
Date Joined: 06/03/11
Don't know where all photos
Don't know where all photos have gone but will try and fix it sometime. Alternatively you you can check my site www.worldbiker.blogspot.com.
I'm in sri lanka now but stuck in the airport wishing I could sneak out and go for a quick Barra or Jack session!
I was in Singapore yesterday and a friend and I headed down to Mcritchey resevoir and did some fishing..beautiful place..jungle clad fishy paradise. I think fishing is a big no no there so we were the only anglers!. We caught three species, sembaru or jungle perch, a fancy sort of tilapia and what we were after, Peacock Bass. We didn't get the big one we were after but all the same real a couple of real beauties. We did see a male and female of around 3kg each guarding their ball of fry which was quite a sight. I thought it was a guaranteed, but they ignored the lure! maybe on the return leg I can try again as there are 5kg specimens which judging from their small relatives, would put up a great fight.
All the best, Scott
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15645
Date Joined: 29/11/05
OMG
That barra footage has given me a semi, how f****n good is that!!
Site Admin - Just ask if you need assistance
downsouth
Posts: 15
Date Joined: 15/01/11
great report
great report
hunterdive
Posts: 363
Date Joined: 24/02/09
Love your work bro truely
Love your work bro
truely epic journey. Its a true that you don't need the latest and greatest 4x4 and all the gear to explore the outback.
fisher dude
Posts: 2
Date Joined: 30/03/10
Adventure Man
What a great story mate, You certainly had an adventure. Looking forward to going up there christmas time myself for a few weeks.
Aaahhhh, the top end....