Sunday 20140804 report - too damned windy!!!!!

The Wind was up from first light - bugger!
But we still went and launched the boat in the predawn light and headed out front of the harbour for the hoped chance of a tuna or mackerel - wind chop already 10-15cm. The area around the ore loader was like a wash tub - waves every which way tossing my little 4.75m Stessl ProTournmanent punt every which way as well.

Along the way and once at Lee Point - not a thing to be seen in the 20-30cm chop - let alone trying to cast in the exposed region of Lee Point rock bars.


After an hour of being blown about on Lee point, we hugged the coastline checking for probable schools of blue salmon on the Casuarina beaches but none were seen. We kept punching through the chop back into the harbour and the wind. Half way back we found a pod of Fringefin Trevally (Pantolabus radiatus) off Nightcliff rocks but little else. These pretty and little trevally (can grow to 40cm) were scooting through hammering very small bait. They would have looked great in the saltwater aquarium I am trying to build at school.


We worked the usually spots on the way back to the ramp for no sighted fish or bird action

The wind was getting up maybe 20-25+ knots, white caps on every wave and decent swell. My boat with its 60hp merc, loaded with two big 6foot plus guys and esky full of drink and ice can do 27 knots over calm water. However, the part of the trip from Darwin wharf (Stokes Wharf) to the Ore loader it was 5 knots max with the swell, wave and wash assaulting us as if some body was throwing a bucket of water over us every second wave - not enjoyable at all!

When we got to Shelly Island in front of the ore loader we found a touch of respite on the leeward side of it but still no fish.

Not wanting to head back to the ramp as yet and given tide was just starting to turn for the day, we thought we would give the flats at Wickham point a go before it got too skinny. Along the way the Rocks and its several large mangroves that sometimes hold queenfish and trevally at high tide that face the Ore loader were searched - again nothing. Further around the point we were sheltered by the peninsula from the worst of the wind if we stay in close. Positively, we started seeing baitfish being harassed and movement of larger fish at the edge of the mangroves.

The water was very dirty as if stirred up. In amongst the dirty water we saw occasional flashes and surface slashes particularly at the merging area of dirty and clean water, that got us casting with more purpose than at any other part of the day.

We managed a few small queenies, though nothing to break out the camera for (sub 30cm size). There were some other larger fish about but they were focused on puffing up the sand and whatever they found to eat in it. Not too sure what species they were as not quite blue salmon or the like, nor queenies. They had a blueish tinge about them, forked tail with black on the tail, about 30cm long and lots of them swimming around in the dirty water - we could not interest them in any type of flies - they were also very flighty.

After an hour or so there we steadied ourselves for some rough water and headed over to Little West Arm for hopefully some snake drain and barra action as the tide dropped. It was another slow wet ride. Once there we could have done with about a meter less water as the tide timing wasn't right nor were the fish cooperative.

It was a first time visit to the arm for me - it looks like a very productive water. So need to and must plan a return trip with a better tide. The main fish we found were three one meter sharks heading out of the arm, there were also plenty of baitfish and archerfish on most side creeks and drains. But none of the desired fish were found. We went right up to the three ways rock bar (1-2 metres underwater at the tide time we were there) and went 5 or 6 hundred metres up the middle creek, casting repeatedly to the mangrove edges and drains as were moved along.

About 3pm, enough was enough, the wind had exhausted us - we headed home. Out the front of Little West arm, the wind had dropped off a bit, maybe down to 10 knots and the wind with the tide rather than against it as earlier in the day, so the ride home was much gentler on us.

In summary, not much of a day first time back on NT saltwater for my deckie Peter after four weeks back in his home of Canada chasing steelhead and the like but much warmer at least. We wrote this day down to experience and begin to look forward to our next trip.

I was thinking as I write this trip report, of next Sunday as a possible but the wind again is predicted to stay strong - so might head to freshwater instead of Vernon island group as previously blogged about. I will discuss the options in my next blog.