20161105 - Darwin Harbour trip report

With no planning with Peter for fishing the weekend - I was planning to be working on my rural block getting it ready for plowing and seeding. It had to be done but so boring!

But I get a message late Friday night - "you want to go fishing?"

Is the pope catholic?
Does a bear shit in the woods?
(or is is the pope shitting and the bear catholic?)

Regardless - my very quick message response was
 "I am already packed and ready to go - c u at 5:15am your place!"

Its a very calm morning at the ramp, heaps of boats launching

We motor straight out to Weed Reef first as reports earlier in the week were very encouraging
The tide is still coming in til after 8am, less run too

We get a few little ones but nothing goes off like our last trip, nor like the morning trip for fellow Swoffers earlier this week

first hook up

For Weed Reef - I reckon it has to do with the timing of the coincidence of the run out tide and dawn - and by the time sun up higher in the sky its all over

The calm conditions and massive sun made fishing hot and sweaty - man that sun has some kick!
So after waiting as long as we can for the fish to pop - we head off for newer waters and get an ever thankful breeze across sweaty shirts to cool us down as we skip along the water

Nothing showing at Mandorah, so head across towards East Point.
Half way we verge off line towards a red buoy I have had success at other times
Here we have water 30+m deep and as the water surges out of the harbour - it hits a plateau that is only 15m or so deep. This cause the water to compact pushing upwards and thus concentrating the baitfish moving along with the out going tide

The queenfish were there in numbers if a bit patchy in their appearance. with only a few birds indicating their presence when nothing slashing the surface.

As the mud clouds rolled through with the tide the bait would be on the edges of these clouds and the predators when finding them would go nuts. A cast would be made into this mayhem and an ensuing hookup would occur. No major size - 45-55cm mostly. But after a few hours of nothingness at Weed Reef - so much fun!!!!!!!

It was a bit choppy in this location due to the disturbed water but at times you could see the queenfish body surfing the waves. then you could lead them with a cast, followed by a quick strip and you would be on. Peter got the best fish of the day 71cm with this type of approached. I spotted the fish, Peter made the perfect cast (I had just cast to a different location just before I saw the fish in the wave), almost instantly Peter came up tight and an extended fight ensued.

Now I know we have been catching lots of fish lately and I know it was a hot day, we are both getting thicker in the middle and less fit as each year passes - but Peter needs to work more on his enthusiasm when fighting the fish - he is getting a little lazy with his feet up at times.

The fishing at the red buoy quietened down as the tide bottomed out - so we move on to find more active fish

We find more queenfish 500m out from East Point and worked the schools as they zipped about chasing concentrations of bait. We follow the large number of birds over the top of them and pay attention to their movements to show us where to cast in the hope of a better return rate for effort in the cast.

With the electric running out of battery and a few fish in the esky for some old people around my place - plus an increasing wind - we head back into the harbour towards the Dinah Beach boat ramp.

with it being just after midday, we stop off at the Stokes Hill Wharf for a pit stop of a steak sandwich and chips - awesome - canopy up, nice meal, great scenery! What a great harbour we have at our doorstep. Fighting fish one moment and a few minutes later a hot meal - and then after that more options for fishing only a few more minutes away!

We have time before enough water at ramp - so check out Shelly - this location needs a heap of water rushing in past the northern tip to really fire - which it wasn't!. We check out the gas platform supply wharf but nothing but tight small balls of tiny baitfish. I get a couple more queenies at the drop off into deeper water but increasing heat and wind plus no fish makes it hard fishing and casting - so we head back towards Stokes Hill Wharf.

Nothing else seen along the way and when we arrive at ramp there isn't enough water to even float a 2.9 tinny with oars, doesn't stop some from trying to get their boats out. One big greek boat (lots of flags and a boat wrap to indicate the country of origin of its occupants), one of those aluminium pontoon style boats with a 250-300hp outboard churning up the 30cm of water at the ramp edge to get his boat on the trailer. Mud, small rocks and water go it all directions and it eventually gets on the trailer. Wonder what damage that had done to his prop??

Another guy is seen towing his boat along walking through the waist deep water (at times shoulder deep). He started back at the rock bar out from the lock of the housing estate next to ramp and Peter filmed the whole episode hoping for something to sell to Channel9 especially if the guy got taken by something in his walk through the water and mud (macabre voyeurs we were). Talk about Darwin Awards and comedy capers. His later attempts to get the trailer down the ramp were comical at the very least as too taking out the entire two lane ramp for backing and the many attempts to get the boat on the trailer.

We anchor amongst a few other sport fisherman who known better and are waiting near the 5knot buoy for more water at the ramp. However, when there was enough water, the etiquette of late comers after us and about five others, was quite selfish taking up the entire dock while they ever so slowly chatted with others and eventual left to get their trailers from the carpark - totally ignoring the queue of boats as they drive pass us waiting for our turn after the greek boat and the guy towing his boat through the mud to get off ramp.

We stay calm and collected, no raging and yelling like others and eventually we are out of the water by 4:30pm (got to ramp at around 3pm)

The boat was cleaned and the fish we kept handed out to friends not long after

I must say how thankful I am to have a mate like Peter, we vent and dump our week to each other while fishing, we work well fishing and casting our fly rods at the same time with out too much mayhem and tangles - and if it hadn't have been for him and his boat while my boat (trailer!) has been out of action - I  think I would have gone off the deep end - Thanks Peter!

It is good when you find the guy who you can fish with regularly with getting (too much) on each others nerves. 5 years we have been fishing together now, no blood spilt yet! (touch wood!)

So when and where next????????????

Looking forward to the completion of the new ramp at Dundee Beach, hope to do a few more trips to the Peron's and beyond after the wet season. those creeks they feed into Anson bay south of the Peron's need more attention, maybe staying over night protected in one of the Peron island bays.

As always more flies need to be tied, where's that new material I got recently hiding on my fly tying desk???...................
 
Until next time - please remember - 100% fly fishing always!