Hungry anglers hoping
ALL eyes were on the Darwin Game Fishing Club’s billfish competition this weekend.
The past two years saw disappointing catches at this event.
The billfish just didn’t show up in numbers, despite the best efforts of organisers to move the event to where the sailfish were.
It would be great to see a decent result this year, to reinvigorate the local billfish scene.
Speaking of billfish, a friend in the commercial fishing industry says garfish were near impossible to buy in Darwin last week.
‘‘Many people don’t want a commercial bait fishing industry, but that’s the result of it — no bait on sale,’’ he said.
On the barramundi front, it is still very average.
But barra are such a great fish, you only need to catch one or two to make a great day out.
If a decent wet season should eventuate, it will be interesting to see if the barra show up in big numbers in the rivers.
Tides are coming off neaps this week, perfect for catching just about everything.
The weather forecast looks good too, but watch out for storms, especially in the afternoons.
In reports, Tackle World’s Jess Walker said the popular Corroboree Park Challenge barra competition saw only a few barra caught.
‘‘ And our staffer Shane Compain went to the mouth of the South Alligator River last weekend and caught very few fish,’’ she said.
Tides are coming off neaps this week, perfect for catching just about everything. The weather forecast looks good too, but watch out for storms
‘‘ He said that he tried everywhere and just could not find fish.
‘‘I have only heard a few reports of barra here and there.
‘‘ Buffalo Creek has been one spot with a few good fish caught.
‘‘There have been a load of GTs biting down at the Peron Islands.
‘‘ Goldies and jewies are doing well on our charters.
‘‘ Our five- day extended charter to Evans Shoal was really good, with a spread of species.
‘‘ The bluewater is doing well, but I don’t think there are too many big jewies around.
‘‘We are catching mainly smaller ones at the moment.
‘‘Barra guru Trevor Robb has been getting a few barra at Bynoe Harbour.
‘‘Other than that we are all just waiting for these barra to really fire, it is certainly warm enough now.
‘‘The last new moon saw barra biting at Manton Dam, so it might be time for another look soon.’’
The Tackle Box’s Frenchy Maujean said he fished the harbour on Thursday and it was hard fishing.
‘‘But we got a dozen pansize snapper using lures,’’ he said. ‘‘We also got 58cm and 75cm threadies, but barra were quiet.
‘‘Shoal Bay seems to be the place for barra.
‘‘ I didn’t see any jelly prawns in Middle Arm on Wednesday.
‘‘There is the billfish competition results to watch out for. Tides this week are good for most bluewater fish.
‘‘A lot of fellows have been getting quality reef fish at Sail City and Long Lost lately, out of Fog Bay.
‘‘This weekend will be good for fishing around Mandorah for queenfish and trevally.
‘‘ The billabongs are as dead as ever.
‘‘Big storms are coming in during the afternoons.’’
Fishing and Outdoor World’s Jason Deigan said it was quiet on the barra front.
‘‘By this time in previous years it would have started going off by now,’’ he said.
‘‘The harbour is still the best fishing spot, with threadies starting to come through and plenty of golden trevally as well.
‘‘I have had golden trevally reports from West Arm, as well as the usual spots like Larrakeyah.