Right time to shelter from
WITH westerly winds forecast as well as huge tides this week, it is time to fish sheltered waters.
The best chance of a barra is still in the harbour arms and tidal creeks.
There are a few threadies around, too.
The trick is to find the fish and then use some small prawn imitations.
Rivers have risen slightly from the early rain but it will probably take a fair bit more rain to bring on the barra. Inland, Manton Dam might be a good place to have a look at night early next week.
Cyclone Alessia dumped a fair bit of rain across the Top End — which is a great start for November.
Monsoonal rain does not kick in until Christmas, so a November downpour is gold, but it must be followed up by more rain.
Watch the river crossings as river levels rise and fall, as big barra are always taken by those who are there at the right time.
Wet season westerlies are no fun at sea, or even on Darwin’s beaches and boat ramps, so wait until the wind drops off before planning a bluewater trip.
In reports, Fishing and Outdoor World’s Matt West said there had been rain in some useful catchment areas.
‘‘It’s not bad for a November start,’’ he said. ‘‘The top of the Mary River at Pine Creek seemed to get a bit, but not so much at Point Stuart.
‘‘There was a fair bit over the Katherine catchment; Borroloola was at the end of it.
‘‘The top of the Adelaide River was up and flowing and there were a few small fish caught.
‘‘There was a quick blast of culvert-style fishing on the upper reaches of rivers at the crossings, but not so much on any road culverts.
‘‘Corroboree Billabong has been very quiet, but the bottom end of Hardies Lagoon has produced a few fish. The top side of Shady Camp has also been good.
‘‘ Offshore reports have been few because it has been too rough.
‘‘ Shoal Bay and Darwin Harbour have seen most barra reports, with some 90cm fish out of the Howard River.
‘‘ Buffalo Creek has produced a few legal fish, too, and a few were caught there a week before.
‘‘There have been threadies in the harbour arms, and at Bynoe Harbour.’’
Top End Tackle World’s Chris Rainbird said Shane Compain went to Leaders Creeks and caught a couple of barra in the 80cm range, and some smaller fish.
‘‘They were trolling Stradas for the big fish and jigging rubbers on a rockbar for the smaller fish,’’ he said. ‘‘Jess Walker got the biggest fish.
‘‘Shane did get some fish down at the mouth of the Adelaide River on the big tides.
‘‘I went for a look around the harbour last week and there were a lot of small queenfish around Weed Reef near the old engine block.