Angling for bonanza as
THERE was some good rain last week, with many of the Adelaide River’s creeks now flowing, and the Daly River on the rise.
Some big barra were caught at night on the Daly early last week, but the Adelaide has not yet fired up.
Given recent reports of cherabin and mullet up to as far as Goat Island, the Adelaide might produce a few barramundi soon.
Some reports from the South Alligator River and Roper River should filter in this weekend.
There are big tides this week, culminating in a 7.99m high on Friday night.
Such tides might stir up some action in the rivers at the feeder creek mouths, but otherwise these will be challenging fishing conditions.
The harbour will be like fast-running milky coffee late in the week.
But the low tides will drain out feeder creeks, with good fishing for Johnny-onthe-spot.
The weather bureau does not have anything wonderful to report for now, but there is no bad news, either.
It said yesterday: ‘‘A monsoon trough near the northwest coast of the Territory is expected to move west and weaken, causing showers and storms across the western Top End to gradually ease over the next couple of days.
‘‘A cloud band across central parts of the Territory is contracting north and is expected to clear. Isolated, mainly afternoon, shower and storm activity will continue across the northern half of the Territory in a moist and unstable northeast to northwest flow, with warm to hot and mostly sunny conditions continuing in the south.’’
So it’s isolated showers for the Top End at least until early in the week.
In reports, Top End Tackle World’s Jess Walker said there had been heaps of rain, but reef fish were still being caught last week.
‘‘ Our charter boats have been getting jewfish and goldies on both full days and half days, from Fenton Patches to Lorna Shoals.’’ she said. ‘‘ I heard reports last week of sailfish sightings.
‘‘A few people are starting to go looking for run- off but there have not been a lot of reports.
‘‘ Shane Compain caught 30 fish during a night session at the Daly River on December 22 and the biggest barra they caught was a 105cm fish.
‘‘ Trevor caught a 104cm fish and heap of rats.
‘‘These barra were caught on Wedgetail mullets and poppers and fizzers.
‘‘Steve Compain went down to the Daly the night before Shane and had no luck, so it is a matter of being there at the right time.’’
Goat Island Lodge’s Kai Hansen said there were huge cherabin running in the Adelaide River.
‘‘The creeks are also running beautiful black colour change now, but the barra have not started yet,’’ he said.
‘‘ But I have been very busy cooking burgers and people are keen for some runoff action.’’
Fishing and Outdoor World’s Ronald Voukolos said there was not a lot on which to report.
‘‘ Culverts have not fired yet, we still need more rain for them,’’ he said.
‘‘But there have been many juvenile barra on the upstream side of the Shady Camp barrage,’’ he said.
‘‘Our staffer Jason Deigan went to the Daly River and got one barra off the crossing; he said there were heaps of sharks at the crossing, and they were taking lures.
‘‘ Tim Story was getting broadbar mackerel off Lee Point last week— he was fishing the wrecks trying to get a jewie and the macks were biting everything, sinkers, hooks and the lot.
‘‘ I believe these macks are available all year at Lee Point.
‘‘There have been blue salmon and goldies biting in Darwin Harbour.
‘‘The harbour has been consistent with East and West Arm fishing well.
‘‘We have not heard much yet from the South Alligator River and Kakadu.
‘‘Point Stuart has had some good rainfall, which bodes well for Shady Camp.
‘‘All in all, it is looking positive, certainly better than the same time last year.
‘‘ The Deckchair Cinema area fished really well all year for land- based fishos and some of the regulars are saying it’s the best it has been there for years.