Hello everyone, I hope you all had a great Christmas and new year.
Things are starting to fire up here in the tropics with what’s looking like a fantastic season ahead of us.
It’s still pretty wet now but we have started hitting the water to get a taste of what’s to come. In this neck of the woods you’re bound to come across just about anything in the estuary systems that surround us including one off my favourites – the mighty Threadfin Salmon.
I can’t remember seeing so many massive threadies this early in the season. In one morning we caught 4 off the one flat all over a metre long. The best lure in this situation I believe is the 10cm floating x-rap from Rapala.
Because the water is so shallow with so many mangrove roots the floating x-rap is easier to manoeuvre through these snags and when twitched on the edge of the water colour changes, you’re in for a good show on these incredible fish.
It’s still very hot here but with fish on the chew it’s hard not to want to get out there. It’s always exciting to see what new snags have presented themselves for the new season and which ones will hold fish. Last year I found one of the best looking snags that you will ever see but it only had a few fish on it.
Up the same creek a little further was a very average looking new snag which was really just a stick poking out the water which produced a session of around 40 barra up to 88cm. You just never know what Mother Nature has in store for you. Anchoring on the one snag that produces so many quality Barra is simply the best. 3 hours seems like 5 minutes and every hit gets your heart pumping. I can’t wait to get onto some more of these dream spots this year.
A bit of a tip to those of you looking to travel north this year in search of some great Barra fishing – you will find most fishing lodges will encourage you to use a bait caster rod and reel combo. If you have never used one before don’t panic as it doesn’t take too long to master, however, despite spending hours on the grass area next to the lodge showing our guests how to use them it does pay to have a little practise before you come.
It’s not essential but with a few hours casting under your belt before you come up and a little tutoring from our team you will find it a whole lot easier. If your lure lands in the snag where it’s suppose to then you will simply catch more fish.
Until next time all the best from Clearwater Island Lodge, Melville Island NT
Hi Michael,
I’m saving to come back.
This is one the best places on the planet, get there!
Barry