Some life has been breathed into the Top End fishing scene, and it’s happened both on inland freshwater and Darwin coastal waters.
Some great news is that Corroboree Billabong is actually producing a few quality barra, mainly casting soft plastics.
Weedless ZMan Swimmerz in the four inch size have been particularly effective.
The trick is to work the narrower sections of lilies.
Interestingly, people staying on the houseboats and putting the hours in have been catching one or two nice barra up to 80cm.
Starting tomorrow at Corroboree is the annual two-day Secret Women’s Business Barra Challenge.
Hosted by the Palmerston Game Fishing Club, and held from the Corroboree Park Tavern venue, this all-female tournament is a taken very seriously by many of the competitors.
Hopefully, the improved fishing at Corroboree continues to improve for this heavily-contested major women’s event.
Also happening this weekend is round five of the Top End Barra Series.
This will be held from Leaders Creek to the lower reaches of the Adelaide River and could well be a blinder given that the tides are absolutely dead neaps with hardly any water movement.
That mean’s super clear water and the opportunity for all those forward-facing sonars to come right into play.
Yet another major competition will be happening soon when the annual Darwin Fly Rodders Saltwater Challenge takes place on 27-29 September.
This gruelling event is held over three days in Bynoe Harbour, and each year there are a lot of species and a lot of fish caught.
The “swoffers” pick neap tides at Bynoe, mainly for water clarity and better conditions for pelagic species.
Competitors will be staying at Sand Palms roadhouse and the braver ones will be tackling the Sand Palms signature drink: the Bull Ant.
This concoction is a shot comprised of half black Sambuca and half white Sambuca poured slowly so the white sits of top of the black.
To set it right off, a desert spoon of Tabasco sauce is gently poured on top.
The trick is to hurl it down the back of your throat and don’t let it touch your lips or inside your mouth.
Gastro is one of the potential side effects.
The forecast this weekend is for 20-30km/h winds, so it might be a bit bumpy offshore for smaller boats, although the neap tides will help the comfort cause.
There’s also a chance of a bit of rain fairly soon, which won’t surprise given we are well into the Build-up season now.
If you’re thinking of chasing a ‘bong barra, Matt West from Fishing and Outdoor World told me plenty of barra are being caught at both Bucket and Alligator Billabongs in Kakadu.
The best fishing is early and also at night.
Regarding the local blue-water scene, I’ve heard some great reports.
I’ve also received reports that the jewies have been going ballistic on some offshore grounds, and there’ve been some solid golden snapper amongst them.
However, you don’t have to travel further than Lee Point for a chance to experience some top blue-water action.
On the last neap tides, queenies, mackerel, tuna and trevally were all caught near Lee Point, so this weekend may just be worth a shot.
Christine Mansfield’s 80cm barra came on a Heli-fishing trip.
Tahla Robinson got into the barra action whilst heli-fishing.
