Forward-facing sonar struck again less than a fortnight ago when dozens of barra in the 80s and 90s were caught on the Adelaide River by anglers competing in the fifth round of the Top End Barra Series.
According to TEBS spokesman, Clayton “Archie” Archbold, this year’s fishing boundaries were from inside the tip of Gunn Point across to Jacks Creek on Cape Hotham, up through Saltwater Arm, the three Wiltshires in the Adelaide River and as far upstream as Castle Creek.
“After the closure of pro netting in the Adelaide River nearly 20 years ago, fishing in the river has steadily improved, particularly with the advent of live technology,” Archie said.
“Calm mornings and some periods of windy weather, coinciding with a super-neap Saturday tide, gave the river clear, green, almost still water at times.
“These conditions were ideal for casting at snags and for the trollers working snag bends and rock bars.
“It was hard to tell how many competitors fished but, with a full carpark at Saltwater Arm and 40 anglers getting fish on the score board, it was definitely well patronised,” Archie reported.
Luke Conlon was the TEBS leader going into round five, and caught his bag of five fish in Saltwater Arm with barra measuring 68-99cm which was the fifth-highest-scoring catch for the round.
Luke said: “I just targeted fish on snags and on the push of the tide I floated around targeting wandering fish.
Fourth-placed Kai Hale also caught his bag with five fish measuring 75-108cm, the only metrey caught on the weekend.
Kai said he had not fished the Adelaide mouth or Saltwater Arm before and, with no deckie on board and not even sure where the ramp was or any locations to target, it was a late decision to even go.
Kai found his way up the Adelaide River and fished well into the night using forward-facing sonar which helped him catch four good fish using 6-inch Bite Me lures.
“I followed a good fish for a few minutes before I finally got a good cast to it; however, the tail of my lure was caught up on the stinger,” Kai explained.
“I only realised that once I watched the fish follow the tangled lure to the edge of the boat on the surface.
“This was a big fish and I could see it a metre in front of the boat on the surface.
“When I pulled my lure out of the water, it didn’t spook or swim off, and I gave it a little poke with my rod tip; even then, it swam off super slow and not spooked at all.
“I continued to follow the fish, hooking it five minutes later on my next good cast,” Kai said.
It seems it was pandemonium after that: Kai’s electric motor remote got caught in the reel and flew off his neck into the water, then the fish swam under the boat and jumped on the other side, tangling his line on the transducer, and finally, after free-spooling so he could get the line off the transducer, the fish swam around the electric motor and tangled again.
“It was another little while trying to untangle all that before I was finally fighting normally,” Kai said.
“A lot of swearing and missed solo net shots later and I had the fish on the deck… it measured 108cm and swam off in good condition.”
Kai caught his bag of five and was off the water by 3.00pm Sunday.
Third place with five fish measuring 85-95cm was Blake Adcock who was fishing with his partner Neva Syme.
Blake said: “Saturday was our best day, with Neva catching her 92 as soon as we got there at 7.30am and me filling my bag by 7pm.”
The pair drifted with the tide back and forth over the whole weekend, at one stage using surface fizzers with great success.
“The stand-out lure would definitely be the Raptor Fizzer; the fish went crazy for it no matter what time of day or location,” Blake said.
“The highlight of the trip was whilst using fizzers, and watching 90cm-plus fish jump 2m in the air like dolphins, and charging across the top of the water with their shoulders out chasing the lures.”
Neva was the top female angler for the round.
Peter “Cuddles” Cooper and Lachlan Markey were in front on equal points at the end of the round.
As per TEBS rules, the person with the biggest barra between the two of them took out the round honours. In this instance it was Lachlan with a great 95cm barra.
Cuddles five-fish bag measured 87-92cm.
Using the 5 and 6 inch Wedgies, Cuddles actively targeted individual fish.
“Most were down low, and I knew that fish rising up or in the top water column were more active and possibly looking to feed,” Cuddles said.
“I would have caught 11-plus barra over 80cm on the weekend, and hooked a horse about 115cm that would have been a cracker had the hooks held.”
Round winner Lachlan Markey used forward-facing sonar and big plastics for his five barra which measured 86-95cm.
The technique yielded 10 barra for the weekend with nothing under 79cm.
Lachy also followed a really big barra around for 30 minutes, but it wouldn’t bite.
Finally, he foul hooked it in the back, but the hooks pulled out at the boat.
I spoke with Evan Dixon who is in the top three for the series and also managed a bag of five quality fish.
“Sunday afternoon in the last two hours, I caught my two biggest barra scoping the middle of the river like everyone else,” Evan said.
“Before that, I refused to copy the crowd of scopers because I was too proud… lesson learnt.
“I really think this last TEBS comp has opened up an exciting new fishery in the Adelaide River,” Evan prophesied.
Lachlan Markey won round five of the Top End Barra Series which was held on the lower Adelaide River and surrounds.
Neva Syme was top-scoring female angler in the TEBS round.
Kai Hale overcame incredible adversity to land this magnificent 108cm barra, the only metrey of the TEBS round.
