It’s good to see some quality November rain.
Over the last couple of weeks, there’ve been good Build-up storms across much of the Top End.
On Sunday up inside the Adelaide River, friends and I actually ran away from a big storm which emitted thunderous claps and crackling lightning.
Hopefully, the rains continue to increase and we have another bumper wet season.
It’s fair to say that the rainfall has been more than spasmodic and it could mean that, when the first monsoon arrives, some of our already sodden big river floodplains will flood far more quickly than if there hadn’t been a good Build-up.
So when can we expect the arrival of the wet season proper?
According to forecast charts from the Bureau of Metreology, both December and January rainfall for the Darwin region will be greater than normal.
All of this augurs well for the anticipated Runoff fishing early next year.
Given the ongoing Build-up rains, it will be interesting to see whether our landlocked inland waters continue to fish as well as they have.
Corroboree Billabong, in particular, has been fishing better than it has for several years.
Mind you, recent rains have muddied the big lagoon and water clarity has diminished.
In the past, early rainfall at Corroboree has washed soil and dead vegetation into parts of the lagoon, as well as churning up the water columns and reducing oxygen levels.
Fish kills have followed.
If we don’t get a major fish kill along the Mary River, come the wet season there could well be a motherlode of mature barra liberated from landlocked lagoons into the tidal reaches of the Mary.
Speaking of big barra, there’s every reason to try Shoal Bay and especially the Rock this weekend.
There are good Rock tides, but youll have to depart Buffalo Creek by 10.00am and you’ll only just make it back to Buffalo before dark.
Siltation has been a problem at The Rock in recent years, but I understand the western face of this iconic spot is still fishing well on the incoming tide.
Speaking of siltation, if you launch at Buffalo Creek on say a 3.5m low tide, you won’t get anywhere near the mouth to exit as the creek is blocked by a sandbar practically at the ramp.
This weekend is also a pearler for offshore bluewater fishing.
The forecast is for light winds on both days, so heading offshore in your trailer boat should be a pleasant escape indeed.
This time of year, both goldies and black jew begin to congregate and bite in earnest.
I’d suggest checking out the new artificial reefs; there are four out there.
Try your hardest on the change of tide, either high or low, and pay attention to your fish finder – modern sounders don’t lie so, if yours shows fish, then there’ll be fish down there.
If you fancy trolling and or casting for pelagic species, keep an eye out for birds working on the surface.
I hear there are still some longtail tuna about and the Spanish mackerel are biting too.
For land-based anglers, a few nice queenfish have been caught from the wall just next to the Jetty restaurant car-park.
As the tide comes in, move to the Deck Chair Cinema for some matinee GT action.
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Last week’s AFANT AGM was well attended with plenty of member interaction.
The two major agenda items were the reform of the barramundi fishery by phasing out all gillnetting and depleting golden snapper stock levels in the greater Darwin region.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Recreational Fishing, Gerard Maley, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to phasing out all barramundi gillnetting well within the nominated timeframe of four years.
A born-and-bred Territorian and an avid fisherman since his childhood, Minister Maley was well-received by the AFANT membership present.
NT Fisheries Principal Scientist, Michael Usher, outlined the dire predicament of the greater Darwin golden snapper stocks.
AFANT President Warren De With and Executive Director David Ciaravolo both addressed the meeting and answered important questions, including on AFANT’s involvement in a Stakeholder Reference Group and to contributing to a draft recovery plan for Darwin’s snapper stocks that will go out for public consultation.
It’s fair to say that AFANT has had a great 12 months and has kicked some serious goals for the NT recreational fishery.
Lachlan Brodie, Braydon Grehan and Billy Sexton with an 80cm barra from Corroboree Billabong.
Top NT angler, Mick Cull, with his Bynoe Harbour threadfin salmon that finished up on the family barbie.
