Author Archives: stuart

Kakadu and Litchfield without the camping

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Did some serious kilometres with this one.

Had some friends from Queensland up, due to space in the car restrictions, we stayed in Jabiru for the night. We drove from Darwin to Maguk for a swim. We went to Ubirr for sunset, then to Jabiru to watch the mighty Kangaroos comeback against the evil Bombers. The next morning we went down to Bukbuluk, and spent most of the day in Gunlom. Afterwards we went to Ikoymarrwa, then onwards home. Stopped at Emerald Springs for dinner, it’s a pretty good roadhouse.

If you’re familiar with geography of Kakadu, you will see that we added about 300km needlessly by going back and forth, mostly because we wanted to see Ubirr at sunset, and stay in Jabiru. Next time I will stop at Ubirr on the way and stay at Cooinda. Much more sensible!

A few days later we went to Litchfield. Saw the usual spots – Florence, Wangi, Buley Rockpools in the termite mounds. But we spent most of the time in Tjaynera which was empty the majority of the time. Nothing better than an empty waterhole!

Went back to Mindle markets on that Thursday, there were some dolphins playing in the water at sunset entertaining the crowd. Pretty hard to photograph, but I did my best!

 


Claire and I in Maguk


Claire at Ubir


The four of us at Gunlom


Dolphins playing in the water

 

 

Elizabeth again

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Tides were horrible for Bynoe & Leeders, thought I would give the Elizabeth a crack again

Got:
Me: Catfish & Stargazer… that bad I have to name these
Mate: Nothing

Story of the trip:
Probably the sounder but since I want to keep it positive I will say the crab pot. One of my pots went missing and I found it about 1km from where I put it in. Seems a lot of weed got stuck in it and caused it to get washed out.

Boat problems:
Zero water which was good, all the stuff I fixed last weekend worked, especially the strap for the fuel tank… but the sounder died 15 mins into the journey. Really getting frustrated with the boat. This is something that I can’t fix so will have to take it in. A few of the other things like radio died as well, though the CBD which is on the same circuit was working. I was launching at high and retrieving at low so no sounder made it nearly impossible to fish, as I didnt know if I would get stuck somewhere or not.

Snap:
Missing thanks to photobucket

 

Elizabeth River

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Was talked out of Leaders Creek trip due to distance. Apparently the Barra had been going off in the Elizabeth. The Elizabeth has always failed me, but it is about 20 mins (as opposed to 1 hour 20) each way and has an awesome floating jetty.

Got:
Me: Large shovelnose shark. It kept banging its head from side to side which make me think it was a snapper.
Mate: Smaller wobble shark
Mate’s mate from Spain who had never fished before: 41cm Jack! On a small white plastic on a reel with 80lb mono as I didn’t have a spare light one… haha

Zero crabs too. Am starting to think these home made stainless steel ones might be dodge… might get a collapseable one or two as a quality control.

Story of the trip:
The wind! The Elizabeth is quite sheltered yet it was still difficult to even made it out to a side creek. It dropped off in the arvo but was something fierce in the morning. I hate getting wet!

Boat problems:
ZERO WATER!!!
Looks like I have solved that one…
and…
– handle fell off the winch
– lost the ability to go left or right on my leckie
– noticed when I filled up my petrol tank that it now constantly drips due at the connection. (Unsure if connection or jerry)

*sigh* not having the best of luck

Snap:

Bynoe – with the trevally!

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After the long weekend without the car, did a Saturday trip to Bynoe

Got:
Me: lots of small fish
Parkotas (PBO): lots of small fish
Mud (NFF): 93cm Brassy Trevally!

Story of the trip:
Got to be the Trevally. Mud was pretty familiar with the area but were weren’t having luck on the barra. Went to a mark I found last time with massive Trevally all around and the next thing he had hooked up! It was a long fight, and the fish just did not want to quit at the end.

Boat problems:
Once again a huge amount of water leaked out of the boat… an ongoing problem I haven’t figured out yet. So frustrating.

Snap:

Bynoe Harbour again

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A late start as I wasn’t repeating the fog issue. Found heaps of good marks, could not stop catching fish, they were all tiny!! Even the lures pulled in two line cods & one star gazer (ugliest fish ever?)

Got:
Mate: 53cm golden trevelly

Story of the trip:
After pulling in tiny sweet lip after tiny sweet lip I hooked a monster. After about 10 minutes and me letting him take a lot of line to tire himself out, expert angling, etc, I finally got him!!! A giant… BATFISH! I could have cried…

Boat problems:
Took the bung out and emptied 200 litres of water. Damn it!!!! I thought I fixed it, this didn’t happen a week ago. 🙁

Snap: