P4 - FISH & BOAT, February 2019 Front Cover Feature NT Run-Off Essentials There’s just something special about the storms in the Northern Territory. By Craig Latimore They generally come in with a force that is rarely seen elsewhere, dumping alot of water across the land. The perfect ingredient for the run-off season. The Northern Territory runoff is truly a won-derful beast and usually stretches from Febru-ary to sometime in May. During the preceding months, there is a mix of massive storms, monsoons and cyclones dumping their lifeblood onto the vari- ous floodplains across the NT. Paving the way for the reproduction and growth of a huge biomass that the mighty barramundi calls food. And it’s when the rains ease and the floodplains start to fall, all that food flows into the many runoff creeks and rivers. What follows is a feast that could only be matched by the Mother in Law at a pie sale. So if you want to come to the NT to get yourself a piece of the pie, hopefully I can shed some light on the essentials that anyone travelling from down South will need to make the trip of a lifetime a barra slam dunk. Firstly I think you need to make a rough plan on how the trip is to be undertaken. What follows is a feast that could only be matched by the Mother in Law at a pie sale. Are you going to tow your own boat up? Will you be fishing on a charter? Or will you hire a boat? A good option for first-timers is to go on a charter to learn as Number 1 much as they can, and then either use their own boat WIN or hire one for the rest of the trip.I believe that if it is your first time, the barra charter is the best option. These guys are absolute guns and sell out a long time in advance, so book early. Clifton Beach, just north of Cairns It will not be cheap but they have so many advantag- When it comes to give- 07 4055 3918 es over any other option. If you do an extended char-ter of 3-7 days, you will no doubt be accommodated aways . . . BRANSFORDS on a live aboard very close to the fishing grounds.There are several that spend the entire run off at Beats them all . . . $ The more you spend the more entriesthe mouth of Sampan Creek, Tommycut Creek, East Shimano ABU Daiwa 8500 Mix & Match Lure Dealsyou receive Alligator, Finniss River, Daly River and some leaveDarwin to head down the Moyle system (just to namea few). They have a/c, hot showers, freezers for take in prizes Jackall 2 for$50 home catch, beds away from fierce late storms and Transom/Squirrel the barrage of insects. Plus ample room to keep your 1st Prize Package Zerek 2 for 50$ beer icy cold. But the massive advantage is that these Fish Traps 160mm guides virtually live at these spots during the runoff. • Watersnake Combat Electric Motor 2 for 50$ They know where the bait is, where the barra are Buy any matching • Daiwa Zillion & Black Label Rod Lucky Craft feeding, and they can get you there within minutes of Rod, plus Braid and • Venom 6’ Spin Rod Hollow waking up and put you into the prime position. • Fish Hunter Barra Charter Core 7” Swim Bait2 for 30$ Hiring a boat can also be a great option. The boats Get 20% offany • Bucket of Barra ClassicsVALUE$3,500 AtomicShiner 75/85/1002 for 30$are ‘NT Tough’. Boats up to around 7m with heavy Shimano/Daiwa/ABU/Jarvis Walker or Continued next page Quantum Bait Caster Reel Zerek 2 for 30$ 2nd Prize Package Fish Traps 95mm Awesome trolling lures by Reidys Lures. 5 for$55 Gold Bombers 2 for 30$ From top to bottom: Renegade (Slimy Barra Classics • Stella 2500 Reel & Samurai Rod Mackerel), Big Ass B52 200 (H-GB), Big 20%off • $1,000 Bransfords Gift Voucher Atomic 2 for 20$ Ass B52 200 (008), Big Ass B52 (Tropical Rapala Barra Lures • All Tackle Sport Fishing Trip Plazos Thunder), Big B52 (Cuss), Big B52 (M15), • Bucket of Rapala Lures 2 for 20$ Big B52 (Kryptonite), Judge (Kryptonite). • Smoke HD Rod & Reel Combo Atomic Abu6600C4 & $23995 VALUE$3,500 Seekers Jig Heads2 for 20$ Ugly Stik Combo Over 200 Barra JAPANESE BLANKS 1000 Litres Combos On Display …. Refraction $399 of Fuel To WIN From only Spin& BaitCaster $4995 Cruiser $319 To win your share of this popularAbu, Shimano, QuantumJarvis Walker, Daiwa, Travel Rod promotion, just spend $25 in store Watersnake Electric No Limit of Number of entries Outboards SUPER SMOOTH11 BRGS $9995 All Models in Store ENTER THE ABU 15% 6’ Spin Rod & ShimanoATOMIC WEIGH-IN COMP offour low price Stradic & Braid Handcrafted $44995 Barra Rods by L.Wilson & Co Spin or Bait Caster Ugly Stik 4’ $ 499 95 Spin Rod & Shimano Photo by Martin Gibbins Sienna & Braid $16995 ZMAN Plastics We service & repair OR send in a photo & details of the Barra you release 3”-4” Minnowz $25 3 Top Shelf Abu 4”-6” Minnowz $25 Combos to be won TT Headlock $25 Competition runs February & March Jig Heads, all sizes shtdeoertceka fiilosnr- dC