P18 - FISH & BOAT, April 2019 Fishing A Devastating Blessing By David Hodge infrastructure, livestock, cane, ma- So many times over the last fewrine biology, reef management and No one understands the life-shattering events of the years, the forecast has been a all other highly specialised indus- Townsville Floods more than this man. Mick Rennie let-down, but the lead up to tries and natural phenomenon that of Townsville Water Police spent days and nights on the flooding rains, though forecast, this diverse state has to control. was greatly one of excitement, and Incredibly educated specialists are end rescuing stranded residents with bugger all sleep. though eventually, that turned to used as an advisory base to help the A true fisherman at heart, when the emergency status disbelief. “Yeah, I’ve heard that be- government assess each and every allowed him a well earned day off, there was only one fore.” was probably the most com- aspect of anything that comes un- thing that popped into his head to help him relax a bit mon statement heard around townder the jurisdiction of a particular in the week leading up to the tor- department. These advisors are the and clear his head. rential downpours that lasted day bullets, but the Mayor and Premier after day. I drove through many of are the ones who have to pull that the familiar streets to see just how trigger, based on the best case sce- much rain we were actually getting narios for those most directly im- in comparison to the reports, though pacted by that decision. In the case this was only the first couple of days. of the 2019 floods, all there was to Glued to every weather station I go on was an educated guess, as no could to get an estimate on how long one had ever dealt with anything like this was going to last was, well..... it this. was just scary, to be honest, and yes, It’s the insurance companies that hard to believe. I’m actually wanting to see held ac- After being in the grips of a very, countable for contractural wording, very, dry spell for so long, the buzz liability evasion, misleading or dou- was a real celebration when the dam ble meaning fine print on a contract hit 100%, but then it went quickly that often turns out to be just very to 150% then 200%, then the mood expensive toilet paper. I don’t do so- changed as the realisation was that cial media at all, but I’d love to see this was not going to end well.it used to factually and extensively When it hit 250%, the concern on shame any insurance firm that proves everyone’s face was real. to be dishonest or neglectful of their I reckon every town planner would client funded responsibilities. have had a little bit of poo escape in- Now, don’t think that I’m some voluntarily, as they wondered if they brown-nosing, fence-sitting wuss goods, landscapers, and many, many, passed, but with fishos being the commercial netters having caught had accounted for such an event in who won’t say what I think, actually more related business will all benefit true target. many of these is a bit of a worry, but their designing of roads, bike tracks, I’m the opposite to that, and it’s got from this tragedy. The following weeks after thethere were plenty of salty fish mixed causeways and the like that actually me in trouble a few times over the Environmentally speaking, even floods have brought on exceptional in with those captures at Aplins. ended up having their own damming years. Brutally honest is how my wife though there were images of tonnes barra fishing in the area, and many I took my young fella for a quick effect on waters trying to escape, but often describes After being in the grips of barra taken out byof monster dead of the fish had obviously spawned, as fish before school a couple of times, instead, backing up into the streets me, but one state the tucked up bellies grew fatter with and he, along with plenty of oth- - dry spell for so at an alarming rate. ment an old man a very, very, an apparent wall the gorging of the numerous schools ers, landed some nice fish in the fast Obviously, the poor residents of once told me was, long, thebuzz was a real of blackwater in of bait and prawns that thrived after flowing water below Aplins. Every so many flooded, devastated and“Be honest and say celebration when the damthe Burdekin re-the ‘flush’. The fear of losing ‘all’ ofcreek that we have been to since the destroyed suburbs are looking for what you think, gion, that happens those barra that have been stocked waters have dropped have had fish in answers as to how this could have becausethose that hit 100%, but then it wentto be a naturalover the years from the weirs can bethem, and the bait schools are thick. happened. Rumour mills are grind- care don’t mat quicklyto 150% then 200%, phenomenon, itdispelled instantly, as Blacks, Glee-Several systems have been inun-dated with big jacks, and I lost one - ing away, with accusations thrown at ter, but those who thenthe mood changed as thewill give a burstson’s and Aplin’s freshwater sections anyone who may have had any, even matter don’t care”. realisation was that this wasof life in the im-delivered some big barras for luckythe other day that was in the ‘Holy slight involvement with decisions My heart goes out not going to end well. Whenmediate, and longanglers as the water started to recedecrap’ size range and was unstop- made to lessen the impact of this to the many ac- term future of our a little. The dam has now stopped pable. There have been a few stan- unprecedented weather event. quaintances that it hit 250%, the concern on fisheries. Every- releasing water, and is just a trickle dout lures that have all of a sudden To be honest, I would rather have I’ve made through everyone’s face was real. thing from fish over the weirs in town, but the last become much better known due totheir results, not just during the extra my testicles crushed in a vice than the fishing family species, particu- four days of the dams subsiding to having had to make the decisions that have been so brutally slapped by larly the iconic barramundi, not to a normal level before shutting the run, but at any time. The first is the that our Mayor, Jenny Hill, and Pre- Mother Nature, and I’m in no waymention the prawns and crabs andgates completely, really turned theHalco Hamma, in the 105mm and mier Annastacia Palaszcuk had to trying to trivialise the devastation just about everything that lives in barra on at Aplin’s weir on the salt 85mm sizes. They’re far from new, make. On both faces, the stress and felt by so many. an aquatic environment will benefit. side. Yes, there were plenty of fish and I’ve been using them now for sleeplessness was becoming more That silver lining. The effects on the reef are yet to be that made their way over the Aplins years, but they haven’t really been obvious as this event unfolded over On the brighter side, for manyestablished, and it’ll be interestingwall and into the salt, and reports ofContinued next page the week from hell. businesses that were seriously on the to see the spin put on this by the Personally, I think it’s important to bones of their arse, the work that will Greens, and how they’re going to use remember that just because they’re be generated from the floods will ac- the effects against recreational an- in roles of importance, doesn’t make tually be a saviour. Builders, plumb- glers, but I’m sure they’ll find a way them experts on every aspect ofers, mechanics, painters, electricalto try and use it as a leverage tool dams and weirs, industry, weather, sales, furniture, clothing, sporting to get one of their personal agenda’s The Halco Hamma has really gained a strong following over the last few weeks, and Conner Rennie took this pic of one of his favourite colours on a road trip with Dad, Mick. Nate O’brian, from Townsville, fed a big live Tarpon straight down the throat of this beautiful big Barra at Aplin’s weir during the runoff. I saw him lose a big- ger one as he tried to keep it out of the snags the cast before this fish was landed. Great fish mate.