P24 - FISH & BOAT, April 2019 Fishing Big Barra Run-Off By Craig Latimore In my last article, I spoke about the essentials you will need to have a successful NT runoff, chasing the ironic barramundi. Eve- rything is in place with the excep- tion of the main ingredient “Rain”. The NT has had stuff all. It looks The 116cm big girl with a sore bottom. like QLD has stolen all the rain this year. And didn’t they cop it? I’m sure there are a few areas that would happily give 1m of it back to the NT. But in saying this, it doesn’t mean the fishing will be bad. It just means that the runoff will be short and early. And there probably won’t be any or much bait coming off the flood plains. I did a short day trip to the Little Finniss River in Fog Bay. There were streams of barra coming out of the river on the run-out tide, but they all had lockjaw. Later on, we tried to get up on the flood plains but couldn’t make it because of the low water levels. It was then we saw the runoff water was at 37.4 Deg. I’m no expert, but I doubt that any of the spawning food, which in- cludes this years’ barramundi fin- gerlings will survive that temperature. Looks like there will be a generation gap in the years to come. For that reason, I to get the other rods wound in, and clothing line targeting the billfish Nevertheless, there is still some took a punt and I was powering back onto the fish guys up the east coast. It’s called Un- spectacular fishing to be had if you started a proc- because I could see my spool. For- dertow Saltwater Apparel. And to know where to look. I ventured out fish to Shady Camp for a barra competi- moved up in the water column ess of trying to tunately, with about 2m of line left, be honest, I was sceptical as to how tion recently. The water levels were and started to feed. Both Jack and I find the fish up river. the fish stopped running. It was then they would perform in the searing low there too, but with the recent got ourselves a couple of great fish I would travel up 1km I thought something was wrong. ItDarwin heat. But they were great. abating of the monsoon westerlies, each in the mid-’90s. Healthy and fat and then troll while keeping didn’t feel like a barra at all. It just They are light and breathe well. there was high hopes of some bigsaltwater chrome. Morale just tookan eye on the sounder, then repeat.felt like a dead weight. We even got hit by a massive after- fish. And, if the big fish didn’t turn a giant boost, so we cracked a few We eventually started to mark bait It was a slow process getting the noon storm, and the shirt was dry an it on, we made sure we took plenty beers to celebrate. Unfortunately, as and bigger barramundi chasing it.fish to the boat because I didn’thour after the rain stopped. I believe of cold beers to see us through. The soon as we thought we would be in We started getting hits and losing want to put too much pressure on it. that Complete Angler in Cairns competition was over the weekend, for a good session, we lost the fish. fish. The barra were hitting the lures When we got a glimpse of it, we saw stock a big range of products for but we usually always fish the Friday The next few hours looked grim. with the side of their heads. To say it a massive barra tail and one hook fair both men and women. Check out beforehand to try and suss out where Anyone who thinks they have bar- was frustrating would be an under- up its’ date hole. Yep, that’s right. I undertowonline.com.au for more the fish are hiding in the river. And, ramundi completely figured out is statement, but at least we found the was pulling a massive barra in back- details when my good mate Jack and I gota fool. I learn every time I hit thefish again. Out of the dozen or sowards by its’ bum. Even now, I don’tOver the weekend, both Jack and to our chosen spot, it didn’t surprise water. I was fishing areas that in the fish hooked, we did manage to boat know how we got a net shot at this I boated some great barra. A lot of me that with a completely different past had produced big time, but this 2 or 3, so it’s not that bad. fish and put her on the deck. She people don’t like trolling, and I get wet this year to previous, the fish trip it was quite barren. So I had to We continued to travel up rivermeasured a very impressive 116cm.that. But this was quite exciting were not where we have found them ask myself “What is different?” Well, chasing the fish when I realisedThinking back on that first run, shechasing the fish up river with the in the past. So the hunt was on. We one thing from fishing competitions that I was in parts of the river that I must have got one hell of a fright. very real prospect of getting in con- finally found a few fish showing on is that you fish them on the dates had never fished before. It was then The very next troll run, Jack’s lure tact with an absolute beast. the sounder, but getting them to bite that they fall, but not necessarily the that my rod buckled over big time. got mauled. The fish was lost, but There was a 125cm fish caught on was impossible. We just had to wait tides that you would normally fish, My Reidy’s Big Ass B52 was head-the front ring was opened and justthe Sunday, and another bloke got for the right part of the tide. As soon and these tides were quite a bit larger ing in the opposite direction at a about to fall off, and the second tre- spooled. There is no doubt that I as that tide started to push in, the than I would normally fish this area. rate of knots. Jack didn’t have time ble had two straightened hooks. We will be heading back there again real were fishing amongst monsters. soon. But when the tide stopped, so did What did I learn on this trip? Sure, A mid 90’s chrome saltwater barra like the fun. At anchor, while enjoying a you should use past experiences to few cold ones, we discussed the day. base your starting point on how to this is always good to see. Caught on a We came to the possible conclusion catch fish. But don’t get caught up Reidy’s Big B52 in Tropical Thunder. that with the bigger tides, the fish on it. Read the river, find the bait were racing up the river fast chasing and clean water, and adjust your plan the bait. Obviously, we needed to to that given day. I mean, on the sec- keep up with them, or catch nothing. ond day of the competition I tied Over the weekend, during theon a Reidy’s Big B52 and Big Ass competition, it was hot. The wind B52 in the same colour of Tropical had dropped right off, and at some Thunder. I’ve never used the same stages, the heat and humidity was colour before, but I realised that they stifling. I usually wear fishing shirts were crazy for it. And that, together from Bigfish Gear, which is a local with my chasing tactics paid off in Darwin company. But I had a matespades. I was lucky enough to get a who very recently started his own win. Tight lines Jack with a big barra caught on a Reidy’s Renegade in Kryptonite.