P44 - FISH & BOAT, April 2019 Fishing Fast Food River Trees By Nathan Johnston A fish swirls at the water’s edge After dropping in for a chin-wag withowner, the four-wheel drivethe propertyand drops out of view, startled by myclumsy bank-side movements.At the river, there are unfortu- is pointed towards the river. A few nate signs of recent pig wallows. A paddocks and several internal gates note of thanks is uttered to those later, the edge of floodplain country who spend time hunting these fe- is reached. From here, it’s a 5-minute rals and for landholders who spend walk across the currently tinder dry their well-earned money to control Fitzroy landscape. pig numbers. Without this control, This initiates reflection about the our waterways would be in far worse unique tropical Aussie climate. Our nick. The extreme animal rights northern cousins in Townsville have activists could not handle the real- just experienced the wettest season ity of what goes on to keep these in recent history. They say it’s a great destructive creatures under control, southern land of drought and flood- but without it, our natives wouldn’t ing rains and the stark contrast is in have a hope. I stare at the mess of full view as a path is struck through wallows complete with cloudy, tur- the grasses and forbs that have long bid waters stirred up by their work- browned off due to a lack of mois- ings and wonder if these extremists ture. The environment and country have thought deeply enough about folk are both going to really struggle such matters and whether spending in many parts of the Fitzroy if good a couple of weeks along the banks rain doesn’t fall in the catchment be- of our rivers away from city life fore the wet season is through. Let’s would lead to a change in mindset. Anglers prepare rigs ready for a walk hope it does. The hogs have ripped up the river along a healthy stretch of river bank with Tall eucalyptus tower overheadedge like a rotary hoe works the soil and are still remarkably lush, hav- in the field. Nothing survives this a series of overhanging melaleucas. In ing sent their roots through softer routing, including fragile melaleuca human terms, this is equivalent to the sandy loam in search for moisture- seedlings, that would have otherwise food court at a shopping centre! laden soils well below grasses’ reach. grown to provide valuable bank sta- Sulphur-crested cockatoos act like bility and fish habitat. schoolyard dobbers as they note the I turn and head upstream, walking fish like silver barra, spotted barra lure can be sent out. Movement is bony-tounges’ for good reason, with arrival of an intruder and send out the high bank of the river, scanning and lungfish. slowed to near standstill as the dif- hookup rates being frustratingly low an alarm across the valley floor. Hik- for patrolling wild southern sarato- The sun is high, not the best for ficult terrain is traversed to reach the at times! ing down to the high bank, yellow ga, known affectionately by Fitzroy sighting patrolling fish. My pace small opening. A twig snaps and the Continued next page gives way to green as the thin line Basin locals as spotted barra. is steadied as a large overhanging senses are ratcheted up, though the of vegetation begins to benefit from The term barramundi is an abo-melaleuca comes into view. saratoga is none the wiser. river water soaking laterally through riginal word originally used by the The melaleuca are a cohort of trees An acute sense of sight and an the soil profile. A mob of east- Darumbal nation who are the tra-commonly referred to as paperbarksin-depth knowledge of their sur- ern grey kangaroos spook and cutditional custodians of the Fitzroyand tea trees. For wild river anglers,roundings are their secret weapons. through the bush, pull up at a shady River delta country. This word is these melaleuca are comparable to Many a time, I have stood still and tree to confirm their concerns before used by our ancestors, and those still fast food outlets, complete withwaited patiently for a clear cast while continuing on out of sight. on the land to describe large scaled neon signs and extensive food offer- watching a toga swim parallel to the ings, but without the fatty aftertaste! bank conducting their patrols. The humble melaleuca, an ecosystem services winnerHealthy sections of freshwater riversAs they draw closer, they have Ecosystem services is a big buzz word in the environmental sciences worldacross Queensland are lined withspooked, not because of movement at present. Essentially it relates to the various benefits an ecosystem pro-these mature melaleuca that extendbut simply because my presence rep- vides to humans and the environment. The melaleuca provides various serv-from the bank and hang well overresents a change in what, to them, is ices including: the water. And just like a fast food an otherwise predictable procession outlet, they also offer fish a cool of trees and shrubs along their beat. water and doesn’t get wet feet. Its roots extend like a mat both into theplace to stop and hang out duringThis time the clear casting line is bank and out into the water column. the heat of the day. reached without the fish being alert- Today it is hot, and the paperbark ed to the threat. than any man-made erosion geofabric. in sight has several hungry custom- A 65mm surface walk the dog ers lined up. Two saratoga are parked presentation is sent out just beyond under it, resting after their morning the treeline and retrieved within and severity of toxic algae blooms during the dry season. patrols and waiting for unsuspecting 30cm of the saratoga. As the pres- morsels to be delivered from above. entation draws closer, the fish break and waterbugs. Though the fish have been sighted, rank away from cover and the fastest several trees, bushes and branches of the two engulf the lure. The rod block a clear casting line to the fish is loaded, and the toga immediately from where I stand, and so a change heads skyward before throwing the to the saratoga. of position is required before the lure. They are known as ‘spotted Right: Saratoga are not fussy The author with a healthy 67cm saratoga when it comes to the type of extracted from under a melaleuca. insect consumed. Whatever hits the water and fits in the mouth is fair game. The blad- der cicada attached to the surface fizzer was extracted along with the lure from a 75cm saratoga. The author explores three factors to be considered when selecting likely trees when targeting insectivorous fish. Read on to find out more.