Outwitting sharks is vital in boating a decent mack

While the wind blows it can be difficult to get out wide, but anglers who have fished the bluewater report there are still plenty of fish around.

James Gregory with an 80cm barra. Pic for Alex Julius column

While the wind blows it can be difficult to get out wide, but anglers who have fished the bluewater report there are still plenty of fish around.

The most common catch has been mackerel of varying sizes – from smaller greys macks and Spaniards up to XOS models like the one on this page caught by an angler on board Arafura Bluewater charters.

A common problem encountered when hooking mackerel in Territory waters is sharks.

At times it is difficult to get a fish on board because the noahs descend in numbers on your fish as soon as you hook up.

Justin Clinch with a hefty mangrove jack.

Justin Clinch with a queenfish caught where the current hits a rocky point.

You can feel a “conversion” as a series of heavy bumps on the line, followed by something much more powerful moving off, unless you have been lucky enough to get­ ­bitten off.

Fighting a big shark to get your line and lure back can be pretty hard on the back. Canny anglers have been known to hand the rod to a mate, simply saying “here, hold this”. Then it’s just a matter of enjoying a drink or a snack and refusing any return offers until the fight is over.

A jumping hooked mack is normally a sure sign that a shark is not far behind. It can sometimes get a bit hazardous on the boat when macks are a bit jumpy – many anglers have tales of narrow misses, and with their razor sharp, teeth they are a lethal missile in the air. One bloke had a mackerel jump into his open esky though, so it’s not always bad.

There are a couple of strategies you can employ to try and beat the noahs if there are a few about.

Free spooling a hooked fish is a common tactic, and can work well. A mackerel without any pressure can easily outrun a shark.

Just let it run for a fair distance, and then chase it with the boat before reeling it in.

Another way to go with smaller fish is to do your drag up to the max and really go for it. If you can hook fish higher in the water column you can sometimes land them before they know what’s going on. The downside of this approach is that if you hook a big fish it can snap you off against a locked drag.

If you want to chase a barra then stay away from the inland billabongs. They have been producing some saratoga but the barra fishing has been tough.

For whatever reason, the pick of the barra fishing right now is at the river mouths and saltwater estuaries.

Darwin Harbour, Shoal Bay and Bynoe Harbour have been fishing well, as have creek and river mouths such as Leaders and the mouth of the Daly.