Perfect time to go bag a barra

WITH the rain all but gone over the past week or so, there have continued to be good reports from many Top End locations.

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WITH the rain all but gone over the past week or so, there have continued to be good reports from many Top End locations.

According to Fishing and Outdoor World's Mattie West, the holes up the Howard River have been producing numbers of quality barra on live bait.

Fish in the mid-90s have been the norm; and the good news is the tides are perfect this weekend to lock yourself into a hole up the Howard or nearby Tree Point Inlet.

Right at the entrance to Shoal Bay, at Buffalo Creek itself, a 105cm barra was caught by Keith Watson on a Squidgy Mongrel.

On the other side of Darwin in Darwin Harbour's East Arm, both barra and assorted sportfish have been hitting lures with gusto.

Once again, the tides are perfect for a harbour assault this weekend.

Down the track, the odd big barra is still being caught at the Daly River.

George Voukolos Junior caught a 106cm specimen at Brown's Creek landbased last week.

Unbelievably, it is George's 29th metrey for 2013; question is: will he reach 30?

Down and out from the mouth of the Daly has really been turning it on for the locals at Channel Point.

Both the mouth of Docherty Creek and the Reynolds River have been hotspots, and there's been action right at Channel Point itself.

Out Kakadu way, Andy Ralph reckons the little barra are on the chew.

"I don't think I've ever been so excited catching rats," Andy told me.

"In most cases, the first rains of the wet season kills billabong fishing in Kakadu so we turn to the culverts: Nourlangie bridges, South Alligator bridge culvert and Magela Creek have long been the saviour of Jabiru fishos with itchy fishing fingers waiting for the run-off.

"While Nourlangie Creek and the South Alligator culverts might need a few more downpours to get the fish moving, Magela Creek is fishing well - at least enough to whet your appetite.

"Catching baby barra in the Alligator Rivers is normally the fisherman's curse, but in December it's enough to keep you interested in flicking the freshwater.

"Magela Creek culvert may be sending heaps of rats under the road right now, but let's hope bigger barra soon want to explore the great wide wetlands of the Magela floodplain en route to the East Alligator River and maybe shake hands with my new Killalure 2Deadly on the way through."

Now that the East Alligator at Cahills Crossing is back to normal height, and the Magela is flowing, it's likely there will be some good run-off down at the mouth of Magela Creek.

The Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF), the peak national organisation representing Australia's recreational fishing community, has welcomed the announcement by the Coalition Government of a scientific review into the controversial marine park plans.

If implemented, the proposal, developed by the previous Labor government, would have seen Australia's 5 million recreational fishers locked out of 1.3 million sq km of Australian seas.

ARFF managing director Allan Hansard said: "We are pleased the Coalition Government has listened to Australia's recreational fishers and is conducting a scientific review of the proposal, which will give a sensible balance for Australia's unique marine environment.

"Australia's recreational fishers should not be locked out of marine reserves unless, after a thorough comparative assessment with other activities such as diving, tourism and defence activities, there is a good scientific reason to do so.

"The Government's scientific review is expected to take six months and will also result in the redevelopment of the management plans for the marine reserve system.

"From discussions we have had with the Government we are confident that this time we will see genuine consultation and engagement with Australia's recreational fishers and other key stakeholders when the management plans are redeveloped."

With Christmas just six days away, I'd like to wish all our readers a wonderful festive break, a safe New Year and some great fishing ahead.