Wet season brings calm before storm of fishing

THINGS are looking good for the barramundi run-off season ahead.

Paul Mitchell and Stevo Michael Stephenson

THINGS are looking good for the barramundi run-off season ahead.

Heavy rain fell on every major Top End catchment last week, except the Roper River.

The lower Daly has gotten the most rain, with around 400mm.

Most highways were cut last week, and the tides were huge, with rivers breaking their banks.

There was not a lot of fishing to report.

But there were queues at some of the culverts, and a few dark barra were landed.

Outside, it has been too rough to fish.

The season ahead looks especially good for the Victoria River - if you have not yet fished this scenic waterway, this might be a good year to give it a first go.

Down Mt Isa way, they are still in the throes of a severe drought.

In reports, Fishing and Outdoor World's Matt West said there had been heaps of rain last week and the highways were shut.

"You couldn't get past Adelaide River or the Daly River and it has been blowing into the coast so all the beaches are dirty," he said.

"The causeways that you could get to had a few barra. People who did get to Shady Camp last weekend did get a few fish but it was slow going.

"The rain has fallen in the right areas.

"The Mary River came right up, the Wildman and Nourlangie Creek, they were all right up. Nourlangie Creek blocked the road on the the other side of Jabiru.

"Offshore has just been too rough for fishing. Tourists are coming in and asking where they can fish but none of the operators can get out.

"It is the calm before the fishing storm - it is going to be good."

Tackle World's Steve Compain said it had been raining so much the highways were closed - which was good news on the longer term.

"There have been some good fish caught. My son Shane went to the South Alligator last week. He came back the long way before it was closed off.

"One of the staff went to Saltwater Arm and the road was shocking, with people bogged.

"The first Wilshire Creek was like an ocean and we went to the second Wilshire and caught 20 fish, but nothing big, 65cm was the biggest.

"It was a good start but there was a lot of water. Otherwise, it is surf- ing weather.

"A few people are hitting the culverts but people have been lined up trying to get a spot. Someone said they bagged out on mud crabs at Saltwater Arm."

Katherine Rod and Rifle's Warren de With said there was nothing to report except road blocks.

"The Adelaide River, Victoria River and Daly were all cut off by road," he said.

"The only fishing access was via Kakadu Highway, a long trip from Darwin.

"The wet season is looking good, except the Roper River, which is still not getting the rain.

"The Vic is going to fish really well this year.

"Normally it gets rain up in the headwaters and not enough down below.

"But now it is bulging out of its banks all along as there has been heavy rain on the lower section of the Vic.

"The billabongs have plenty of time to fill up.

"It looks great at the South, Adelaide, Daly and Vic.

"The tides were so big last week that rivers busted their banks.

"But with no access at the moment, there was not much fishing happening.

"On the political scene they are asking recreational anglers to take a huge hit while allowing more trapping of snapper, which defeats the purpose of us taking a reduction.

"They are not addressing the problem across the board.

"They have always had traps on on their licences and now they are starting to use them."

The Tackle Box's Frenchy Maujean said it was windy and rainy with squalls, with roads flooded, which meant fishing options were limited.

"A few barra are being caught in culverts and at Manton Dam and the like," he said.

"There has been a 2m swell pushing into Shady Camp.

"Not a whole lot of fishing reports are coming in, even fishing in the harbour has been hard.

"You just need a bit of patience now.

"There was 1m of water over the South Alligator culvert not long ago and the sign at the top of the South was almost covered over."