Fishing the Gulf

[NormC]

I was originally heading for Cape York this winter, but the mate I was to travel with has bailed out due to serious and expensive mechanical problems. Thought I'd make a change of plans and include an extended period in the Gulf area for some fishing.

We (wife and I) will head up in mid April and be ready to hit the area as soon as possible after that, given road conditions following the wet. We are prepared to cover the area from Roper Bar around to Normanton. Don't need to be home till late July.

What I'm after is locations for good camping (preferably not in major caravan parks) where there is good fishing nearby. We are fully self sufficient and like to have a camp fire at times and need to run the gennie every now and then to charge the batteries. Some of the stations that used to allow camping and fishing had closed it off (probably too many people not doing the right thing).

Apart from the fishing gear, we carry crab pots, red claw traps and might take the cast net this trip in the hope of some prawns. Our boat is a 3.5m Stacer with 15 HP outboard and 40lb elec. We also carry a fold up trailer.

I've been to most of the target area, but without a tinnie, so have not fished there yet. Hopefully some of you guys know the area well enough to give me some tips on where to go.

Norm C

[NormC]

Mmmm, no one knows the Gulf?
Thought I'd bump the thread anyway just in case some one knows the area and doesn't often look beyond page one.

[NormC]

Oh well, looks like I'll have to suck it and see.

At least when I get back, someone will know at least a little bit about the area.

We are now leaving in Mid March and will take 3 weeks or a bit more to get there. Will fish a few places along the coast on the way, most of which we have not done before (Baffle Creek, Seventeen Seventy, Agnes Waters, Seaforth, Peter Faust.

We'll probably head over to the NT side first (Boroloola, Roper Bar area), then come back around to the Qld section after the roads dry out.

Still looking for info though. I've found a fair bit on the web, but hard to say how accurate and current it is. So come on, if you know the areas at all give me some tips. Please.

[Obi _ Wan]

NormC, I fished around the Sir Edward Pellew Islands (Vanderlin Island) many years ago. Travelled into the area by boat so i can't help you with info from a land based angle. All i can say is the fishing was mind blowing and the number of species was almost unbelieveable. Myself and a few mates have talked about travelling to the Borroloola area and boating out to the islands for years now, it's a fair step but it would be worth it, maybe one day.

Cheers,
Obi_Wan

[rick k]

i've flown out of Darwin for a while, boarded a 12m planing boat for another hour, and still seen drift netters etc.

Good luck

[LeeannP]

All you need to know is at

http://www.guidebooks.com.au/

Ron Moon is a legend in 4wd circles and we were absolutely stoked with his Cape York guide. We would have missed a lot if we didn't have that publication!!

An aussie 4wd website you can also check out is:-

http://www.exploroz.com

The wet (or lack of) is a bugger to try to work around. We haven't timed the wet perfectly yet :) You may still be a little early to do the gulf but keep your ears to the ground and try to find some locals up there in the towns that may be able to help (though sometimes local advice ain't all that great!!) The in-laws are planning to leave for the gulf at the end of April and still are crossing their fingers that the place will be accessible.

Keep researching the area and find as much information as possible.

Good luck and I hope all goes well with your travels - it's one hell of a great country we live in

[NormC]

Thanks Leeann.
We have the Moon's Cape York book. Would have had the Kimberley one as well, but the new edition was a bit late for our Kimberley trip last year. What a great area!!
Been a member on ExploreOz for a couple of years.
The uncertainty around the wet season is the main reason we will probably start at the NT end. We can get all the way to Borroloola by bitumen (via Mt Isa, Barkly Homstead and Cape Crawford). But we'll keep our eye on the situation on the way up and make up our ming as we go.
Have family in Charters Towers who we will visit on the way. The decision on where to go first will be made by the time we leave there (around or just after Easter).