Cape York Sooties

[odes20]

Just got back from a trip up to Cape York. We had some usual fun getting a nice meal of Cherapin ( Freshwater prawns) and a good run of Sooty Grunter on the Archer River. We were land based.

Only other place we fished with any success was at Chilli Beach one night where we caught a nice keeper Mangrove Jack and a 90 cm shark.

The Sootys were beaut to eat. We scaled them , then took a fillet off one side keeping the wing attached to the fillet and then dipped into flour with curry powder mixed in.
You then fry them crispy gold in a pan and munch away with fresh salad.

The fish in the pic ranged from 29 cm to 42 cm. Legal size is 28cm.

Also caught freshwater tarpon, catfish and eel tailed catfish in the session.

Cheers
John

[flatzie]

Yeah John brings back memories that does, luring sooties in the Cape rivers.
No barra ?
Flatzie

[hairypunt]

nice work mate love catching sootys, i would prefer a crystal clear creek with sootys and jungle perch anytime over pond barra thats for sure.
Cheers kyle.

[Pridey]

Mate Im heading up that way soon. What lures were you using. (never targeted sooties)

Nice camp site, how far down the archer was it ?

[yellahunter]

awesome looking spot there,
some great sootys too , well done!

[nickstock]

Mate Im heading up that way soon. What lures were you using. (never targeted sooties)

Nice camp site, how far down the archer was it ?

Nice report mate,

Sooties are little studs for their size and pound for pound they will pull any Barra Backwards.

The Archer can hold some rippers mate, my PB wild Sooty came from there at 53cms. Any bream type lure will work and lets not forget about 1'' plastics!

Cheers,
Nick

[wheezer]

Nice one Nick. haven't been to the archer since i was a kid, back in late 80's. where abouts did you camp? we stayed at old archer crossing, and still remember the amazing sooty fishing. thanks for sharing

[odes20]

I was using some home made spinners with and without bait on the hook . Used a 1/0 hook on the spinner instead of a treble
John

Ps used a bit of mullet we got in the cast net at Weipa

[odes20]

Nice report mate,

Sooties are little studs for their size and pound for pound they will pull any Barra Backwards.

The Archer can hold some rippers mate, my PB wild Sooty came from there at 53cms. Any bream type lure will work and lets not forget about 1'' plastics!

Cheers,
Nick

Yep. forgot to mention got severely busted up by some bigger ones which a saw before they went back a gear and smashed me.
I was using 15 lb mono and one of those little Ugly sticks you can get now , but it was too soft for the bigger ones. They just obliterated me and I was very fortunate to land the 42 cm one

John

[Pridey]

Cheers guys. Might even throw in the fly rod and have a muck around if I can find a clearing big enough.

[.:::stotty:::.]

Love the sooty's mate, special fish they are.

Sweet report.

[bdowdy]

great stuff..there a great fish..nice piccys

[bondy99]

Thanks for sharing your adventure and sooty grunters. I have never been there but would love to go there soon.

Are there any crocks one needs to look out for and how did you catch those Cherabins? How big were they