Crash Course in Barra Fishing

[sharkbait]

Hi all,

I am headed to Darwin next weekend for 4 days and have booked a hire 4wd to head out to Kakadu to meet the travelling parents.

what is my best shot at landing a fish? barra???

Will my flattie lure collection do the trick? The only gear I have that will travel is a 4-6kg powertip with 2500 team daiwa and 10lb fireline.

should I pack the show stopper as well (50lb handline).

Does anyone know if you can hire a tinny up there? or a reasonably priced guide?

Cheers, Kris.

[baldyhead]

Hi Kris, drive to corroboree and see Nobby ( he's got a houseboat and dinghy hire pontoon on the left hand side of the launching ramp.) He has very reasonable rates and sells a bit of gear too. Make sure that you take a few long "A" gold bombers with you and tow them about a 100' behind the tinny as slow as u can, remembering that the fish are where you find them and ANY fish is a bonus.
Cheers baldy

[megafish71]

Hey Sharkbait, If you want the latest info on whats biting where, then drop in and see Jeff Reid at Reidys Lures. His factory is on the Stuart Hwy just before the Arnhem Hwy turn off. (road to Kakadu) Jeff will know whats happening where. Tell him that Ron Howarth said to drop in and find out where is fishing the best. I think at this time of the year Cooroboree should be fishing good. But if its a little cool up there still the fish will tend to be in the deeper water so maybe working deeper water with deep divers next to the weedbanks might find you a fish or 2. Get yourself some little lucifer lures of Reidy when your there.( purple ones) these are dynamite in the lagoons for barra and toga. The rocky headlands near any river entrance or in Bynoe should also produce some great action at this time of the also. If you get a chance slip out to Dundee beach, hire a boat from Pud and sit out the front on the jew hole. I suggest heavy gear here though, takes a bit to stop 40+ pounds of black jew in 18 feet of water. Yeh ha wish I could get back up there. Love the top end.
Good Luck mate
Cheers Ron

[sharkbait]

Cheers fellas, I will check them both out, thanks.

Kris.

[BigE]

troll troll & troll some more(the most effective way to find big barra) take a couple more rods (maybe with greater drag) one deep diver long(25m) one shallow longer (30m) onthe oppsite side off the boat. rig a down rigger on the 50 handline and run it about 5M behind the boat near the wash. as baldy said dead slow (recommend bombers boof baits and lazer pro's) look for flats that drain into gutters on the run out and any time at rock bars Helps if water is a bit dirty.

happy trails
BigE

[DaneCross]

yeh right kris, you're not goin up north, you just want tips on how to get the ones rumoured to be down at the pin

[sharkbait]

Geeeeezz Dane SShHH

Thanks Fellas, I'll probably only get in a couple of hrs at the most - not really expecting to catch anything but what is it they say you'll never never know if you never never go, right?

Cheers Kris.

[stacer_seagull]

Kris,if you are heading out to kakadu, you have to go to the east alligator river,the crossing is cahills and many a barra are caught year round from the sides,there is a big rock wall which should keep you out of the handbags way,try and get a spot on the downriver side,heard about a 1.2m coming from there about a weeke ago. soft plastics are the go there..... If you need any more info let me know
Brad

[StuH]

G'day Kris,
I can agree with everything Brad said.
If you are going to be at Kakadu go to the East alligator and fish the bottom side of Cahills crossing off the boat ramp.
Stop in at Reidy's, (it's on the way out), and pick up some Little Lucifers or Nilsmaster spearheads go well to, green worked for me and have a flick around in the morning or late afternoon.
Another option is a charter at Yellow water, but you would have to book early.
Hope this helps.

Stu.