Simmo strikes again

There's rarely a dull moment aboard a boat full of blokes, beers and bad manners - that's the reason we do it at every opportunity. The sheer enjoyment of getting away from the phones, stresses and problems of life makes it all that more rewarding when the fish happen to be on the go. That pretty much explains my Wednesday just gone, aboard a new 620 Bar Crusher. The saltwater arm at the mouth of the Adelaide River was our destination and not until we arrived did we realise we'd left the crab bait at home ... bugger, best we catch a cattie!

Anchored up on a snaggy junction only about a kilometre from the boat ramp, the tide nearly dead low, we were casting before the anchor rope had time to pull up the slack. Within a minute or two we were into that catfish (crab bait) and goldies and barra shortly after. I found the 5 inch Hollowbelly to be the answer - rigged weedless - although I must admit this technique lacks in the hook up rate department. Nonetheless I got slammed time and time again. Before I knew it, Simmo had gone the Gulp option in the 3 inch Minnow variety (Sardine colour) and the goldies were all over it like a rash.
We then moved over to The Narrows just as the tide turned. Simmo loaded up the Green Bling 160, sent it back, engaged the spool, settled back in his chair and at that moment his rod was almost removed from his possession by an 89cm barra that exploded from the surface with attitude.
Shortly after, the wind came up and made our life a little harder with the water turning iced coffee colour fairly quickly. Again, another great day of relaxation, plenty of ranting and raving and good humour. How can you beat that?

Simmo with an 89cm barra on a green Bling 160

In other fishing news, Darwin Harbour has been doing well for flats barra fishing with one crew landing five fish to 98cm up in Middle Arm this week. Another crew raved about Woods Inlet, where DOA prawns did the deed around the snake drains toward the top of the arm. I'd tip that the rocks at Talc Head would be worth some attention too.
This time of year is pristine for harbour barramundi, with those stinking hot afternoons working in favour of productivity. October is fast approaching and holds the trophy for the most consistent big barra over the last few years from our harbour arms. An old mate of mine, Snow Dennis from South Oz, chooses to visit each year solely to chase the saltwater barra in October and the results speak for themselves - try 112cm, 104cm, 98cm and more from East Arm. Trying to get anymore info from him is like trying to squeeze blood from a stone - the older he gets the wiser he gets.

Shoal Bay is rocking the boat with the barra coming on nicely. Hope Inlet and The Rock are producing and that barra fanatic Trevor Robb from Team Classic Barra Nitro Boys has been there at every opportunity. This guy guides for a living, then on his days off gets up early and goes fishing. No wonder he seems to share the same DNA as a barra.
The fish Trev's been getting are all high 80cm models and I'd tip he's using either Classic Lures or Classic Scrounger plastics; the ones with his photo on the pack...

A good run of golden snapper has seen many fishos content to soak a squid or prawn bait in our inshore reefs and harbour arms. Bynoe and Darwin Harbours are easy locations that are producing well; it often doesn't matter whether you choose high or low tides as they will often feed in very shallow water. Where there are goldies you're likely to find javelin fish, saddle tail snapper, salmon and rock cod.
Rock cod are a highly under rated table fish probably due to the scent they give off when first caught, but they fry up very nicely indeed.
Inland the run of barra at Corroboree Billabong seems to be best around midday. This will most likely change with the different moon conditions, but you just never know what might happen. My last trip just last week I was on the water at 6am and saw no fish till 11am, then bang! Eight in a row just prior to midday. Go figure.

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