Conditions during last weekend’s 2012 Bluewater Classic tested the patience of many anglers as gusty squalls kept the waters far from glassy. The smaller vessels were forced to fish a little closer but that might have been a blessing for some, with a couple of monster Queenfish caught within the harbour on smaller soft plastics. The bigger boats went wide….so wide in fact, rumour is that a real good Black Marlin was raised at Flat Top Banks. Mal Strong from Craig’s Fishing Warehouse went eastward and fished The Vernons where the Mackeral, Tuna, Goldies and Cod were on the chew. Other boats headed westward, and that seems to have been where the Jewfish responded best…particularly around The Peron region. Plenty of mixed reef species were amongst the catches and although the final tally is yet to come at presentation, all reports suggest it was a very productive weekend for the Bluewater Classic crew.
Shoal bay, Shoal bay, Shoal bay…..shallow water and big water temps are recipe for some mad barra fishing and that’s exactly why Shoal Bay is so good right now. The Rock, King Creek and Tree Point have been winning plenty of metreys on Barrabaits, Classics and big B52’s. I’ve listened to reports of ’10 over a metre’ from the one crew! Back at Buffalo Creek, even the landbased guys have been finding big fish down around the mouth.
Barra fishing Darwin Harbour is also productive with West Arm perhaps the most credible for now. The smaller Zerek Prawns again did the job on the snake drains and flats, that dead slow retrieve proving all too much for fish to 69cm. The larger sized Zerek has also snared some hefty Trevally from Larrakeyah Rock Wall.
Coming off the new moon shortly and into the lights at night….maybe a Billabong trip or even Manton Dam might be on the cards again soon??
Regards
Craig