DaveTheBoy

Cheers Donna @mrsswordfisherman - it was dry indeed, we maybe had 5 proper river crossings the whole time, most beds were dry as you say. It is always so tough keeping the expectations low, as you want to fish all of these magical places you’ve read about when traveling, but being realistic and understanding that when staying 1 or 2 nights in a new location - luck plays a much bigger hand than you’d usually like! What I’ve posted is obviously a highlights reel, there were many fishless hours also - though it’s hard to complain in such beautiful locations. Anyhow, I’m about to head out for a beach session this evening so we’ll see what’s happening on the home front! Dave x

It has been quite a while since my last post - mainly because we’ve been traveling through this beautiful & special country we call home. Out trip took us from Broome up the Dampier Peninsula, to the Gibb River Rd through the Kimberley, up through Kakadu and Litchfield and on to Darwin. We saw so many wonderful places, people and things, and whilst it wasn’t a “fishing trip” as such, there was great fishing to be had along the way. Most of the beaches held queenfish which were hungry for white plastics if we had the luck of the tides. I had a 10ft rod and fairly simple rig 15lb braid to a 25lb Fluro leader casting lures from the shore, and also managed to get out on a few boat trips along the way. Here are a few highlights hope you enjoy seeing them - back in Newcastle now and and am keen to see what the beaches and rocks have in store as the weather warm up.

Good on you mate! I have been struggling to find any around Newcastle for weeks, I may have to try the lake (though I'm land-based so not sure if that's an issue?)

Good one you mate thanks for that. We will be spending some time at Middle Lagoon & Cape Leveque so i'll take your advice there. Great tip also for the yabby trap!

I really appreciate all the tips here. We're both reasonably experienced travellers with a fair amount of caution/common sense - though it never hurts to be reminded of how careful you really need to be. Being prepared to deal with issues in a remote location is quite different to the usual "fishing trip plans" As an example I learned my lesson re crocs on our first trip to Broome some years ago, a call close enough to remove any complacency! I will look into an emergency beacon to be sure!

Good on you Rick thanks for that - I'll give this a try.

Just a short report on my quick session before work today. I've been itching to get out there, but quite honestly it is tough going among the holidaymakers (not a complaint - everyone should be encouraged to get amongst the outdoors!). It just means a little more walking to find a quiter spot. Anyhow - I had one worm that survived my home curing attempt and looked passable. I found a little corner spot at the (Nobby's) breakwall where I could cast to a patch of sand. A few 'silver biddies' (herring?) came on the bite right away. That was followed by a small whiting, then these two fish in two casts. I have never caught a morwong before - I thought I'd hooked a drummer as it certainly gave a good account of itself on the whiting rod! After landing these two, a crowd of fishing lines magically merged from further down the wall to be in very close proximity to me - so it was time to pack it up. Both fish measured 37cm caught on preserved worm, #4 long shank hook 8lb line with a very small (pea size) running sinker. In at 6am done by 7am. If anyone has some advice on how to best preserve beach worms I would be keen to learn more. This was my first time doing so (with methylated spirit in a jam jar) and I don't think it quite worked out - are they better to freeze in some newspaper? Or is there a knack to curing them?

Whilst I absolutely am trolling through the awesome information already available on the site, I thought I'd ask the question here too. Mrs & I are headed on a driving/camping trip from Broome to Darwin via GRR throughout July & August. We do have a good 4wd setup & plan to do some fishing along the way. Any advice on land based options would be much appreciated. Dampier Peninsula/Cape Leveque > Derby > Kununurra/ Ord / > Kakadu/Jabiru > Darwin is the rough itinerary. Any other advice on special things to see would be welcomed also!

Good on you mate! The whiting have been lighting up recently (as long as you can find a clear patch between the holiday crowds!)

Good work you've got the idea! Size of the hook shouldn't make too much difference (I use #2 or #4 depending) - I think you can always catch a big fish on a small hook! Long shank is the right type to use here.

Mate I use a 12ft light action rod, but I don't see why something around 8-10ft wouldn't work equally well. You don't need to cast very far to find the fish (in fact - I reckon most people are casting out well past them!). Try a slow retrieve too with plenty of pauses. This will remove slack from your line, and the whiting seem to like a bait that moves a little.

Awesome catch & excellent photography too!

That is an awesome catch in anyone’s book! Well done

Good on you that’s awesome!

For sure I totally understand, it’s a different fishery altogether which requires much less finesse. These fish are coming out of the surf which offers a bit of latitude I think with the white water & sand reducing the need to fish so light. I was at Narooma a few weeks back & had to use 4lb fluro leader to entice them to take yabbies. That was in calmer waters with less movement - I guess it’s really about adjusting the approach to suit. Hope you get some whiting soon!

Decided to brave the holiday crowds this morning as I had a later start at work. Headed over to Stockton to find the beach as heavily trafficked as I can remember seeing it - must have been a fisherman every 25m as far up the beach as I could see. In any case there were still fish to be found on the upcoming tide, I kept 5 whiting for the table, ranging between 35cm-40cm. Also caught a few chopper tailor, flathead & dart which were released. All fish were taken on pipi baits (which were just rolling up on the beach with the rising tide). Paternoster rig, 10lb trace to a #2 long shank hook. You don’t need to cast very far for the fish, just over the whitewash is plenty - I cast right on to the sandbars when the tide is up, the fish seem to like feeding there. Whilst there were heaps of people fishing, not many of them seemed to be catching anything - just folks out enjoying their holidays. I have found a good system of using the crowds to my advantage, I look for a small group fishing together using pilchards for bait. They are effectively just creating a steady burley trail as their baits break up, so follow the current down to the next sandbar from them & pick the fish up there! If you’re heading down to a beach, don’t be afraid to fill up your bucket with plastic/garbage on your walk home! We can all do our bit to help keep the beaches clean during these busy periods.

You could be right, the bite looks very similar

I’m not sure actually - I figured perhaps a tailor or something nipped it on the way in? Otherwise perhaps this one might have wriggled out through a net at some point (The is some commercial beach netting up this May during the mullet season). I’m not sure if anyone else has a better answer.

I’m lucky she lacks the patience, otherwise she’d outfish me every time!

Between a new job, moving house and new responsibilities (life, etc) - it’s been ages since I’ve wet a line. Pleased to say I’ve returned to find the local Newcastle beaches continue to fish quite well despite the holiday crowds. Good schools of salmon & tailor are present on most beaches which is a little odd given that the water feels quite warm. Some very nice flatties (80cm+) have been caught & released also. Most fish have been taken on strips of slimy fished on a simple paternoster beach rig. I use a 15lb trace to a #1/0 long shank hook, and keep the lead light enough to ensure it does not hold the bottom (I like to walk with my baits down the beach kind of like drifting the close lateral gutters). A few others I’ve caught while spinning (I use 30g raider type lures). My wife has also caught her first few salmon, which tells me they’re really on as she loves coming to the beach but has a very limited patience window for beach fishing! It’s about now that I’ll make the switch toward whiting & flattie with January through April usually being the best run. I was able to get some worms up on this mornings low so will keep you posted during the week. Have a lovely New Years everyone x Dave

I use a 12ft rod (quite a light action) a 45 size spinning reel. 12lb line with a fluorocarbon leader. Paternoster rig, a 40g sinker at the bottom with #6 or #4 extra long shank hook on the dropper (depending on your bait size). Hope that helps - you really don’t need to cast very far, just lob it into the wash. I find holding the rod at all times really improves the hookup rate, you can feel the bites better & keep your line nice & tight.

Worms / pipi / yabbies pretty much even. As long as the bait is live/fresh!

Hello raiders - a combined report from a few morning trips this week. Some big tides have washed a lot of weed & garbage up on to the beaches, but it hasn’t deterred the fish at all. The whiting have been the pick, most of them 40cm+ and not very fussy! Most beaches have have been producing, and tide seems to matter more than time of day. Fishing the upcoming tide seems to be producing the goods. Live/fresh bait is key, and contrary to most beach fishing - fish AWAY from the gutters! I’ve been having most success fishing right up on the sand bars, right where the waves are breaking. There’s some nice bream & dart in the mix, and also some stud flathead - although this time of year through March those are mostly really big jenny’s that we’d do well to release. Breaks my heart seeing some of those big flatties being kept, they are our breeding stock & there’s no shortage of “plate sized” fish to keep for a feed. Tight lines all, it’s a lovely time of year to be out fishing!

Great catch there mate well done!!