SARATOGA HEAVEN BUT NO JENNIFER

After reading Graeme’s post regarding the great tides for Bynoe this weekend, along with his secret locations it was throw the swag on the back of the ute, hitch up the boats and head off to Bynoe. Left home 4.00 pm with first stop Coolalinga to pick up supplies and fuel. Got to the fuel stop to find 4 boats waiting to fuel, no problems, joined the queue then got out to have a yarn with fellow boaters and bugger me if these guys weren’t spruiking how they have got a list of secret spots for Bynoe from “someone in the know”. All of them had laminated sheets of paper with highlighted pieces of information in one hand and “Fishfinder” in the other. No way am I going to spend my weekend queuing to get on top of Jenifer Hawkins. New plan required!

Made a quick phone call to Kakadu Ranger Station to check if 2 Mile Hole had opened, was advised that it was still closed but very close to opening but Muirella Park had opened at 2.00 pm that day and that the Rangers had been catching some good Barra over the last week (I want that job). Plan B - Kakadu.

Arrived at Muirella around 8.00 pm with a tray load of firewood picked up along the way, set up camp, got the bush TV going and had my first beer for the day. Great sleeping weather, a sky full of stars and just a touch of coolness in the air. Other than two Barking Owls having a great conversation for most of the night no other sounds could be heard.

Got up at daybreak the next day to find only 2 other camps on-site, prepared the boat then drove the 100 metres to the ramp, although a dirt ramp, very easy as it is more of a gentle drop off into deep water rather than a ramp.

Cruised off to the bank opposite the ramp, second cast, bang, one solid Sooty Grunter comes aboard. Continued moving along the edges casting into the Pandanas and trees and was rewarded big time for 2 days of fish after fish, Saratoga  50+, Tarpon  would have been triple figures, Sooties  20+, you hook one and 2 or 3 of its mates would come to the boat, Catfish  4, Long tom  2, Archer Fish  6, Mouth Almighty – 1.  Got my 7 species! Used the trusty white clouser that continued to catch fish even though it had been stripped bare.

Water clarity was great with the sand bottom areas easily viewed at sounder reading of 2 – 3 metres. It was interesting to watch how the Saratoga behaved, a fly would be dropped and let sink, often a Toga would appear from the dark and swim to the fly, not aggressively, mouth the fly then move off with it slowly or if the fly had settled on the bottom it would swim to the stationary fly, pick it up then move off. Interesting to watch! Things could not be any different at times when presenting a fly under the trees to be monstered as soon as it touched the water by full on Saratoga aggression – great fun.

Had 2 full days there and would rate it as 0/10 as a Barra trip but 10/10 as a fishing trip. If you’re going to Yellow Waters at any time the 5 minute trip into Muirella may be a good experience. You’ll never, never, know, if you never, never, go!

Would have stayed longer but could not get Jenifer Hawkins out of my mind so off to Bynoe this week.

Tight lines

Jim

UPDATE
Tocs, cant get a photo into the comment box so have attached it here.....

Yep, pulled 10 Toga one after another off this bush plus a couple of Sooties for good measure!

Jim