Another fishing weekend @ Bynoe.

Another weekend draws to a close and the fishing is now just memories and history. I took a trip out to Bynoe with a few others to give the neaps a go. Many a skeptics quote the adage “no run, no fun” so don’t venture out, their loss.

Saturday started at 5.30am with the sea breeze well and truly showing its presence with a short and sharp chop on the water at that hour. Ventured up to Turtle Island area only to find the water made dirty by the persistent wave motion, so I made my way around the corner towards Hardies Inlet. All the rocky outcrops held schools of decent size GT’s and Queenfish which decorated the boat floor with scales and blood splatters. With the wind not letting up it was a trip across the open water to Dum In Mirrie Island to find some protection. This was new water for me so had no idea what it could offer.

With the tide on the way in the water here was also similar to Pauls Iced Coffee but once I ventured into one of the small island creeks the clear water was found. Drifting in with the tide casting into the mangrove roots produced, GT’s, Queenies, Bream, Archer Fish, Catfish and Barra with the fly being attacked every third or fourth cast by some species or other. As the creek became narrower the Barra became greater in numbers, I suspect it may have had something to do with the amount of mullet schooling up. Could have got out of the boat and walked across their backs they were that thick. Saw some large Barra in places that were impossible to get a fly into but found that if I made my usual bad cast with a slap on the water at the edge of the snags eventually one would be tempted out to investigate. Once hooked hanging on with the lack of open water was a different thing. Managed to put 4 Barra on the floor of the boat.

As many of these as you wish to catch

The trip back to Milne Inlet compressed my spine that much I’m now only 5 feet 6 inches tall!

What a difference a day makes. Sunday saw another launch before 6.00am with glass conditions that lasted through till 1.00pm when I got back to the ramp. With these conditions I made an easy run up to Turnbull Bay. With a low of just over 3 metres this provided the ability to stay on the flats within the bay for the duration of the turn. A couple of weeks ago the water was crystal clear here, this week it was almost as good and to round things off there were fish everywhere along the edge of the tree line. In short, boated almost 20 Barra, lost about the same number to cut offs or not being able to stop them getting into the timber. Had a huge Queenie appear from nowhere in less than a metre of water take the fly at the boat, proceeded at great speed under the boat, me lunging the rod straight into the water burying the tip into the mud with aerial somersaults being undertaken behind me. If anyone catches that fish can I have the “Roggie Dodgie Fly” back!  

Typical fish for the weekend

One of my best days fishing because it was “on” all the time not just at intervals. At one stage had 4 consecutive casts and hooked (not all landed) 4 sight cast fish. Whilst the fish were not large, smallest 53cms, largest 61cms it was fun.

To top things off saw two Dugong cruising around the bay, then on the way out met up with Graeme, Dorothy and Wayne and while we were having a chat another Dugong showed itself within metres of us. What a great place we have available to us!

Deluxe accommodation Jim's style

Remember, “You’ll never never know, if you never never go”, get out there and fish.

Tight lines

Jim Churchley