"Bloody Oath I Did!"

With the opening of some more Kakadu Billabongs decided on the way home from work at 5.30pm to make the trip out there to get out of housework and gardening. Arrived close to the destination around 11.00pm and pulled up short as I was not sure of the condition of the access road. Put the swag out on the flood plain and had a sky full of stars and a moon just pushing over the horizon to highlight the vista. Around 3.00am had a visit from 3 Buffalo making their way across the plains. A sight to enjoy, but not when they are only 10 metres from your swag!

Up before light and made the final couple of k’s in and found a launch spot. Put the boat in and was impressed by the amount of surface activity and thought to myself that “if all else fails will have fun with the Tarpon”.

Home sweet home!

Kitchen, lounge room and sleeping chair!

Launched, set up a quick camp, then hit the water. Everywhere there were bait balls being attacked with the predators leaping clear of the water, not Tarpon but Barra in the 30 – 50 cms range. Immediately my casts either produced a fish in the boat, a boof that could be felt through the boat or a fish following the fly to the boat. This continued until the sun rose above the trees when the bait balls disappeared and the surface action ceased. Casting still produced fish and when the sun got high with clear blue sky schools of Barra and cruising fish were revealed.

Bait ball waiting to be smashed.

Take your pick - all are hungry!

All over the place!

Sight casting to and catching Barra was the order for the rest of the day. Largest fish in the 70’s with 50 – 60 cms the most prolific. Casts would be made to large fish which would turn to take the fly just to have a 50 cm fish come from left field and steal the fly out of its mouth. All fish caught were diseased having the same ailment as Roger and I “Fat Bugger Disease”. Because of their bulk all fought well above their length in comparison to salt fish of same size.

Fat fish and angler!

Sight cast this one along edge!

A great weekend was had with non-stop fishing activity, a Billabong to myself, perfect weather producing memories to last forever. I sincerely hope that all of the mob experience, with a fly rod, what I have just been lucky enough to have done so this weekend. While the numbers of fish and sizes all become a blur the real thing is, did I have a good time? “BLOODY OATH I DID”.

Typical fish.

As with all trips there is always more going on than just the fishing, Buffalo in the middle of the night, the morning sky being darkened as the sun rises above the horizon by birds in formation off to their destinations, the results revealed of life and death struggle heard for hours during the darkness.

3 metres v 5 metres

Sorry about the quality of photo but it was still dark! The victim, another croc, all of 3 metres and the victor 4.5 metre plus. The body could be pulled underwater with ease or towed along the surface at a speed greater than my electric at full speed.

Sun on the way up.

The full strength of the crocodile was demonstrated by the victor as he would throw the 3 metre body from side to side fully clear of the water. Awesome sight and makes you think how inadequate we really are in their territory!

Another one!

Can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend! Tarpon was the first thought of the day but only caught one of them while there!

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

Maybe I wasn't where I thought I was!!

Tight lines

Jim Churchley