Cup weekend on Bynoe

Neapish tides, dropping winds and no fishing for a week time to give Bynoe a go.

My planned early morning launch was put on the back burner by a catch up drink with “I love Arnhem Land” Lenny (2 am finish, barmaids told me the next day, “fine form Jim!!!!!!!!!!”). A civilised launch at 7am saw me heading past Turtle Island to fish the protected bays/flats of that part of Bynoe. Barra everywhere in crystal clear water but very flighty with any false cast sending them to the gutters in a flash. Tally 4 in the boat, 3 in the 60’s one undersize. No photos, camera back at the camp, blame Lenny!!!

After a feed of curried sausages and in the swag before the sun went down it was back to normal for a 5.15am launch. Beware of the 2m croc that has been at the ramp for the last month, not afraid at all, did not want to give up his boat ramp! 4.5m boat v 2m croc, no contest!

Great to be alive

Smooth seas saw me heading to Turnbull Bay, ideal conditions but could not find any Barra on the flats but had fun with sight casting cruising Queenfish on the flats.

Great fun in shallow water!

With no Barra for the Esky it was to the drain that I know for a feed of Snapper to take home.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Whilst I’ve had better fishing it is just great to be out there on Bynoe, how lucky are we???

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

Tight lines

Jim Churchley 

Billabong Fun Instead of Show Day

Friday saw Dad and I congregrating to a secret billabong where we had plans to meet Lord Jim and Hags. To our surprise every man and his dog was already there with them! I think we counted a dozen boats or so which lead me to believe that this spot wasn't so secret after all... With our intentions not to let this spoil a trip with good mates in a beautiful place we squeezed our camp between Jim and Hags, (which wasn't the best idea as they both have a strong reputation for snoring) then went for a fish.

We soon come across the snoring duo who had caught this nice saratoga and tiddler barra.

Surface fly across the lilies did the trick

4 points according to Jim! Apparently two of these trump Hags' toga??

Sleepy cod was caught on the surface also

With a feed of soup and garlic bread for entree provided by Jim as well as Di's mexican meatball's for main we were all off to bed with full belly's. The night was peaceful and calm besides the odd disturbance due to a release of flatulence on Jim's behalf, no snoring though!

The next morning was fresh and cold...

Whilst I had trouble hooking a toga, the old boy was giving me a run for my money.

Toga always seem to resist their photo

Only saw a couple of decent sized barra caught. Perhaps they were pushed deeper by all the boat activity?

That's the way back to camp, isn't??

Can't go camping without making a mixed fruit damper

Lord Jim was even generous enough to lend a beer (for cooking purposes). Hags must've bought the carton of beer...

Whilst the fishing wasn't the best, we always had fun.

Jack

WHERE CAN WE FISH IN BYNOE???

A concern has been expressed that areas of Bynoe that we have fished for years is now closed off to us because of the Kenbi Land Claim,  in particular around Knife and Crocodile Islands....I think everyone has known that both of those Islands were off limits and to my knowledge that has always been respected by the recreational anglers.  However the map released recently has what appears to be a more restrictive limit on the fishing around those Islands....declaring that the intertidal zone around those Islands is also out of bounds as can be seen below....

All the definitions of  'Íntertidal Zone' are similar and say, ........."Of or being the region between the high tide mark and the low tide mark." 

Now according to all the charts that we can find, the area marked in green on the map below is the intertidal zone for Knife Island, it is much larger for Crocodile Island...

The green area is where the land can dry during tides ie the area between high and low tide.

A comment from the local fishing authority was " if you fish below the mean low tide mark you will be fine " ...I cannot find out what the mean low tide is, but there is no mention of 'mean' low tide in the act that I can find, so I will stick to the definition above.

So where can we fish if we are not aboriginal or have a permit which are the only two exceptions in the act.  Who knows????  We have emailed both the Minister and the Northern Lands Council in relation to this, also to see how we can get a permit if it is necessary but at this stage we have had no replies.

It is worrying because none of us wish to do the wrong thing by anybody, but the whole issue is quiet confusing to people like me.  

When we get something concrete we will put it out to you.