The first of the south east trades for the year blowing offshore
at 20 to 25 kts for the first part of the week with a little respite
later in the week. Bright sunny days some overcast.Temperature, mild with nights becoming cool, 23C to 27C very pleasant
sleeping on the brand new house hold sized innerspring single and
double beds for the couples. Light shower of rain overnight.
Moon
and Tides
New moon on the 12th with the end of a set of neaps day one and
2 going into springs later in the week with 2 metres of run. Lows
of .7 to .4 midday through afternoon with highs of 2+ metres early
morning and late evening. Tides in the Gulf of Carpentaria are not
predictable or cyclic as they normally are in other parts of the
world. Forget about being able to set your watch by the tide and
having 2 cycles a day. Some days you do, some you don't.
Fishing
Good
catches of Golden Trevally in the river mouths and flats with everyone
catching plenty on both fly and jigs on spin rods. Outside of the
norm caught in the river mouth was a nice Spanish Mackeral taken
for the table by one of our 2 lady anglers this trip, redeeming
herself after loosing a larger one (and the gaff) at the gaff moments
before. Tunas were busting the surface but not as prolific as they
can be. The strong winds made chasing these a little difficult but
plenty were caught and some fresh sashimi enjoyed with a cool drink
from the bar as the sunset.
A good session on some rubble with cut baits just offshore for
a New Zealand couple produced a great variation for them catching
some fine Large mouth Nannygai and Red Emperor. Barramundi were
caught in the rivers although no large specimens, all were 55 to
60 cm in length. Some large Blue Salmon were caught in the creek
mouths on the first of the run in and a very large Indo Pacific
Tarpon a photo of which I will publish when sent to me. Sarratogas
to 3 kilo were caught on fly and conventional gear in the fresh
water by those who had this as a high priority on there "life
list of captures".
All in all a well rounded week of fishing with the larger Queen
fish normally in abundance this time of year conspicuous in their
absence with only a couple caught. Pix curtesy of David and Amanda
Akeroyd of New Zealand
Weather 
Moon
and Tides
Good
catches of Golden Trevally in the river mouths and flats with everyone
catching plenty on both fly and jigs on spin rods. Outside of the
norm caught in the river mouth was a nice Spanish Mackeral taken
for the table by one of our 2 lady anglers this trip, redeeming
herself after loosing a larger one (and the gaff) at the gaff moments
before. Tunas were busting the surface but not as prolific as they
can be. The strong winds made chasing these a little difficult but
plenty were caught and some fresh sashimi enjoyed with a cool drink
from the bar as the sunset. 