With out being ridiculous and counting baitfish, we have recorded up until now a possible 56 species available to catch, the likes of Remora
(that really suck) and Long Tom are included but nothing any lower on the piscatorial scale of excellence. 56 species, until this trip when
young Peter Crease from the UK caught a Barramundi Cod on a patch of rubble long known to us but only just named "Canon reef" after guide Phil
lost his digital camera over the side at this spot a couple of trips ago releasing a large Black Jew. Sort of common on the Barrier Reef and
highly prized for there eating qualities the beautiful Barramundi Cod now is a "Zero Limit" species along with Mouri Wrasse in the GBR Marine
Park. One of the last species I expected to see caught on this side of the Cape. This fishery never ceases to surprise.
Photo (left) of the television screen onboard the Tropic Paradise, we got the Barra Cod
on video but the digital camera batteries went flat and we didn't want to delay the release of this beautiful fish to change batteries.
Hows that for a redneck techno phobic digital image transfer. (Right) A thumping Cobia caught by "Little Pete" this one nearly stopped him.
Daniel, a "nuts oh" fisherman and the only Aussie on this trip. Having only really just discovered his passion for fishing 2 years
ago he caught an absolute "shed load" of fish on a wide and varied assortment of tackle. This Large Mouth Nannygai and GT were caught
jigging a 100gm raider, also on "Canon Reef"
Kathleen, from Washington DC with impeccable fashion sense and a sense of humour to match, wowed, me at least with a snappy outfit each
day. She gave no quarter to any of the big fish she caught and when she landed one that particularly impressed her she would say "another
one for the sisterhood" cracking us up. The GT and Mac Tunas above just a couple of species Kath and John caught as winter officially turned
to spring in the week of September One.
Alan (right) from San Francisco first fished with us in 1999 with his son Taylor who will spew when he sees the photos and video of this trip.
Alan tied himself into 2 Permit this week, lost one to the "Permit loosing gremlins" in my presence and landed the other. I have been party to
many permit captures (and losses) and have seen the resulting varied emotions in anglers. Alan's reaction to landing a permit was unique in the
fact that he was literally speechless, he didn't say a word and the look on his face was one of shock and elation. He did it all himself, alone
with the beach, his rod and his thoughts, he landed the fish in just over 20 minutes and could not believe he had accomplished something so
highly converted by his peers. "Good On Ya Al" you deserved it. Another memory to go with the Diamond Trevalley, Goldens, Tunas and Queenies
and others he caught this week.
When guys like Joe and Bob from the eastern states of the USA veterans of lots of fishing holidays to the hotspots of the world sing your
praises and tell you they will be back it gladdens my heart. We enjoy a 100% success rate but when guys who have experienced the fisheries of
the world say they have had a ball and will be back it's a qualified statement. On limited time they utilised our good friends at Brazakka's
Cape York helicopters for a transfer from the river mouth to the connecting south bound air service from Bamaga.
"Big Ben" Crease, Pete's dad, on his 4th trip with us in as many years never tires of catching the tropical sportfish of Cape York. He tell
us he will be back every year for as long as we are in existence, thanks Ben. Pictured above with a Queen fish taken plug casting in the fresh
water reaches of the river. Every year we find Queenies and other fish you would not expect, like Milkfish and Goldens in the fresh water,
what they are doing I know not, spawning or possibly using the fresh water to rid themselves of parasites, maybe someone smarter than me can enlighten.
With winter officially over and the years second half dawning, the tides switching form daytime lows to the night time "big outs" of summer
we look forward to some different fishing strategies as the mango flowers set to fruit, the winds become variable and chilled beer is relished
under the tropical sky's. Stay tuned.Previous Fishing Trip Reports:
