Andys Blog

After covering so many sea miles yesterday, today was pretty tough (sore hands, legs and back) and the lack of wind didn’t help. I headed out to troll behind the reef and later in the morning managed to pick up a slight breeze.

After hitting the same Rapala lure (as caught the Spanish Mack yesterday) quite hard, I managed to land a beautiful coral trout. Although not a scoring fish for the competition, it was perfect for dinner, or at least it would have been had I not dropped it overboard along with the lip grips attached. That’s fishing I guess…

Tomorrow is presentation day after which I’ll post a wrap up if the entire competition, including photos of the winning team. Following that will be a compilation of 4 days head can footage.

Cheers for now.

The ofFISHal Angler

Talofa (Samoan for the Aussie G’Day),

As I write this I’ve peddled (no wind again today) 25 nautical miles in search of a fish, and as I’ve done that 9 hours straight I’ll give you all a quick summary form.

Caught a 4.63kg Spanish Mackerel this morning. It bent the Hobie rod holder flat but I had the reel in a safety strap so it was fine. Put up a great fight, put me to the test, and caught the lot on head cam to be included in the final wrap up.

Chased some birds after that and started casting at a decent lot of Tuna, with one great follow and a decent strike but no hook up.

Had 6 dolphins swimming across the bow which was absolutely sensational, particularly as I’d just weathered 2 hours of storm and couldn’t see land for that time coupled with a 2 meter swell.

Two lost fish, unfortunately there was little wind again today which meant I had to rely on peddle power for most of the day, which is a realistic 3 knots. The slower speed definitely impacts on hook setting for pelagics.

A long day, 4 more Marlin caught and brought in for the big boys, a few more tagged. Tomorrow is a new day, and the final day of the tournament.

There is lots of interest in the kayak, and when I tell people I troll the 1000 foot drop off in the Pacific Ocean I get some pretty strange looks, and that’s fine by me. I love this adventure, even if my hands now look like those if a 95 year old…

 

Cheers for now.

The ofFISHal Angler

Today was the traditional ladies time on the water, and with a 65kg Blue Marlin and a decent Masi-Masi the ladies sure turned it on. All teams were dressed in a variety of costumes and what started out as a rainy and stormy morning finished as another day in the sun.

Tomorrow the big competition continues with the third out of four days, and I’ve got a strategy which should (hopefully) lead me to landing a fish. The forecast is for mild winds, and that’s all I need to avoid 9 hours of peddling and reach a decent troll speed.

Tonight at the weigh station waterside on Apia Harbour was another family friendly and pleasant night. The business end of the competition really starts tomorrow, and The ofFISHal Angler won’t give up until at least one scoring fish is hauled aboard the Hobie Tandem Adventure Island.

Cheers for now.

The ofFISHal Angler

As Day 2 kicked off I managed to pick up a great breeze which took me under sail all the way to 5 mile reef. Yesterday that took me just under 2 hours to peddle. However unlike yesterday, there were no fish showing on the sounder so I decided to keep going beyond the 1000ft drop off, and ended up 25kms off the mainland in some of the deepest and bluest water I’ve ever seen.

The fishing today was tough, I saw plenty of bird and bait action, but the wind dropped off completely about 10am which meant I could only get 3 knots peddling speed, unfortunately not enough for pelagic trolling speed.

After 7 hours straight peddling, I did something a bit off centre, and set course for a brewing storm to catch the wind and cool off. An hour later I was legs crossed on the peddles, and lying back cruising a comfortable and cool 7 knots with three lines out on the troll.

Back at the club there was a heap of interest in the kayak, word is getting around now that some crazy Aussie is actually entered into the competition as a kayak.

At the weigh in, one boat brought home a 125kg Blue Marlin, a sensational catch. Others scored some big Masi-Masi and one boat landed a 65kg Yellowfin Tuna. For 33 boats (including the kayak), not a huge catch but definitley some huge game fish.

Tomorrow is ladies day, and that’s great as my legs are very sore and some of the electronics and other gear on the kayak need some maintenance. Thursday we return, and my quest to land one decent fish that can be classed as a game fish, from the kayak, will resume….

Cheers for now.

The ofFISHal Angler

Day 1 and after the opening by the Prime Minister and a shot gun start, the weather was good to us today (well, at least to me given the restrictions on distance).

This morning I set out and reached the 1000 foot drop off due north of Apia fishing a few decent reefs along the way. Flying fish, sea turtles and air borne manta rays and mackerels were some of natures highlights.

I returned to weigh in with nothing to offer, but had one huge hook-up at 11:42am on the edge of a reef (the reef came up to 80 foot).

As the Shimano Tiagra screemed, I lost the chance of setting the hooks by choosing to crawl to the bow and furl the sail first – lesson one, set the hooks first. This fish kept spooling 50lb mono and the proof is in the Rapala x-rap brand new last night and covered in tooth marks now, guessing a big Wahoo or Mack.

Weigh in for the big boys and the star was a 300lb+ Blue Marlin. Late afternoon and I copped the edge wind of a storm and clocked 10 knots on the Hobie and really enjoyed giving the legs a break after the glassy morning.

Covered 25kms today, found an awesome reef with fish all over the sounder, survived the first day and ready for tomorrow….

Pics and footage to follow in the next few days, and the return of the Hobie Adventure Island to the weigh station certainly turned a few heads – I’m pretty sure I’ll get a good fish, but today I was reminded just how quickly the ocean can change. One minute I was eating lunch while sailing on glassy waters, and ten minutes later the swell picked up and 30 knot gusts appeared out of nowhere.

Cheers for now,

The ofFISHal Angler

Having purchased my Hobie Tandem Adventure Island with fishing in mind, a GPS/Fish Finder became a ‘must have’. I recently purchased the Humminbird 385ci combination GPS/Fish Finder based on its good reviews and size, however I couldn’t find many instructional articles on the internet with respect to installation. During the installation process I produced the following ‘how to’ YouTube – I hope you find it useful.

Parts List:

1 x Waterproof inline fuse and holder  (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-x-WATERPROOF-INLINE-FUSE-HOLDER-20A-20-AMP-BLADE-/190553969600)

1 x ½ inch household tap washer (http://www.kamhardware.co.uk/HH672-1/2%60-TAP-WASHER/164.htm)

1 x Rubber grommet with thread

1 x Hobie kayak gear bucket (http://www.austinkayak.com/products/730/Hobie-Kayak-Gear-Bucket.html)

1 x Rechargeable sealed lead acid (gell cell) battery (http://www.austinkayak.com/products/2811/Humminbird-GCBK-12-Volt-Gel-Cell-Battery-with-Charger.html)

1 x Railblaza Tracport Dash (http://www.railblaza.com/products/view/tracport_dash_500/169/59/)

2 x Railblaza Starports (http://www.railblaza.com/products/view/starport/116/59/)

1 x Railblaza adjustable platform http://www.railblaza.com/products/view/adjustable_platforms/117/59/)

1 x Mobi Mobile Device Holder (http://www.railblaza.com/products/view/mobi_mobile_device_holder/155/59/)

1 x Packet heavy duty (UV/weatherproof) cable ties

1 x Roll electrical tape

1 x length cable binder/keeper

1 x Packet self adhesive cable holders

1 x Tube of marine silicone sealant

1 x Packet of heat shrink wrap

1 x Roll of 12v insulated electrical wire

1 x Waterproof 12v 2 way connector

Tool List:

1 x Soldering iron and solder

1 x Gas flame lighter or butane torch

1 x Power drill and drill bit

1 x Philips head screw driver

1 x Length string or twine

1 x Lead sinker or other weight

 

One of the hardest parts about leaving the Northern Territory in Australia and heading overseas to work for a few years, aside from leaving behind many mates, was selling the Barra Boat and knowing that I was heading to a place with no Barramundi – Samoa. However it didn’t take long for me to realize that the absence of Barramundi would be well covered by the presence of Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi-Mahi and all manner of Billfish. As luck would have it, before leaving Australia I was introduced by a good mate, to the world of kayak fishing, and the start of a new adventure.

Before departing Australia I purchased the Hobie Mirage Adventure Island Tandem from Sunstate Hobie (www.sunstatehobie.com.au) on the Sunshine Coast. On the way through Victoria I dropped into Scot Lovig Hobie (www.slhobie.com.au) on the Mornington Peninsula and made some final equipment purchases. Samoa has never seen a Hobie Mirage Adventure Island Tandem, and already it has attracted lots of positive attention in a country where the outrigger canoe was invented long before the Hobie Mirage Adventure Island Tandem was ever dreamed about.

After importing and installing a Lowrance 385G Fish Finder/GPS combo hooked up to a sealed 12V rechargeable battery, the kayak was christened in the spirit of my old Barra Boat and named “The ofFISHal Angler”. In my limited spare time, the goal over the next few years is to explore uncharted waters, fish side by side with the locals in their traditional outriggers, and ultimately, land a big Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi-Mahi or if I’m lucky, a Marlin from the Hobie Mirage Adventure Island Tandem.

Each trip I carry a JVC HD video camera, and the vessel is fitted with 2 x Contour HD video cameras – one mounted on the starboard aka (structure joining the outrigger to the main hull), and another mounted as a headcam on my Hobie Kayak Baseball Cap. The 2 x Contour HD video cameras are also equipped with underwater casings and this will enable some great underwater footage of the kayak, fish and any diving or snorkeling adventures.

As these adventures take place, I will continue to Blog on www.fishingcharerbase.com through a series of short YouTube movies. Some of the YouTubes will be specifically aimed at kayak enthusiasts in a more ‘how to’ manner, for example, ‘How to install a Lowrance 385G Fish Finder/GPS combo, transducer and mounting bracket’  and ‘How to make a garage ceiling pulley storage system for the Hobie Mirage Adventure Island Tandem’. These YouTubes won’t all be about fishing, rather, they will take you on my Hobie Mirage Adventure Island Tandem journey…wherever that may take us.

Cheers for now,

Andy

(aka “The ofFISHal Angler”)
Episode 4:

Episode 3:

Episode 2:

Episode 1:

Flashes of silver fishing the run-off in a week.


 
After 3 years of working in countries of conflict including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, all I wanted to do on recent return to Australia was head back to the NT and go Barramundi fishing.

Id lived in the NT for fours years during the end of the nineties and it was during that period that my passion for Barra fishing and general life in the NT was born. I landed in Darwin and was greeted by mates (with boats) and a clear blue sky buzzing with dragonflies, according to locals, nature’s other way of marking the start of the dry season. Old wives tale or not, the dry and run-off had clearly commenced for 2008.

 

With more development, more people and obscene petrol prices, it was obvious that Darwin had significantly grown during my absence, but there was no time for site seeing as this trip was all about mates and fishing the run-off. My plan was to squeeze as much fishing and adventure into one week as is physically possible, and of course, to re-ignite that great feeling of hunting for Barra amidst the big waterways, crocs and territory wildlife so unique to this great southern land of ours.

Monday morning, 3am and it was time to clock on to the fishing week. With my good mate Jason we headed down to the Mary River system to hit the mouth of Shady Camp. Launching on the run out tide at the barrage, some good navigation by Jason had us at the mouth without incident. The boat just in front of us was not so lucky and quickly found itself stuck on a mud bank not far from the barrage for the next eight hours.

It was a harsh reminder of just how hardcore the NT river systems and tides are. There is more to catching Barra than dangling a line, the good fishos up here have all the navigational, survival and angling skills needed to succeed in the NT angling environment.

The river was pretty busy for a Monday with over fifteen boats, many fishing for Jewies. Either way it was great to be back on the NT water amongst the birdlife, big crocs and fish. After trolling the mouth for a couple of hours I was getting an itchy reel finger with not a touch to be had. With that, we headed back to the barrage and past the stranded boat as they eagerly awaited the incoming tide.

 

At the barrage I finally got that Barra feeling back again as we landed fish after fish on small soft plastics. Anchored up facing into the barrage, the water was awash with flashes of silver as Barra and Tarpon chased our lures right up to the boat. It was a great way to kick of a week of run-off fishing.

Tuesday morning 3am and I joined another two good mates, Bernd and Peter. Both are first class blokes and seasoned Barra anglers. Back on the road again with a bacon and egg roll at Berrimah and a few hours later, arrival at Banyan Farm on the mighty Daly River. This was to be my first trip up the Daly outside a Barra Nationals competition.

By all accounts, the Daly was going off but as we all know, somewhere amongst grapevine fishing reports, theories on the full moon and the latest lure fad lies the anglers dream to be at the right place, at the right time, and clean up.

The river, as always was full of so much nature and wildlife being home to some of the largest crocs in the NT. A small three meter croc seemed quite happy for us to quietly photograph it in situ.

We fished hard for two and a half days and the river produced some great fish. The boys were quick to spot a couple of boofs alongside the famous S-bends and lucky for me, a quick cast into the bank with the trusty Barra Classic in Guns n Roses colour bagged a fit and silver 82cm Barra which was quickly photographed and released.

While a few of the creeks were starting to pump that sought after tea coloured water, it was Midden Creek that produced well over an hour of action with one of boys boating 7 Barra in under ten minutes on Drop Bear coloured soft plastics.

The two and a half days produced over seventeen Barra, a nice Threadfin Salmon which went well on the BBQ and a Barra smashed in half by a shark on retrieval.

It also produced some night fishing up Tommys Creek, very few catfish (or Power Tails as they are apparently now referred to by people who also think mutton is the same as lamb), and a heap of laughs on the water.

The accommodation at Banyan Farm was just right and the Daly River, well, in my humble opinion it is the perfect example of an all round Territory experience coupled with some of the best Barra fishing in the world.

By Thursday Id boated a few dozen Barra, drunk a few dozen beers and clearly woken the Barra bug again. It had been a long few days down the Daly but there was no time for sleeping, after all, the run-off only happens once a year and I only had a week in the NT.

 

Friday it was off to the South Alligator River and by all reports, it too was going off. More mates, Shaun, Jason and Caitlyn and it was straight to the Aurora for a few beers, a game of pool and a decent sleep before hitting the South Alligator this was fishing gentlemans hours.



The bar at the Aurora sports a photo board showing those who have bagged a meter Barra in the region. Im yet to join that club, but it is top of my angling wish list. With photos of fish up to 136cm, you can guess what I dreamed of that night.

Saturday morning at the boat ramp and there must have been over forty boat trailers parked up. Id only fished the South once before so we headed up to Nourlangi Creek and to our surprise, there were very few boats up there. As the creek narrows, the snags tighten up and navigation becomes a little more interesting.

We pushed up as far as possible and found some text book run-offs this was why I came to the NT in April. As Jason slowly manipulated the narrowing creek I flicked a Drop Bear plastic at one of the run-offs and on the first cast, landed a hungry 63cm Barra. This was text book Barra fishing, and it seemed that this time, for once, the fish had also read the book. With no idea were the other thirty nine boats were, we anchored up in the shade and spent the next hour and a half landing legal sized fish after legal sized fish all on the soft plastics again. I swapped to a small sized Gold Bomber just to see how it went and with no hits, quickly changed back to the plastics.

With 6 good sized Barra in the esky it was back to the ramp to clean up and off to the Aurora for a quick swim, beer and travel back to Darwin. The South had been good to us and provided one of the best soft plastic fishing sessions I can remember.

Sunday and it was the final day of the fishing week but far from a rest day. By 5am we were packed and ready to head to Corroboree Billabong with Shaun, Bernd, Shawn and Jason all the boys together for a final days fishing.

Id only ever fished Corroborree once and find it hard to believe I hadnt been there more often when living in Darwin given its absolute beauty, abundance of fish and relatively short travel time from Darwin. We hit the Billabong just on sunrise which probably explains why I forgot to turn the lights off on Shawns boat making the end of the day a little more interesting (sorry mate). According tot the boys the water was well up but before long we were landing plenty of small barra. Id forgotten how great the NT billabong bird life is but a hundred photos later it all came back to me. Crocs, jabirus, snakes, sea eagles all made the fishing experience that much better.

As afternoon approached wed had plenty of fishing action with Barra and Tarpon landed. As the dusk approached I managed a couple of big Saratoga floating light soft plastics down beside the lillys. These fish fight well and make for great angling fun despite the fact that they are not to be eaten.

Back at the ramp I began to cop all the flack that goes with making a mistake on a fishing trip, but the battery was kindly charged and jump started by a local getting us back to Darwin at a reasonable hour. And so ended seven days of solid NT fishing having covered Shady Camp, the Daly River, South Alligator River and Corroboree Billabong in a week and scoring good fish at every location. The best for the week was the 82cm casting at the Daly River but the whole week was equally enjoyable.

 
Despite being away for a few years, the NT is still a wild frontier and the Barra fishing is still second to none. Thanks to some lifetime mates (with boats) and the small amount of local knowledge I managed to remember, run-off 2008 was a sensational experience and in the words of that well known movie characterIll be back for more of the same in 2009.

Fishing Shady Camp (Northern Territory) Opening – 1 February 2011

When I first fished the Northern Territory in 1999 and caught my first Barra (a 68cm in Howard River, Shoal Bay), it didn’t take me long to work out that the holy grail of Barra is to join what’s commonly known as ‘The Meter Club’ and catch a wild Barra equal to or over one meter in length. In the years that followed I vividly recall catching Barra in the 90’s, the biggest being 98cm at Clear Creek on the Daly River in 2001, you see, these are significant moments in the life of an angler which can be recalled with great accuracy and fond memory. I forget people’s birthdays, but I recall all these fish.

When I mentioned to a few mates that I’d be joining the queue of boats heading to Shady Camp (on the Mary River system) for the annual opening of the season, I got mixed reactions. “Too much water mate”, one said and “We did no good there last year at that time”, another offered. I didn’t care for two reasons – first, I saw fish being caught there last year at the same time, and secondly, I had already told my wife that this was the day I would get a meter Barra. As her eyes rolled, I hooked the boat up and headed for Shady Camp with a couple of good mates. A few hours later, we launched under a spectacular rainbow and a flood of water indicative of the Northern Territory wet season.

Shady Camp, as the name suggests, has very little shade and is situated on the Mary River system, a vast expanse of wetland and flood plain swarming with bird and wildlife, dotted in man made barrages and home to one of the most prolific Barramundi populations in Australia. It also boasts the highest population of saltwater (or Estuarine) crocodiles per square meter, in the word. It is a part of the Northern Territory I love being in, regardless of the catch.

For the locals reading this post, we launched at the car park around 7:15am with a view to fishing the top (that is, between the first and third barrages). This plan was quickly discarded with the water roaring over the main barrage making trolling anywhere in the first few kilometres impossible. The road in was pretty good, a bit rough towards the middle few kilometres and clearly not graded at this stage.

To the mouth it was, and the 45 minute journey towards the ocean was an easy one as we spotted the usual healthy population of crocodiles, birds (some huge eagles and Jabirus) and an amazing number of water borne snakes. A few casts along the way at some run-off in the final third of the river (before the mouth) and a good session, although no fish boated, at a creek about 5kms from the mouth. Interestingly, a few gatherings of passing bait fish, some birds ready for feeding, and a clearly knowledgeable crocodile suggested that this creek was ready to fire with Barra. Observing nature is worth so much, and on this occasion, lead to the inevitable conclusion of Barra boofing, a dropped 65cm fish, plenty of hits but none in the boat. It passed very quickly, and as the tide ran out, we concluded that that the bait and Barra were running with it towards the mouth.

As we continued towards the mouth of Sampan Creek, we started to theorise about exactly where the 25 boats, belonging to the 25 trailers and cars in the car park at launching, were fishing. Expecting to see most of them at the mouth, we were surprised to see only three. It didn’t take long to figure out (by chatting to other fishos) that most were around the corner at Tommycut Creek, a handful were midway between the mouth and the boat ramp, and some were trying the other coastal creeks. One of the hardest parts of fishing for Barra is to undertake proper research to match the time of year and the tides, come up with a plan, and then stick to that plan. Our agreed plan was simple, namely, troll the Sampan Creek mouth over the turn of the low tide, and then leave. This was especially pertinent as one of my mates had negotiated his ‘leave pass’ by agreeing to a rough return time. As we know, brownie points are hard earned and wasting them on late returns without fish is like paying interest on a credit card.

The day was tough and extremely hot on the water. Two and a half hours trolling around the mouth with not even a hit and plenty of sunburn. As other boats started to come in from the coastal creeks, the fact that they were stopping for a chat indicated that not much was happening. We spoke to most, and very few managed any fish. We trolled the turn of the low and decided to call it a day. As with all fishing trips where nothing is caught, the conversation during the trip back to the boat ramp revolved around how nice the nature was, how good it was to be out of the office for a day, and how ‘a bad day’s fishing is better than a good day at work’ – it’s the comfort food equivalent for fishos, we all do it, we all get it.

As we motored back from the mouth, a few kilometres up the river I couldn’t help noticing a creek which was echoed on the GPS by another series of creeks. “Lets have a look”, I suggested. On first look, it presented like a textbook Barra fishing scenario. We had left the turn of the tide at the mouth, the low was therefore pushing back upstream, and there was the most distinct of colour changes showing across this creek. On one side, tannin water and on the other, the dirty tidal waters of a mid-wet season. It was worth a go.

After commencing the slow troll it was a matter of minutes before I felt the hardest hit on the largest sized green Bomber lure. It didn’t jump, it just rolled over showing a massive thick back and a paddle tail the size of a dinner plate. As the driver of the boat, I slipped it into neutral and started to fight what I thought was an 80 or 85cm fish. It ran hard, and headed straight for a snag behind the boat. Throwing trust to the knot, braid and leader, I locked the reel up and reefed the head of this massive fish around and back towards the boat. One mate, Davis, had the net ready. The other mate, Bernd, had the rest of the boat (and me) under a calming control.

As I continued to fight this fish, the brute force was incredible. On its run, the fish felt unstoppable and as it approached the boat, it regained further strength. As I finally manoeuvred it away from the snag and around to the awaiting net, it swam on cue into the net. Davis started to lift the net by the handle and then it happened – the net broke at the handle under the strain of 28 kilograms of Barra weight.

When you get a fish in the net, it is usually a sign that the job is almost done and that the catch is finished, but not this time. The handle sank, and so too did the net with the Barra in it. In a reach of desperation, Davis leaned over the side of the boat, grabbed the net with two hands and hauled the net and fish over the stern and onto the deck. I’m not sure whether it was the crocodile populated river or the fact that he knew it was a meter Barra that motivated him to act so quickly, either way, he saved my meter fish.

Still shaking from the whole event, I managed to free the hooks and lift this monster of a 111cm Barra up for a few quick photos. All Barra this size should be released, wherever they are caught. This was a big breeder, probably over 7 or 8 years old, and clearly ready to breed again. We released ‘My Shady Lady’ with very little need for swimming, and completely unharmed.

I ran a marathon last year, a life goal. It felt very satisfying and it was an achievement. I compare catching this meter plus Barra with that experience, both being adrenaline filled experiences that not everyone gets to experience. They take will, and perseverance, and when accomplished, they feel great.

The trip back to the boat ramp felt like the angler’s avenue of glory, and when we chatted to Northern Territory Barra legend, Col Cordingly, on the way back to the ramp, and he congratulated me on breaking the meter mark, I felt sensational.

There’s something about fishing I just love. We worked so hard casting and trolling that river for no result. After 7 hours on the water, and on a gut feeling, we explored a small creek on the way back to the boat ramp. In a heartbeat, a slow day then turned to pandemonium.

Like life, fishing is an unpredictable venture, and that keeps it interesting. Like running a marathon (as many have) for fun or as a mere personal challenge, when you catch your first meter Barra (as many have), you only compete against yourself. That said, there is a sense of comfort in knowing that my two good mates who joined the club a year ago, can now rest assured that my meter fish was bigger than theirs…Tight lines….Andy.

There is no doubt that fishing on the Northern Territory’s rivers for Barramundi is always a great experience. For those with a knowledge of Northern Australian fishing, there is more to it than just fishing. It is also about enjoying the great marine outdoors, admiring the pristine rivers this country offers, and of course, watching nature at work. On an afternoon trip to the Adelaide River about 50 minutes drive from Darwin, today I observed an unfortunate set of events.

With one of my best buddies, the plan was to head downstream for 2 hours at the end of the day and fish a couple of the creeks that appeared to be offering great run-off fishing. The lower reaches of the Adelaide River produced some decent Barra around the creeks not far from the boat ramp over the past weekend. Our plan was to hit the creeks mid-week, hoping that most others would be at work. While we got a few committed hits on both soft plastics and hard bodied lures, again the live baiters seemed to be winning the race having boated 4 Barra in the time we received a handful of hits, but no fish.

I’ve always said that live baiters have their place, and that Barra fishing should be a lure sport if it is really to be called a sport. The catching of undersized Barra using live bait often makes it hard to release them in good condition, and sometimes, the by-product of live baiting in any environment can be bird life. Unfortunately, today was an example of this.

As the sun began to set on the lower reaches of the Adelaide River, some tourist fishermen caught a decent sized Barra and quickly gutted the fish over the side of their 3.8 meter tinny carefully making sure that none of the guts touched the boat, and that all of the guts made it into the water. For the uneducated Northern Australian fisho, this is a great way to attract crocodiles, and what better place to do it than the Adelaide River – home to the famous “Jumping Crocodile” tours.

After a matter of minutes, a three meter crocodile raised its head as the guts of the fish was pushed out the river mouth by the outgoing tide. Not surprisingly the crocodile was quick to follow and consume it. Eager to find its next meal, the crocodile decided to wait around the river mouth and watch the boats as we continued the search for an afternoon Barra. While this is not a story about fishing success, I might add that we managed a few really good hits on Squidgy Drop Bears and the trusty old Gold Bombers and B52s, but didn’t manage to land a fish for the afternoon.

Watching over us fishing were two large eagles high up in a tree on the banks of the river. With the crocodile sitting at the mouth of the creek, the eagle spotted the other boats live bait supported by a float. The eagle quickly swooped from the tree and headed for the float.

As it took the live bait, it also took the hook. Taking off, it was quickly drawn back to the water by the attached fishing line. The angler did his best to bring the eagle closer to the boat, but was struggling to keep it out of the water. Within seconds, the three meter crocodile sensed an animal in trouble and began to swim slowly towards the eagle. Amazingly, the eagle’s partner made a last ditch rescue flight over the river in a clear attempt to dissuade the crocodile from pursuing its mate.

As the eagle failed to become airborne for the last time, the crocodile increased its speed across the water and gradually moved in.

Just meters from the crocodile, the eagle made one last attempt to take off as the crocodile raised its head and positioned itself for the final move.

In one swift and calm movement, the crocodile grabbed the eagle and rolled it underwater. Later recovery of the eagle showed that it had no puncture marks and was not bleeding at all. This was an example of the crocodile’s ability to show discipline by drowning its prey and storing it for later consumption.

As the crocodile and eagle disappeared into the depths of the river, the eagle’s partner made one final flight across the river and returned to the tree where it sat in disbelief.

As the sun set over the river, there was one less eagle in existence. While this was quite a sad event to witness, it did re-enforce how quickly the crocodile sensed an opportunity, and how quickly it responded. As it moved in for the kill, the crocodile disappeared from one side of the river and swam under water to arrive almost instantly at its prey. The splashing of the eagle in the water was an instant attractant for the crocodile and this point itself, stands as a stark reminder to humans who enter the waters of the Northern Territory whether by choice or not. The event also highlights one of the dangers associated with using live bait to fish. The anglers on this occasion did everything possible to manage the situation, there was nothing more they could have done, except go fishing using a lure instead of live bait