Trapper Tom

Chopper Not quite a boat ramp one, but anyway. 20 years ago we used to go down to pretty beach and fish and dive out of Bawley Point in a 14 foot quinnie. Any one who knows the area will know there are stacks of roo,s around. Anyway Just retireved the boat, jumped in the car and took off down the road. Roo appears, andrew brakes misses roo. Next thing the right hand trailer wheel passes us still doing the original 60klms and continued down the road. Absolutely cacked ouselves laughing, one of those things that "you had to be there to be funny" thing. We a bit worried about gettng stuck but the wheel went straight back on no problems Cheers Trapper Tom

Stan Interesting issue really. Was originally brought in as environmental protection for shoreline erosion with user comfort a mere by product of the law. Yes alot of the time for smaller boats flat out like a lizard drinking is best. However has anyone noticed the rivercats (60 tons displacement) on the parra river particularly around homebush and silverwater where there is mud flats. They Cruise very slowly but the pressure wave from bow causes significant washing of the mud flats. And yes the sediments are those containing Dioxin and other nasty contaminants. Each day the area gets washed, more dioxin and sediments into the water and down into sydney harbour she goes. Govt has known for ages and still won't do anything about it. Not quite on topic but its a pet hate of mine. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Steve Thanks for your reply. Believe it of not, all our Barra on the Shady Camp trip were caught on Lucifer or the trusted B52 gold bomber, zippo on Sp, don't know why, just the way it happened or just our fishing style maybe. Brilliant lures. Agree with your comments on SP,s I was one of the original Mr Twister lure users when they first came out years ago and used them in Lake Mac and Swansea channel to devastating effect and still use predominantly SP's for flatties. As I had not used this particular lure before this trip, and it absolutely smashed the Barra, just for a change and a challenge will see what the little bugger is capable of with flatties. Nothing better than putting a plan into place and trying it out, its the bear went over the mountain thing. Variation is the spice of life. And yes you are absolutely spot on and show your obvious good fishing knowledge and prowess with your statement "slow trolling over shallow drop offs, weed banks and sandflats" because that is exactly what I will doing with the thing. Weather not now looking real good for this weekend, but the the adventure will be had ASAP. Will advise when exercise has been completed and (hopefully not eat s&%t) Cheers and Regards Trapper

Hey Ray Was Nearly as scary as this photo. It was in my mind when they happened. Photo from google "croc attack" images. Cheers Trapper

Hey Big Dog Finally posted a croc photo for you. Good storey here to. Apparently this is one of the largest resident crocs on the Mary River around the Barrage area. His name is FANG and with damn good reason. Saw a buffalo in the water when trolling and then realised there was the famous FANG hiding not 10 metres away in the mangroves waiting for him. He was on the right just out of photo range. Backed the boat off and waited to see the croc v/s buffalo (Cameron was told to turn around in case it really got gory, but NO WAY. Waited a bit then Mr Buffalo slowly turned around and walked off but still keeping a really really close eye on Fang. See 3rd photo. Now Reckon Mr Buffalo knew he was there all along. Both are very arrogant and confident creatures. Said to Andrew need a really good photo of fang so he drove and I sat at the front and we slowly motored in. Hey that'al do Andrew at about 20 foot out and got ready to take the shot. Whilst concentrating on the camera viewfinder did not notice that Andrew had not put the motor in reverse and then neutral to hold position but we were in fact, correction "I" being at the nose of the boat, still drifting inwards to Mr Fang. Clicked photo, did not get clean shot, realised I was about 10 foot from the damn bloody thing with Andrew and Cameron absolutely cacking themselves behind me, propelled my self backwards whilst screaming, fell over every bit of equipment in the boat, bark off me everywhere with a cardiac infarction imminent. Hey what are mates for? The sorry part to this is that I trusted him later in the trip because I really wanted a really good shot of a really big croc. Yep you guessed It. They both promised solemnly to not do it again. Sucker me, change of pants this time with the croc actually spooked and charging into the water. see last picture . Cheers and enjoy the photo's Trapper T

Ray Beautiful!!!! and worth the post. As for Peters reply, mate love the way you think. Your obviously "hooked" on fishing Boom Boom. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hi pete Absolutely awesome photo's. Love stuff like that. Memories like that stay with you forever. Reackon you'll still be talking about it and showing the photo,s off for the next 20 years. Cheers and thanks for the post Trapper Tom

G'Day fishraiders After posting the Shady Camp photo's looked at a couple more and had a good one showing a Little Lucifer lure. Same attached For all the Flatty hunters out there, which I am one, reakon that this guy would be an absolute cracker. Really good slow speed action, lots of tail twitch and will run up to 2.5m depth depending on how you use it. Will spend a session soley targeting flatties with it this weekend(wheather depending) and advise of results. And yes water temp now dropping and not the prime time but ya gotta try. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hi Guys Deliberately left Andew out of the Shady Camp photo,s just to stir him up. Steam still coming out his ears so I thought I,d put him out of his misery. His best 2 fish. Note Andrew is a BIG boy so they are big fish, Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Hodgey The banana coloured boat was a huge shock when we first saw it. All went NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! it can't be. One part of the banana myth now busted, banana colour does not matter only actual banana's. Also not all trips turn out as good as this one we have had a share of bummers. Also did not post any pictures of Andrews fish, just to stir him up Ha Ha , will post his best 2 today and end his suffering, then other pictures will go to lure section so as not to bugger up currency of general reports. Cheers Trapper T

Hey Ray The smile is priceless and exactly what lifes all about, also just noticed your on 1001 Posts congrats on that I always love reading your posts keep them coming For GUDude yeah there are two grips one had been playing up and we lost a couple at the boat so he said with this one NO WAY !!! I,m using 2 to make sure its in the boat. Can't argue with the logic Cheers Trapper Tom

Fishraiders As I promised Cameron so he could brag to his mates please find attached his best fish. Also after we caught our first fish he's in there with fingers and all trying to get the lure out as a 12 year old does. Both Dad and me in unison "Cameron get your hands away and use the pliers" 2nd fish, Yep straight in there and yes you guessed it, hooked and barb into flesh. Boy was he brave took 2mins to get the damn thing out. Not a tear not a cry or wimper, but do you reakon he touched another for the whole trip!!!!!!!!!!! Nope Cam thats for you and for all the payouts on you gave me on the trip, top one buddy. He HE HE HE Seriously he is a good fisherman and caught some great fish. Trapper Tom

G'Day Fishraiders Now that I have finally figured out the photo bit. Went up to Shady camp mid April specifically for the run-off, 5 days. My mate Andrew, his son Cameron and myself have been planning the same for the last 6 months (generally try to go somewhere new every 6 mths) The objective was to nail the > 1metre Barra. Planned first 2 days in the fresh due to the tides, 3rd day was sight see day off and 4-5 was saltwater side. We always do DIY trips as it provides much more freedom and really tests your fishing skills and knowledge. For this one, boat was a polycraft hired from Point Stuart Lodge where we stayed. No sounder no gadgets no nothing except of course a motor. Went beautifully smooth. Day 1. Tides and NO run-off meant no boats could get to the salt water side of the barrage so when we hit the water there were more boats than you could poke a stick at, like Pitt St. Picked up a few Barra but the traffic was appalling and all were frowning. Then lunchtime Bingo all the boats disappeared as access to the saltwater was available. From then had a ball, Barra after barra. Approx 20 fish for the day, 50% were legals and came home bagged out. Limit was 2 fish per person. Day 2 After dinner the night before and talking to all the guys, guides and pro's at the bar, everybody was raving that lime green SP with red heads were the gun go. That fact did not escape us the day before as everybody had them on. So being wily old B@#%%ds went for 2 rods SP's and 2 rods HB's. Essentially same pattern as the day before waited for peak hour to abait then went seriously hunting. All up zippo on SP got all fish on HB's. Had learn't a bit from the day before so the estimated catch for the day was around 30 again 50% legals, best went 80cms. Noted at the bar that night nobody had nailed it like us over the last 2 days but being modest little vegimites running around in a laughable little yellow polycraft, for which we got the required bagging out and laughs both on and off the water, said not to much. But you just gotta love those massive barra fishing platforms the guides use- huge amount of dollars. All went to bed with puffed out chests, reackon young Cameron looked like Arnold Scnitchalberger, he DID brag to all the big people, goota love him did well. Andrew and me sat back and had a quiet beer(NOT). Day 4 and 5. Now this was the real test. No run-off to fish the creeks and small tides. Tried casting to creeks for small tidal movment and discolouration for about 3 hours for about a few fish. Ok NOT GOOD. Cheif exective meeting held over 2 beers each, not including Cameron, the discision was if no run off must look for the eddies and fish holding structures with eddies. Had seen the guides using SP and they were not getting anything so ALL HB's. Done. Instant payout. Over the next 3 hours got approx 25-30 barra to just over 90cms. One of the guys we had got friendly with at the bar on one of the guide boats, kindly gave us a compliment and yelled You B@##$%^ds. Cameron became Arnold Snitchalberger again. Day five we knew even more about the river and really scored some quality fish constantly. The objective of the one metre Barra was not looking good. So what does every good fisherman do, Hey If I Take a leak it will garrentee a big fella. So Mr wiggly makes his appearance and yes without a lie it did happen. 100m of 30lb braid lost in the first run, had 150 spooled, OK no probs here, got back 50, ran again for 50m Ok reakon I have him now (note here that this bugger still has not jumped and tried to shake the lure) then from about 100m out turned and came back with the tide, now winding furiously trying to keep good tension on the line, I am not going to lose this!. The bugger headed straight for the boat, required Andrew to start motor reverse and get away from him to keep the angles right, motor did not start in time, the monster surfaced about 10ft from the boat with a mouth like a bucket, one shake and gone. Absolutely gutted, 20 minute fight but boy was it worth it. Est size = buffalo, well and truly over the 1 metre mark. Note she would have been released just wish I could have said I actually landed it. All in all brilliant trip. Hope the post is not to long have attached my best Barra went 92cms, unlike the last post with a bit of long arm I could not lift this one and had to lay it across my body. Have a truck load of photo's and will post some in the lure fishing section or as requested. Have also promised Cameron that I will post his pictures of his best fish so you will see one more post in fishing reports that is titled Cameron-Shady Camp. Don't want to clutter up the currency of reports. All fish caught on HB's Bombers and little Lucifiers nothing else. Only Rod I used was Okuma PXT 702DSM and Daiwa Procaster 4000XA, this set up is to die for, bit expensive for your everyday fisher though. Now back to the blood bank to get my top up after the flying hyperdermics sucked about 15 litres of blood out of me. Cheers Trapper

hey Big dog Yeah heaps of big crocs Got a photo of one hiding in the mangroves waiting for a buffalo about 10 metres away. Will post them in general photo,s either later or tomorrow for you Cheers TT

Hey fishraiders Have been tearing my hair out trying to figure out how to re-size photo's on my computer for a while now. Just sat down again and Bingo (I think?) all happened in 3 secs. DOH !!!!!!!!!! I'm pretty sure I've got it right so if it pops up on the site as OK will send through proper reports and photo's This was a decent one. Cheers Trapper Tom

Hi Wigg Man have a look at the beautiful gutter/s in the second photo. Thats a beach fishermans heaven. Instantly says fish me!!!!!! Definately pack the beach rod Cheers Trapper Tom

G'day BTK Fished Lake Mac for many years Hairtail like deeper water If it was cruising around a jetty was probably a Long Tom. You can get some big ones up there. I generally don't let pike in the boat as they stink and are considered minus points to the person who lands it. I know some guys reakon there OK as kingy bait though! Cheers Trapper Tom

Agree with with bream Top dorsal fin is different. Therefore reckon amberjack is out of it. Leaves sampson fish as the best otion Hey Slinky your pretty good at this stuff Whats your verdict Cheers Trapper Tom

Riley 93 Congratulations, just visited the records and you are now the mark to beat!!! Truely a brilliant effort. Question did you manage to get a measurement on the Clydesdale beast? Would be a interesting stat Cheers Trapper Tom

Not just a horse thats a damn Clydsdale!!! Great Fish Also did you get a measyrement of it?? Would be great to know Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Jim 77 Agree with Wannafish Confrontation not a good idea in this day and age. Reackon report boat rego and vehicale rego to Fisheries. If everybody does this when they see someone they will get multipule reports of the bugger, where he fishes, and launches and he will be on their database of "Get Him". Land based is a little harder, that relies more on troops on the ground stuff from fisheries. Urge everyone to report information to assist fisheries, build their data base on offenders and in so doing let them "Get Em". And yes before the detractors start, Fisheries may not sometimes accept compliants due to validation issues, BUT at least do your bit!!! Even one guy caught spreads the word!!! Cheers Trapper Tom

Hey Zephi One word of advice Wait for the "Weight" !!! Don't be to eger to strike particularly if you can see them. If you can see them try closing your eyes and trust the force Luke! Oh also some of the jigs come with side barbs as well. Dont't use them myself but may be of help for you in this particular spot. See A Dawg's reply post, reckon he's on the money. Trapper Tom

Hey Luderick59 About 20years ago there was a report of a pelican at the entrance. A woman was walking her chihuahua, next to the water. Apparently Mr Pelican jumped up, promptly scooped up the dog in its beak, jumped back in the water and was last seen swimming off with the dog still barking in its pouch and just the leash hanging out from one side!!! I suspect it was a urban myth, others might remember it better. Trapper Tom

G'day fishraiders Thought I'd share this one with you. Funny or Sad! Have Shady Camp NT booked for the run-off starting 17th. for 5 days. We go up to different places in NT every 6 mths for the awesome fishing, its a hard life eh. Decided I need a new wacko rod and reel for casting. Already have really good trolling stuff. Shop guys really really helpful and walked away with a wackydo rod and reel. They even loaded it up with the 30 briad I wanted etc etc. Won't name the company unless admin says OK but they were very good. Came home all excited and immediately set to work on the gear and to work out the drag settings etc etc. Loaded the rod (rated 9kg) and at about 3kgs IT BROKE IN HALF. $299 Rod dead before it was even used. After crying and more crying thought yes this was a good thing as just imagine if i did not do this then the first fish would have done it and I would have been stuffed out in the bush. Called shop and advised No problems bring it in and I get a replacement etc etc. Again really good response. Geez it hurt at the time though!!! All good now Promise to post the pictures of the trip, have not posted in the past as I have only recently joined. Very Impressive site! Regards Trapper Tom

HI Roffo, sorry to hear your bad news. I actually do building approvals as a Accredited Certifier. They are and have been 50% down!! can't see it picking up real quick either, the State government has to drop all its stupid taxes and provide some incentives for a change. Hang in there and good luck Trapper Tom