Penguin Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 (edited) Hi everyone, My family and I just got back from a week in Darwin. The weather was dry and 30-32 degrees during the day. While I was there I managed to get on 2 half day charters and 1 full day charter. The fishing was a little on the slow side, and according to the locals the low water temp of 22 degrees this time of year is responsible. I found some huge prawns in Darwin and I was keen to try them on the boats, free floating peeled prawns was a non event as the current up there was running faster than an Olympic sprinter. They get 7 mtr tides up there so u can imagine how fast the current has to flow to move such large volumes of water. We had big snapper sinkers on the bottom of our rigs and even then it was hard to hold bottom most of the time. The other annoying thing was on the full day charter we were sitting on a reef way offshore, and not much was happening, when all of a sudden we had tuna 80-100 meters away leaping clear of the water. these fish weren't huge, probably 8-10kgs, all on board pleaded with the skipper to motor the boat a bit closer to the tuna, but he refused. He kept saying they wont be up for long maybe a minute or two so it would be a waste of time. Well we sat there catching little stripy fish (Spanish flag I think) and for a good 30 or so mins those damn tuna kept teasing us, we were so disappointed. However my sons and I did manage a small handful off fish along with a 103cm Jew, which was hooked on squid bait kept down deep using a huge lead sinker. It took off like a slow freight train and stayed down deep near the reef for awhile before I could turn him up towards the boat. He was cleaned on the boat and cooked up on the bbq for all to enjoy. Tasted great We also went landbased fishing around Cullen Bay breakwall and also the ferry wharf. We saw some Barra there under the yellow light at nightime along with a heap of squid chasing tiny baitfish, I left my squid jigs back home in Sydney One of my LB sesh's at dawn saw me at the breakwall, on the high tide where the local tackle shop owner told me there were Queenfish caught the day before by a couple of locals on poppers. Armed with some poppers, and other assortment of lures and sp's, I tried my luck. The queenies were there alright. They would follow my popper all the way back to the rocks at my feet and turn away . I tried every lure and sp I had to no avail. I even turfed out large peeled prawns and whole pillies but they didn't touch anything, they would only be interested in tailing my poppers but not hitting them. Anyway I enjoyed seeing up close them at least. We had fun cant wait to go back when the water temp up there gets up to 30deg. here's a few pics The calm waters of the north. No swell up there at all. My 7yr old and his 1st Darwin fish, we got heaps of these but no size to them. A Hammer I hooked on a piece of Saurie. My Jew about to be landed. 103cm NT Jewie. My sons Golden Snapper. A Mother in Law fish (some kind of Bream) My 6yr olds fish (I dont recal name) tasted great on boats bbq. My boy lands a turtle released unharmed My 6yr old foul hooks this little fish. I caught this eel lookin thing at Cullen bay ferry wharf, any one know what its called. Edited July 27, 2009 by penguin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tan the fisherman Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 (edited) Mate - that is an awsome post!!! Well done on the fish. Even better though is the happiness on your sons face. You two have now built a bond that will never be broken. Im looking forward to taking my boy on similar trips when he is old enough. PS: that sized hammer-head is GREAT eating!!! Very tasty fish Edited July 27, 2009 by tan the fisherman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Rock Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 The one with a name you don't recall is a tuskfish - one of the most prized eating fish on the planet. Looks like you had a great time there. Lots of fish and lots of smiles. You just can't beat the top-end as a fishing destination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted July 27, 2009 Author Share Posted July 27, 2009 PS: that sized hammer-head is GREAT eating!!! Very tasty fish Unfortunatly or fotunatly the charter boat has a no sharks on board policy due to all the bare toes on deck. The one with a name you don't recall is a tuskfish - one of the most prized eating fish on the planet. Thats the one thanks Mondo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squid hunter Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 great trip mate nice shark regards Squid Hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CR@ZY OS@M@ Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 well done penguin on getting that jew ,good to get away and do some fishing elsewhere. top stuff,your kids had a ball by the looks of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Iceman Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Looks like a fun trip Blackspot tuskfish Mother in law fish is a slatey bream And the eel looks like a pike eel You need a lot of speed to turn the queenies on when poppering Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davemmm Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 I even turfed out large peeled prawns Aahhh so they dont work for you everywhere after all. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmaniac Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Well done Pengiun, A great trip up north by the sounds of things. And it certainly seems like the boys had fun. Well done Cheers, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birddog Posted July 27, 2009 Share Posted July 27, 2009 Sounds like a good trip, love Darwin. I went out with a Darwin Charter and they were like that as well, just bottom bashing too bad if you want to do anything else or there are no fish on that spot. Have fished the Cullen bay rock wall many times, fair walk round to the end across those rocks but is usually worth it. Have caught Queenies on metals off there before havent tried poppers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harold Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Darwin seems a lot better than Pittwater! Good on you for your catch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray R Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Good report mate, sounds like a fantastic trip and the kids obviously had a ball too.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatty rock Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 well done boys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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