Late report from W.A. - part 2

[Yowie]

After leaving Kalbarri, we headed to Denham, out on the eastern side of a peninsular, with Monkey Mia on the eastern side.

Rain was forecast for the night we arrived at Denham, however, 4 inches fell during the night. The locals stated it was a record fall for the middle of the year. All dirt roads were flooded, and closed by the council, red dirt flooded across local roads and nowhere to go but the Aquarium to see various fish species, including some Stonefish. Just look like rocks until you push down on the back, and the 13 poisonous spines pop up and are strong enough to penetrate most shoes.

The colour in the water after the rain put the squid off the bite the next few days, so visited Monkey Mia to see the dolphin feeding.

Next stop was Carnarvon, however, the rain had headed that way and flooded the Gasgoyne River. Solid red/brown muddy water flowed out for days so far that it could be seen on the horizon. That buggered the fishing, as I did not have a boat to get out of the muddy waters.

Next stop was Coral Bay, a fish sanctuary, and the off shore winds (easterly) were blowing a gale. Plenty of fish to see, including some large Emperor in waist deep water, but no fishing allowed. Headed to a nearby beach for a fish, no fish there as they were all in the sanctuary zone.

Stopped at Exmouth for several days, it was also out on a peninsular on the eastern side. Every morning the wind hit just before sunrise. A few fishos from the van park tried wetting a line, but the strong easterlies clouded up the water, and casting was difficult.

The wind was calm one morning, so I headed to the other side of the peninsular to a beach fishing spot, and the wind hit just as I arrived. At least it was blowing behind me. An occasional fish hitting the surface, but out of lure casting range, so I tied on ganged hooks and a pillie. Little pickers kept chewing off the pillies, so I hooked up a salted mullet fillet. I found a 30cm mullet on the bank at Kalbarri, so scooped it up, cut off the fillets and salted them and into the freezer in a plastic bag.

The first fillet was picked at a few times - cast out the fillet then a slow stop/start retrieve. After a dozen or so casts, a good hit, no hook up, second hit, no hook up, third hit and a hook up. Felt like a nice fish, then gone. Wound in to find the hooks and 10 to 15cm of heavier trace bitten clean through, did not make sense at the time.

Another set of ganged hooks and the other mullet fillet, some more casting and a hook up. This fish roars around the surface for a while, then pulled out a Great Barracuda, 66cms and a new species. No sooner out of the water and a 1.5 metre whaler shark turns up, probably explains the bite off. The whaler was swimming out of the water and getting stranded on the sand, trying to follow the Barracuda scent.

Guessing that was the end of the fishing, I killed and bled the Barracuda, cut off the fillets and took them home. Buried the scraps up the back of the sand dunes as the locals directed, to stop feeding and attracting more sharks. Read reports that Barracuda were either average eating, or excellent eating. To me, average eating, brilliant white flesh but not a lot of flavour, a sauce would have helped.

[Yowie]

Next stop was Karratha, now the possibility of crocodiles, definitely sharks, cone shells, stone fish, marine stingers.  Keep out of the water. Found a nice little creek, run up tide, mangroves, looked good, but only sand flies on the bite.

Stopped at Port Hedland, big tides, keep out of the water, but no hits on a lure in the harbour. Tried a fishing charter, but booked out due to the high number of tourists and grey nomads in the area. Headed inland for a few weeks , then back to the coast at Pardoo, north east of Port Hedland.

A nice river to fish, but only on the last of the run up. Check the muddy banks before fishing to see if there were any crocodile footprints on the banks. I bought a kilo of large frozen banana prawns for eating, but grabbed a few for bait and headed to the river. Sticky brown mud, snags, little pickers, then as the tide slowed down, 3 hits in 3 casts and 3 Yellow
Finned Bream. They look like Northern Yellow Finned Bream, then no more bites. Another fisho pulled a small Queenfish, but that was it. The fillets were fairly good eating

[Yowie]

Next stop was Broome, no fishing (charters booked out) but a good time at the beach for several days, swimming and surfing, jammed pack with tourists from all over the world. The crocs usually don't visit this beach too often, though you swim  amongst others to reduce your risk of being lunch. 

A few inland stops for a while, then to Kununurra in northern W.A. Tried the Victoria River Crossing nearby, water flows over the weir all the time and crocs and Barra are a possibility, though in mid winter the water temperature is a bit cool for both. No Barra, but pulled out a 30cm Tarpon on a lure, another new species for me. Was released.

The next day I tried a few more of the prawns, and pulled out a Sooty Grunter, about 30cm and another new species, also released. A day visit to Lake Argyle, home to fresh water fish, and the lake holds 21 times the amount of water of Sydney Harbour.

(part 3 is next, and the last)

[Rock&Beach]

Great report Yowie. If it males you feel better i have never done much good at Coral Bay.  That back beach was a great spot to snorkel with plenty of Manta Rays around to watch. Sharks too. One of the bigger ever tailor i have ever seen was pulled out of that beach as well. 

Plenty of space between the fishing spots though in WA.

Waiting for the next report Cheers R&B 

[Yowie]

51 minutes ago, Rock&Beach said:

Great report Yowie. If it males you feel better i have never done much good at Coral Bay.  That back beach was a great spot to snorkel with plenty of Manta Rays around to watch. Sharks too. One of the bigger ever tailor i have ever seen was pulled out of that beach as well. 

Plenty of space between the fishing spots though in WA.

Waiting for the next report Cheers R&B 

Just happened to be a windy period when I was there.