cobourg tips : Going Fishing?

Horsehead · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:12 am Post subject: cobourg tips

Traveling to cobourg with few mates and our kids in next few weeks .
Taking camper trailer 2x 3.7 tinnys and a 4m centre side on trailer.
Any info would be appreciated about road, fishing and camp as this is first time in NT.

Matt Flynn · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: cobourg tips

Great area out there for pelagics - queenfish, trevs, barracuda.

Some big tiger squid around the foreshores.

A few reefies out wide at Orontes, although with your boats, Table Head etc would be safer, and there a few small reefies there.

Smallish coral trout and trickies on the shallow reefs. Some jacks too.

Down into Essington, Record Point is an interesting sandbar with a deep drop-off, with a few barra inside on the big flat, and barra and salmon in the creeks at the far southern end of Essington.

Take some surface and shallow lures.

It's not a great barra area, it's all about skinnies and trevs out that way, and flicking lures around the rocks.

It's a long bumpy road, can be quite corrugated, take spare everything.

Crocs are there, cray diving is risky.

Agent99 · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:38 pm Post subject: Re: cobourg tips

Horsehead, I went out there a few years back when the huts were still operating as was the Black Point store. Unfortunately things have changed and the store is not operating anymore, so you have to make sure you are completely stocked with all provisions you require for your stay. I understand the camping areas at Smith Point are divided into generator and non-generator areas, and there is a reasonable bit of information on the NT Parks & Wildlife website - if you haven't already seen this have a look at http://www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-pa ... gariggunak

It is a gorgeous scenic location and there is certainly great fishing to be done, on my visit I went on a charter that was operating out there at the time, and we caught some great fish just not far out of the mouth of Port Essington near Smith Point, including a very good jewie and a lovely big coral trout. Hope you have a great trip

Trier · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:47 pm Post subject: Re: cobourg tips

99, you forgot to mention the witty reparte of your fellow crew, and the fun trip home wondering where the lifejackets were.....

Agent99 · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:07 pm Post subject: Re: cobourg tips

And the excitement of navigating to and from the good ship Davanti in that tiny inflatable at all times of day and night, and in varying states of inebriation!

Horsehead · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:34 am Post subject: Re: cobourg tips

Thanks guys as long as we can get there safely catch a few fish and kids learn something while having good time I'll be happy.
After camping , fishing and hunting trips around nsw and qld I'm use to some obstacles but think this trip may present some new ones?
The wives are already losing sleep about us taking kids that way into croc infested waters with tinnys. But what's life without a little adventure?

slug · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:00 am Post subject: Re: cobourg tips

Matt Flynn wrote:

It's a long bumpy road, can be quite corrugated, take spare everything.

This is an understatement - take x2 spare of everything. That track can & will test every facet of your vehicle & trailer (& shake yer teeth out :naughty:

).

Est_1982 · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:06 pm Post subject: cobourg tips

On that subject, any tips for towing a 5+ m plate boat on a trip like that?

Agent99 · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:01 pm Post subject: Re: cobourg tips

Horsehead, on crocs, I honestly can't recall seeing one croc anywhere in Port Essington during the week that I was there in Sept 2007 (although Trier will correct me if I'm wrong). No doubt they are around, and you should exercise all the usual precautions such as not cleaning fish near camp or leaving carcasses around, try to avoid going to the same spot on the shore day after day (they will watch you!), and certainly don't go in the water to swim no matter how tempting it may look - sharks are also a reason for that. However, within Port Essington, you really don't have to go on lengthy journeys to find fishing spots, and within the inlet you should be able to find sheltered waters to keep boating safe.

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