North Australian FISH FINDER forums

Hi All

So far I have a perfect record fishing in Darwin harbour.
Went out 5 times and have got SQUAT every time (keepers that is). I can see fish on the sounder but catch nada.

I dont know if I am fishing the wrong tides or not positioning the boat over the wrecks properly or both. I havent had a boat long so I am new to this but I have caught many a fish in mates boats.

So now I have put the humiliation aside and going to ask the fishing GURUs some advice.

I have been told various stories from fishing work mates if ya wanna go for barra do it on the low tides in the creeks around the harbour aim for about a 1.5m low tide.
Does this sound about right or lower spring tides work equally as well???

Fishing the incoming on the wrecks you want about at least 3m movement??

Does this also sound right???
Is the incoming tide better than the outgoing tide?

I was thinking about catching the incoming tide tonight Fri 5-10/2007
19:23 - 2.89m.
Would this tide be any good to fish the wrecks in the harbour?
I would be using the old squid and pillies as bait and maybe even throw on the old squid shaped fishing jig.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Cheers
H

H,
mate you and me are in the same club. I have fished the harbour plenty of times in the last couple of years and dont have a wholelot to show for it.
Yes i reckon the best tides for barra are the really low ones so springs are the go.
As for the wreck fishing that one area i have not yet cracked - i do know from discussions from those int he know that you have to get your anchor set just right cos if you are not right over the fish you've got no show. now i have not yet managed to get that right - hence my frustration - however plenty of people do get plenty of fish in the harbour so stick with it.
Squid and pillie is my number one bait for jewies etc so you shouldnt go too far wrong.

Shane

Hayruss, the info you got from your work mates sounds pretty solid. For Barra fishing I like 1.2 metre low or any where in that area. I do fish for barra on a high low but on these tides I tend to be on the mud flats. As for bottom bouncing I find some movement is needed. The best advice that I can offer is get to know an area. fish it on different tides at different times. The more knowledge you have on an area the more choices you can make. If that fails, there are always your work mates you can get advice from. Never under estimate this advice, that is, unless you have a poor working relaitinship with them.

Good Luck

Excellent advice thanks Guys
It sounds like I am doing some things right I will get there eventually.

I did make it out in the Harbour tonight and went to the Kelat.
All I can really say is the record has increased to six outings in the Harbour wothout getting a keeper. Thats OK I will keep trying I reakon once I master positioning the boat on the right spot I will have it licked and carch numerous fish. WOooHOoo

Found the mark no probs nice bump and a few little ledges show up on the sounder fish of all sizes hanging around. I thought to myself this is it I am finally gunna get a couple snapper (keepers)

After about 10 goes to put myself on the right spot trying to judge the wind and the tide movement cause it was a tad windy tonight I said Firk it and just hooked up where it was. On the sounder were a lot of little fish swiming through with the odd big bugger.

I wet the line and waited, cracked a beverage and got the odd bite hear and there not really big though.

I even tried some jigging but no hits.

I did get 4 fish to the boat all 4 were juvenille Barra/night fish all of which where about 8 - 9 inches long.
Of course they got tossed back into the drink. I was toying with the idea of taking the sides off one fish and using that as bait but they all got a reprieve.

So no keepers but that is OK sometimes it is great to just get out on the water but I am starting to get hammered by the missus, "wondering where the fish are?"

Thanks again for the advice

H

The tide advise is all spot on IMHO.... bigger tides are better in the harbour and I like to fish the 1-1.5mtr lows.... A lot of the time some areas will just be dead and you will need to try and find the bait.......same old story.....FIND THE BAIT FIND THE FISH.....

As for fishing the wrecks...... you do need to be spot on.....what I do is sound over the wreck a few times and see where the fish are hanging on it (if at all) and then i bring the boat to a stop over my spot and ping it on the plotter and let the boat drift off the mark by a 100mtrs or so...

Then I motor back to my mark and stay on the same heading and go past the spot by say....50mtrs (depends on the current) then I drop the pick and let out rope until the boat is just in front of the mark.....works ok for me


You don't need a plotter to do this ... a H/H GPS will be ok.. and some times you need a sand pick not a reef pick as the fish might be riding the pressure wave at the front of the wreck......if that is the case you need the sand pick to hold out in the mud for you..


The other trick is to drop a marker boy on the area you wish to fish... this will give you a good visual reference as to where you sounded out the fish and you don't need a GPS to use one If you want one craig at GOT ONE has them for sale nice and cheap....

Hope some of that helps you out..... if you need some more info just ask or send me a PM with you number and I'll try help out if I can

Thanks 2Rods

Great info

Next time I head out to the wrecks I will definatley give that a try.
(And may the fishing gods smile upon me)

I have got a Garmin H/Held GPS which has the tracking function so it will be ideal.

Thanks Again



Cheers
H

That's a great anchoring tip 2-rods. I struggle to get the boat over the spot I actually want often!! I try it out and see if i can nail it.