South on the big neaps
Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 6:16 am
Mid November saw me and old mate plan to hit the South Alligator for the dead neaps for a few days. We left Humpty at 0430 to catch the small high tide taking 2 boats. Arriving at the ramp just after 0600 we found the tide already running out making the first 10/15 K’s a bit of a pain dodging sand bars as my GPS track for the South had somehow been deleted. 
First drop was for a jew just before the low in the main channel inside of Field Island. We both bagged out on average size (7/8 kilo) jew in no time at all and left them biting. It was now time to go chase snapper out on the rubbly bottom on the outside of the Islands.
With the tide turned to slowly run back in small fish came on the chew but nothing worth keeping so all were returned to the water. Mid afternoon with the tide now half way back in and a monster storm building out in the east all hell broke loose with good goldies starting to come over the side and horse size (60cm) Ock Ock’s.
In no time at all the goldie bag limit was reached and we decided to run for cover before the storms belted us in open water. We hid up in the shallows and cleaned fish while the storm blew itself out. This is when we were reminded how cunning the old crocs can be, when from nowhere a 4 meter beast came up right next to the boat and waved the carcase of 0ne of our Ock Ock at us. I have seen them show off like this before waving the fish and chomping on it right in front of us before taking it into the mangroves to eat it, only to return a short time later looking for more prompting us to move on. 
Dusk saw us trolling Brookes as the tide was dropping trying our luck for a few Barra. We managed 4 fish between us with only one keeper a nice little 60cm chrome job. We called it quits for the day at about 2100 and set up for the night out on the mudflats to cook a feed and sleep.
That night the storms were on the horizon but spared us from rain keeping us cool with a light breeze blowing all night. Daylight saw us trolling the dropping tide inside Brookes when I hooked up to a monster fish but it didn’t jump just dogged it out down deep I had my suspicions and was right as it turned out to be a big Stingray that I must of jagged while bouncing the lure along the bottom.
We did manage a half a dozen more Barra the best being only a 65cm model.
As the low tide approached we decided to head for home a day early as we had our limit of goldies, jew and a nice feed of barra. Heading up the South on the low gave me a good opportunity to plot a new track into the GPS for future trips.
Only down side of the trip was having to skin fish when we got home (slimy snot job that makes zero sense)
Cheers
First drop was for a jew just before the low in the main channel inside of Field Island. We both bagged out on average size (7/8 kilo) jew in no time at all and left them biting. It was now time to go chase snapper out on the rubbly bottom on the outside of the Islands.
With the tide turned to slowly run back in small fish came on the chew but nothing worth keeping so all were returned to the water. Mid afternoon with the tide now half way back in and a monster storm building out in the east all hell broke loose with good goldies starting to come over the side and horse size (60cm) Ock Ock’s.
In no time at all the goldie bag limit was reached and we decided to run for cover before the storms belted us in open water. We hid up in the shallows and cleaned fish while the storm blew itself out. This is when we were reminded how cunning the old crocs can be, when from nowhere a 4 meter beast came up right next to the boat and waved the carcase of 0ne of our Ock Ock at us. I have seen them show off like this before waving the fish and chomping on it right in front of us before taking it into the mangroves to eat it, only to return a short time later looking for more prompting us to move on. Dusk saw us trolling Brookes as the tide was dropping trying our luck for a few Barra. We managed 4 fish between us with only one keeper a nice little 60cm chrome job. We called it quits for the day at about 2100 and set up for the night out on the mudflats to cook a feed and sleep.
That night the storms were on the horizon but spared us from rain keeping us cool with a light breeze blowing all night. Daylight saw us trolling the dropping tide inside Brookes when I hooked up to a monster fish but it didn’t jump just dogged it out down deep I had my suspicions and was right as it turned out to be a big Stingray that I must of jagged while bouncing the lure along the bottom.
We did manage a half a dozen more Barra the best being only a 65cm model.As the low tide approached we decided to head for home a day early as we had our limit of goldies, jew and a nice feed of barra. Heading up the South on the low gave me a good opportunity to plot a new track into the GPS for future trips.
Only down side of the trip was having to skin fish when we got home (slimy snot job that makes zero sense)
Cheers
