the fresh alternative

[ant]

For most people traveling to the cape to go fishing, the majority are only thinking of the saltwater options. For those interested, it is very worth the effort to look at the freshwater options as well. The cape has a massive area of fresh water in rivers, billabongs, lagoons, etc that can provide some great fishing.

One thing to note is that you will need permission to access some of these areas but that is not a hard thing to do either.

If anyone wants more info on this then please let me know.

I would like any info you can provide as I am a keen angler and am coming up there in july. Is the water to cold at this time of year. What fish will i catch at that time of year. How and were are permits given

[ant]

Hi Guest,
I am more than happy to help out. To make my job easier, what sort of fishing do you intend to do? Things such as what sort of fishing gear you have, what vehicle, etc.

The weather in the cape doesn't really get cold. Freshwater fishing will bring you in contact with barra, saratoga, sooty grunter, and a few others at that time of year.

As for permits, you will only need these if you are going into DOGIT areas such as Pennefather. Apart from that, the most you will need is permission from some of the stations if you are going onto their land.

Hope this is a start and talk again soon.

Since my last post as GUEST I am now registered as Yoyo.

I will have a 3.1m tinney 8hp marcury. I will have 5.7' boat rods with 15 to 20lb braid and heavy overheads with 50lb braid.

Travelling in a GU patrol 4.2 TD 4"lift and lockers with trailer. Assortment of lures mostly saltwater. I would Love to catch a toga as always been one of my favorite fish of all.

Thanks for quick response

[ant]

YoYo, With a small boat and small motor, be careful! Our crocs are bigger than the boat you have and the outboard may find it hard in the salt with the tides.

From Weipa, I would only safely venture out from the ramp at Evans Landing and head to the leads and the mouth of Triluck Creek, particularly on the top of the run-in tide and also the first of the run out tide.

The gear you have is heavy enough and may be too heavy to have any real fun with the saratoga.
These fish will be in the billabongs and the freshwater streams of rivers such as the Wenlock. If you have a map of the area, check on there for the closest access to the Wenlock and head into areas of deeper water. Billabongs are all over the place and a well placed lure will get slaughtered very quickly.
Good ol' soft plastics are the way to go in the billabongs.

For the record, I prefer to use a threadline reel with 4 pound braid when fishing the fresh. I will be there in late June/early July.

Thanks ant. I have a few questions for you?

1) Have you fished virilya point if so is it good?

2) I have been concerned about crocs being bigger than my boat should I upgrade 8hp to 15hp?

3) Are saratoga Ateable or just sport fish?

4) Are crocs less active at this time of year?

Can you please give me a few GPS points of area to fish. I'm not wanting your secret spots (unless you feel generous) but just to get idea of were i'm going and to see how far of the main track they are.

Is there a reason you are going in the quite fishing season or is it the only time you can go?

Thx for all you help it is much apreciated

[ant]

Thanks ant. I have a few questions for you?

1) Have you fished virilya point if so is it good?
Haven't fished Virilya as such but the area up there is good fishing. Virilya is a very popular spot for people to go.

2) I have been concerned about crocs being bigger than my boat should I upgrade 8hp to 15hp?
Crocs shouldn't be too much of a problem as long as you keep your distance and don't do anyting stupid like cleaning fish at the waters edge or trying to grab a struggling fish at the side of the boat.

3) Are saratoga Ateable or just sport fish?
Never eaten one but hear they are very boney. To me they are only a sportfish.

4) Are crocs less active at this time of year?
This time of the year, they have finished breeding so are not as agressive. they tend to quieten down in the 'cooler' months.

Can you please give me a few GPS points of area to fish. I'm not wanting your secret spots (unless you feel generous) but just to get idea of were i'm going and to see how far of the main track they are.
I am not able to assist you there as the gps points I have are all of areas that I do not want others to know about and are also on private/doggit land. The best bet is to get some maps of the areas you intend on fishing and pick some of the billabongs off the main rivers-every one of them will have fish.

Is there a reason you are going in the quite fishing season or is it the only time you can go?
Fresh water fishing is best from June-September/October.

Thx for all you help it is much apreciated

Hope this is of some help to you.

Thanks for putting so much effort into answering my questions. I have a hema laptop map I will start really studing that as far as to find these billiabongs.

[mix chasing cars patrol s]

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[YOYO]

cars listen snow chasing patrol cars buy patrol snow chasing (http://www.shrunkurl.com/index.php?id=14824)

And that actually makes sense to you mate?

[batesy72]

cars listen snow chasing patrol cars buy patrol snow chasing (http://www.shrunkurl.com/index.php?id=14824)

Yoyo, this is the kind of post that really tests my patience. SPAM. I wish I knew how to admin this board properly so I could lock this stuff out.

I'm in the process of uploading a completely new Forum Program... just like 4WDmonthly's forum board. Hopefully it goes live soonish, coz I'm sick of deleting bloody SPAM.

Of course to be fair the fella did mention 'Patrols', maybe that's the only way they can sell em!!

[batesy72]

I am not able to assist you there as the gps points I have are all of areas that I do not want others to know about and are also on private/doggit land. The best bet is to get some maps of the areas you intend on fishing and pick some of the billabongs off the main rivers-every one of them will have fish.



Come on Ant, give thee fish to the masses ... think of yourself as the Northern Jesus!! :lol:

Or cut your hair and stop being a pretender. :D

[Nedly]

Of course to be fair the fella did mention 'Patrols', maybe that's the only way they can sell em!!
&
Absolutely nothing... since it will even out when I have to charge you for tow fees!!

That's 2, I haven't taken the bait, YET.

Nedly

[batesy72]

Come on Nedly, take the bait ... after all it is the 'FISHING' thread of the board...!!

[YOYO]

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Yoyo, this is the kind of post that really tests my patience. SPAM. I wish I knew how to admin this board properly so I could lock this stuff out.

I'm in the process of uploading a completely new Forum Program... just like 4WDmonthly's forum board. Hopefully it goes live soonish, coz I'm sick of deleting bloody SPAM.

Of course to be fair the fella did mention 'Patrols', maybe that's the only way they can sell em!!


So now i know what spam is. I don't understand it or aren't you suppose to.

Well 60 odd days to go till i'm up there I can't wait. I pick up my new trailer next week so I can start packing to see how I am going to fit the stuff in. I'm going to BCF in the next few days to get some more lures. I hope the fish are biting when I get there.

[YOYO]

Come on Nedly, take the bait ... after all it is the 'FISHING' thread of the board...!!

So what do you drive batesy. It sound like you're a Cruiser, KIA or Hyundai man to me. Nothing wrong with those veichles don't be ashamed there about as good as each other

[batesy72]

Daihatsu Terios - Two-tone duco, four vent air-cond, Genuine vinyl trimmed seats, long-handled auto, plus it has half a dozen recovery point hooks on the rear, just so I can tow several Patrols around the Cape at once!

When it's out of fuel I drive an 80 series Cruiser GXL, 2inch lift, baby seat, petrol guzzling (1Litre every 5km!!), auto. The auto doesn't help with the juice consumption (and before you mongrels laugh - I will never buy another manual again because the auto is brilliant).

I don't actually own a Terios - but probably would if I had to chose between it and a Patrol. :lol:

Bizzzzzz ... listen to that line go out... the 'Bates' on but are there any bites?!

[Nedly]

Come on Nedly, take the bait ... after all it is the 'FISHING' thread of the board...!!

Nah, bait's not that attractive, poorly presented.

[Nedly]

(and before you mongrels laugh - I will never buy another manual again because the auto is brilliant).

Funnily enough I agree with you, virtually impossible to pick a wrong gear in an auto.
My other vehicle is a Pathfinder, auto petrol, no other options for that model.
The one problem is steep downhills, you have to brake through acceleration, a bit hard to get used too but necessary to keep traction.

Truth is, no matter what you drive, if you are out enjoying the outdoors you're OK, and that includes TOYota drivers :)

Nedly

[batesy72]

Yep, there are a few disadvantages to having the auto, but mostly the ease of bush driving over-rules them.

Of course I say this and next time I'll be out on some track wishing I could roll start or something.

[YOYO]

Hey batesy,
The fish aint biting you better change bait mate. Thats ok, throw a bit of burley, that might help. So have you got a manual licence or are you one of these new age blokes that go and get an auto licence and think that you will get a real licence later.LOL

It's ok if you don't doesn't affect the way i think of you :)

[batesy]

'New age' ... I reckon I must be getting 'Old Aged' - I'm so lazy I even use the cruise control...!

My last car was a manual - all 3 coloumn shift gears! RIP the old Kingswood.

Before that it was a Landrover which kept popping out of gear - not good when you're low range down a steep hill. That car cured me of any car with the word ROVER in it.