Lockhart River Report [Archive] - Cape Yorker Forums

Stacky

30-09-2008, 03:15 PM

10 to 15 knots.....you beauty, it's about time.

I took the day off work as the winds will be back to 25 knots by tommorrow.

I was up the river by 8am and flicking my favourite Tilsan around the closest snag i come too. I worked pretty hard for the first hour around all the snags up 1 branch of the river. Caught a few Barra around the 40 & 50cm mark but had dropped a lot. I changed to a Rapala Xrap and had the same results. I then changed to a Nils Master but nothing seem to change, they were biting but not aggressive enough to sink the hooks properly and i was dropping a lot of fish.

I changed my lure again to a Killalure Barra Bait, the tide had now turned and was starting to run out. I headed back out to where i had started, fishing the first few snags. The Barra were now biting a lot more aggressive and i was hooking up every second or third cast. I don't know if it was cause the tide turned or it was my lure change but they were hitting hard and running straight back to the snags.
I was pretty impressed with the fight these little Barra were putting on.

I come home with 1 Barra of 61cm and a GT. I kept the GT cause he swallowed the lure and i had to cut his gills. I normally release them, unless i'm low on dog food. I still eat them too, but not when there's Barra about.

The fishing wasn't as good as the previous week but i still caught probably 20 Barra a GT and small Estuary Cod.

I didn't go for long as my water bottle lid sucked in the fish juices in the esky and i had no water. I was home before 11 am, i reckon i could have done a lot better as the tide dropped but i'm not greedy.

plucker

30-09-2008, 05:41 PM

Stacky, if the weather is calm enough, try out along the flats out the front on the high tides. You will catch heaps of barra and cod in water that is only a metre or so deep. Also the occasional fingermark and obviously trevally and queenies.
About half way along between one of the mouths is a small creek that is tidal. There is always barra on the snags at the mouth there, at high tide.
Go up the creeks on low tide and you will clean up.
Is that huge Groper still hanging out where the TI barge pulls up? You would know it if you saw it as it would be as round as a gum tree and probably as long as your boat.

Stacky

30-09-2008, 06:59 PM

Hi Plucker,
I do do just what you said. It's just that i have made a commitment with myself to explore a new creek or go further up one every time i head over there.
I have been fishing the mazes of the Lockhart River System for nearly 2 years now and still have been all the way up every single creek.

I heard about the big Groper at the barge landing but apparently someone speared it (very sad). There is also a very big one that lives out at Cape Direction (everything i've seen out there is prehistoric and dinosaur size) but i don't mention it to the locals.

When was the last time you fished the Lockhart System?

plucker

30-09-2008, 08:04 PM

It has probably been 3 years since I was up there and it doesn't look like I will get back anytime soon unfortunately.
At the time we would spend a couple of days at a go, from mothership, have done that about 5 or 6 times.
That was when I saw that Groper and it was huge. Be a shame if that was the one speared. At one stage it swam along with the punt about 3 metres away and maintained the same speed and direction as us. Would have been an easy target for the spear unfortunately.

Stacky

01-10-2008, 06:39 AM

I love fishing around this country.

I am the only boat in town that actually heads up the rivers and actually hunt specifically for Barra. The locals will sit in a hole and bottom bounce and even thats pretty rare to see as they usually haunt the bay for dugong and turtle.

Weipa, Bamaga and most of the west coast gets fished commercially and by tourists. Where i am, i never see another boat in the rivers all day. That's why i love it, i'm spoilt, i will find it very difficult to ever fish anywhere else in my life if there's been a boat up it within a week.

The reefs are close here and almost the same scenario.
Very Spoilt!!!

Stacky

01-10-2008, 06:45 AM

Oh!!
I forgot to mention that i finally got another camera off the internet and once i have a backup battery sent, i'll be able to put pics back on here in case anyone had any doubt that fishing is truly this good............................
......well o.k. anyway..........................cause i still haven't busted a metre barra yet.

geoffjy

01-10-2008, 08:57 AM

Last year at spot away from civilistaion we caught over 100 barra in 3 days. The largest was 1.3mt. I didnt get pics of this as i had no camera, so in a way it doesnt count. Lol.

plucker

01-10-2008, 12:29 PM

Stacky you might have to troll to get the bigger ones, although personally that would be my last choice in your country too.
Flickin lures in the Lockhart is something that is so amazing, and fun.
Biggest I managed there was 88cm, and jeez it fought like no tomorrow.
Have you tried the mouth of the Pascoe up the other way?

Stacky

02-10-2008, 06:31 AM

I haven't tried anywhere north of Portlands.

When the winds drop back more consisitently this year i am going to target that way and further up into Xina's country Temple Bay.

The road is good now so i can tow to Portlands, just waiting on the weather.

Maybe Plucker and Xina can send me some mud maps of places worth tackling as it's all virgin country for me on the water.

geoffjy

02-10-2008, 02:03 PM

Do you have any set time off in December Stacky? If you do, how long for?

plucker

02-10-2008, 02:05 PM

Stacky, You should make the Pascoe pretty easily from Portland Roads.
I would guess it would only take 15 to 20 minutes and a bit of the southern stretch would be protected. The Pascoe flows fresh water for most of the year and you only have to go about 4 KM's up before you find yourself in Nipa palm area which require mainly fresh water to live.
I have found the fishing here to be best in the Saltwater section, and the barra are really lethargic in the fresh. The average size of fish that we caught in the Pascoe were bigger than the average size caught in the Lockhart!!
Numbers were similar.

The Olive River further up is a fair bit bigger than the Pascoe, and I have only spent a day there. From what I can understand, the river runs tanin colour most of the time, except when the tide is about half way in to the top.
The mouth is a fair bit clearer for this reason.

Both rivers are very scenic, even if you only see them once.

geoffjy

02-10-2008, 02:08 PM

G'DAy Plucker, when was the last time you were in Temple Bay? And how was the fishing there?

plucker

02-10-2008, 02:22 PM

Been about 3 years now but I was getting there once or twice a year for a few years in a row. At the time we were chasing samples from the wet season and the dry.
We did notice on the last few trips that the trevally were not in the Pascoe like they had been, for some reason.
Possibly to do with the size of the wet.
From the results I saw from previous trips the Olive did fish well and the general size of fish including barra were good size. But most of those trips were in the early stages of the project which would have been 8 years ago, and the Olive was subsequently left off the list.

Stacky

02-10-2008, 03:34 PM

geoffjy

02-10-2008, 03:42 PM

It's gonna be pretty unstable for me at that time this year. I may have time off but i can't really commit to anything unless maybe 1 or 2 days.

Why?
What you planning?

I will be driving up in December though i'm pretty sure. Between 19th and 24th. Only 6 hrs from here, it's a walk in the park. We do a 4hr round trip for a Archer Burger and a beer.

I was wondering whether you could get time off from about the 2nd December to the 12th or 13th? Its fishing related if thatis any help. If you are interested i will PM you the details.

Stacky

02-10-2008, 04:08 PM

geez,
your twisting my arm. It's bloody hard turning down a fishing trip and it's a pretty critical time of year for me. I'll look into my schedule and get back to you.

ant

02-10-2008, 04:18 PM

geoffjy

02-10-2008, 04:24 PM

Guys,
Probably best to use the PM to organise a fishing trip, unless you are really trying to annoy the likes of Campdog!!

Also, Geoff, given that December is closed to barra fishing, I take it you are not actually targeting them but that they may be a by-catch while you are fishing for species such as mangrove jack and salmon...........And, any barra accidentally hooked will be released unharmed with minimal time out of the water.

Ah, sorry Ant, my error. I will not be keeping any and will be using barbless hooks. I am a firm believer in fish conservation.

Stacky

02-10-2008, 04:34 PM

Guys,
Probably best to use the PM to organise a fishing trip, unless you are really trying to annoy the likes of Campdog!!

Also, Geoff, given that December is closed to barra fishing, I take it you are not actually targeting them but that they may be a by-catch while you are fishing for species such as mangrove jack and salmon...........And, any barra accidentally hooked will be released unharmed with minimal time out of the water.

Did not mean to annoy. I doubt i can go anyway (bloody work commitments).

I am happy to leave the Barra alone in the closed season Ant, it's the best time to be out on the reefs anyway.

Good to see you back

ant

02-10-2008, 04:34 PM

Geoff,
No problem. Just figured it was best to clarify things just in case some people got the wrong idea.

Happy fishing and also good to hear of others using barbless hooks.

campdog

02-10-2008, 08:14 PM

Guys,
Probably best to use the PM to organise a fishing trip, unless you are really trying to annoy the likes of Campdog!!

Also, Geoff, given that December is closed to barra fishing, I take it you are not actually targeting them but that they may be a by-catch while you are fishing for species such as mangrove jack and salmon...........And, any barra accidentally hooked will be released unharmed with minimal time out of the water.
Hey,leave me out of this,theres nothing they can do to annoy me.Please by all means plan in this forum,mud maps,photos,GPS points,times,dates an d meeting points, leave them all here ,I dont care.

geoffjy

02-10-2008, 08:16 PM

Hey,leave me out of this,theres nothing they can do to annoy me.Please by all means plan in this forum,mud maps,photos,GPS points,times,dates an d meeting points, leave them all here ,I dont care.

Ah ha, sure you wont Campdog. And when you are up here next you wouldnt even dream of using of that info would you............

geoffjy

02-10-2008, 08:18 PM

This where you should be carfull too Campdog. Dummy GPS coordinates.

campdog

02-10-2008, 08:27 PM

Ah ha, sure you wont Campdog. And when you are up here next you wouldnt even dream of using of that info would you............
Wouldnt think of it,Im sure there would be some nice locals that are willing to take pity and take me fishing,blind folded that is.

geoffjy

02-10-2008, 08:32 PM

Wouldnt think of it,Im sure there would be some nice locals that are willing to take pity and take me fishing,blind folded that is.

and only at night and after you walked around in a circle 20 times blindfolded dont you mean.

campdog

02-10-2008, 08:37 PM

and only at night and after you walked around in a circle 20 times blindfolded dont you mean.
Of course,as long as its not near Jacky Jacky creekl

geoffjy

02-10-2008, 08:40 PM

Of course,as long as its not near Jacky Jacky creekl

He he. You can trust me mate.:confused:

campdog

02-10-2008, 08:45 PM

I used to be one of the keenest fisherman around when i had boats and was a custom rod builder,I cant remember the last time i fished down hereI dont even have a fishing licence.
But as soon as i pack for the Cape it all comes back and i cant fish enough.

geoffjy

02-10-2008, 08:48 PM

I know exactly what you mean. I left up here for a couple of years to work in Port Douglas and i put a line in the water once and that was the only time i fished in 2 years there. All day long fishing in the river and a lousy cod was the only thing i got.

plucker

02-10-2008, 08:50 PM

You guys are spoilt up there.

geoffjy

02-10-2008, 08:53 PM

Mind you though, i didnt have a boat at the time to escape to the reefs. Thats really annoyed me at the time. And yes Plucker, i know i am spolied.

campdog

02-10-2008, 09:07 PM

geoffjy

02-10-2008, 09:09 PM

I couldnt think of a better place to be spoilt in.Ive had enough of this working BS,I winding down and getting the place ready for a market appraisal.Might take another year or so but it will happen.I have a 1957 FE Holden Panelven in the shed and told the better half we might go around OZ in it,that should take away the boredom for a few years.Might even tackle the Cape in it.
John

That sounds like a good idea. I have only done it by boat before. I would love to get over and explore the Kimberlies. And of course while i am there i would have to wet a line.

As for driving your Holden up here, no worries, i wouldnt even hesitate about coming up. Dry season of course.

campdog

02-10-2008, 09:32 PM

That sounds like a good idea. I have only done it by boat before. I would love to get over and explore the Kimberlies. And of course while i am there i would have to wet a line.

As for driving your Holden up here, no worries, i wouldnt even hesitate about coming up. Dry season of course.
Need to do a bit on the Holden to get it up to scratch first.But would be a memorable trip.Definetly no Tele track or nolans Brook and just a little trailer to carry the spares in. I think they would be a bit scarce on the cape.

xina

02-10-2008, 09:39 PM

Hi Stacky,
If you can PM me your mailing address, I can send you a mud-map. I'd be wary of going alone into any of the inlets to fish though, as there are some pretty big Crocs up there. Not sure if it was my Sampson or not, but one flattened mangroves one day, getting back to the water, when a friend of my partner of the time went down there to fish. He got out of there as fast as he could. Wouldn't go back.
Cheers,
xina.

Stacky

03-10-2008, 06:50 AM

Sounds Great Xina,
I'll PM you now.
Oh!!! I would take someone else with me but nobody around here likes flicking lures all day. I'm not about to start bait fishing. Last year we would go in 2 boats out with 4 people, but those boys have left and now i go alone.

If anyone on here is dropping into Lockhart area for a few days i'll take em out. Gladly split the fuel load these days.

Stacky

05-10-2008, 04:17 PM

I've been mucking around with the camera and ended up sticking some other shots on here for you all to enjoy.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/Fishing/IMGP2768.jpg
Tuna caught right in front of Chili Beach Campground....................Nooooooo! I got no idea who's dog that is.............it just came walking out of the bush....honest!!!

Stacky

05-10-2008, 04:22 PM

In this shot the tide ran out quick and this poor blokes boat was tied up and the rope was all tangled around the tree roots which left the rope to short.

We found the owner and hooked a snatch strap up and dragged it up.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/Fishing/IMGP2157.jpg

geoffjy

05-10-2008, 04:26 PM

Did the outbaord go under water at any point? If it didnt, he was very lucky.

Stacky

05-10-2008, 04:31 PM

Yeh,
by the time we found him and come back. All his gear was floating upstream and the about a quarter or more of the boat was completely submerged including the motor.
Another mate here had the exact same thing happen at the same spot. His motor, steering cable and tilt all seezed up weeks later. It's now all back in action thanks to one of our local boys who makes an awesome bush mechanic.

geoffjy

05-10-2008, 04:36 PM

I have had a similar thing happen a couple of years ago at the Jackey Jackey boat ramp. The boat got caught on the side of the ramp as the tide went out and it wound up tipping over. I wasnt very happy with my friend that was supposed to be looking after it.

Another episode i had in the early 90's on the Daintree River was when i tied up my boat and with the incoming tide the outboard leg got caught in a mangrove root. By the time i got back to the boat, the gunwhales were under water but the boat was still floating. I was lucky that it had good flotation. I only needed to bale it out and i was up and running again.

Stacky

05-10-2008, 04:38 PM

Secret Spot!!!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/Fishing/Lockhart060407005.jpg
In the wet season the upper mangrove swamps overflow and cause a mini waterfall in this creek. The fishing is unheard of during this period. Barra, Jacks and Cod. Problem is the trees continually fall into the water and it's a lure losing nightmare. I collect my old worn lures, repaint them with fingernail polish and resharpen the rusty hooks especially for this creek each year. That's a mate in this shot who managed to get that Jack out of the water before it freight trained him.

Footy finals are on now.........to be continued.

geoffjy

05-10-2008, 04:41 PM

Footy finals are on now.........to be continued.

Yeah, i better go too.. Until next time

Stacky

06-10-2008, 03:15 PM

What happen to me pics?

I'll see if i can get em back up!

plucker

06-10-2008, 03:18 PM

Phew, for a minute I thought it was just me.

geoffjy

06-10-2008, 03:21 PM

You definitely need to get that last pic back up Stacky, it was a good one.

Stacky

06-10-2008, 03:24 PM

The last couple of pages are back up.

hang five and i'll slap some more up after i fix the the 4wd topic

Stacky

06-10-2008, 03:39 PM

Action shot

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/IMGP2905.jpg

geoffjy

06-10-2008, 03:47 PM

Whatever it is Stacky, you have done it again.

Stacky

06-10-2008, 03:57 PM

Another secret creek!!!
Looking out towards the mouth of the creek. You could fly straight past this creek and not know it's there.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/P6010339.jpg

geoffjy

06-10-2008, 03:59 PM

Nice pics Stacky.

xina

06-10-2008, 04:06 PM

What am I doing wrong Stacky? I still can't get them. I get the boxes saying they've been deleted or moved.
Cheers,
xina.

geoffjy

06-10-2008, 04:08 PM

Its not you xina. Stacky, there are 4 pics that are still not displaying.

xina

06-10-2008, 04:11 PM

All I can get is the first "Secret Spot."
Cheers,
xina.

geoffjy

06-10-2008, 04:13 PM

All the pics are showing up for me except for the four in post #48.

Stacky

06-10-2008, 04:19 PM

I can't figure it, i didn't do anything different. They are showing on my computer.
I copied the IMG and pasted on here just like the rest of them.

I fixed the photobucket prob

xina

06-10-2008, 04:23 PM

Still can't get past the shot on post #42.
Cheers,
xina.

Stacky

07-10-2008, 02:44 PM

I logged on today and all the pics are on here.

Is anyone else having problems veiwing them.
Maybe i tried to put to much info in one post.
If you want me to i can try and redo the pics and have one per post.

I'll edit it, tell me if it's better.

Stacky

07-10-2008, 02:49 PM

This is the result after the action shot. There were hundreds in the water of this size that day. We kept 2 and played the rest.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/Fishing/IMGP2908.jpg

Stacky

07-10-2008, 02:50 PM

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/Fishing/Easter07Apriladventures056.jpg
This Jack was caught after a long days fishing with nothing in the esky. So, yes i'm happy.

Stacky

07-10-2008, 02:52 PM

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/Fishing/IMGP1873.jpg
my mate Chris with a 96cm Barra. The 87cm one caught moments later wasn't worth a photo after this. It amazes how much size difference there is in a fish that's only a few cm's larger.

Stacky

07-10-2008, 02:56 PM

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/Fishing/P5170101.jpg
This greedy cod smashed my lure and he already had a belly full of shovelnose shark and mudcrab. He regurgitated in the boat.........looooovely!

Stacky

07-10-2008, 03:03 PM

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/Fishing/P5230184.jpg
Double hook up Cape York Style
My record is 3 on 1 lure, 2 trevally and a barra.

Stacky

07-10-2008, 03:08 PM

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/Fishing/P1280366.jpg
My Wife's first ever spaniard. It nearly tore her arms off. She was very tired when it got to the boat and couldn't believe i said it's going back.

Scorcher

07-10-2008, 03:09 PM

Nice shots Stacky,

All appears to be working well now.

Keep 'em coming....

Scorcher

Stacky

07-10-2008, 03:10 PM

Stacky

07-10-2008, 03:12 PM

Well, i think that's the last few pages all fixed up. I hope you can enjoy this time.

geoffjy

07-10-2008, 03:14 PM

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/Stacky74/Fishing/BigCod.jpg
The cod some of you may have seen, it was good fun to catch and release. He dragged the boat around the Lockhart River for some time before landing him.

Those Queensland Groper are a menace sometimes. In a couple of the rivers up here they nail your fish on the way in. They are like freight trains and not much chance of stopping them.

Nice pics Stacky

Stacky

12-10-2008, 01:41 PM

I wenty out for a fish on Saturday up the Lockhart System.
I have never seen so many boats in the river here at the same time. There were 3 other boats and it looked as if they were bait fishing. Once i got my head around the crowd i was competing with, i focused on the fishing and went further up out of sight.
Cod and Jacks were out in full force and smashing my lure on every snag. All the Estuary cod were good size and i kept 2 large ones. The Jacks were around 40 to 45 and i kept 1 big one. Only 1 Barra just legal at 59cm and the rest were released.

I was expecting the Barra bite to be hot because the tides were perfect and the build up to the full moon but it goes to show you never know.

I stopped for a spell before heading off and drifted down the middle of the river enjoying the leftovers of last nights dinner, barramundi and salad.

I came across a family of locals fishing the beach outside the Claudie river and i gave them my 2 big Cod and a GT that i just trolled up in front of them at the river mouth. The misses doesn't eat as much fish as me lately and i was already planning on sharing out a few fish to the people who don't have a boat so they were in the right spot at the right time.

I have pics of fish caught and released just not downloaded yet.

Yowa!!!

plucker

15-11-2008, 11:55 PM

Are you gettin a few up that way Stacky or have you been slowed down with the preps for the move?

geoffjy

27-11-2008, 09:47 PM

Are you gettin a few up that way Stacky or have you been slowed down with the preps for the move?

I would say he is pretty busy at the moment. I havnt seen him much online and its only just over a week before he moves into his new place up here. Thats if seaswift doesnt stuff it up and send it to cairns.

Doesnt look like we will be getting any fishing reports from Lockhart River anymore. On the upside of things i wont have to go fishing as Stacky will be here now to show you how good the fishing is up here. Mmmmm. I wonder how long that will last for?

plucker

27-11-2008, 10:01 PM

Will be sad to lose a contact in this area, as it really is remarkable country. It fishes as good if not better than where you are Geoff.

geoffjy

27-11-2008, 10:07 PM

Will be sad to lose a contact in this area, as it really is remarkable country. It fishes as good if not better than where you are Geoff.

I believe you. In the last 15 years i have seen a decline in fish numbers here. Why do you think i travel long distances down the east and west coasts to go fishing?

I havnt had much to do with Lochart River. Will have to get down there one day.

plucker

27-11-2008, 10:09 PM

Its far enough away from North and South to be bothered. So it is good country.
Other areas around there can be just as good also.

geoffjy

27-11-2008, 10:16 PM

About as close to Lochart as i have been is the turnoff on the main road. I'm not sure if it is still there but there used to be a large pond just in from the turnoff. Half boil a potato, throw it in and half an hour later, throw your cast net over it. Just with one throw i used to get about 40 - 50 redclaw.

xina

30-11-2008, 06:40 PM

I believe you. In the last 15 years i have seen a decline in fish numbers here. Why do you think i travel long distances down the east and west coasts to go fishing?

I havnt had much to do with Lochart River. Will have to get down there one day.

Are the Longliners still operating Geoff or were they finally gotten rid of ? They were a menace quite a while ago around the Portland Roads area.

Cheers,
xina.

plucker

30-11-2008, 08:11 PM

Customs are a lot more active now than they used to be. I know that whenever our mothership pulled up for 1/2 hour or so they would do a fly over to investigate. Safe anchorage spots were left alone however.

xina

30-11-2008, 08:14 PM

Thanks for that Plucker,
Cheers,
xina.

geoffjy

30-11-2008, 10:10 PM

Are the Longliners still operating Geoff or were they finally gotten rid of ? They were a menace quite a while ago around the Portland Roads area.

Cheers,
xina.

They do still occasionally operate here xina. In the last 3 years there was one episode where they even landed north of Weipa and refused to move. They had to be relocated to a detention centre. There were also several apprehended last year and one or two this year that i know about.

Customs are a lot more active than they used to be several years ago. When we were down the west they passed over every day about 11am. After the first 3 days, when they passed over they dipped there wings in greeting.

xina

30-11-2008, 10:56 PM

They do still occasionally operate here xina. In the last 3 years there was one episode where they even landed north of Weipa and refused to move. They had to be relocated to a detention centre. There were also several apprehended last year and one or two this year that i know about.

Customs are a lot more active than they used to be several years ago. When we were down the west they passed over every day about 11am. After the first 3 days, when they passed over they dipped there wings in greeting.

The ones I'm talking about, I don't think were foreigners Geoff, if I'm remembering rightly. Good old Greedy Aussies unfortunately. Glad Coastwatch seems to be more on the ball these days.

Cheers,
xina.