Tiwi Islands Fishing
We have a very special show for you this week. It's the first of my trailerboat treks. And what a trek! I'm heading to the Tiwi Islands - fishing around Bathurst and Melville Island - about 100 kilometres off the coast of Darwin.
I'll be spending 5 days exploring dozens of waterways. So I can't take just any run-of-the-mill trailer boat. I'm having one custom-made for adventure.
My new baby is a Haines Hunter 680 Patriot. First step - the hull.
Haines Hunter uses special fibreglass that's 5 times stronger than the standard stuff. This makes the hull much heavier, which displaces more water to give a drier ride.
6 weeks later, she's looking a bit smarter. The Haines Hunter crew are adding the finishing touches…and I'm like a kid at Xmas!
The Patriot has been purpose-built for filming my fishing adventures. So it has a walk-around deck, a 500 litre underfloor fuel tank for the long journeys ahead… and most importantly, power to burn.Two engine batteries and four house batteries - with an inverter so we can switch from 12 to 240 volt power. And it's all charged by the sun.
Up at the cockpit, the tacho and fuel management system, pump and winch controls, GME electrophone, VHF radio and a Lowrance sounder with plotter and GPS.
A Comec fridge and freezer has been built into the helm seat. And out on the back deck, the boys have installed a Johnson saltwater deck wash which reaches right around the engines. The same pump also aerates the baittank, which is designed for livebait up top and big fish down below.
I've added a retractable bimini for extra shade… And my personal favourite - 6 built-in tackle drawers.
Out front, a Muir 12 Volt winch controls the Sarca anchor.
Now this will
be my home away from home, so I've installed a few creature comforts.
In the cabin - there's plenty of storage, and an electric toilet
which flushes at the touch of a button.
And the most essential ingredient for my Territory trek, plenty of water. 210 litres of water , which allows 40 litres per day.
The cabin converts into a double bedroom… OR a kitchen - with a built-in Samsung microwave.. and even a portable gas stove.
And to tow it all - this custom-made Mackay trailer. Unfortunately I don't have the time to drive the boat all the way to Darwin. So Trewin transport has come on board to carry my pride and joy to all ends of the country.
Looking forward to seeing it at the other end for her maiden voyage - this will be something very special.
Stage 1 of our trek is a 160 km trip around Cape Fourcroy across Gordon Bay to Port Hurd at the top of Bathurst Island.
Joining me are four other boats from NT fisheries and local fishing expert, Michael Chambers.
On such long distances, the key is to plot my route on the Lowrance LCX-104C and take the shortest path. This trip will put the Patriot to the test.
I've never driven a boat with two outboards - and I discover that trimming one of the two 150 Yamaha 4 strokes can lift the boat to one side if there's too much load.. and reduce the spray from the stiff easterly. And she's doing it easily.
4 hours later- we've made it to our beach camp at Port Hurd… right next to the famous barra base, which is now a Marine Harvest Station.
And this is where the fun begins! Now because I'm with fisheries, we have special permission to fish just outside the barramundi pens. These big mommas are hanging around the pens, checking out the smaller male fish inside. And they're loving our jigs and soft plastics.
Bathurst Island is a prime spot for the barramundi farm - because the big tides mean there's great water flow. Each pen at the Harvest Station holds up to 50 thousand barra. All up, there are about a million fish here - that's my idea of heaven.
This is a joint project with the Tiwi islanders, who receive royalties from the farm. Already its producing 20 tonnes of fresh barra a week for interstate and overseas markets.
Before we lose light, Chris and I hunt an afternoon bite at a nearby reef. Yep - a beautiful GT. He's got shoulders like Thorpie! Hopefully he's just the start of a top trip.
Day Two of our Tiwi Island trek, and I'm leaving my Haines Hunter behind to head up the shallow creeks at the top of Bathurst Island. Chris Errity has guided in this area before - and he reckons Perakary Creek is the go. Before I can even rig up, Chris is enjoying brekky with the barra.
Barra fishing is all about being in the right place on the right tide, so we head upstream to a deep hole right on a bend. The dropping tide is forming whirlpools and eddies - the perfect ambush spot for big barra.
This is the barra hole from hell - we can see big fish finning amongst the snags right in the shallows! They look like circling sharks!
Because we're fishing a deep dropoff - we're using Halco Crazy Deeps and heavy headed soft plastics. I cast up current then let the lure bounce along the bottom until it drops into the 6 metre hole. And it's bringing the barra undone.
Some of these bigger fish are so powerful.. they're pulling our anchored boat into the snags! We've hooked close to 30 barra today. An incredible session!
The next day, we can't resist another crack at that big barra hole.
Chris and I are determined to hit the magic metre mark. The tidal movement's a bit slower today, so hopefully our barra hole is bursting at the seams.
We've notched up close to 20 decent barra this morning… but we're yet to hook that metre momma.
Oh that's the one. Look at him go. On fire again and this time a serious fish. We end up using the boat to chase the barra… this is one powerful fish!
We've camped overnight at Dudwell Creek, about an hour north of Port Hurd. It's a sensational site, with plenty of shelter and a deep dropoff to moor the boats.
This campsite has been set up for recreational anglers by the Tiwi people and the local amateur fishing association.
Dudwell Creek is a huge system with 3 arms up to 20 kilometres long. Chris reckons we should try shallower divers around the junctions of the middle arm.
The barramundi are first to feed. Not as big as yesterday, but still fighting fit.
They're soon joined by a few other species. A beauty of a blue salmon followed by a healthy little threadfin and a burnett salmon.
But it's the barramundi we came for, and we end the session with a couple of good catches.
To find out more about my fantastic new 680 Patriot and all the Haines Hunter boats, go to the Haines Hunter website.
My trailer was supplied by Mackay trailers. Log on for info about all their products.And if you want to transport a boat, van or caravan anywhere in Australia - give Trewin transport a call.
Our trip was organised with the help of NT Fisheries, the traditional land owners and the Tiwi Land council. Check out the marine harvest website for details on the barramundi breeding program.
To pick up a camping permit for the Tiwis, go to the AFANT website.
Northern Territory Tourism helped us find accommodation in Darwin. Go to ntholidays.com to set up your holiday in the Territory.
In Darwin, I drove a Toyota Landcruiser from Bridge Autos.
Our team flew
to Darwin with Virgin Blue. Check out all their great deals on
the website or phone 136789.
