tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6325439947284885192024-02-03T07:40:15.627+09:30The Rambling Expat.Hi there, I am just a guy trying to get a bit of peace in his life.
You know spend time with my partner and our child, have some time to go fishing.
Find a way to stop working and retire.
Simple things really...Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.comBlogger247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-74901015304972268762017-08-22T20:33:00.000+09:302017-08-22T20:34:06.416+09:30A Morning On Darwin Harbour.Hi there,<br />
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Yes, it had been a long time since I last went fishing.<br />
So when Theodosius sent me a text message asking if I wanted to go fishing on Sunday, I said Yes Please!<br />
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The plan was to go and spend the morning on Darwin Harbour, to try to catch a fish or two, and hopefully they would be Barramundi.<br />
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At 6:27AM on Sunday I got a text message from Theodosius saying that he was in front of my place.<br />
I ran out with all my gear, impatient to go and get some fish.<br />
Ah the expectation...<br />
Ah the excitement of going on a fishing trip...<br />
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We launched easily, from Dinah Beach boat ramp, and headed for some little arms in the harbour in the morning light, as the sun was just rising.<br />
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Zooming in the morning.</div>
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As we neared the first spot that we were going to fish for the day, I couldn't help to think how lucky we are, living in Darwin. To have such a great harbour on our doorstep.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlreFYg0AysEtqeyNScW324CSMf0bReKBl8efij4pibm_KfCnMFlAOsU_eXu4DBgI90ZcEl00RGldc-iExAakh_fkr0IRUOSjNyZW5wQjeITfx7KSqao-rxrZXX_RXxggRJgEbpjAarDY/s1600/20170820_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlreFYg0AysEtqeyNScW324CSMf0bReKBl8efij4pibm_KfCnMFlAOsU_eXu4DBgI90ZcEl00RGldc-iExAakh_fkr0IRUOSjNyZW5wQjeITfx7KSqao-rxrZXX_RXxggRJgEbpjAarDY/s400/20170820_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sunrise over the mangroves.</div>
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Flat waters are the best.</div>
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Yes, it was picture perfect, it feel like if we were in an advertisement from Tourism NT.</div>
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Once the sun rose high enough to give us some proper light, we saw fog or mist on the mangroves.</div>
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For a little while we could have believed that we were in Scotland on our way to fish for Salmon.</div>
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It was just a bit warmer that what I imagine Scotland to be.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV8rJxYs-qAtTcYBaIAC_k6SXkehCGyuLVYHtn2KwvmQsNs0cDR7S4oDYdC-M9f6XCvoaCx4JJ1KcN4iP-iSR7j8z3nPwh7q8RJO0yG5swfTtcov-6IR1IWJisPRnF6LxTDLmNI9OrUs/s1600/20170820_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivV8rJxYs-qAtTcYBaIAC_k6SXkehCGyuLVYHtn2KwvmQsNs0cDR7S4oDYdC-M9f6XCvoaCx4JJ1KcN4iP-iSR7j8z3nPwh7q8RJO0yG5swfTtcov-6IR1IWJisPRnF6LxTDLmNI9OrUs/s400/20170820_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dawn on the tidal creek.</div>
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It was calm and peaceful, but we wanted the mayhem created by catching some angry fish.</div>
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So we set ourselves to the task and started to fish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuK6JuLrLxaa7KFeq_aEwyzZrSHIKH8fzEflgQFwHF8twxdDG7o7aFsrLRJOfIB-0UQiHUfKickuROc5ybdHe2aPKvZqcdcJYWj30olc3EgTqw3aMV2tdBGmzqGEJbI240VeJe049b7A/s1600/20170820_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuK6JuLrLxaa7KFeq_aEwyzZrSHIKH8fzEflgQFwHF8twxdDG7o7aFsrLRJOfIB-0UQiHUfKickuROc5ybdHe2aPKvZqcdcJYWj30olc3EgTqw3aMV2tdBGmzqGEJbI240VeJe049b7A/s400/20170820_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fishing in the first light.</div>
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Theodosius, said that a submerged snag was just in front of us, under about two meters of water.</div>
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We could see some little Trevally and Queenfish smashing the baits above it.</div>
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So we tried to send our lures deeper into the snag. </div>
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And it didn't take long for Theodosius to get the first fish, a nice little Flathead:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_x_sFbdD_M5ujQ36xiovhjFGA0O52z88d9ShkDnNBFgT2S-3qpTaoKjUd6_8UU4Y1hvfH3FEB1FKsYKXSaAs1x6VyVgoXQg5dsoVOfls_Pq6UnBWRpc7H2ArROj5Op5Go9ooCis2r7M/s1600/20170820_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_x_sFbdD_M5ujQ36xiovhjFGA0O52z88d9ShkDnNBFgT2S-3qpTaoKjUd6_8UU4Y1hvfH3FEB1FKsYKXSaAs1x6VyVgoXQg5dsoVOfls_Pq6UnBWRpc7H2ArROj5Op5Go9ooCis2r7M/s400/20170820_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Theodosius first fish of the day.</div>
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Despite Flatheads being delicious to eat, this one would have been a bit too small to fillet, and as such was released to grow a bit more.</div>
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And from the exact same spot Theodosius proceed to reel in two beautiful Golden Snapper, one after the other.</div>
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He put back the smaller one in its natural habitat, and gave me the bigger one, that I placed in the esky, as I was not yet sure to catch a fish on the day. And as they say, a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkBuu5JR0QQeLuBCjc4EpHRq6akXqJhljyljdxKwmxgDNuK3wuO7CntS25XRR5Udx9g7TAhBsXXxFtTYvb4lGEwovzKRM-NyHydJMa5JLfqCOduJmZ-bZwRXJlczJXiTgkoT_cX7kmh4/s1600/20170820_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkBuu5JR0QQeLuBCjc4EpHRq6akXqJhljyljdxKwmxgDNuK3wuO7CntS25XRR5Udx9g7TAhBsXXxFtTYvb4lGEwovzKRM-NyHydJMa5JLfqCOduJmZ-bZwRXJlczJXiTgkoT_cX7kmh4/s400/20170820_08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Theodosius releasing the smaller Golden Snapper.</div>
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I then got hooked up on a medium sized Queenfish, who promptly took my line around a submerged branch and got me truly and properly snagged.</div>
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I had to break the line and loose the lure.</div>
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So I decided to try my luck with a surface lure and started to flick around a small walk the dog type of lure. As I was doing a cast that should have been pretty average, something happened.</div>
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And no, not something great...</div>
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The leader knot got stuck on the line guide on the rod, and this here is the result of it:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wh9cAuMJFZ3jLIW2u7ynM25SyXmQM1NCqf3ol-03vnPWyTWsnlbZfpyoXB7lPjwZW7SBfN8bm_rl5dacXO0uoKTEGbgn9Lby3xtn8Q0wwvW4-DC8LPbN8JQ3PAV1Qe6T9w92BPDMilE/s1600/20170820_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wh9cAuMJFZ3jLIW2u7ynM25SyXmQM1NCqf3ol-03vnPWyTWsnlbZfpyoXB7lPjwZW7SBfN8bm_rl5dacXO0uoKTEGbgn9Lby3xtn8Q0wwvW4-DC8LPbN8JQ3PAV1Qe6T9w92BPDMilE/s400/20170820_09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Bird nest.</div>
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Yes, the best bird nest I had in ages was now in my hands.</div>
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I looked at it for a few minutes, and decided to leave it as is, and continue the day with my other rod and reel. I would take care of this mess later on at home, and not continue to waste any more of precious fishing time.</div>
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With that, we decided to move a bit further and arrive to a beautiful snag that we could perfectly see under shallow water. </div>
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And among the many branches of it, we could see our coveted target, Barramundi!</div>
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A few go them were in there, and at the first pass of Theodosius lure, they went straight for it.</div>
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Sadly none stayed connected to the lure.</div>
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So it was my turn to cast in there, and what a sight.</div>
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We could see the Barra coming out between the branches and fighting for the lure. Some of them were really fired up, and had that white line on the front of the head, that they have when full on in feeding mode. One of them had a few go at my offering but failed to hook despite biting on the lure at many reprise. </div>
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Theodosius casted again and this time came back with the good:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdfhzf4blKcJFMFMC2RJDvO70k1NHsMqguh8u9bUbrX9vNfhU0X0mPGGDLfFCSJYFJ9THDqb3AWt4OzTugR1QkLOEjPAqRPENyrsRgHWjCqLzfsQ7dBfoBLC_c91xMInlDiuxEq3U2gI/s1600/20170820_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="698" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdfhzf4blKcJFMFMC2RJDvO70k1NHsMqguh8u9bUbrX9vNfhU0X0mPGGDLfFCSJYFJ9THDqb3AWt4OzTugR1QkLOEjPAqRPENyrsRgHWjCqLzfsQ7dBfoBLC_c91xMInlDiuxEq3U2gI/s400/20170820_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Theodosius with the first Barramundi of the weekend.</div>
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Even if this one was just slightly too short to keep. I was quite simply getting a lesson in fishing, as I was yet to land a single scale. While my skipper was already on his fourth fish.</div>
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It was time to wake up!</div>
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As we moved a bit further again, I finally caught my first Barramundi of the day. It was 57cm, so good to keep, and I gave it to Theodosius, as he had given me a Goldie not long ago, this was the least I could do.</div>
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And I was now happy to see that I could still catch a fish.</div>
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Theodosius was fishing from the top of his ladder, from where he could spot the Barramundi much better than I could. And would regularly point them to me, so I could cast at them.</div>
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But he was better than I and came back with another fish:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBypi_21NIL5c376WA5S5H3AzLObgYEZITCkSVeD4yQRX9RU38s8mDVUpvnyVBneYSX0ExoiJk_YFGO2jrCf2jBB4kAUo84vBQKydRqvPwRk5vCHQzLidp3cCsOfwC3PbLDTHiFfpISA/s1600/20170820_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="670" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBypi_21NIL5c376WA5S5H3AzLObgYEZITCkSVeD4yQRX9RU38s8mDVUpvnyVBneYSX0ExoiJk_YFGO2jrCf2jBB4kAUo84vBQKydRqvPwRk5vCHQzLidp3cCsOfwC3PbLDTHiFfpISA/s400/20170820_12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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His second Barramundi for the day.</div>
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You could see in the back, how calm was the water. </div>
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The tide was now falling rapidly and we could not stay as close of the mangroves as previously, without the risk of getting stuck in the mud.</div>
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So we mover a bit further away:</div>
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Falling tide on the mangroves of Darwin Harbour.</div>
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At one point, we got surrounded by a school of Blue Salmons, and yes once again, I was not the sharpest hook in the bag, so I wasn't the one to catch one of them.</div>
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I suppose that you guessed who got one:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIIMBfJzF9V7z6eQ7c8uhRiLnvg5LSLG9Rb3Up0RlC0AYlxhQhjAyW2JMyW4aj1V8fLldP27DnK5CHuI3pnouSsqrPyBFEp8vW-AbfL4MSqQ5nEMLohqksa2RJz5P0UGSrO9Vg0zqG9E/s1600/20170820_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIIMBfJzF9V7z6eQ7c8uhRiLnvg5LSLG9Rb3Up0RlC0AYlxhQhjAyW2JMyW4aj1V8fLldP27DnK5CHuI3pnouSsqrPyBFEp8vW-AbfL4MSqQ5nEMLohqksa2RJz5P0UGSrO9Vg0zqG9E/s400/20170820_14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First Blue Salmon.</div>
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This fish was released to fight another day.</div>
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It didn't took long before I heard the Yep! I am on! again.</div>
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Yet this time, even if smaller, the fish was handled with more precaution, du to his good set of teeth:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguipB_UriU8vK2kuwFffnqOeWvIW-ezfLjcqnwofD0veaDLbkyZIbrymYwM-1O9j3y0TUU96YQHX1UGFS4s8A0EY-Dpn-aqLd4rDKlokknmVWH64UVttMBGOxVkBhYjLcn2HEJI04NwiE/s1600/20170820_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguipB_UriU8vK2kuwFffnqOeWvIW-ezfLjcqnwofD0veaDLbkyZIbrymYwM-1O9j3y0TUU96YQHX1UGFS4s8A0EY-Dpn-aqLd4rDKlokknmVWH64UVttMBGOxVkBhYjLcn2HEJI04NwiE/s400/20170820_15.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Baby Barracuda on the lure.</div>
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Yes it was just a young one, but it already would have had a nasty little bite, and was treated accordingly.</div>
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We then went to a little creek where Theodosius told me that he had once lost a nice Barra in there.</div>
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I really hopped I would get one in there.</div>
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And it happened:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fnlh84QX_HXIkNj4-oaSLuxQAJENgKV26bJdPhnRnvzHMjXittZj04VKch5WDd2eRE4iCCh3dkgQ9GuspIg1GFmtb5cDrSbFtDxsHP_cDlE_uIR6s7a6xBObfTklx8FvyE1COXjFQ80/s1600/20170820_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="563" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fnlh84QX_HXIkNj4-oaSLuxQAJENgKV26bJdPhnRnvzHMjXittZj04VKch5WDd2eRE4iCCh3dkgQ9GuspIg1GFmtb5cDrSbFtDxsHP_cDlE_uIR6s7a6xBObfTklx8FvyE1COXjFQ80/s400/20170820_16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My second Barramundi for the morning.</div>
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Coming in at 66cm (25.984252 Inches), I decided to keep this fish too for a good feed.</div>
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And by now, I can tell you that it tasted delicious.</div>
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There I also caught a Catfish and a little shark. Both were released, rest reassured.</div>
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After that we went back to the first snag that we fished earlier in the morning. </div>
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With the now lower tide we saw the lure I had previously lost, dangling on one of the now visible branches, And Theodosius managed to grab it and gave it back to me.</div>
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We then went to a last creek to try to find some more Barramundi. But what we found was a lot of Blue Salmon.</div>
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We even got a double hook up on them, and here is the result of it:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAUcTfMrBKst8WyMfYlK-suMQjE4eD-tTbHd1wbTKKJl1la3NqacpMoa8YGRLQEBYTC2J7eMXQteFi3k1k_PlGwkDBIQzIohnzavu8eHPBhzWvGdnIbrdIAK7cngV7Z-sVBvSLItiUJc/s1600/20170820_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAUcTfMrBKst8WyMfYlK-suMQjE4eD-tTbHd1wbTKKJl1la3NqacpMoa8YGRLQEBYTC2J7eMXQteFi3k1k_PlGwkDBIQzIohnzavu8eHPBhzWvGdnIbrdIAK7cngV7Z-sVBvSLItiUJc/s400/20170820_18.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2N-UKstmodPNAute3gKpj7fEEJdT9dLiQx1OxQ27thXWzIBE4bEKBMbPSZ8PFxkNsOVqS8YSLGHs2LiNsuoLl0ek-ndR_GS_2y63LbC5LRklO0irp2duWN22o_2HYofEjk5Jw2ammtR0/s1600/20170820_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2N-UKstmodPNAute3gKpj7fEEJdT9dLiQx1OxQ27thXWzIBE4bEKBMbPSZ8PFxkNsOVqS8YSLGHs2LiNsuoLl0ek-ndR_GS_2y63LbC5LRklO0irp2duWN22o_2HYofEjk5Jw2ammtR0/s400/20170820_19.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Blue Salmon double.</div>
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Both of them were released as we already had enough to provide our respective family with a good feed of fresh fish.</div>
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So on this good note, we decided to call it a day and to head back to the ramp.</div>
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This was a happy day, we saw many fish and stingrays. Even a small pod of dolphin on the way back.</div>
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Thank you Theodosius for inviting me on your boat.</div>
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So I had a great meal of fresh fish, but now I still have this bird nest to take care of...</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-46972448479188546692017-05-29T21:42:00.000+09:302017-05-29T21:42:27.821+09:302017 Top End Barra Series Round 2.Hi there,<br />
<br />
A few days ago the second round of the 2017 Top End Barra Series took place on the Daly River.<br />
And here comes the tales of it...<br />
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Straight after work on Friday evening, I went home, got a shower and raced to Craig's place so we could leave in the evening and be there as soon as possible.<br />
By the time we arrived to the boat ramp it was full on night time:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzar_xKqfnUThZgW5gw2dLBe_B1WPkE5sGWudRXD8JLEor67A0HbJse-KSI1pJs0vjhD-UxJICJ5fUc71noUO6epcEFlWnBnc4df0iGwiiaBY_0OSinbz8trSqjgWaSs4MygmGybbY0E/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzar_xKqfnUThZgW5gw2dLBe_B1WPkE5sGWudRXD8JLEor67A0HbJse-KSI1pJs0vjhD-UxJICJ5fUc71noUO6epcEFlWnBnc4df0iGwiiaBY_0OSinbz8trSqjgWaSs4MygmGybbY0E/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Launching at night.</div>
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Now, for the ones among you who don't know the Daly River, is a waterway full of big crocodiles. And to me standing on the water edge, in the dark, not being able to see what was or was not swimming in front of me was rather nerves wrecking. Luckily, Craig was quick to park the car, and we were then both able to jump in the boat and motor along the river.</div>
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But it was very dark, and misty on the water, we couldn't go very fast or very far.</div>
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So as soon as we arrived at Charlie's Creek, we decided to moor the boat and camp there.</div>
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I did try to cast a fizzer into the night, but no Barra were interested to play the game.</div>
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So we soon felt asleep. With me waking up a few times through the night, listening with attention but not hearing a single Barramundi feeding.</div>
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Still I slept well, as I usually do on a boat, under the stars.</div>
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One of my favourite place to sleep.</div>
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Just before day rise, I was up again on the casting deck, flicking my lure. For no more success than on the previous evening. </div>
Slowly the day came in and it was a rather cold one:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PSLntTkD6YcfT632ib-rUI5ER5Ieb6_EeJ29C65Kh91LazlbmcYynCeHcDkvGJDigITMXORBy7x7x1Y03OuWJbVSWwqx4A7EbIIr4ZKfDY_DE9kjEdAFsFQSKQFb5BXvUdn2epbXAGw/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PSLntTkD6YcfT632ib-rUI5ER5Ieb6_EeJ29C65Kh91LazlbmcYynCeHcDkvGJDigITMXORBy7x7x1Y03OuWJbVSWwqx4A7EbIIr4ZKfDY_DE9kjEdAFsFQSKQFb5BXvUdn2epbXAGw/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cold morning on the Daly River.</div>
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As I sent a lure flying behind some logs in the water, Craig said that I would be a bit in a strife if ever I was to hook on a fish over there... Well as soon as he said it, a fish took my lure with gusto, and I got excited, but lost it in a few seconds, it hadn't been properly hooked. Which in insight may have been a blessing in disguise, as I don't know how I would have brought it back from behind all these snags.</div>
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After just another half-hearted hit for about one hour of casting this spot, we decided to move.</div>
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On the move, we saw BarraTragic who came towards us and who as a present, gave me this really cool advertising fishing lure:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxzV8HFUpdTL_5nGxwP46qGz9l_fcegfYNpliTrpd0M-EY5bF-F_KIO7rMUmSkEb-uxRzUGVvSCvGI-UAqnnwdLkFCVRhfGHCT7Tm10KdVHwjWAM4r-a57TRgybpfdt9ygXqHJljnX9I/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxzV8HFUpdTL_5nGxwP46qGz9l_fcegfYNpliTrpd0M-EY5bF-F_KIO7rMUmSkEb-uxRzUGVvSCvGI-UAqnnwdLkFCVRhfGHCT7Tm10KdVHwjWAM4r-a57TRgybpfdt9ygXqHJljnX9I/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A Coke fishing lure.</div>
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Yes, This is a Coca-Cola fishing lure, in regards to advertising fishing lures, this is pretty special.</div>
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Thank you BT, I am very happy to have this little guy joining my small collection of advertising fishing lures. And yes, this one was made by Reidy's, the Darwin local boys, one of my favourite lure brand too. What's not to like?!</div>
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The day was going to be glorious, I told myself.</div>
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Not far from there we found a little creek that looked good to us, so we stopped and started to flick our lures to it's entrance.</div>
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And this is how I got not the biggest fish ever, but my first one of the weekend:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksNSWuCDHYJF0MsOEO12F8eXYOlTcI8QC7peXEXICVZfJO_vR3qZoL5hE80y7eUaiDTJ4w9ptEg7w6Qsm0kN9w9k-1I3kbL_3vZNB-lbAuo04N9PyUaXMRc2NY8dmR6W8v3wiSEOtY_k/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksNSWuCDHYJF0MsOEO12F8eXYOlTcI8QC7peXEXICVZfJO_vR3qZoL5hE80y7eUaiDTJ4w9ptEg7w6Qsm0kN9w9k-1I3kbL_3vZNB-lbAuo04N9PyUaXMRc2NY8dmR6W8v3wiSEOtY_k/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First Barra of the weekend.</div>
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Yes it was definitively on the small side of things, but a fish is a fish, and that was our first one of the weekend on the boat.</div>
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Not long after while trolling a Laser Pro +2 I got another one, just a very little bit bigger...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctrN5iKx9bCw6xrZAWjxc0LQQ0fSXvw_zXVCUsx9Hh1bPuIFPk0NEhyphenhyphenSIRyif5fRKkX6uIccs1MAetDqDTcwIWywENAPtTom2BPqalve-WujeHewipGRZwQjMxOEQtWvLWvUzuSrF4K8/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctrN5iKx9bCw6xrZAWjxc0LQQ0fSXvw_zXVCUsx9Hh1bPuIFPk0NEhyphenhyphenSIRyif5fRKkX6uIccs1MAetDqDTcwIWywENAPtTom2BPqalve-WujeHewipGRZwQjMxOEQtWvLWvUzuSrF4K8/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Second little fish of the weekend.</div>
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As we were about to learn, this weekend was going to be a small fish bonanza, with not many big ones for us. Yet many small fish are often more fun than just one or two average ones.</div>
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So we trolled some more:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65MCIJhteVZdkDvu6pPh6dTlINlUx1KIFeGptVWbyN4rFVtAlKxXI6LgdR9myL0MroqJafvZli2l8peDfRXT5yFHhmF2fuWNvHevqA3AufxkuVdsg6DyEZeoyZQMdhbJXgsdHrrsRvYM/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65MCIJhteVZdkDvu6pPh6dTlINlUx1KIFeGptVWbyN4rFVtAlKxXI6LgdR9myL0MroqJafvZli2l8peDfRXT5yFHhmF2fuWNvHevqA3AufxkuVdsg6DyEZeoyZQMdhbJXgsdHrrsRvYM/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_06.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Trolling the Daly.</div>
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As you can see the two very beautiful hand made Blinky's lures on the windshield, were about as big as most of the fish we were to catch during the course of the weekend.</div>
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While trolling we came across Dave who was fishing a creek mouth where him and his mate keep having double hook-up. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWBwZoYeiDQ35u00cuRF_RoRgGFcVp26d_745IOcnn4x3J19mawLq7gdd58eosvqQO9NTjtTycOD2ryFyHWAmAT-uWK0ISNfqdUvDmhBHTatkT7l3cAgXtrPHTL3geV6yr3vw5aIXWw8/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWBwZoYeiDQ35u00cuRF_RoRgGFcVp26d_745IOcnn4x3J19mawLq7gdd58eosvqQO9NTjtTycOD2ryFyHWAmAT-uWK0ISNfqdUvDmhBHTatkT7l3cAgXtrPHTL3geV6yr3vw5aIXWw8/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dave reeling in a small Barramundi.</div>
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We stopped next to them, but weren't able to catch any fish ourselves.</div>
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Was there a curse on us? One can only wonder...</div>
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we tied the boat a bit further against the bank, and I finally got another small fish:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3b0IAYTV3npBBI4uqfcDbhUNXNKKTq3tzMdZUZ668aS-rriKeYMreBRecKKRdYa3XP4X6ZuUbcGe0cqwztghNczcqgaYLI-0XcziEvBOSVMOtlCEQFk6ybdRtI17z-NjaQ7AIeHlhOek/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3b0IAYTV3npBBI4uqfcDbhUNXNKKTq3tzMdZUZ668aS-rriKeYMreBRecKKRdYa3XP4X6ZuUbcGe0cqwztghNczcqgaYLI-0XcziEvBOSVMOtlCEQFk6ybdRtI17z-NjaQ7AIeHlhOek/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Smaller and smaller.</div>
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Yes, smaller and smaller seemed to be the order of the day.</div>
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So we decided to troll the gut of the river, to try to find better fish.</div>
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I put a Classic +10 in the Gasper Ghost colour, and bang I got a fish!</div>
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Slightly bigger, and much darker:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOAD9hwxo_wAiTzMaM_7U8GipEVXGr9m8QCwkXLP3n5VtV8KlPUDQ_7743-ykj1-njq4NUHeaIG5a0X5avH1if1ZW1JqG4DflgqD55homHlt9il1yz21JMYudgTNY2DyrX3e9fFVVrUc/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOAD9hwxo_wAiTzMaM_7U8GipEVXGr9m8QCwkXLP3n5VtV8KlPUDQ_7743-ykj1-njq4NUHeaIG5a0X5avH1if1ZW1JqG4DflgqD55homHlt9il1yz21JMYudgTNY2DyrX3e9fFVVrUc/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The darkest Barramundi of the trip.</div>
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This one must not have seen any salt water yet, and was coloured in the typical fashion of the fresh water barramundi. Hopefully after we released it, it will fin salt water and grow to become a big mama Barra.</div>
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Having caught a nearly legal fish with this white lure, I decided that it was the right one to use and continued to troll with it... And lost it to a snag a few minutes latter.</div>
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This was going to become a recurrent thing over the weekend. If a lure worked well, I would loose it.</div>
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So having lost it, I looked in my tackle box for another white lure, and found an F18 in the Albino colour. Beauty!</div>
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I was going to catch me some fish with that lure, no worries...</div>
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And we trolled again.</div>
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And then Craig said that I needed to learn how to steer the boat...</div>
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So we swapped places and I found myself behind the wheel. One hand on the wheel, and a fishing rod in the other. Craig explained, calmly to me, what to do if a fish was to take one of our lures: turn toward the centre of the river, and put in neutral. Then deal with the fish.</div>
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Yes, right...</div>
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I got a fish on my line, and screamed: I am on! What do I do! The boat's going the wrong way! Get the net! Where is the boat going? How do I put it in neutral?</div>
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You guessed it, saying that I am not very good at multitasking would be a serious understatement...</div>
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Still we managed to get the boat, not on the bank but near the middle of the river, and the net ready, I just had to get the fish close enough for Craig to scoop it.</div>
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Eventually it happened, and I finally got a legal fish:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmXEOuDwnFZTxd74P5HD5CoiHVRAV2CpryudVmWqbsN_YfqmO8qT02SrFWQT6Z0YeYzO-kPssiLAjvpq7mTMutvpIrOitHHCfGWSRKgdMa6tDGkdzBU0qmn5zc6MNrVVWpT-OkrmEJfY/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmXEOuDwnFZTxd74P5HD5CoiHVRAV2CpryudVmWqbsN_YfqmO8qT02SrFWQT6Z0YeYzO-kPssiLAjvpq7mTMutvpIrOitHHCfGWSRKgdMa6tDGkdzBU0qmn5zc6MNrVVWpT-OkrmEJfY/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My only point scorer for the weekend.</div>
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Without being a giant fish, this was enough to get me on the board, and to get the monkey off my back.</div>
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That fish had been caught in a beautiful part of the Daly River:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPoQdz7Z82hEIcIrg0N0sCLWLBLL3WPLKWfZOT7PeqVOYwVb2XyP0ZF4g8ehYfZ7zsYhDZwipdbIDPaB4kw7j4A7t0Yu9FZwSv5dE3AGW7Ptp0LjteXm-YsqZLmLkpzN4goSieuZ_4HE/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPoQdz7Z82hEIcIrg0N0sCLWLBLL3WPLKWfZOT7PeqVOYwVb2XyP0ZF4g8ehYfZ7zsYhDZwipdbIDPaB4kw7j4A7t0Yu9FZwSv5dE3AGW7Ptp0LjteXm-YsqZLmLkpzN4goSieuZ_4HE/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Daly River.</div>
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From there we trolled some more, but without any success, I just lost another white lure to a snag.</div>
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There was no more white lure in my tackle box.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3pX9ArVRzTPPLFIY-UsAw_f48cJ9uDg0LOaopXVccNgcaR0-Nx-AdEpYUbixJIAq6RRCkkiSM1pmb68T5rni4T5xmvzTQXmt3lazANNASrKzBOBBv6z21n5uAxOYpu59ne9cR-wBlaw/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3pX9ArVRzTPPLFIY-UsAw_f48cJ9uDg0LOaopXVccNgcaR0-Nx-AdEpYUbixJIAq6RRCkkiSM1pmb68T5rni4T5xmvzTQXmt3lazANNASrKzBOBBv6z21n5uAxOYpu59ne9cR-wBlaw/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Craig trolling and steering the boat on the Daly River.</div>
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By now it was starting to be the end of the first day, and the sunset saw us trying to find the right spot to spend the night.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPPlmLFiy7r0bPIwWBiS54yGfT2UueCoecT0QjNefKv0qmKXOB61z0IoJ10lBqX6C7UuEu9WTUSD-NHz3OrWZ8CKdoW7g1kGRFmWVsXXNJiQc4XrC04jD0VGUyjn2f1tkQfSYTP06IOI/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIPPlmLFiy7r0bPIwWBiS54yGfT2UueCoecT0QjNefKv0qmKXOB61z0IoJ10lBqX6C7UuEu9WTUSD-NHz3OrWZ8CKdoW7g1kGRFmWVsXXNJiQc4XrC04jD0VGUyjn2f1tkQfSYTP06IOI/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sunset on the Daly River.</div>
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We found a spot in front of a little feeder creek, and decided to spend the night there.</div>
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the anchor was lowered, but the bugs and mosquitos were out in plague proportion. so we skipped the dinner and just took refuge in our respective sleeping bags.</div>
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I did hear a few boof during the night but couldn't tempt any fish with my fizzer in the dark.</div>
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All I managed to catch was a tree on the bank...</div>
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At first I thought about sleeping while the lure was still in the tree with my line attached to it. But quickly realised that if a boat was to drive by, between us and the bank, the line could get stuck on the throat of someone on the said boat, and that it would be no good at all.</div>
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So I decided to break it, even if it meant loosing the lure. Pulling as hard as I could, I in fact managed to get the lure off the branches and back in the water. This was my clue that I better get some sleep to be ready for the following day.</div>
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And the following day came fast and early:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFbqphV0rQoGDlhlzOAGWW25NUA6BCIaXPdSB_xPYM9t6n6H3_dZM_EXkie3wkEcu93Apdduaccg54FvPKoYNqAnxMAAAAKWvjRoMZGciTZc84rDvXpPi_pV4f1PNrJW3vDfNc-ijCmU/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFbqphV0rQoGDlhlzOAGWW25NUA6BCIaXPdSB_xPYM9t6n6H3_dZM_EXkie3wkEcu93Apdduaccg54FvPKoYNqAnxMAAAAKWvjRoMZGciTZc84rDvXpPi_pV4f1PNrJW3vDfNc-ijCmU/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Boiling water for the morning coffee.</div>
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And...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAgTeLgTq9aytPFAHUNW0T0wNctsu6zz7Eh2o5XGGrSIPRZdwh-3JI9WmIpa8nY2vL9LYk6jCYhXH8xMBV8tMRRN8NPC7fUVhAN02qa87dHsYXl3ewuGvrzj07u81gdfh5acpibkKllw/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAgTeLgTq9aytPFAHUNW0T0wNctsu6zz7Eh2o5XGGrSIPRZdwh-3JI9WmIpa8nY2vL9LYk6jCYhXH8xMBV8tMRRN8NPC7fUVhAN02qa87dHsYXl3ewuGvrzj07u81gdfh5acpibkKllw/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_17.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Cooking some bacon.</div>
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I am not sure that there is many things better than a good sandwich full of bacon for breakfast on a boat before a full day of fishing.</div>
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And while the bacon was quietly sizzling in the fry pan, I couldn't help myself, but had to flick a Halco Scorpion down the little feeder creek.</div>
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This resulted in the first two Barramundi of the day!</div>
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even if they were small, it got us happy, and better thing were to come:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj3xUawj86FFzSXLK0qGdEDc0Sfdg1GxUzydAW4QDdUoyLRxC_ZWrUF6n8780W_OJzmf5V-YXfDU2Kh_T94EvNNRdV74kHBOZKvinmvh35ZhU7UzNvNlshLDe4pPHwvBXAIeoLPHGL-A/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj3xUawj86FFzSXLK0qGdEDc0Sfdg1GxUzydAW4QDdUoyLRxC_ZWrUF6n8780W_OJzmf5V-YXfDU2Kh_T94EvNNRdV74kHBOZKvinmvh35ZhU7UzNvNlshLDe4pPHwvBXAIeoLPHGL-A/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAH-1Vgm3lFFpFYiJPidBSS0bdezrOllGYFO_f1X414BzezWaFFu-Ofx3JzCdXrSKu0FHVI7jky6yN0gsEB1QVgH1ljE-e8HD2GiioDEdm-4BebSr0TMTfsGLB5jafreSdGjBqtPw7dg/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_18b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAH-1Vgm3lFFpFYiJPidBSS0bdezrOllGYFO_f1X414BzezWaFFu-Ofx3JzCdXrSKu0FHVI7jky6yN0gsEB1QVgH1ljE-e8HD2GiioDEdm-4BebSr0TMTfsGLB5jafreSdGjBqtPw7dg/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_18b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My two little morning Barra.</div>
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Due to there sizes, both were released to grow a bit more until the next time.</div>
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All this action took us straight to the time to eat a great breakfast:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixtauaGSO2VdcS6XqqE9zSqecg_j8zvLWFOxiX0SKXhO85SwI11VOmr9ZQ_u1YXlXyD94Vni40eappuen7xSPa1EETPaHyBszJJIeJKaWbABHV9xx7eBl2HEIQSeNVM8ZwBIHbUthmCA/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixtauaGSO2VdcS6XqqE9zSqecg_j8zvLWFOxiX0SKXhO85SwI11VOmr9ZQ_u1YXlXyD94Vni40eappuen7xSPa1EETPaHyBszJJIeJKaWbABHV9xx7eBl2HEIQSeNVM8ZwBIHbUthmCA/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Morning BLT on the river.</div>
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Just as we were about to dig in these great sandwich, Craig rod, which was strolling a lure F18 at the back of the boat, suddenly bent and a nice little Barra started to splash at the end of his line!</div>
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We both dropped our food, him rushing for his rod, and me for the net.</div>
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The fish wasn't very far, and quickly was boat side. It wasn't very big, but was still very green, and gave a good account of itself, and it took a few try to net it.</div>
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Finally it was in the boat, and this was Craig first fish of the trip, and it was a point scorer!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4U_RfNGEzskdkLY243x7l7NIHjcLiR-Bzysw2MZimMS4I5OeHcL1mLIPbW7luP5fTTPVIU9x_IYSOCqirrd3QMP6XCPv3Qi8kgcNcfFLwlzTTCz6fo3pIwWxSs0vYIM1F1hDO1mC10Y/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4U_RfNGEzskdkLY243x7l7NIHjcLiR-Bzysw2MZimMS4I5OeHcL1mLIPbW7luP5fTTPVIU9x_IYSOCqirrd3QMP6XCPv3Qi8kgcNcfFLwlzTTCz6fo3pIwWxSs0vYIM1F1hDO1mC10Y/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Craig with his first Barramundi for the weekend.</div>
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This had us cheering and enjoy our breakfast even more, laughing about this catch.</div>
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Once we had demolished our meal, we couldn't help to cast our lures around, hoping for another Barra from the same spot.</div>
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But alas, all we could get was another small one:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiD30mQ8Og9ZMyfI_iM4KCNkLVzRioJ4bZiIglnD6ygoMDV8RthKxl_FJyakLHRxhzA8Qr-CqXKqHtfewhJ0oH6iRiRirzSH6-txSgJCcTV0fQMG5Lt6-iYgePNLjrJiMAJrBqUMAVl0/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiD30mQ8Og9ZMyfI_iM4KCNkLVzRioJ4bZiIglnD6ygoMDV8RthKxl_FJyakLHRxhzA8Qr-CqXKqHtfewhJ0oH6iRiRirzSH6-txSgJCcTV0fQMG5Lt6-iYgePNLjrJiMAJrBqUMAVl0/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another little one from the same spot.</div>
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After about one hour of beating the place to foam for no more fish, we decided to move along and try to find a good spot full of fish. Surely this must exist somewhere...</div>
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On the way we saw a few of the river inhabitant:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8M5OoVdqKVGHOeF7-RmJKjvyDgnVFYV2VdyXwEtqMwFgH8gRlUKYMtaHQrQeD-BsVV-m8WydnURNUy27mu5n7z4Gf4EO6OBwTacXgJS7I_y5IYNQs9oMO1hesDinMUWUt0-RWeaPPOxc/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8M5OoVdqKVGHOeF7-RmJKjvyDgnVFYV2VdyXwEtqMwFgH8gRlUKYMtaHQrQeD-BsVV-m8WydnURNUy27mu5n7z4Gf4EO6OBwTacXgJS7I_y5IYNQs9oMO1hesDinMUWUt0-RWeaPPOxc/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Daly River crocodile.</div>
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And we found it the spot where people were catching good fish!</div>
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Quite a few boats were working this trolling run, most of them with success.</div>
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As we arrived, Rossco and his son had just caught two Barramundi in the 70cm range.</div>
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We were full of hope.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmz3oNaLQu5sxeXzMvwLcQb1xyFHTBp4lijI2qVCpxLUfIZvwhEX_whaEoGGmSrO6tmt2Tn7M7PMk2PUsp6xsFU-4frJ8U5BlnZV4W2sbHwY0nQryxF-NwV8Z5lTOcynfN4YE_sX87raU/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmz3oNaLQu5sxeXzMvwLcQb1xyFHTBp4lijI2qVCpxLUfIZvwhEX_whaEoGGmSrO6tmt2Tn7M7PMk2PUsp6xsFU-4frJ8U5BlnZV4W2sbHwY0nQryxF-NwV8Z5lTOcynfN4YE_sX87raU/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_28.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rossco and Son trolling the golden patch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAlqjzyOaCdRwW3IVUXKgh0IBRj8_ybCiQDnCUHer0HwSdT2Dx-xJ1h4T0NnBNgtV-DoR1Upu7Cejmr2K0fbZ6nQsmZsCDxH2V_2GYWOeWWUdNdTFr2W7xn0s5kBywaRidAef1IFG5rs/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAlqjzyOaCdRwW3IVUXKgh0IBRj8_ybCiQDnCUHer0HwSdT2Dx-xJ1h4T0NnBNgtV-DoR1Upu7Cejmr2K0fbZ6nQsmZsCDxH2V_2GYWOeWWUdNdTFr2W7xn0s5kBywaRidAef1IFG5rs/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq74hLWCi2kM33HEiEEuUToLXSauHGfpakNdikjqqWwV4BD5curhb0rAJrcvTGo8X2-KXvgJ7x-FA8SR4JkUmdn3bBDApLk0w-aSpFlLKpgrRwcSMM-VoCNaIMaNEWgOAQ7eZ_PVgAxk/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq74hLWCi2kM33HEiEEuUToLXSauHGfpakNdikjqqWwV4BD5curhb0rAJrcvTGo8X2-KXvgJ7x-FA8SR4JkUmdn3bBDApLk0w-aSpFlLKpgrRwcSMM-VoCNaIMaNEWgOAQ7eZ_PVgAxk/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigo-TMerafIp5JI0p4LUDybV4AvmlBBgnaYGSMXnRKeKyMDxuvfFZ6-HZmO-uqqlnydnwjhk58qCfrI2W0jde-2NUw1CdUIgUkGFzr8j18y23yOUsotiA8k_JYJEAtajj_4AWagM4XYLY/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigo-TMerafIp5JI0p4LUDybV4AvmlBBgnaYGSMXnRKeKyMDxuvfFZ6-HZmO-uqqlnydnwjhk58qCfrI2W0jde-2NUw1CdUIgUkGFzr8j18y23yOUsotiA8k_JYJEAtajj_4AWagM4XYLY/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Trollin' trollin' trollin' ...</div>
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Yes a few boat were on it, and most got fish in front of us.</div>
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Beside us, behind us all around us...</div>
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But not us...</div>
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I think me constantly being snagged may have diminished our chances...</div>
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There I lost a brand new Rapala and an Halco Laser Pro +2 which had already caught me a few fish before.</div>
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We were the last ones to leave this spot, and maybe the only ones not having caught anything on it.</div>
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Such is life sometimes...</div>
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As we were leaving we passed a little creek mouth, where we saw some of the participants of the Top End Barra Series, who seemed to catch a few.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufccDy-oKY8M-r4PXfCIEarXw0KLj2-aJBDLGgApH5lvtsbPj-sS1TZ1T1hBYvD1mnkQFaqy9CIIb9bEC89fN1SGufkpEVTxf9znNSeVsUXsdD9S9t5BHcc8rOR23IErjfQ5LmZL-MGU/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufccDy-oKY8M-r4PXfCIEarXw0KLj2-aJBDLGgApH5lvtsbPj-sS1TZ1T1hBYvD1mnkQFaqy9CIIb9bEC89fN1SGufkpEVTxf9znNSeVsUXsdD9S9t5BHcc8rOR23IErjfQ5LmZL-MGU/s320/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Boats at the little creek.</div>
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But the place was small and already crowded, so we decided to try to find our own.</div>
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And our own we found.</div>
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They were only small fish but in great abundance, all caught with soft plastic lures on the cast, which was good for our moral as we felt a bit low after seeing everybody catching fish, everybody but us...</div>
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Here is some examples of what we found at this little honey hole:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0JtpDRWwY8iU_TUPC5IVbt_nbMP0PfYCYCjZnfGiUWoNd3lppGklU0y_LYyMCYUOv5S12g-HipglsJj_QFvWEjHpNGDx5pdPPTaasPv8iHbs4K1DEDsvq5vTatQxCAwlebW6eSq3-Qw/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0JtpDRWwY8iU_TUPC5IVbt_nbMP0PfYCYCjZnfGiUWoNd3lppGklU0y_LYyMCYUOv5S12g-HipglsJj_QFvWEjHpNGDx5pdPPTaasPv8iHbs4K1DEDsvq5vTatQxCAwlebW6eSq3-Qw/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_32.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJEh5XdCDu9-DOp3h8FjVYRBh72z_1J0X29SJJP6M_WaQnr7tvp6A0rObMXe5Qa2jfkmtwgiyQY0nHRr8AtngOl8m50kyPhW7rk7L5mr8BCLmZRInMKROXZxi7rxKxzqekj1w17hPc2g/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJEh5XdCDu9-DOp3h8FjVYRBh72z_1J0X29SJJP6M_WaQnr7tvp6A0rObMXe5Qa2jfkmtwgiyQY0nHRr8AtngOl8m50kyPhW7rk7L5mr8BCLmZRInMKROXZxi7rxKxzqekj1w17hPc2g/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_33.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIVDIYQkNgrnV9tqoiUcbFUdU05KmPfMiSp-euLahxYi_nmNoWl0HubwxGwiGHDHGBozrLXackr1CEokUIRp8EW79w1oBPNKFNtsYiKiPT9j61pbQeJhjtnibq70S4EZ6VzILZCSm2VI/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIVDIYQkNgrnV9tqoiUcbFUdU05KmPfMiSp-euLahxYi_nmNoWl0HubwxGwiGHDHGBozrLXackr1CEokUIRp8EW79w1oBPNKFNtsYiKiPT9j61pbQeJhjtnibq70S4EZ6VzILZCSm2VI/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_34.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeam_C7YIrWFOXQr_XRGILSkyziktRfluGNHHY0ajEJn6gyN3fN-jqBpSmTITzN3N1YL0Q35mQr5vYTBhUywxh9CfGtm61YAMh0iBMOo4_0bO78hZBHQ_w31I_hKJKcz3Fx9MTwaNpSs/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeam_C7YIrWFOXQr_XRGILSkyziktRfluGNHHY0ajEJn6gyN3fN-jqBpSmTITzN3N1YL0Q35mQr5vYTBhUywxh9CfGtm61YAMh0iBMOo4_0bO78hZBHQ_w31I_hKJKcz3Fx9MTwaNpSs/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_35.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Lots of little Barramundi.</div>
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Other people who trolled close by seemed to catch better fish, but for once that we were having great fun, we din't want to move. You know what they say: don't leave fish to find fish...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrMDa78xEUuQXOCFNWeujUe9KTnpHvJv6chsWdNmi4lm9o_M7SI5whGtULWbC2YQ2oTH1AUJbDxWPiUB8tB5FIoizyL53HqTlC2lyoeCkts2rVCobog4uVT8R5s6K2O_J4F9cMwte0Nk/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrMDa78xEUuQXOCFNWeujUe9KTnpHvJv6chsWdNmi4lm9o_M7SI5whGtULWbC2YQ2oTH1AUJbDxWPiUB8tB5FIoizyL53HqTlC2lyoeCkts2rVCobog4uVT8R5s6K2O_J4F9cMwte0Nk/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_37.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Boats trolling near us.</div>
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Finally seeing them catching nice fish for a little while, we decided to try the trolling thing.</div>
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We put some deep hard body lures at the end of our lines.</div>
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And once again, instead of catching big fish, we went on the smaller size road:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fYrnBUeFNSR3IYtxwfuJwl4FqUAXnH-3Wfr-SJCp62oXrCDcxYvqzIy-7QzBR_Wc-wbU-K34Flv0Ws_PcpRHOAk4nzriVoOslO4pR0LSX4nPlDtq_he4A7U4tYqzwpbpTct2rItMmTQ/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fYrnBUeFNSR3IYtxwfuJwl4FqUAXnH-3Wfr-SJCp62oXrCDcxYvqzIy-7QzBR_Wc-wbU-K34Flv0Ws_PcpRHOAk4nzriVoOslO4pR0LSX4nPlDtq_he4A7U4tYqzwpbpTct2rItMmTQ/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_38.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Bigger lure for small fish.</div>
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So we decided to slowly made our way back towards the boat ramp, with a last stop near Brown's Creek.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jyxjNotLinUoaCMVf305xDnkTswYRuvSAaNat0CxGFX-U7wWeGHKEu2QMTY7eU8Njtq6E-cLjqB7eeM4KwFUSC-2tyIMhCdkB2kLbLNkEToinrO9k9A2Yx_7tuHogzL3YAqFaU1V0bA/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jyxjNotLinUoaCMVf305xDnkTswYRuvSAaNat0CxGFX-U7wWeGHKEu2QMTY7eU8Njtq6E-cLjqB7eeM4KwFUSC-2tyIMhCdkB2kLbLNkEToinrO9k9A2Yx_7tuHogzL3YAqFaU1V0bA/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_43.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fishing Brown's Creek.</div>
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Here again we got many little fish.</div>
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So just in case you were not up to scratch with your fishing photography...</div>
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Here is the fishing photography 101 major tip-off: When the fish is small, hold it close to the camera:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HrY7Ql4QKiu1r7Ylr7cIT-eH4t6NoKYK73UuJMDue5s8HndQedmtxqEH2YSE6TnwHgFVMYtqCmXGOcGY4FhXmljmHboWhZHM6Pmb4el6unl9POVD95jLoncMcxyixgnBBsz3AS7Agcs/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HrY7Ql4QKiu1r7Ylr7cIT-eH4t6NoKYK73UuJMDue5s8HndQedmtxqEH2YSE6TnwHgFVMYtqCmXGOcGY4FhXmljmHboWhZHM6Pmb4el6unl9POVD95jLoncMcxyixgnBBsz3AS7Agcs/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_42.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Massive little fish.</div>
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Yes, we had a good laugh making this photo. And after all this is what it is all about, having a good time, filled with good laugh between mates.</div>
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The place was very beautiful and we are definitively lucky to still have this kind of spots. That modernity and development have not spoiled yet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozRBOxbZFJkGh1kxbI4OP_Wmi0Vb71cTVDrFBj_fTFVMySbIcC1Amp3ACf8owdw90Qg94SkcjTBb7g_NJS7AK1N5JabcZ2wdAVlHZqm4xke3yIFCSlXFeL4WYMy1CwHpEySWZIYM_B24/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozRBOxbZFJkGh1kxbI4OP_Wmi0Vb71cTVDrFBj_fTFVMySbIcC1Amp3ACf8owdw90Qg94SkcjTBb7g_NJS7AK1N5JabcZ2wdAVlHZqm4xke3yIFCSlXFeL4WYMy1CwHpEySWZIYM_B24/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_45.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Sand bank opposite Brown Creek.</div>
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This sand bank was full of crocodiles. Of both varieties, salt water ones and fresh water ones.</div>
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As we left we even saw a face-off between to individuals of each species:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgya7Ko5kSvmnOTzrUcrA82bRM0tS8HP85Fr9itMutvYbtIfX5FG8HSjB-IgeDbwxkgtrkVYFrV54rAf5L7_FdkydqRud8LJr1DtVeXA3pCuxcUgS9hN_VrjK1rPww81k4jkLex_sHtxhc/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgya7Ko5kSvmnOTzrUcrA82bRM0tS8HP85Fr9itMutvYbtIfX5FG8HSjB-IgeDbwxkgtrkVYFrV54rAf5L7_FdkydqRud8LJr1DtVeXA3pCuxcUgS9hN_VrjK1rPww81k4jkLex_sHtxhc/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_46.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Salt water and fresh water crocodiles face-off.</div>
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We didn't stay to watch the end result, but I wouldn't be surprised if the bigger salt water one got the upper hand.</div>
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But for us it was time to head back:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqNVyFB2cBQWg4Uzs0MJoPqPifqYBt1_fwo8z5gNV-dx_TndpoKRLe5YN4-NqP9pgMbd0mW9WgfxeP-EXNrOjf0M8zuTZKlpcfZyT_zkH4Mp6eZ_ZjCwCtm3RCrm8lSgMVFh9Mp8aXjQ/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqNVyFB2cBQWg4Uzs0MJoPqPifqYBt1_fwo8z5gNV-dx_TndpoKRLe5YN4-NqP9pgMbd0mW9WgfxeP-EXNrOjf0M8zuTZKlpcfZyT_zkH4Mp6eZ_ZjCwCtm3RCrm8lSgMVFh9Mp8aXjQ/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_40.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Heading back to the ramp.</div>
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At the ramp a few vessel were already there, but it wasn't long before we got Craig's boat on the trailer and were on our way back to the city:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-isCvEGl2Jm6fZubjFx60cTJu82is9mgUYR434D7Ct5bOKcFhLqOOT8Pg1euM87T7F4odsQHQOUjuyD0FqyA-vqMABVLiwYqLKi7mJlJgoSBDP3aOlR0AXS7ghVzmqXk5_qZ-RLIW38/s1600/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-isCvEGl2Jm6fZubjFx60cTJu82is9mgUYR434D7Ct5bOKcFhLqOOT8Pg1euM87T7F4odsQHQOUjuyD0FqyA-vqMABVLiwYqLKi7mJlJgoSBDP3aOlR0AXS7ghVzmqXk5_qZ-RLIW38/s400/2017TopEndBarraSeriesR2_47.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the road again.</div>
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This truly had been a great weekend, full of laugh, good food, and plenty of little Barramundi.</div>
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Yes they were small, but the sheer number of them is very good augur for the future of fishing on the Daly River. It look like we finally had a good wet season to start things up again.</div>
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Thank you Craig for inviting me on your boat.</div>
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And I can't wait for the next round of the Top End Barra Series, to spend another full weekend of fishing.</div>
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Yes, I know, I haven't yet caught a meter plus Barramundi from the Daly River...</div>
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But hey, It could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-28288771525750530432017-05-02T18:36:00.000+09:302017-05-03T16:11:15.284+09:30A day Of Small Fish.Hi there,<br />
<br />
I hadn't fished in a long time, and decided to give it a go, as I was starting to show some serious fishing withdrawal signs...<br />
<br />
So to an easy and close to home spot I went, East Point was the chosen location.<br />
It was much later in the day than the time I usually fish there, and thus wasn't sure that I would be able to catch anything. Yet the idea to spend a few hours under the sun on the water edge was enough to get me there.<br />
<br />
I first went to a spot where I have caught reasonably nice Barramundi in the past...<br />
And it was not the spot to shine on this day.<br />
Still, I quickly got a small Cod:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrvoFEQZRIKRvgiqsO7eavnHQkCACMoAc1lTVNfJwoW4CLo6jmgW98lVIEbX1RSXApg2e0cfyHb9xuXHO5OUYofHuFBpeGerRhr1JxJQxrY5uJebGfM-rkuRPuKb9oyBRdgHTs4mwoRw/s1600/20170430EastPoint_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrvoFEQZRIKRvgiqsO7eavnHQkCACMoAc1lTVNfJwoW4CLo6jmgW98lVIEbX1RSXApg2e0cfyHb9xuXHO5OUYofHuFBpeGerRhr1JxJQxrY5uJebGfM-rkuRPuKb9oyBRdgHTs4mwoRw/s400/20170430EastPoint_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First Rock Cod of the day.</div>
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This made me happy, as I honestly thought that it was just going to be a day walking along the water.</div>
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It was a rather small fish, so in the water it went back, like all the fish I was going to get on the day.</div>
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From there, it didn't take very long to catch another of these little Cods:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggP2LocKztxTplXPT_OWMfGEnlKi2bhTgYHqUReBWaazA4r3KwX7pFVtH56ATciv9Bej17g03AIRRxbbv9-2gVVZPXfWhdHailGGJAJWgcsMtFuOw0SZLGybUtmK6ZyChMz8op8aMrFd0/s1600/20170430EastPoint_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggP2LocKztxTplXPT_OWMfGEnlKi2bhTgYHqUReBWaazA4r3KwX7pFVtH56ATciv9Bej17g03AIRRxbbv9-2gVVZPXfWhdHailGGJAJWgcsMtFuOw0SZLGybUtmK6ZyChMz8op8aMrFd0/s400/20170430EastPoint_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Second Cod of the day.</div>
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Both fish at this location were caught using weedless soft plastic lures. The place is full of mangrove roots, and it has shown me in the past how a good fishing lure cemetery it can be. So now, I prefer to diminish my hook-up rate, instead of offering lure after lure to the mangrove gods, hence the use of weedless lures at this spot.</div>
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But the bite slowed to a crushing halt, things went very quite, and for the first time of the year I had a feeling that the dry season was either upon us or just around the corner.</div>
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And the Dragonfly seemed to think alike:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptd4tjiK1adl2sHaM4mZPLP1QvM2-aoABY524sEk0DEqGuyWTfWwbTqCZVerL5AOIOOz9Cd86hZXsp214XoJ8QWSpNhucQk1Fv9I9lB2j5SQ7-4ub2cn7yrJr3PvAgptC3rjkNTxvdZg/s1600/20170430EastPoint_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptd4tjiK1adl2sHaM4mZPLP1QvM2-aoABY524sEk0DEqGuyWTfWwbTqCZVerL5AOIOOz9Cd86hZXsp214XoJ8QWSpNhucQk1Fv9I9lB2j5SQ7-4ub2cn7yrJr3PvAgptC3rjkNTxvdZg/s400/20170430EastPoint_04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dragonfly at rest on my fishing rod.</div>
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Obviously that one could not have found a more suitable, calm spot to rest...</div>
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I took a sip from my water bottle to give it a bit of time, then gently shook the rod to signify that I was ready for action again.</div>
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The dragonfly went it's way, and I started to wonder if I shouldn't do the same?</div>
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And the same I did.</div>
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I decided to try a spot I had often been told about but had never tried: the gun turret.</div>
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Got there, and found two other anglers who had gotten the same idea.</div>
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One was fishing with live bait, the other one with lures.</div>
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The live baiter wasn't catching anything, the lure guy seemed to catch a few.</div>
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Beauty! I told myself, I might get a fish or two.</div>
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First fishing on their right for absolutely no love, I decided to walk pass them an go further on the left.</div>
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Once there, I waded in ankle deep water to what seemed to me a good spot.</div>
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Where I was able to perch myself on a rock that was coming out of the sea.</div>
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This is when I saw just a bit further on the left, the bait being absolutely smashed by what seemed to be a few Barramundi!</div>
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Quick! I told myself get yourself over there and flick your lure at them!</div>
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Trying to be fast on unknown terrain can sometimes be a stupid thing...</div>
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And it was...</div>
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I put my right foot in a drop, and suddenly wasn't ankle deep in water anymore...</div>
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I lost balance and fell face first. It wasn't that deep, but enough to get myself and all my gear wet.</div>
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I told myself: "common boy don't be overtly sensitive, it is just a bit of water and fishing gear are made to be wet"...</div>
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Well yes kind of...</div>
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Anyway, I pulled myself back up, had a laugh and got myself, slower where I wanted to be.</div>
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And that was the spot!</div>
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I first got another little Cod:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQES1cfjIpoljYcKz5JM0mJMFTvY7BSmWlqqFtidG4XvQuV_62KmpHcPtlWTVB3Q8ziruyeMa45nvbX6uIDfwpmB0FURRZIRVYDdX9_QqAt0qBBxqGbdksbU2bnWWkCuVvm0qIOboSRc/s1600/20170430EastPoint_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQES1cfjIpoljYcKz5JM0mJMFTvY7BSmWlqqFtidG4XvQuV_62KmpHcPtlWTVB3Q8ziruyeMa45nvbX6uIDfwpmB0FURRZIRVYDdX9_QqAt0qBBxqGbdksbU2bnWWkCuVvm0qIOboSRc/s400/20170430EastPoint_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Third and last Cod of the day.</div>
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Still happy to have caught this little fella, but slightly disappointed as I was really hopping for a Barramundi, because of the way the bait had been harassed just a few minutes before.</div>
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Any way, perched on another rock, it all become right...</div>
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I could now see them little Barramundi, swimming in the water not very far from me, eating small baits.</div>
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It was like going on a boat on the flat doing some sight casting, except that it was land based, and that the fish were smaller.</div>
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But the kick from it was the same, the excitement of seeing them was great.</div>
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This is how I got my first little Barramundi, the first one in about a month.</div>
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Not big, but mine mine mine!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6roJxnA5LenDZoIeQwL7pu9pqo8-qSlW9lEBb_zZs7Rhfer5vbPvOkGeUGWpQXX_iZoAXiuZhtlsz_wepDfSzi5gdey7-ebROtuZU8hKYWXn6IMEwSICVyUd8U9ckVn7AmM4pYqYgSM/s1600/20170430EastPoint_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6roJxnA5LenDZoIeQwL7pu9pqo8-qSlW9lEBb_zZs7Rhfer5vbPvOkGeUGWpQXX_iZoAXiuZhtlsz_wepDfSzi5gdey7-ebROtuZU8hKYWXn6IMEwSICVyUd8U9ckVn7AmM4pYqYgSM/s400/20170430EastPoint_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First little Barramundi of the day.</div>
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Yes, to me being mostly land based, even small fish are sweet, and this one made me really happy.</div>
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I got another one in no time at all, but as it was at my feet and I got the camera ready, it managed to spit the lure and swim away. This one was a funny one, it was the first time I saw that, it kept boofing with the lure in its mouth, to try to dislodge it. (Which worked good for him). It was really fun to see this little fish going Boof, turning around and going Boof! Boof! Again.</div>
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Well it was amusing until it spat the lure, little bugger!</div>
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Still it showed me something I had never seen and was a good experience.</div>
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I moved to the next rock, and got my third Barra for the day:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rhkC72q_ghLIlFfDOpWDyN0wl0UOBA3my9I8h-vNiKi1u1kFuKLHT1BrY7kGsNpq7iLxubituGCU4dKaV9LaEMT_qYSpcGknsNAwcOYDGaKqJE5MMd7voIGnf2793Yagf1xAse9-K0w/s1600/20170430EastPoint_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rhkC72q_ghLIlFfDOpWDyN0wl0UOBA3my9I8h-vNiKi1u1kFuKLHT1BrY7kGsNpq7iLxubituGCU4dKaV9LaEMT_qYSpcGknsNAwcOYDGaKqJE5MMd7voIGnf2793Yagf1xAse9-K0w/s400/20170430EastPoint_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Third Barramundi of the day.</div>
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This even if small, was going to be the best one of the day.</div>
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As they were obviously all too small to keep, I tried to photograph them all in the water, to minimise any arm.</div>
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That is all except the last one...</div>
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Because it was what I believe might be the smallest Barramundi I ever caught:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBSn5tO_3g_hp7L5yaXhYaOoYyEEYCzP3Nbx03PrD9LLynr4OMkTBpASJ0AfkwswwxaJmSzTOiD9VOVMGz6gTvAFv8OG3RNBamb5PMbOfM_3Uar8JC4uHlw9gO9avJYLuVU7mTY88F6I/s1600/20170430EastPoint_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBSn5tO_3g_hp7L5yaXhYaOoYyEEYCzP3Nbx03PrD9LLynr4OMkTBpASJ0AfkwswwxaJmSzTOiD9VOVMGz6gTvAFv8OG3RNBamb5PMbOfM_3Uar8JC4uHlw9gO9avJYLuVU7mTY88F6I/s400/20170430EastPoint_08.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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Smallest Barramundi ever on my lure.</div>
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It was fun to see such small fish get so greedy in their attack on the lure. And already displaying all the qualities of their biggest brothers and sisters: boofing, jumping and all.</div>
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By then I could walk all the way onto the turret, which I had never done before.</div>
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Once there, I decided to take a photo, but with my phone instead of my camera...</div>
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And this is when I remembered/realised, that my phone was in my pants pocket when I fell in the water.</div>
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Now mobile phone and salt water are generally not the perfect match.</div>
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And when I saw my phone, I immediately decided to go back home and try to save this wet phone...</div>
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Will it work again?</div>
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Only time will tell...</div>
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So all in all it had been a great morning, with 3 little cods and 4 of the smallish Barramundi I ever caught. Some people say that size doesn't matter, so let be honest, I had great fun catching them.</div>
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If it wasn't for my wet phone, it would have been a perfect last day for the month of April.</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-81053975832262916442017-03-30T19:28:00.000+09:302017-03-30T19:28:40.642+09:302017 Top End Barra Series Round 1Hi there,<br />
<br />
Last weekend was the first round of the 2017 Top End Barra Series.<br />
For the ones amongst you who don't know yet, the Top End Barra Series is a very social and friendly Barramundi fishing tournament.<br />
Made of six rounds over the year, in different locations at different times of the year.<br />
Each round last for a full weekend.<br />
The competition is now in its seventh season.<br />
<br />
Once the last round of the year is done and dusted, most of the anglers who fish the Top End Barra Series, can't wait for the next year first round and all the thing to restart again.<br />
And this was the case once again, with this year what a lot of people expected to be a much better fishing than the last few years, as we finally have the first good wet season since 2011.<br />
<br />
Like for the last few years, the destination of the first round was Shady Camp.<br />
A place known for its potentially very big Barramundi. This is where everyone goes hoping to catch the much sought after Barramundi over the meter in length.<br />
<br />
Now as some of you might remember, I do not have a boat.<br />
So for this round, I was to be fishing with Jason on the first day, and as he was going to leave in the afternoon of Saturday, I was going to jump into Rossco's boat for the reminder of the round.<br />
<br />
Jason, picked me up at 4:00am, I had been up since 1:45am, unable to sleep du to the excitement of going fishing for the full weekend.<br />
Yes I was going to be really really tired on Saturday night...<br />
But it was worth it!<br />
We had planed to take some ice and refill the petrol at the last station service on the road...<br />
Well you know that thing that they say that sound a bit like "Don't wait until the last minute to do the things you got to do"... That was a bit of a case of just that...<br />
The last service station was closed, and we had to go back to fill up.<br />
<br />
Still we arrived at the Shady camp barrage at sunrise:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_3wAEXHvYtOldIhkBGD-IJK-YcZuqkp0GJOioPOCPOc78momsRW7IXd7j0kxuCg6JPf6HzYVyIPbSRvJNwhC0ntMZjgGvdyia1JZ7zEd3hbduORLXLUIffgZcAsAWr1aGhm3woekT2s/s1600/R1TEBS2017_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_3wAEXHvYtOldIhkBGD-IJK-YcZuqkp0GJOioPOCPOc78momsRW7IXd7j0kxuCg6JPf6HzYVyIPbSRvJNwhC0ntMZjgGvdyia1JZ7zEd3hbduORLXLUIffgZcAsAWr1aGhm3woekT2s/s400/R1TEBS2017_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Launching at Shady Camp Barrage.</div>
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For me launching there has always been a bit scary, du to the large quantity of very big crocodile that inhabit the area. So I do prefer when there is already a bit of light than in total darkness.<br />
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From there we zoomed without stoping to the mouth of Sampan River to troll.<br />
To our surprise, not that many boats were trolling the mouth.<br />
Just a few in fact.<br />
Once we started to troll it, we quickly understand why...<br />
It was a bit choppy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFubUHYY-QiVWNf4fg7BK3mlQzDeGWyHNswNChLg85PJgSTwi0GW8i4lI0SLRTYwd6n7N8zIhS8sPdrqObPYC8ffxBNRH9CsudSHXm2gOVYG6W94OaKKfyENYME-yfLBPNw__y7reqy-o/s1600/R1TEBS2017_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFubUHYY-QiVWNf4fg7BK3mlQzDeGWyHNswNChLg85PJgSTwi0GW8i4lI0SLRTYwd6n7N8zIhS8sPdrqObPYC8ffxBNRH9CsudSHXm2gOVYG6W94OaKKfyENYME-yfLBPNw__y7reqy-o/s400/R1TEBS2017_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Chop at the mouth of Sampan.</div>
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We had made two passes and decided to troll a bit further, about two kilometres out.</div>
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On the turn, I changed lure and put a Classic Barra 160 +10 in the Green Dazzler colour on the end of my line.</div>
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A lure that had never yet produced for me at Shady Camp.</div>
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And this is where I would love to tell you that, I spent a few seconds to read the sea and the waves, Made the perfect cast, of 32, 7 metres in length, so my lure would drop just in the dip of a wave.</div>
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I waited for the sun reflection to flash on my lures, and gently twitched it in front of a nice Barramundi that I had spotted just there, who eagerly wolfed it down...</div>
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But this is not how it happened...</div>
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With this lure that I had received as a present from my friend Peter, I made the biggest cast that I could as far away from the boat as I could, and it was not far enough. So still in free spool I let the line run and looked at my lure which seemed to be further and further away from me.</div>
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When I started to think that it should be enough, I clicked the reel's drag on, and in less than a wink, just as the lure made its first move, a fish took it in earnest!</div>
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I first thought that it must have been a big Salmon, as I saw the splash but hadn't been able to put an ID on the fish. The first run was long, and the fish heavy, I could not stop it. Then it jumped, it was a Barramundi!</div>
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Just right then, I felt the pressure rise a few notches. Jason had practically finished to reeled in his lure, and was looking at what I was doing.</div>
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I told him that this fish was heavy and taking all my line, that I feared that it would spool me.</div>
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Jason put the boat in reverse, and this is how I first gained a bit of line.</div>
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When we finally saw the fish, Jason started to say that it might be in the 80s. When it was closer, I could then see the lure on the outside of the Barramundi mouth and started to stress that it was going to be able to escape my capture.</div>
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And then Jason said, "oh he might be a good 90s"...</div>
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Finally it arrived close enough to be scooped in the net, and on the deck.</div>
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The monkey was off my back and I may have danced a little bit on the boat.</div>
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It was a nice fish:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPVQQlK2N8Pg_jmfe_DGA4tWqyr27E_3vl7quWBRmCZW691kRn5vB394-1jdMAsKftp23MOr08Td16Bc6osc4sYR_HN8vVj1fOIVY52xuxKae14LbS_0tKhhPsWvFEAbABLZLtaCqYgs/s1600/R1TEBS2017_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPVQQlK2N8Pg_jmfe_DGA4tWqyr27E_3vl7quWBRmCZW691kRn5vB394-1jdMAsKftp23MOr08Td16Bc6osc4sYR_HN8vVj1fOIVY52xuxKae14LbS_0tKhhPsWvFEAbABLZLtaCqYgs/s400/R1TEBS2017_04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My First Barramundi of the weekend.</div>
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Coming in at 97cm (38.188976 Inches), caught before 9:00am, this was going to be my third biggest Barramundi ever.</div>
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Oh yes I was happy and I still smile thinking about it.</div>
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She did take a bit of time to be revived and to swim away strong, but in the end thanks to the perseverance of Jason, she was fit and kicked away.</div>
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We deducted from this catch than instead of trolling fast as most people do at Shady, we would try to troll slow:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglBLjKxxmEqn4eAZQqeD90AIOiw7zSC_Rwju5a6cHVsQye2XSzVnHO_2jsRCnzM5ZF0gSpC8a44rutEXC_0CDdrY5vI4EAvlbECalHX-g9r_EbuPOLUy1U-RssjPauteWxsppFt6SlsY/s1600/R1TEBS2017_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglBLjKxxmEqn4eAZQqeD90AIOiw7zSC_Rwju5a6cHVsQye2XSzVnHO_2jsRCnzM5ZF0gSpC8a44rutEXC_0CDdrY5vI4EAvlbECalHX-g9r_EbuPOLUy1U-RssjPauteWxsppFt6SlsY/s400/R1TEBS2017_05.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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With a storm in the back.</div>
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Well this didn't work very well and just confirmed that Lady Luck had just been very kind to me when she gave me that fish.</div>
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So it was time to change tactics, and we moved back into the river.</div>
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There we started to flick soft plastic lures to the snags.</div>
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I got a hit, Jason got a hit. We could see prawns being stressed and chased by some predators.</div>
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we casted some more and Jason line went tense, he was on!</div>
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It was a nice fat little Barramundi:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tJBBDiaS9OtNsL8hVrcY4K8JZRIHF9gv4DbTzL1-OHKtgSr0wLWLY1qzZBwzm6nx8i8de0ts17YVQNdpY-FpeJveQL8ZN7k-tZ6UiTydWE6B1F6mfFkJpwvc-PEFdmvvFkaKl3O4g5M/s1600/R1TEBS2017_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tJBBDiaS9OtNsL8hVrcY4K8JZRIHF9gv4DbTzL1-OHKtgSr0wLWLY1qzZBwzm6nx8i8de0ts17YVQNdpY-FpeJveQL8ZN7k-tZ6UiTydWE6B1F6mfFkJpwvc-PEFdmvvFkaKl3O4g5M/s400/R1TEBS2017_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Jason's Barramundi.</div>
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At 57cm (22.440945 Inches) It was no monster in length, but it did make up for it in weight as it was as fat as a happy piglet. So it might not have be bacon, but in the esky it went nonetheless, as it was perfect size to be eaten.</div>
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By then, it was time for Jason to go back toward the city.</div>
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We looked for Rossco and found him, his boat rafted up with another one.</div>
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We went next to them and I passed on my gear from one boat to another. Said goodbye and thank you to Jason, and jumped in Rossco's boat.</div>
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And just then the sky opened up and the rain fell upon the hearth and the rivers...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_LbjdAFJp7hrnd_zzk7a6D5Q9EFOICM16anGEch1xvaJQmSeRE1CLf_ON5rW6QN-YHn0pQnUTc_yu2AfhanmlH0Tm3ihe93UfAf-ptJ8nt8JYgiFBRcDd-tYs8MXZ6aLjPM9VY-gltY/s1600/R1TEBS2017_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_LbjdAFJp7hrnd_zzk7a6D5Q9EFOICM16anGEch1xvaJQmSeRE1CLf_ON5rW6QN-YHn0pQnUTc_yu2AfhanmlH0Tm3ihe93UfAf-ptJ8nt8JYgiFBRcDd-tYs8MXZ6aLjPM9VY-gltY/s400/R1TEBS2017_08.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Rain over Sampan Creek.</div>
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It did fall hard, but not for very long, and once it stopped, we decided to troll our lures around the joint.</div>
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Which resulted in a very nice little Threadfine Salmon for me:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MSvJ5m6SbxjZF9_oi-qZZXdri2Kduwz31ZN9AXBYAN1FjcARGVhdVM9AJtWDQEyPFNy06RrOj7DUbZYy622uoSewp_I0WxxkaX_8_qF9THKil5ZrKFzKWu1GOzg53Hes87h7RdrPBfI/s1600/R1TEBS2017_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MSvJ5m6SbxjZF9_oi-qZZXdri2Kduwz31ZN9AXBYAN1FjcARGVhdVM9AJtWDQEyPFNy06RrOj7DUbZYy622uoSewp_I0WxxkaX_8_qF9THKil5ZrKFzKWu1GOzg53Hes87h7RdrPBfI/s400/R1TEBS2017_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Little Salmon.</div>
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This one was also perfect plate size and as Rossco like his Threadfine, I gave it to him.</div>
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By then it started to be a bit late, and we had made plans with Peter and Rob to catch up in Tommycut, so we headed that way, in the sunset...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWU42m4DOlFjxjeqG5c7iwYMtBTqP0Af0D38I1nE7w4xeXm9wcx-ksmQGdtGIP-A_ADos8qDrqN09RoUxjXvC9awGV-G44fhbziFYzdtyUu_aZN86Zf0pa62CM3aJV9w7ykoMHh7dTaSQ/s1600/R1TEBS2017_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWU42m4DOlFjxjeqG5c7iwYMtBTqP0Af0D38I1nE7w4xeXm9wcx-ksmQGdtGIP-A_ADos8qDrqN09RoUxjXvC9awGV-G44fhbziFYzdtyUu_aZN86Zf0pa62CM3aJV9w7ykoMHh7dTaSQ/s400/R1TEBS2017_12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Stormy sunset.</div>
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We got lucky enough to not get rained on over the trip there. But we still ended up drenched, because of the wind and the waves:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyLo_W99XuGORZeo-LjMfhgcA9-Lo6RQO-QJhbHfrrAlVoCXYh8RpiBYSPBX0pTp7cNDrKiLizum7Czzzvlz_sDeufu1ABPlIrbtlZ4iTkk9ABGJS4MdrVI5uIfP0lqgFNeytojuJXCU/s1600/R1TEBS2017_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyLo_W99XuGORZeo-LjMfhgcA9-Lo6RQO-QJhbHfrrAlVoCXYh8RpiBYSPBX0pTp7cNDrKiLizum7Czzzvlz_sDeufu1ABPlIrbtlZ4iTkk9ABGJS4MdrVI5uIfP0lqgFNeytojuJXCU/s400/R1TEBS2017_13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rossco steering his boat.</div>
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Once there we quickly found Peter and Rob, and rafted up the two boats together, in a nice and calm little spot. We had dinner and some good laughs. But once the night had fallen, I started to feel the the weight of a long day on my shoulders, and quickly crashed to catch as many Z as I could.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWIuT2dYbAw6komdC7HtEj7RUswpcbd182HOLh2HHRrN0ocBhia3Av0jOWmVURcDuP1v0DEOxHj7SH4_jew2lfTz8RuL2hqqM_m0o-EshiMloWmvfp0G3G403dJNJqfFoaqIIQloWigg/s1600/R1TEBS2017_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWIuT2dYbAw6komdC7HtEj7RUswpcbd182HOLh2HHRrN0ocBhia3Av0jOWmVURcDuP1v0DEOxHj7SH4_jew2lfTz8RuL2hqqM_m0o-EshiMloWmvfp0G3G403dJNJqfFoaqIIQloWigg/s400/R1TEBS2017_14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Night time over Tommy Cut.</div>
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As the morning arrived we were greeted by a rainbow and a drizzle:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NNIzswVaxEXIkiTfS61k4F6LaXrvYF3cOv1ctD_-x_X-QSSuhDgc-99b2iReWxUxCIwKM1U5TWQXSTZDBeB_VYAV93mK-om-ekpxrdqEEG5f7n0om1T4UeyEOnHu_3gcNBc8SycWkLc/s1600/R1TEBS2017_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NNIzswVaxEXIkiTfS61k4F6LaXrvYF3cOv1ctD_-x_X-QSSuhDgc-99b2iReWxUxCIwKM1U5TWQXSTZDBeB_VYAV93mK-om-ekpxrdqEEG5f7n0om1T4UeyEOnHu_3gcNBc8SycWkLc/s400/R1TEBS2017_15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cloudy morning and rainbow over Tommycut.</div>
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A very quick breakfast and we were fishing again.</div>
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After a short troll run, Rossco said that we were now in front of a little feeder creek where one of his sons had caught some Barramundi in the past.</div>
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So we started to flick some lure in there.</div>
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Looking at the bait that we could see swimming around, I decided to change my lure, and to downsize, opting for a Junior B52 from Reidy's in gold and orange.</div>
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It took just a few cast and I was on to a feisty little barra.</div>
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When we saw it we both hoped that it would be a point scorer, but said that it wasn't sure...</div>
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Well it was 50cm (19.685039 Inches) on the dot.</div>
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So too small to keep, but just a point scorer:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSrUkosyzFlbuQhNkU5SsyPf-3elM0BFKaCKxIkwmANyuHMqcgZoYXMBRXCLhv0ML0L1yyLKtzcRvqk0sWn6J72ZpYD-WCJs1aZs-uU9Ebqr6mWCrGRRIcpBlY4_6oN_ePmk3YLiiHpM/s1600/R1TEBS2017_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCSrUkosyzFlbuQhNkU5SsyPf-3elM0BFKaCKxIkwmANyuHMqcgZoYXMBRXCLhv0ML0L1yyLKtzcRvqk0sWn6J72ZpYD-WCJs1aZs-uU9Ebqr6mWCrGRRIcpBlY4_6oN_ePmk3YLiiHpM/s400/R1TEBS2017_16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Little Barramundi and Chupa Chups.</div>
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Yes, even if it was on the smallish side, I was still very happy to have a fish in my hands, for a quick photo and a release.</div>
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Noticing the quick success I got with the Junior B52, Rossco didn't waste anytime changing his lure.</div>
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He went for a Junior B52 too, but his was in the gold and black colours.</div>
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Well with that he nearly immediately hooked on a Barramundi.</div>
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But it was not exactly the mother of all Barramundi, it was rather the cute little brother, and little is the keyword there...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKiVZcdgNCHCO6iD9xWgqwCEQHgAtJLi8b8js8IdxtNnT8oMunBO-Qu_JQjKywp5EdA-ywl8iAZkD-2udZUykPsRQKyf9eB4B9WbRJ2MOn1CY9fqWbTf1z5T4lO-op9jZvfGtfBidDN_M/s1600/R1TEBS2017_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKiVZcdgNCHCO6iD9xWgqwCEQHgAtJLi8b8js8IdxtNnT8oMunBO-Qu_JQjKywp5EdA-ywl8iAZkD-2udZUykPsRQKyf9eB4B9WbRJ2MOn1CY9fqWbTf1z5T4lO-op9jZvfGtfBidDN_M/s400/R1TEBS2017_17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Reeling in a cute little Barra.</div>
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This one was too small to be a point scorer, but it definitively offered a great photo opportunity:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwDQAzXbohZ6_eU-0fmyJBS4oDPIdJ_-h6yWXEmD_ogZ9igXl3nqjxGwofvVfNTFxifXodURWqx4x1P20DALg2RxJb9bxVeI2FlhecJUyxxfLXyPNvv4iYJvPpqMshes3YK2VSxX5dxM/s1600/R1TEBS2017_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwDQAzXbohZ6_eU-0fmyJBS4oDPIdJ_-h6yWXEmD_ogZ9igXl3nqjxGwofvVfNTFxifXodURWqx4x1P20DALg2RxJb9bxVeI2FlhecJUyxxfLXyPNvv4iYJvPpqMshes3YK2VSxX5dxM/s400/R1TEBS2017_18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Baby Barramundi.</div>
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We had a good laugh about it thinking that if anyone saw us taking a picture like that they would have thought that we were crazy. Sometimes you don't need much to laugh.</div>
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The tide was falling and we still had regular hits.</div>
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This is about then that we saw Seano and Gavin passing by, and they stopped for a little chat.</div>
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They told us that like ourselves, they did find the fishing hard. Seeing fish on the sounder, fish that didn't what to eat anything. And on top of that, Seano had a few battery trouble on his boat.</div>
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As they left we restarted to cast our lures and in no times, Rossco was on!</div>
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This time the fish seemed a bit bigger and gave an honest fight.</div>
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It was a better fish:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeZKfxwia076onLZEKBNerN9AFTRGHUtCtbEIK-tld_coM_EwFw7dXbMv6jyVWHfoYBot7Ys5yb-BmUNYR5q7A7CogL4emQcIbUOyYWG8juIQg-yipPYP-MnpKXvziPUGwrgBt6e8eT0/s1600/R1TEBS2017_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeZKfxwia076onLZEKBNerN9AFTRGHUtCtbEIK-tld_coM_EwFw7dXbMv6jyVWHfoYBot7Ys5yb-BmUNYR5q7A7CogL4emQcIbUOyYWG8juIQg-yipPYP-MnpKXvziPUGwrgBt6e8eT0/s400/R1TEBS2017_19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rossco's last Barramundi for the weekend.</div>
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Coming in at 62cm (24.409449 Inches) it was going to be a good point scorer for Rossco. And a delicious fillet for me, as Rossco kindly shared the bounty with me. Once again, I was going to feed my family a fish caught by someone else.</div>
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Because the only fish that I caught after that was a small Catfish, which of course I let go.</div>
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We then made our way back to the mouth of Tommycut, trolled around for a little while, I did get a very strong hit, but it didn't stay connected.</div>
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We took the opportunity of a break in the wind to go back to Sampan.</div>
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There is was a bit of fishing again, but with not much success.</div>
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So we made our way back to the ramp, asking along the way to a few people if they were going back toward Darwin and could give me a lift, as it would have allowed Rossco to stay one more day to fish.</div>
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Alas, no one was going back so Rossco could not stay for the following day and he drove me back to the city.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCBNGFX89dj0-iSzbrrPgHYOfjDOhyphenhyphenFqOQmkM7WT7a8HLw917Cl8OdLB-Z7iq1B8AhhZbGgH-Pq7ru9HCum4-CQsXTQ5yHtBRp-Fp_JsASRVzBNUL6KsjQ8VFGXZALHRDfrxg0RJ-_qo/s1600/R1TEBS2017_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCBNGFX89dj0-iSzbrrPgHYOfjDOhyphenhyphenFqOQmkM7WT7a8HLw917Cl8OdLB-Z7iq1B8AhhZbGgH-Pq7ru9HCum4-CQsXTQ5yHtBRp-Fp_JsASRVzBNUL6KsjQ8VFGXZALHRDfrxg0RJ-_qo/s400/R1TEBS2017_21.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The road back towards civilisation.</div>
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What a weekend it had been!</div>
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First round of the 2017 TEBS, as it is known by many.</div>
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I had fished from two different boats, thank you Jason and Rossco for offering me the chance to fish for a full weekend.</div>
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I had caught my third biggest Barramundi so far.</div>
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And I had a very good time in very good company.</div>
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When is the next round???</div>
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And yes, this is where it hurts, the next round is in about two months...</div>
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Two long months before being again in the ambiance of the Top End Barra Series, and a full weekend of fishing... </div>
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This will be a long wait.</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-42693439800467578202017-02-21T21:38:00.000+09:302017-02-21T22:23:51.997+09:30First Barramundi Of The Year.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Yes, I finally got my first Barramundi for the year.<br />
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<li>We fished on the Adelaide river.</li>
<li>We got all our fish on soft plastic lures.</li>
<li>We got all our fish on the cast.</li>
</ul>
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Jason had asked me if I wanted to go for a bit of Barramundi fishing on the Adelaide river.</div>
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Of course I said yes!</div>
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It is still early in the season, a bit too early in fact, but who could resist a fishing trip, instead of staying home doing some cleaning and other important stuff?</div>
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So we were on the road very early, and it was still dark by the time we launched the boat:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG96Rpl2n9aTyC294eDhqVzJyoYpJnHJMPujw1qriKyFdGiq_SN3t4orb4NWrbWCLvsEf5w-i7WhD7xvUBQDqWTDC0tWXQRxlOojMO0P5xnOR-XdOwxqF1YoEKcRiYBSg49CyWpId9C4/s1600/20170219AdelaideR_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcG96Rpl2n9aTyC294eDhqVzJyoYpJnHJMPujw1qriKyFdGiq_SN3t4orb4NWrbWCLvsEf5w-i7WhD7xvUBQDqWTDC0tWXQRxlOojMO0P5xnOR-XdOwxqF1YoEKcRiYBSg49CyWpId9C4/s400/20170219AdelaideR_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Launching in the dark.</div>
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But as opposed to all the other trips that I had done on the Adelaide river, this time we had decided to go down river, instead of upstream. This to me was a first, and I was excited to go to discover some new territories.</div>
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We stopped as the day had started, to a little creek and started to flick our lures across the little stream flowing in the river. We were using large hard body lures, and didn't register any hits, but who could hear and sometimes see little boof here and there around us.</div>
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One fish was rather constant on our left.</div>
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We casted many time in it's direction but couldn't get anything to have a go at our lures.</div>
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I even tried a fizzer, in the hope that it would provoke a strike.</div>
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Just as we decided to drift past a bit lower, we changed lures and both of us had now soft plastic lures on our lines.</div>
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I made my first cast with it towards the spot where the little Barramundi had been repeatedly boofing.</div>
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That was not the best cast in the world, and my lure ended in the weed bordering the water. I gave a sharp jerk on the line to get it off the weed, the lure dropped in the water, I gave one turn of the handle, and said: Oh! I just got a hit!</div>
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But it wasn't just a hit I was on! in fact the fish had then been swimming parallel to the boat and it did take me a few seconds to realise that I was on.</div>
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The fight wasn't very long, as the fish was no monster, and once at the boat, I just grabbed the leader line by hand, and pulled the fish in the boat. I had just boated my first Barramundi of the year!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMIKFZMI_ywBa04JlBDOS7m10LSawVfcQ6qi9rNwC1oa5G6tT-ql34uTrwJHMxqYU-ytSi01p5nPmgObxaGHbYZR-7NlTvnCBBzlK9nSN_aByAU433ndzuZNMnUBlzPsxKLP20FinPKY/s1600/20170219AdelaideR_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMIKFZMI_ywBa04JlBDOS7m10LSawVfcQ6qi9rNwC1oa5G6tT-ql34uTrwJHMxqYU-ytSi01p5nPmgObxaGHbYZR-7NlTvnCBBzlK9nSN_aByAU433ndzuZNMnUBlzPsxKLP20FinPKY/s400/20170219AdelaideR_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First little Barramundi of the year.</div>
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This little run off Barramundi, made me very happy, it is alway nice to catch the first one of the year.</div>
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And lets be honest, this happen only once a year...</div>
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I had caught it on the first cast of the day with a soft plastic, surely this was going to be the lure of the day ... Well yes and no... Yes, because it caught me my best fish of the day, but no, because that was also going to be my last Barramundi of the day, for me.</div>
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But not long after that, as we arrived to another little run off, Jason was on!</div>
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And his fish was better than mine:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmmLwh4Iniv3rFbr13jp2rvTQepe02X62z9uMEzKN05KFULK1cthxwMG3n8luotaJXJWIFblMPNTCaCJY67-5Li0ixuGBIzRzP_aB5nyYofqLNdLDsj2lfu2WlWb4g9wPTBzioEBIWAE/s1600/20170219AdelaideR_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmmLwh4Iniv3rFbr13jp2rvTQepe02X62z9uMEzKN05KFULK1cthxwMG3n8luotaJXJWIFblMPNTCaCJY67-5Li0ixuGBIzRzP_aB5nyYofqLNdLDsj2lfu2WlWb4g9wPTBzioEBIWAE/s400/20170219AdelaideR_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Jason and his Barramundi.</div>
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This fish too was caught on a soft plastic and on the cast.</div>
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From there on, the long desert crossing started...</div>
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No more Barramundi were to be caught for the day...</div>
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We did try every little colour change that we saw, like this one:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH78phBHEg1SXnyf1Fr3VnHMzZoBuj7bgW3Wvs9SW1rWlQQ0kdPo-li4DcJnwHVKOUqhOPYKuyKbxDtJVWWXpxk8igL4gjbtCVHrq4Xwj2GsZBcX0DD5G70iFcDAX_jCL73LEYOR5VvOA/s1600/20170219AdelaideR_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH78phBHEg1SXnyf1Fr3VnHMzZoBuj7bgW3Wvs9SW1rWlQQ0kdPo-li4DcJnwHVKOUqhOPYKuyKbxDtJVWWXpxk8igL4gjbtCVHrq4Xwj2GsZBcX0DD5G70iFcDAX_jCL73LEYOR5VvOA/s400/20170219AdelaideR_04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Colour change on the Adelaide river.</div>
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But to no avail.</div>
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So we went back up the river, as far as Beatrice creek. First as we arrived we had the place for ourselves. But it must have taken about all of ten short minutes, to have at least five or six other boats around us, all casting or even anchoring about where we were flicking our lures ten minutes before...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipywHH-gSmMlD5OHcn3XVAR8w-ZPTSSG_KowoEm33oHILLDQrNAPdSVGwptHGdTFaycJk7i4BVKtTw7ITacKOj0BhSVnS7PFzyuPCj_aVucPAnX0E8VdLEfuk-n2Mi6UL0SRT6UTGuGR4/s1600/20170219AdelaideR_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipywHH-gSmMlD5OHcn3XVAR8w-ZPTSSG_KowoEm33oHILLDQrNAPdSVGwptHGdTFaycJk7i4BVKtTw7ITacKOj0BhSVnS7PFzyuPCj_aVucPAnX0E8VdLEfuk-n2Mi6UL0SRT6UTGuGR4/s400/20170219AdelaideR_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The junction of Beatrice and Adelaide, with a few boats.</div>
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Some of the boats even had stereo blasting some night club music...</div>
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I might start to be an old fashioned kind of guy, but when fishing, I still prefer the sound of nature and the birds than the Duff Duff music...</div>
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Anyway we persisted there for a while, and Jason got two very good hits, but none stayed connected.</div>
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The sky was starting to grow darker and more menacing by the minute, and a few lightning started to be seen in the cloudy sky.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJEjIZ9vgQDe3BtuZoTKIY7FFy8MdMvo5lS_a8nFJpKnwWblo_xxwort9Ck6aEnemysralh1iEFpWBhlPPcxngA17BZLvgYd3rAxFXAxj5siBaAahnWPsk3oE0t7vRJdSS1IBM_-30wk/s1600/20170219AdelaideR_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJEjIZ9vgQDe3BtuZoTKIY7FFy8MdMvo5lS_a8nFJpKnwWblo_xxwort9Ck6aEnemysralh1iEFpWBhlPPcxngA17BZLvgYd3rAxFXAxj5siBaAahnWPsk3oE0t7vRJdSS1IBM_-30wk/s400/20170219AdelaideR_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dark sky.</div>
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So we made it back towards the ramp, and turned in one last little creek to see if we could get lucky, one more time.</div>
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We got lucky with the rain, that is for sure, as it fell upon us like there was no tomorrow.</div>
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The positive in it, is that it was refreshing.</div>
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And then the rain stopped... For a few minutes and restarted... And stopped again, and started again, a few time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqApsSsiz2GWP8Z-Mj9_QGFae22i6eeOdfv6iYk9Hi3cCL1yaGGTDnxv50lezs06iYoa6LJtNUdJJrhk13_1FE0VXCFDnpNVKJi9GUo8pXMC4PaIUBw8LpsX6YtVxl54d7uPubUzf4XQ/s1600/20170219AdelaideR_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqApsSsiz2GWP8Z-Mj9_QGFae22i6eeOdfv6iYk9Hi3cCL1yaGGTDnxv50lezs06iYoa6LJtNUdJJrhk13_1FE0VXCFDnpNVKJi9GUo8pXMC4PaIUBw8LpsX6YtVxl54d7uPubUzf4XQ/s400/20170219AdelaideR_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Flood plain from the last little creek.</div>
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In this little creek I actually got a fish, but it was either a Garfish or a Long Tom, not sure which one of them.</div>
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It was of the same colour than a Barramundi that would have spend the winter in a billabong. Never I had seen one of this colour before.</div>
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But between the intermittent rain and the lack of Barramundi, we decided to call it a day and to head home.</div>
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The sky was still full of rain:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7V1zraz87sXy2yr0mc-Z-aXwFEfT-a6O4CqDe8tWLijTwGuaYjP0jLUofkmTa2Pyr_d1qew-DQ6d25aP0RbCbfduhh7WDVQfhBgV5aiVYspDz_ZA9UzHaaWKQZ83-Rdd1TE7qJWm5as/s1600/20170219AdelaideR_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7V1zraz87sXy2yr0mc-Z-aXwFEfT-a6O4CqDe8tWLijTwGuaYjP0jLUofkmTa2Pyr_d1qew-DQ6d25aP0RbCbfduhh7WDVQfhBgV5aiVYspDz_ZA9UzHaaWKQZ83-Rdd1TE7qJWm5as/s400/20170219AdelaideR_08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Clouds over the Adelaide river.</div>
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when we arrived at the ramp, we saw that a lot of people had the same idea than us, and it was a bit busy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIilM4keIl4mBjOr3TAcCmzyIY_yqZGz_1aDm8HfyRyQB8eYXVYSaZut0HYodATE5WzQKufE5v2ZIYzzK9KV5I43s3SPQWv6FG0SIK-jOwAYQhfUre2qKy3nQFCR33KaaT2D4mYvv3sT0/s1600/20170219AdelaideR_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIilM4keIl4mBjOr3TAcCmzyIY_yqZGz_1aDm8HfyRyQB8eYXVYSaZut0HYodATE5WzQKufE5v2ZIYzzK9KV5I43s3SPQWv6FG0SIK-jOwAYQhfUre2qKy3nQFCR33KaaT2D4mYvv3sT0/s400/20170219AdelaideR_09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Waiting next to the ramp.</div>
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But it wasn't that long before we were able to put the boat back on the trailer, and on the road again, home bounds.</div>
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Thanks again to Jason for inviting me fishing, it was great to finally get my first little Barra of the year.</div>
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In this trip I used 18 different hard body lures, and four different soft plastics, for a grand total of two fish caught...</div>
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I think that this is the absolute proof that I needs more fishing lure...</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-20784165967005546012017-02-18T09:33:00.000+09:302017-02-18T09:33:15.226+09:30The Rapala Fortnight Freebies Prize.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Yes, I did get very lucky : I won the first 2017 Rapala Fortnight Freebies prize for 2017.<br />
What is that?<br />
Some of you may ask...<br />
Well every fortnight Rapala Australia do a little competition on their Facebook page. And every time a lucky participant get to received for over $200 of Rapala products.<br />
And what did I had to do to become a lucky boy?<br />
Well as it was the first Rapala Freebies of the year, they made it an easy one, so I was in with a chance...<br />
I had to look online at what were their products and tell on their Facebook page which ones I would like to received.<br />
And my choice was really simple, I wanted some fishing lures to chase the mighty Barramundi.<br />
So I said that I would love to get some Storm So-Run Akame and some Twitchin' Mullet.<br />
And that was it, I was the lucky one whose name came up in the draw.<br />
Now, what did I received for such a big effort?<br />
All of that:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvazjA5nGkSip3xdklBgh6NX5Uf_sI1XLGeKVAdOuvaztMPRTYmxT_htuWwvX0dZjgxjFWGQlwbcU67hDsA7TGXS5Rx6GWMLyR10czd20XBfe0oYfIAz0VHXyhLnB8YYhgFBeaodhK6A/s1600/Rapala1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvazjA5nGkSip3xdklBgh6NX5Uf_sI1XLGeKVAdOuvaztMPRTYmxT_htuWwvX0dZjgxjFWGQlwbcU67hDsA7TGXS5Rx6GWMLyR10czd20XBfe0oYfIAz0VHXyhLnB8YYhgFBeaodhK6A/s400/Rapala1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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All the Freebies from Rapala Australia.</div>
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So lets look at it a bit more closely.</div>
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Starting first with the ones I really wanted, the big bait:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUU_O21BwROmBYBWDY9uTZ1EqRugRjO72XjL5Ws-niJq03SiYCxwc1tx7oOLzjR5B9LrS2DVY8NGP5ZNPR2WTMXCA4bkkdfl5VOQ82GxR9X256vvpoJUPV-ibAoknJn5s5Kl5qmhS2Hc/s1600/Rapala2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUU_O21BwROmBYBWDY9uTZ1EqRugRjO72XjL5Ws-niJq03SiYCxwc1tx7oOLzjR5B9LrS2DVY8NGP5ZNPR2WTMXCA4bkkdfl5VOQ82GxR9X256vvpoJUPV-ibAoknJn5s5Kl5qmhS2Hc/s400/Rapala2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Storm So-Run Akame.</div>
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This is a big lure, with single hooks, made to catch big fish. My goal with these is to catch a big Barramundi. It measure 19cm for 67g, and has a running depth of 0.3M. This looks like a good lure to use for big Barramundi, and I really hope to up my personal best catch on this lure.</div>
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Then comes the other lure that I was very interested to put my little fingers on, the Twitchin' Mullet:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-spPAvRBFkwwb_2_N41rhmlNwnzBlvTg5O6hJ9USlcmQngwrAtdMhL_U5Iy_mNPfPsrSk83qeWurb82gEP5lYHKafw4H2Izl-C3VDFZc0VJqhRS2TzbnTG4qj3qFzhf36_DzR-kmNe0/s1600/Rapala4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-spPAvRBFkwwb_2_N41rhmlNwnzBlvTg5O6hJ9USlcmQngwrAtdMhL_U5Iy_mNPfPsrSk83qeWurb82gEP5lYHKafw4H2Izl-C3VDFZc0VJqhRS2TzbnTG4qj3qFzhf36_DzR-kmNe0/s400/Rapala4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rapala X-Rap Twitchin' Mullet.</div>
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The Rapala Twitchin' Mullet is a lure that I really was hoping to win, because I had never seen it in shop in Darwin yet. But after looking at it online it seemed to be exactly the type of lure I would love to flick at some run off creek or even from the shore at some of my urban land based fishing spots.</div>
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It is a relatively small lure, 8cm for 13g with a diving depth of 0.3 to 0.6M, which is also what might make it a good land based fishing lure. It has a subsurface walk the dog action, and anyone who knows my fishing preferences knows that I love surface walk the dog lures. So this one should be really interesting to fish with.</div>
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As a companion to these two little lure came what could be described as their big brother, the Twitchin' Minow:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpQi9Wz8inEoQSZYIurjnjqzXB0k6GhLcqW91bkN-SoUcGjCIks-Oy_8g2wyCiDh-Mwr3Qri-2wHM8ZM0acoveewldp1ycpdBX6xI8tCVH1kiPXXRTYcHScSDSlUquBiXvrZqbQjRG-M/s1600/Rapala5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpQi9Wz8inEoQSZYIurjnjqzXB0k6GhLcqW91bkN-SoUcGjCIks-Oy_8g2wyCiDh-Mwr3Qri-2wHM8ZM0acoveewldp1ycpdBX6xI8tCVH1kiPXXRTYcHScSDSlUquBiXvrZqbQjRG-M/s400/Rapala5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rapala X-Rap, Twitchin' Minow.</div>
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This one is bigger and longer that the previous one. It is 12cm for 26g.</div>
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In fact there is two sizes available for this lure the 12 cm one and a smaller one at 10cm and 14g.</div>
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I am rather happy to have the bigger one, as it will nicely complement the smaller Twitchin' Mullet that came with it.</div>
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This one too is a shallow lure with a running depth identical to the Twitchin' Mullet, 0.3 to 0.6M that is. So I intend to fish both lures in the same zones, depending on what type of natural bait swim there on the day. Because as they say, the best is often to match the hatch.</div>
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With them came the Shadow Rap Deep:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpttdtNTFfws2zQDt008fSMmUj-tXQPWgLi9dOKPOkjPCRQ7K7nGpDqRdCyqUMat-NZMl9i2aJdZmiiTBpQyculW8IVjWQ5TbrndVNsElCUFCuTHgluzH5oiIKg2SqwnbEFgXZSDzx0k/s1600/Rapala6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpttdtNTFfws2zQDt008fSMmUj-tXQPWgLi9dOKPOkjPCRQ7K7nGpDqRdCyqUMat-NZMl9i2aJdZmiiTBpQyculW8IVjWQ5TbrndVNsElCUFCuTHgluzH5oiIKg2SqwnbEFgXZSDzx0k/s400/Rapala6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rapala Shadow Rap Deep.</div>
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This is a lure that I had never seen before, so it is more than welcome in my tackle box.</div>
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It is 11cm long for 13g, and is a slow sinking on pause lure.</div>
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It will be interesting to see how the Barramundi react to this lure.</div>
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It cam in the Clown colour, it is a colour with which I have caught Barramundi with in the past, so I am for the moment quite confident that it too should bring back a fish.</div>
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Then in all the goodies, I found some stickers, first this one:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjsih5IQ8F9Fl1p4hnq9Nz4GChA5nTUzODTEOuafQ5ogOl227NXXGDx103dwWsVbt0seUqu_K9ryuVNWfDjaxcq8Tn8kgaXZSwWL37pmWKVzQTqNztsV2G6agwOpkntNT_LRxv1UkFHI/s1600/Rapala7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjsih5IQ8F9Fl1p4hnq9Nz4GChA5nTUzODTEOuafQ5ogOl227NXXGDx103dwWsVbt0seUqu_K9ryuVNWfDjaxcq8Tn8kgaXZSwWL37pmWKVzQTqNztsV2G6agwOpkntNT_LRxv1UkFHI/s400/Rapala7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rapala Auto/Boat Emblem.</div>
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I do not have a boat, but I can see it placed on the bonnet of my car.</div>
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It will be like driving a Rapala's car, and will continue to make me day dream about fishing while driving to work. So you know, I could stay focused on the task at hand.</div>
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And now the proper stickers:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLPBdpvp9HnpcmQRtSeB9ym7Eh_no7YjykI84QmJ65kYXR8a6koF9Li1r0EyFZWTDtJ6Nn33JA1c33hmsDvzu-O-dWQwsT1WBNDson495Mh2hDboQWEFYiAwqfDrVtIcFfXgqlAkoU0Q/s1600/Rapala8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLPBdpvp9HnpcmQRtSeB9ym7Eh_no7YjykI84QmJ65kYXR8a6koF9Li1r0EyFZWTDtJ6Nn33JA1c33hmsDvzu-O-dWQwsT1WBNDson495Mh2hDboQWEFYiAwqfDrVtIcFfXgqlAkoU0Q/s400/Rapala8.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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Full set of Rapala Pro Decal.</div>
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These stickers will find places on my pushbike and other perfect sticker's spots. My child has already spotted them and I might have to share.</div>
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Fishing lures and stickers, what could be missing here?</div>
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The cloths!</div>
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And here they are:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HqyuFC8dgp5ZsgTeOYeYRqwckrUsDc-MXXU-JBRzx8XDMwLlmwFGLVi5GBjCtOKH-wY4wCfLa5s8UeyEQlyWre6QfuK_78Ex49PDtWA4KxNGkEoo9N936LLlQODnGUgnLPCdkco5cYY/s1600/Rapala9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HqyuFC8dgp5ZsgTeOYeYRqwckrUsDc-MXXU-JBRzx8XDMwLlmwFGLVi5GBjCtOKH-wY4wCfLa5s8UeyEQlyWre6QfuK_78Ex49PDtWA4KxNGkEoo9N936LLlQODnGUgnLPCdkco5cYY/s400/Rapala9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rapala Coasting Lure T-Shirt.</div>
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Now for a guy like me who is borderline obsessive compulsive when it comes to fishing lures, what a T-shirt to wear!</div>
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To go with the shirt was a short:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXrG6vXLGi3_u4gIRxP8gXMzSHO-DxVeCQPOX5WzpLJhRD476l4ncdmfZqzBigeEs-YAmw3Eqt1Mi9FAQK_vYWCGScq22AYPiLmzXl2S_vAl7f2I9rWSpkQg25bgI6EiVaxU4gFfYwQw/s1600/Rapala10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXrG6vXLGi3_u4gIRxP8gXMzSHO-DxVeCQPOX5WzpLJhRD476l4ncdmfZqzBigeEs-YAmw3Eqt1Mi9FAQK_vYWCGScq22AYPiLmzXl2S_vAl7f2I9rWSpkQg25bgI6EiVaxU4gFfYwQw/s400/Rapala10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rapala Catch Boardies.</div>
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When I received an email from Rapala asking me about my pants size, I looked on their website, and this very short was my favourite. So the stars must have aligned properly, as this is the one I received.</div>
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And last but not least, you may have noticed it on the first photograph of this post, a bucket:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLpdgJ6KoHNnzKpJaP5CigJFhbr09hZNQWlpL_xSYzaFiUr4gIv6ZbPfIXnm_-ivhe7Yvm8lfkTHo-as3WXaKc2R4Evkt6ulGOmxgBQzU_bX-lw0-0Bs4joPv_DrwuAebENP1ERPRy48/s1600/Rapala11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLpdgJ6KoHNnzKpJaP5CigJFhbr09hZNQWlpL_xSYzaFiUr4gIv6ZbPfIXnm_-ivhe7Yvm8lfkTHo-as3WXaKc2R4Evkt6ulGOmxgBQzU_bX-lw0-0Bs4joPv_DrwuAebENP1ERPRy48/s400/Rapala11.jpg" width="351" /></a></div>
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Rapala stainless steel lures bucket.</div>
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This is all what I received from the good guys at Rapala Australia for the Rapala Fortnight Freebies.</div>
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Honestly, it is more than what I was expecting, and I am very grateful for all of this, thank you guys.</div>
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If you live in Australia, you should definitively go on their Facebook page and try to enter the fortnightly competition, it is well worth it, and lets face it, not too so hard. So that everyone is in with a good chance to win.</div>
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Here is a last photograph for the road:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0Ysm3rQSPRwiJdOJTXBiZPw1lfev9DwAP00fsDpNcKlhFCzj7FbZl6b3HsWjUc76uxfaG9afsu_OoZuBmLXLrxWMbaGpCZRnD0Rw6p2CMu4re3nCU0nmCuz2Nt5WqobZw7hLdgH8oag/s1600/Rapala3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0Ysm3rQSPRwiJdOJTXBiZPw1lfev9DwAP00fsDpNcKlhFCzj7FbZl6b3HsWjUc76uxfaG9afsu_OoZuBmLXLrxWMbaGpCZRnD0Rw6p2CMu4re3nCU0nmCuz2Nt5WqobZw7hLdgH8oag/s400/Rapala3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Storm, So-Run Akame.</div>
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The only problem for me receiving all these fishing lures early in the week, is that I had to wait nearly a full week before I would be able to test them...</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-4041897781779209982017-02-15T19:55:00.000+09:302017-02-15T20:02:30.917+09:30FFF Seadogs 2016 Prize.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Yes, I was lucky enough to win a round of the FFF Seadogs 2016.<br />
And not any round but the last one, basically I really got in by the skin of my teeth.<br />
<br />
So first what is the FFF Seadogs competition?<br />
It is a friendly fishing competition organised by the <a href="http://fishingterritory.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">FFF fishing forum</span></a>, in Australia.<br />
The competition is made of eleven rounds, and the angler with the best fish in a round win this round.<br />
At the end of the year, the person who had the biggest number of points (Allocated by the sizes of fish entered in the competition each rounds) win the Grand Prize of Seadog of the year.<br />
<br />
Now, I have entered this competition since it's beginning, and it is only the very first time that I win a round in it. This is a testament to the quality of the many anglers who compete in it every years.<br />
And my win was I believe due more to sheer luck than anything else.<br />
But hey, I will take it anyway.<br />
<br />
So what did I win?<br />
This:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsUNocTK3DXhnVi4c3i69ejHCLj1lgDvqR3ISB0Wvshtzh6V3j_bPp19FV32qqzUpNNyC9bMOftVLBJD2zWYvnqFcTz2xdBieddN81UWS7cTUwmxGAN6_aNx3kEtCBZ-d0_e-__eQ_eI/s1600/SeadogsPrize_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsUNocTK3DXhnVi4c3i69ejHCLj1lgDvqR3ISB0Wvshtzh6V3j_bPp19FV32qqzUpNNyC9bMOftVLBJD2zWYvnqFcTz2xdBieddN81UWS7cTUwmxGAN6_aNx3kEtCBZ-d0_e-__eQ_eI/s400/SeadogsPrize_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yes, all of this!</div>
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Now let's have a closer look at all these goodies.</div>
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First the Rapala:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapgRi_X8wL17OgZg-R6TaRtdRR0DDW0dy0T3uYhk5IUH1qb6IV6oTCyVQSpdX36QVMdKtNSHaMaJCtAA0CHHupgkFEt1NghCNjnPIa3997j-9n-2kO9q-qQNDfKm8Pkp0B7a0stK66Ms/s1600/SeadogsPrize_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapgRi_X8wL17OgZg-R6TaRtdRR0DDW0dy0T3uYhk5IUH1qb6IV6oTCyVQSpdX36QVMdKtNSHaMaJCtAA0CHHupgkFEt1NghCNjnPIa3997j-9n-2kO9q-qQNDfKm8Pkp0B7a0stK66Ms/s400/SeadogsPrize_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Three Rapala fishing lures.</div>
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Yes, note one, not two but three Rapala fishing lures.</div>
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One Max Rap and two X-Rap XR-12.</div>
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The Max Rap swim at 03 to 09M (1-3FT.). And the two X-Rap dive to 1,2-2,4M (4 to 8 FT.).</div>
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Then come the Halco / RMG:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBtk-fGA12mIaMPxo69B6LaoewuW1GpmPpFFFEOT2vLEDHLYM4GkhvIROB-MmGV3Epp_g_NpiNds5yUWderlMXlpf6bs6A7-Cd429ZZozB3xCNnHapSoNFc60fSu6aKav07xQsd54RGI/s1600/SeadogsPrize_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBtk-fGA12mIaMPxo69B6LaoewuW1GpmPpFFFEOT2vLEDHLYM4GkhvIROB-MmGV3Epp_g_NpiNds5yUWderlMXlpf6bs6A7-Cd429ZZozB3xCNnHapSoNFc60fSu6aKav07xQsd54RGI/s400/SeadogsPrize_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Three fishing lures from Halco / RMG.</div>
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This lot is made of a 40g Outcast in white, one of my favourite lure when fishing for Queenfish and other small pelagic from the shore. It cast like a bullet and fish love it.</div>
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Second is a Laser Pro 120MT, with a swimming depth of 1M. I have never fished with a Laser Pro, but many of my fishing buddies told me that they love it for Barramundi, so I will definitively try it.</div>
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And third is the ever reliable Poltergeist 80. A great little lure, which already caught me plenty of fish, and that I rate highly.</div>
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Then come the Reidy's:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhu2RmwNC0dn9aM6q_p-Iihk1d8kFc6qSg6-7meKek_39G92Sg9jlFddyqilul5l20d10ji0m_rEOTS950FjCT18sQ6cBDO6H1pVIzxdGgiLBDqSzdgzjZBvAEpNfN06ekuFxBahZmxgQ/s1600/SeadogsPrize_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhu2RmwNC0dn9aM6q_p-Iihk1d8kFc6qSg6-7meKek_39G92Sg9jlFddyqilul5l20d10ji0m_rEOTS950FjCT18sQ6cBDO6H1pVIzxdGgiLBDqSzdgzjZBvAEpNfN06ekuFxBahZmxgQ/s400/SeadogsPrize_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Two of my favourite Barramundi fishing lure.</div>
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One of them is a B52...</div>
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Yes, I have said it before, my first ever Barramundi on a lure was on a Reidy's B52.</div>
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I have since always had some in my tackle boxes, and always make sure to have a few with me when ever I go fishing. </div>
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The other is a Little Lucifer, these are great lures when fishing the billabong, or at the start of the run off season, when the bait is still relatively small. I have caught some fish with this lure too.</div>
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And then came the timber lure:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaETfVIcKyOsdIGLNddEbsyZnTrQ9GWNVUWrMmhpSMwYgoZGUXZ5zrStm58eQG_zzYlXL18VKoh8hzImIwQRZ2Lyh8k4zH-J71pGXR9qEHJLRAPCrsjkJe7kUxRm84Mzqb4t2TqWLfwlg/s1600/SeadogsPrize_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaETfVIcKyOsdIGLNddEbsyZnTrQ9GWNVUWrMmhpSMwYgoZGUXZ5zrStm58eQG_zzYlXL18VKoh8hzImIwQRZ2Lyh8k4zH-J71pGXR9qEHJLRAPCrsjkJe7kUxRm84Mzqb4t2TqWLfwlg/s400/SeadogsPrize_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Deep River Lure.</div>
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This one is a Deep River Lure Mugil.</div>
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Deep River Lures are handcrafted in Queensland, and are very well finished. I already had two of them, and really like them, even if they are nearly too beautiful to be fished.</div>
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They are even signed under the belly:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT40eQwliW-XrU6_k1VymDXYngtKI0q4-8ceHu-XZorNPBxIO9U6tQS-E-KC8QCLbTYlHB7Ilo-kK3V8bI6k9E338Ww4pkjQETkkAhLLQjZ327Zqo6lb6wWG1-5UOt6MfPjjeNlu2sCg/s1600/SeadogsPrize_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT40eQwliW-XrU6_k1VymDXYngtKI0q4-8ceHu-XZorNPBxIO9U6tQS-E-KC8QCLbTYlHB7Ilo-kK3V8bI6k9E338Ww4pkjQETkkAhLLQjZ327Zqo6lb6wWG1-5UOt6MfPjjeNlu2sCg/s400/SeadogsPrize_6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Deep River Lure Mugil.</div>
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But what does the average angler would be with shiny lures and nothing to attach them to?</div>
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So here come the fishing line, from Platypus:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3yvQPg3Nn1AyMLOPo3ptcVIAMMariVzcBx1AbL_mkbURydbaL8nWJjjZCUYJiK8dNuQz2xe41nOvhS1FgP72tXm-ftr82nHP5-6Yr9JWlrvLaOK_CK70UTIkghwxz2LY0U2rq_5Bu44/s1600/SeadogsPrize_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3yvQPg3Nn1AyMLOPo3ptcVIAMMariVzcBx1AbL_mkbURydbaL8nWJjjZCUYJiK8dNuQz2xe41nOvhS1FgP72tXm-ftr82nHP5-6Yr9JWlrvLaOK_CK70UTIkghwxz2LY0U2rq_5Bu44/s400/SeadogsPrize_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Platinum+ Braid by Platypus.</div>
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This comes just at the right time. It is here the beginning of the run off season. The time when I get my reels serviced and change the lines that need to be changed. With 300 years of 30lb braid, I will be ok for a little while. Platypus fishing lines are made in Australia and as such are well suited for the harsh condition under which we fish.</div>
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And last but not least, the Tonic sunglasses:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLljU2M03K48KwM4wXL-w1wYThtuRcR39PJrWu_WT8lMpzhfY8_hxLRyYo-3KY8lXoZmPxPSSmQpFM3L0DIImdI_Xrz4dEJBfobu5yR_gHoO_F-1UA5umUFo2o_JGl9OxvaUcORuTDas/s1600/SeadogsPrize_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLljU2M03K48KwM4wXL-w1wYThtuRcR39PJrWu_WT8lMpzhfY8_hxLRyYo-3KY8lXoZmPxPSSmQpFM3L0DIImdI_Xrz4dEJBfobu5yR_gHoO_F-1UA5umUFo2o_JGl9OxvaUcORuTDas/s400/SeadogsPrize_8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tonic Evo polarized sunglasses.</div>
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Each round winner for 2016 was supposed to chose the frame of their choice, and they should have come with polycarbonate lenses. But the guys at Tonic Eyewear decided to give us a nice surprise, and send the glasses with real glass photochromic lenses.</div>
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Now that is some super cool stuff!</div>
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I already owned a pair of Tonic glasses with photochromic lenses, but I had them for several years and they have suffered the bad treatment that I inflict on my fishing accessories. So a brand new pair is more than welcome.</div>
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Oh and what kind of fish did I catch to get rewarded with all these nice things?</div>
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Do you remember a post I did in December 2016 about a Barramundi that broke my fishing rod?</div>
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That the one!</div>
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Yes it did broke my fishing rod, but it brought me a lot more.</div>
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I would like to give a big shout out to the FFF Forum for organising this great fishing competition.</div>
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And to all the sponsors in no particular order:</div>
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Reidy's, Halco / RMG, Rapala, Deep River Lures, Platypus fishing lines, and Tonic Eyewear.</div>
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Thank you all, you are making this competition even better.</div>
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Now what are my chance to win a round in the FFF Seadogs 2017?</div>
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Well, I wouldn't ask you to hold your breath on this one...</div>
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As so far I am yet to catch a Barramundi in 2017...</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-29459138955188406472017-02-12T20:00:00.001+09:302017-02-12T20:03:37.793+09:30No Time For Fishing.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Lately, I didn't got much time for fishing.<br />
To be honest, I think that I am even starting to suffer some very serious fishing withdrawal.<br />
So over the weekend I went for a few minutes to the water edge.<br />
Where I did a quick little time lapse video on my mobile phone, so I could remember what it feels like to be outdoors near a large piece of water.<br />
Here it is:<br />
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<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KvRWPU1DuuY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KvRWPU1DuuY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1180047522"></span><span id="goog_1180047523"></span><br />
Yes I know, it is a bit tragic really...<br />
But this will have to do, until the weather gods become gentler on us fishing folks.<br />
And until, work gives me a bit of time off.<br />
<br />
But hey, it could be worse.<br />
Have a good day,<br />
Me.Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-6542854556840788552017-01-16T21:22:00.000+09:302017-01-16T21:22:37.219+09:30First Mangrove Jack Land Based.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Yes today I caught my first ever Mangrove Jack ( <em style="color: #444444; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.15999984741211px;">Lutjanus argentimaculatus</em> ) land based, and it was also my first Mangrove Jack of the year.<br />
So all in all, a pretty good day really.<br />
<br />
I went to one of my old favourite haunt, namely East Point.<br />
It is really close to my place, and I can be there in a few minutes, the place is beautiful and many different species of fish live there, what's not to love?<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSXhfHCDOmIznDOwjydIfikauyHG9s816lwLlhiXw_msr34fBrsMQVGcq8vYj5PJwv2XFO4EOSKSbL5nhebkAVCsZu3ePZ-wVEIanR6dlES-el4VaPTMkoL44iQ8vwF77H56XOaAbkMQ/s1600/EastPoint20170116_00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSXhfHCDOmIznDOwjydIfikauyHG9s816lwLlhiXw_msr34fBrsMQVGcq8vYj5PJwv2XFO4EOSKSbL5nhebkAVCsZu3ePZ-wVEIanR6dlES-el4VaPTMkoL44iQ8vwF77H56XOaAbkMQ/s400/EastPoint20170116_00.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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East Point in the morning.</div>
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Today my plan was to catch a Barramundi.</div>
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But the first fish I managed to hook was a little Catfish. It was so little that in fact we could nearly have called it a Kittenfish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Jw9lvga4CWisM4wro7JgKh-fAFgsEfUjNo9I7jyy8yYMP5cpptogwzSbp_x1pUrrBy8Q9qIEsM8E2CbtjjGS4XFdFaKvzgHaC2P-G-i_hmFNKN3ADX0oarlG2eYwYP8GVdMdAEb4OUk/s1600/EastPoint20170116_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Jw9lvga4CWisM4wro7JgKh-fAFgsEfUjNo9I7jyy8yYMP5cpptogwzSbp_x1pUrrBy8Q9qIEsM8E2CbtjjGS4XFdFaKvzgHaC2P-G-i_hmFNKN3ADX0oarlG2eYwYP8GVdMdAEb4OUk/s400/EastPoint20170116_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Little Catfish on the line.</div>
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But it was good to catch this little guy, as I was starting to think that maybe I should move away, that no fish were on the spot today.</div>
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Once I caught this Catfish, I told myself that they are one of the Barramundi favourite food, so I was going to stick around a bit longer.</div>
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I continued to flick my lure in the mangrove.</div>
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I had just made a cast deep between the submerged trees, when I saw some commotion in the water, just between my fishing lure and myself.</div>
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Beauty! This was just on the trajectory of the lure, and it was going to swim pretty close of the action.</div>
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And effectively, a soon as the lure got a few centimetres from where I had seen the splash in the water, something grabbed my offering.</div>
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It hit good, and went straight for the bottom and the mangrove roots.</div>
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At first I even thought that I had been bricked by the fish and that my lure was now stuck to a snag.</div>
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But no, by thumbing the spool of my reel and pulling up, I managed to feel the fish moving towards me.</div>
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Still, despite the fight no being like the one that a catfish would have given, I started to think that this was no Barramundi. It didn't jump, and fought a different type of fight.</div>
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When I finally saw the colour of the fish, I become as happy as if it had been a Barramundi.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CSQ8fwPRtvQMfpVxBKBmsQBIg4DV8sZtxqEx2tZbvtzXzy4jTziNU7VrLoYTgRPhlCp6Su4icDj5USqv1eWhaXQhH6_1-mm-4i87oloYcJSSLHJ1bbVbHwQyee7GqQM90CEsk7qg5iA/s1600/EastPoint20170116_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CSQ8fwPRtvQMfpVxBKBmsQBIg4DV8sZtxqEx2tZbvtzXzy4jTziNU7VrLoYTgRPhlCp6Su4icDj5USqv1eWhaXQhH6_1-mm-4i87oloYcJSSLHJ1bbVbHwQyee7GqQM90CEsk7qg5iA/s400/EastPoint20170116_02.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Can you guess the fish?</div>
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The clues here are that I was fishing in the mangrove, and yes, the title of this blog post.</div>
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Yes it was a Mangrove Jack!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8yEUsjb58I75l2916NlLN1vMFLr-DBMzgG_F1dC3s8UvaIMY2QSr2XZmbx1zljs-k_1t336uUjTGqvABFdoKCKtOW9zTx6PR3nXujltFcBpfm1kfK99ss7caBzsnS9wTuQlQasws8aw/s1600/EastPoint20170116_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8yEUsjb58I75l2916NlLN1vMFLr-DBMzgG_F1dC3s8UvaIMY2QSr2XZmbx1zljs-k_1t336uUjTGqvABFdoKCKtOW9zTx6PR3nXujltFcBpfm1kfK99ss7caBzsnS9wTuQlQasws8aw/s400/EastPoint20170116_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Morning Mangrove Jack.</div>
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This was no monster, but it was the first time ever that I got one land based. This was also my first Mangrove Jack of the year 2017.</div>
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I was in fact so happy with all that, that I decided that it would be his lucky day too, and released it.</div>
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Despite the fact that they are absolutely delicious to eat.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYD707tgY-gxWzSKBn-Gh2Ey7PLpe8-GJl5q4xP5TU9tbk83afln7jIoGfuEH5y-ayXOthBo4GigNHN952koLO-MBhAMtgTA_J5TGrjnT36rSkwQhWzIE4Wqf_0fpdxL_WQjIdYfs6ys/s1600/EastPoint20170116_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYD707tgY-gxWzSKBn-Gh2Ey7PLpe8-GJl5q4xP5TU9tbk83afln7jIoGfuEH5y-ayXOthBo4GigNHN952koLO-MBhAMtgTA_J5TGrjnT36rSkwQhWzIE4Wqf_0fpdxL_WQjIdYfs6ys/s400/EastPoint20170116_04.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Mangrove.</div>
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This is the mangrove from where I plucked this little guy. As you can see, the place is full of snag, and the water wasn't very clear. Yet, it is on the occasion, when the tides are right, and the planets align the right way, a pretty good spot.</div>
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Today was not too bad, it made me happy to get this fish, in a place that I really enjoy.</div>
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Even if yes this is true, I didn't catch a Barramundi today. </div>
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So in a way, I failed to accomplish my goal.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-15166369041904731672016-12-17T14:01:00.000+09:302016-12-17T14:01:07.979+09:30I Broke Another Fishing Rod.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Today I went fishing to East Point, trying to catch a Barramundi, before the big rains that should arrive very soon.<br />
At first when I rocked up to the spot, I didn't like my chances of getting any fish very much.<br />
The water was dirty, and not very flat.<br />
Here is an image of what the water looked like:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFue8EAcRNTv-_wJ-JUMTy3pKioUfDigqD99d62txOQHvGGN35Mpnk4RWvd9-ntmv4UYNsDuL4tGHclaKfRsfIv0ig-W4QqHvXwrrwsflvb2_NTjLffwCTImfpGuixzg8ah95a34nE3c8/s1600/20161217EastPoint_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFue8EAcRNTv-_wJ-JUMTy3pKioUfDigqD99d62txOQHvGGN35Mpnk4RWvd9-ntmv4UYNsDuL4tGHclaKfRsfIv0ig-W4QqHvXwrrwsflvb2_NTjLffwCTImfpGuixzg8ah95a34nE3c8/s400/20161217EastPoint_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dirty waters at East Point.</div>
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Now, I do know that Barramundi love colour changes and sometime dark waters. But for the fishing that I like doing at this spot, the conditions were not really auspicious. I usually prefer when the water is very clear, and when I can see my lure swimming underwater. Also because I can then see the Barramundi attacking the lure, and it always give me a kick.</div>
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But today, the water was dirty, at the sky overcast.</div>
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Oh well, I was there, after much deliberation at home, looking at the radar picture on my mobile phone, trying to see if it was going to rain or not?</div>
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Would it be worth getting out of bed on a weekend day?</div>
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Well as I said, I was there, with nothing to loose then.</div>
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So I started to cast my lure.</div>
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Wondering why I had been optimistic and even left home?</div>
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The tide was not where I wanted it to be, the wind was flying my light lure to the side of where I wanted it to be...</div>
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This looked like it was going to get a great day, with no fish and a chance of rain...</div>
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Oh well...</div>
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You are here now my boy, so cast your lure over there past these rocks...</div>
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After less than a dozen casts, as I was retrieving my lure, and thinking that it must now have been out of the strike zone, I glanced at the sky, wondering how long it would be before the heavens open, and I would get drenched by the rain?</div>
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Rod's tip down, flicking without even thinking about it during the retrieve, and it all happened...</div>
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Boom I was on!</div>
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A pretty sharp hit, and the line flying out of my reel.</div>
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A flash of silver in the muddy water, yes it is a Barramundi and not a cod!</div>
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It heads straight for some rock on the right, turn left for some other rock, jump in front of me, and go even more to the left. You Beauty I think, there is a little grove in the rocks there I will be able to pick you up, as soon as I get you there.</div>
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But no, it had other ideas and swam quickly back to the right and is finally at my feet, but in front of a step rock.</div>
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I really don't want to loose this fish, and I am maybe just a bit more excited than I should be.</div>
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Well ok, I am totally lost in the action, way more excited than I would like to admit it. </div>
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And this is when and why I make a rookie mistake.</div>
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I high stick to lift the fish out of the water and onto the rocks.</div>
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Just as the fish is above the rocks, I hear a dry kind of noise, and the fish felt flat on the rocks at my feet.</div>
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I nudge it further on the rocks with my foot and look in disbelief at my rod.</div>
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It is broken in two, and this is not the first time that I did that...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSd1xDsWfhDn3m7k9rqHJq8kWF56JIinbPN4FZALpn7tdZb9jHIGblxYZcHVw__FDmYrYiG110I_kXx0_ttlAiutqaIYBlsjeeYn5vJK-B1D0eFEaX1kMK5F8eDQRXusdZINnOqqM0e4/s1600/20161217EastPoint_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSd1xDsWfhDn3m7k9rqHJq8kWF56JIinbPN4FZALpn7tdZb9jHIGblxYZcHVw__FDmYrYiG110I_kXx0_ttlAiutqaIYBlsjeeYn5vJK-B1D0eFEaX1kMK5F8eDQRXusdZINnOqqM0e4/s400/20161217EastPoint_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Broken fishing rod.</div>
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This was the oldest of my baitcaster rods, I had it for nearly ten years, so some would say that it had made its time. Still I was a bit disappointed.</div>
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I could not help to think that in such a short time, less than twelve casts and I had this fish. So many other might have been around, and I was not going to catch them now...</div>
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And the fish? What did it look like?</div>
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The fish that broke my rod:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbk03e6vxQFcBRNI7fLwkrGrgRFibtzgA6ZcW6XCz43b7HGY0JPHx4hifvlCiTypDVH56-P8x8ZhYaNmDs8jwVBbzLJNw-eWryX0lZFLhpk6cimVazOdyLE4teo2eaDdqqrIyozwx5wTE/s1600/20161217EastPoint_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbk03e6vxQFcBRNI7fLwkrGrgRFibtzgA6ZcW6XCz43b7HGY0JPHx4hifvlCiTypDVH56-P8x8ZhYaNmDs8jwVBbzLJNw-eWryX0lZFLhpk6cimVazOdyLE4teo2eaDdqqrIyozwx5wTE/s400/20161217EastPoint_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My fish of the day.</div>
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Yes, it was no monster but at 70cm (27.55 inches) it was in my book, still a cool fish to get land based. And in any way, better than what I got in a long time, so I was still very happy with that.</div>
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Now, with a fish in my bag, and no more fishing rod, I decided to go home.</div>
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And just as I got in the car, it started raining. Not for very long, but still pretty hard.</div>
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If I hadn't broken my rod, i would still have been on the beach, and would be well and truely wet by now. So in the end breaking this rod, still had a positive side to it.</div>
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Even if I really would love to stop breaking them so easily ...</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-19781497004398436482016-12-15T20:51:00.000+09:302016-12-15T20:51:34.460+09:30The Reidy's Anaconda.Hi there,<br />
<br />
I had seen online that the fishing and sports goods shop called Anaconda, in Darwin was going to stock some Reidy's lures in a colour made especially for them, with the Anaconda marking on them.<br />
I wanted one to go in my little collection of advertising fishing lures.<br />
Two of my mates work in that shop, so I asked both of them to let me know when they would be on the shelf.<br />
When the message that they finally had them in the shop arrived, I went there in the same week.<br />
<br />
And once there, I got a very good and nice surprise.<br />
One of my mates was there and he laughed as soon as he saw me walk in. Saying that he knew that I was going to come and look for these lures.<br />
He then introduced me to Gavin, the store manager.<br />
And Gavin, made me a very nice present.<br />
<br />
But first thing first, what does the colour look like?<br />
Here have a look:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPM9QmJ84bPF99HJl-YoC7EpSsQWqRSNBnc1DBSgHQ_41r-FgvGzxXvAmDe65Cs69vRaUI6wrrl7CmyBWFJWxbVsIzshKzUmHEfBX_NXvWB3XXfQlTSgHI2zZKhHpY8owkU7X5TOSToPI/s1600/AR_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPM9QmJ84bPF99HJl-YoC7EpSsQWqRSNBnc1DBSgHQ_41r-FgvGzxXvAmDe65Cs69vRaUI6wrrl7CmyBWFJWxbVsIzshKzUmHEfBX_NXvWB3XXfQlTSgHI2zZKhHpY8owkU7X5TOSToPI/s400/AR_01.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
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The Anaconda Colour.</div>
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On this first image is the Reidy's B52 in the Anaconda Colour.</div>
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The B52, is by itself an iconic Barramundi fishing lure, I myself caught my first ever Barra on a lure with the help of a B52. It was on a Gold with Black back (H-GB is the colour's name) and I still have it, as a memento of my fishing in the Northern Territory. Yes, it is part of my nerdy side, one can't help it.</div>
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<span id="goog_1444394635"></span><span id="goog_1444394636"></span>Now back to the lure on the above photograph, it is the only one of the lot that I got on the day, that I paid for. Yes you read that right, the others came free.<br />
And I got a nice little lot, with a very special one thrown in.<br />
Here are the lures I got:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0raJA_guzg-4YVeUIc7VNZYfLfaC11x6nBkfUmlJKB1d3_W3Hb-CM37WlojOwmBRbGhK57gyOaabRf1QO1SEPX1oP7PD_dqspQafIfUoxDeM40foxDsT5-TMszsYPhKU6h4FZ2ekL8HA/s1600/AR_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0raJA_guzg-4YVeUIc7VNZYfLfaC11x6nBkfUmlJKB1d3_W3Hb-CM37WlojOwmBRbGhK57gyOaabRf1QO1SEPX1oP7PD_dqspQafIfUoxDeM40foxDsT5-TMszsYPhKU6h4FZ2ekL8HA/s400/AR_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Three sizes of B52.</div>
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Here are three sizes from the B52 line's.</div>
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The B52, the Big Ass B52, and the Big Ass 200.</div>
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Yes, the Big B52 is missing from the line up, but wait and you will see...</div>
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Here you can see the Anaconda Marking on the lures:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAobYhwr6qQMyW7caB_VVD49TK2ERMqGQ-olWqIQ2khz-LSHdb_iA6IVPDc57B-zkwy3xfrh91e3ugHLf9vxrcN0M66oQF7DPXfeOimJk6mDMDVJBhYqLWvNWM5rKcc-mNgJ2zZNUQ8m4/s1600/AR_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAobYhwr6qQMyW7caB_VVD49TK2ERMqGQ-olWqIQ2khz-LSHdb_iA6IVPDc57B-zkwy3xfrh91e3ugHLf9vxrcN0M66oQF7DPXfeOimJk6mDMDVJBhYqLWvNWM5rKcc-mNgJ2zZNUQ8m4/s400/AR_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Branding on the back.</div>
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Yes, with the branding on their back, these lures will never swim. Instead they will rejoin my other advertising lures. The family is getting bigger.</div>
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And now, here comes the piece de resistance...</div>
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The lure that was used as a colour prototype...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRn4o6Vln7L_N-6ymSzXVihu3YxAlU21utLPPomuknEN1fFi2eVU-s14KUE2DfEaQEQrpk3-XhBm5GFpGjgS5Bhpu6W_6Ddc_nRNoUqBLWIVZXkP28q_7yy136RszZPa0LjpF0LDDRglY/s1600/AR_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRn4o6Vln7L_N-6ymSzXVihu3YxAlU21utLPPomuknEN1fFi2eVU-s14KUE2DfEaQEQrpk3-XhBm5GFpGjgS5Bhpu6W_6Ddc_nRNoUqBLWIVZXkP28q_7yy136RszZPa0LjpF0LDDRglY/s400/AR_04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Anaconda Colour prototype.</div>
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This one is without hooks or split rings, because it was just made as a prototype for the colour, and brought from the Reidy's factory to the shop. For The shop people to see if they would be happy with it. </div>
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They must have been happy, as the ones on the shelf are very close colour wise to this one. The prototype is just a bit clearer, not as dark as the final product, but still very close to it.</div>
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So there you are, this one will go in the box of the rare ones...</div>
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And here view from above:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqh5-N9sY-FnJcPxCyXGzS3PyJs4-niOAS7z5sjc2BtQmxqKWmSlF7sKAw2UmXfnTFwyyXYqnjxabTn70TVAMCOBIaRSh8owxdryH7LovEOvP40X2hebM9Ulyb1oAI8l8XJIj9tYZ-ms/s1600/AR_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqh5-N9sY-FnJcPxCyXGzS3PyJs4-niOAS7z5sjc2BtQmxqKWmSlF7sKAw2UmXfnTFwyyXYqnjxabTn70TVAMCOBIaRSh8owxdryH7LovEOvP40X2hebM9Ulyb1oAI8l8XJIj9tYZ-ms/s400/AR_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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View from the top.</div>
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Thank you Gavin and the guys at Anaconda, this in my books, is a very nice present.</div>
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So yes it is a very nice set of lures and none of them will ever swim.</div>
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I know that some people would find it sad and say that fishing lures are made to be used and fished...</div>
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But hey, It could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-29613774085813638442016-11-29T23:09:00.000+09:302016-11-29T23:09:52.980+09:30An Afternoon On The Adelaide River.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Last Sunday afternoon was spent fishing on the upper Adelaide River with Arrabmundi.<br />
Here comes the tall tale of it. <br />
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<ul>
<li>We fished the upper Adelaide River.</li>
<li>We got a few Barramundi.</li>
<li>We got all our fish on the cast.</li>
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Arrabmundi picked me up at my place a bit after lunch time, no need to get up early.</div>
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Still I woke up at 6:00 am, wondering if I should check my fishing tackle bag one more time, you know, just to make sure that I had everything needed, and that nothing got forgotten.</div>
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But the time arrived and on the road we were.</div>
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The journey to the river was as usual spent talking about fishing, big fish and all the ones that got away.</div>
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A bit like high elite athletes having a prep talk before an event...</div>
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Nah, just like two totally obsessed fisho really!</div>
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As we arrived the water was a bit lower than planned, but we launched quickly enough, to realise once on the water that we had forgotten the fishing lures in the back of the car...</div>
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Back to the ramp presto and off again, in direction of Goat Island.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5oQcYV-VTMeGt0mJdnCduVU2m20eXUDHGRDBqyToViyafx00PSsddXcv2Ql6wfthB-z_i-f6xAcXP7RJyTYMFQNBBXMv9dhfU3CP_xTopTnjw4eOgfXhTpAZQEZRWvZTl9JMDfZwBIU/s1600/20161127AdelaideRiver_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5oQcYV-VTMeGt0mJdnCduVU2m20eXUDHGRDBqyToViyafx00PSsddXcv2Ql6wfthB-z_i-f6xAcXP7RJyTYMFQNBBXMv9dhfU3CP_xTopTnjw4eOgfXhTpAZQEZRWvZTl9JMDfZwBIU/s400/20161127AdelaideRiver_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Zooming up Adelaide river.</div>
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The water colour was very good, and not a ripple was to be seen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu3ab8lYrt5N8VHi9Veh9QRe6RxsRMqLTj279v6ol-g56xzm1vCMvVCjjJhHkyEnqRJuAv8jcLsQYY-gDLSHGowmkpQuMROPDYrHeCFd9LPPxSNmScJZwnUQP3VFkOrSQ35CWo7oWMJU/s1600/20161127AdelaideRiver_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu3ab8lYrt5N8VHi9Veh9QRe6RxsRMqLTj279v6ol-g56xzm1vCMvVCjjJhHkyEnqRJuAv8jcLsQYY-gDLSHGowmkpQuMROPDYrHeCFd9LPPxSNmScJZwnUQP3VFkOrSQ35CWo7oWMJU/s400/20161127AdelaideRiver_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Calme water on the Adelaide.</div>
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This photo was made from a boat going full throttle, as you can see it was very calm water.</div>
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In no time we were at Goat Island, just for a little chat with Kai, whom neither Arrabmundi or I had seen on a long time. But we didn't have the time for one of his famous burggers, we had other priorities we were there to catch some fish...</div>
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So back in the boat and we pushed still higher on the river.</div>
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Practically in the first spot where we stopped, I got a nice silvery Barramundi on my lure.</div>
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The little guy jumped all over the place, and I lost it at the boat. But for us, this wasn't a failure, it was a very good sign that the fish were around, and that we were to catch plenty.</div>
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Or something a bit like that. Something that you tell yourself when you lost a fish early in the trip.</div>
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And for once, it was going to be true. </div>
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Even if it was to be a bit of time until the next fish.</div>
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We were casting soft plastics against a bank, Arrabmundi was telling me to let my lure sink, that a big snag was placed between the bank and us. He said that often there are fish hiding in this snag, and that your lure has to go through the branches of it to get a hit.</div>
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So I let my weedless soft plastic go to the bottom, and started to reel it in slowly, scraping some submerged timber on the way back. I felt a bit of a hit on the lure, but no hookup, and nearly immediately after that... Bang I was on!</div>
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I short fight latter and I had a small Barramundi jumping near the boat.</div>
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Now, not wanting to have the same result I had previously, I just lifted the rod and the fish, straight into the boat.</div>
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And voilas! I had my first little fish of the day:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN71uiQvogu0SMgTd6uwTQkphbPsdcH-4zMy9ZBRPGPQhbqYLKMjiWtzezJOIuYjSsS89VUeuAyS0rQ_T0nLixgyZFEd6e7C_T7ZU3HbrB5h-uL_Uh0ZqVFg1rEQ3X6lAHvNcciNQdvU8/s1600/20161127AdelaideRiver_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN71uiQvogu0SMgTd6uwTQkphbPsdcH-4zMy9ZBRPGPQhbqYLKMjiWtzezJOIuYjSsS89VUeuAyS0rQ_T0nLixgyZFEd6e7C_T7ZU3HbrB5h-uL_Uh0ZqVFg1rEQ3X6lAHvNcciNQdvU8/s400/20161127AdelaideRiver_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sweet little fish of mine.</div>
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This one was too short to keep, but I hadn't caught a Barramundi in a few weeks, and that was definitively something to make me happy. Simple things are sometimes the best...</div>
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We missed a few more fish there, before going to try our luck somewhere else.</div>
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By now the water had changed colour, but was still very calm.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSy4dZQzD1XYjEGVmE5MWxNR1OqpfJMGHsGYc2L6T0WIhVl6Q_V5K0mBMzlVozQmVZzeQ0kj29TzaK1Zqb0r0yX4sT4-Q1zSt2176mx3xDpd5K81ZkQ6-41oLrwbdC8ayieusbmsaxfdY/s1600/20161127AdelaideRiver_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSy4dZQzD1XYjEGVmE5MWxNR1OqpfJMGHsGYc2L6T0WIhVl6Q_V5K0mBMzlVozQmVZzeQ0kj29TzaK1Zqb0r0yX4sT4-Q1zSt2176mx3xDpd5K81ZkQ6-41oLrwbdC8ayieusbmsaxfdY/s400/20161127AdelaideRiver_04.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Flat as a pond.</div>
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We saw fish on the sounder, in a deep hole, and tried to troll some deep diver over them, for no results. So we stopped, put the electric motor on, and sent heavier soft plastic in the deep hole, still no fish. Then we decided to try some vibe: no fish either.</div>
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This deep hole must have been a bedroom full of sleeping Barramundi, as we couldn't even get a tiny small hit in there.</div>
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What to do then? </div>
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Well that is simple, go to another spot. This we did. And we found a few fish there...</div>
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First Arrabmundi came up with the first legal fish of the day:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6-rQ-cnUlvG9eBqK3-c-YZ0O-YUvDgQpwO3RllsRcu6Wxpaf2KMGwm_B3CxZXeT7t9J_OuZx2QeMSr9PDMiWhSZdAqjstuHuX4uQBvAAtze1xjVc1VMjUaOMblx7XUjvInMb1bOVhYM/s1600/20161127AdelaideRiver_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6-rQ-cnUlvG9eBqK3-c-YZ0O-YUvDgQpwO3RllsRcu6Wxpaf2KMGwm_B3CxZXeT7t9J_OuZx2QeMSr9PDMiWhSZdAqjstuHuX4uQBvAAtze1xjVc1VMjUaOMblx7XUjvInMb1bOVhYM/s400/20161127AdelaideRiver_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Arrabmundi with the first legal Barramundi of the trip.</div>
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A keeper is a keeper, and that fish went in the esky, no more school for him.</div>
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I then got another rat:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoQqYdfdBjdsSXpAqfdXpuS3sWucs-t3lZA0hf2rq4Ac4N1Q8x7qvyhDOIM5hZ7Xv-DIwq51cqvROclXCL_3WHWLiGorQ2q53FjZm8EK-GzRdViYgb-abHbKmD8ANz_tVaMo4FJLqMKU/s1600/20161127AdelaideRiver_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoQqYdfdBjdsSXpAqfdXpuS3sWucs-t3lZA0hf2rq4Ac4N1Q8x7qvyhDOIM5hZ7Xv-DIwq51cqvROclXCL_3WHWLiGorQ2q53FjZm8EK-GzRdViYgb-abHbKmD8ANz_tVaMo4FJLqMKU/s400/20161127AdelaideRiver_06.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Fishing selfie.</div>
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Yes, as you can see from this pic, I am not very good at selfie...</div>
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Which is why many of the small fish I got after that I didn't photograph.</div>
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And to be honest I didn't photograph the little ones caught by Arrabmundi either.</div>
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We did get a few fish there and were happy with ourselves.</div>
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And we started to slowly make our way back down river, the weather was perfect for this time of the year:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAy3n2mfvvB9Y24RBVQ-tgMSK4-T3J_s40s0rIaYEDGXjJowFPbcFM9VD5GQ2j4QbMRxvUx48CcjX4Xwl1QIBDubxOjkWauxWSkTE0DTyQtdKtGzwAdeOLAkui6TnUQmVXJSBmjA0c3fs/s1600/20161127AdelaideRiver_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAy3n2mfvvB9Y24RBVQ-tgMSK4-T3J_s40s0rIaYEDGXjJowFPbcFM9VD5GQ2j4QbMRxvUx48CcjX4Xwl1QIBDubxOjkWauxWSkTE0DTyQtdKtGzwAdeOLAkui6TnUQmVXJSBmjA0c3fs/s400/20161127AdelaideRiver_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Adelaide River in November.</div>
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It did get a bit hot, but not too much, and we didn't get caught in a storm.</div>
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It was perfect fishing weather.</div>
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We stopped at another of Arrabmundi spot, hoping to augment our tally...</div>
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And catch fish we did...</div>
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First Arrabmundi got hits after hits casting against a log in the water.</div>
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The fish kept having a go at his lure, but never fully connected. </div>
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And finally he said: Got it!</div>
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And a nice silver barramundi game trashing at the surface. Quick as I could I got the net and the fish found himself in a boat above water.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkIxDSr1uERBEJ_PqlTNaGlSaP8wm7rlrmc7DAfn_do7NljBMtejwR0yxssYZ00_l3wCwy5KUwLeNu-C-7mE7o6VOzzj-Gg7_QrqXSiy61a3X2udLHpAahnB6jps-5WvnsDdt-ChyzvY/s1600/20161127AdelaideRiver_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkIxDSr1uERBEJ_PqlTNaGlSaP8wm7rlrmc7DAfn_do7NljBMtejwR0yxssYZ00_l3wCwy5KUwLeNu-C-7mE7o6VOzzj-Gg7_QrqXSiy61a3X2udLHpAahnB6jps-5WvnsDdt-ChyzvY/s400/20161127AdelaideRiver_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Arrabmundi with his best fish of the trip.</div>
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Yes Arrabmundi finally got this fish that was teasing him. And it was going to be his best fish of the day, sweet revenge.</div>
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There the technic was the same, send your lure as close as you can from the bank, let it sink, and hang on once you are hooked on, because the fish won't have long to go to brick you in the snag... You already caught it at the heart of the snag...</div>
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And that is exactly how I got my best fish of the day too.</div>
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But lucky me, it came straight for the surface, and tried then to swim around the boat to get to the middle of the river, instead of back in it's snag.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfw379wzuU9samsoFITQCwixbqiRuaMZllOEPVXM4CZKMW97k8lwRolAkDY87KV3VOr_QcXI1m7D4t31gJVWLvvLUDj0pwAf5LbHeUbcOTJzccvvu8VQGEjRLutRcaQVdVN4V0B8TUh8o/s1600/20161127AdelaideRiver_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfw379wzuU9samsoFITQCwixbqiRuaMZllOEPVXM4CZKMW97k8lwRolAkDY87KV3VOr_QcXI1m7D4t31gJVWLvvLUDj0pwAf5LbHeUbcOTJzccvvu8VQGEjRLutRcaQVdVN4V0B8TUh8o/s400/20161127AdelaideRiver_11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My best Barramundi of the afternoon.</div>
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It wasn't a monster fish, but it was still going to be the fish of the day. </div>
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And like all fisho who suddenly, even if it is for a short time, gain some bragging rights, I was really happy with that.</div>
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Not to be undone, Arrabmundi got his third keeper of the day, just to show me what he could do:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzemmgnjPxAARADF4zlS8gjq9ebxSV3oyjbUFCYLohMpGfp6PLaEmO96Jim1UaZaVAZQhN2JQ47xuT-dpW5DpqNlfK1zBnIZSeZDiCM5xgWLxLv0rg_RT_lDSwvnh1ZlYgjTL1HI5D5Q/s1600/20161127AdelaideRiver_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzemmgnjPxAARADF4zlS8gjq9ebxSV3oyjbUFCYLohMpGfp6PLaEmO96Jim1UaZaVAZQhN2JQ47xuT-dpW5DpqNlfK1zBnIZSeZDiCM5xgWLxLv0rg_RT_lDSwvnh1ZlYgjTL1HI5D5Q/s400/20161127AdelaideRiver_12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Third keeper of the day for Arrabmundi.</div>
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By then we decided that we just had a good session, and that we would head back.</div>
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But on the way, Arrabmundi couldn't resist and showed me another of his secret spot.</div>
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A seemingly unassuming place, where he flicked a lure under a tree, and immediately got a beautiful little fish, with was promptly released.</div>
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I lost a fish who spat the lure at me, just after. This was the confirmation that this was indeed a good spot. </div>
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Then I got another hit.</div>
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The fish grabbed the lure, and swam straight back in the invisible snag and got me bricked before I could do anything. </div>
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Of course in my mind, this fish was much bigger than the one I had just seen spat my lure in the same spot a few minutes before. After all, he had taken my lure and stuck it in a branch before I was able to turn it back. This was a story that I would tell for a long time...</div>
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Well maybe not...</div>
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Arrabmundi used the lure retriever to unstuck my lure, and told me that he believed that the fish was still on... And yes I could feel something pulling on my line. </div>
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Excitedly, I cranked my reel back in action, pumped the rod, and...</div>
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A nice, very small Barramundi came to the surface. Certainly the smallest fish of the day...</div>
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In fact it must have taken the lure while it was in the centre of the snag, and just turned it's head to the side to get stuck in a branch. Making me believe that I had just hooked a huge fish...</div>
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Ha!</div>
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We had a good laugh about it, and said that by now we must have spooked all the fish in this snag by getting my lure back with the retriever. So we went back to the ramp in earnest. With just a very short stop at Got Island for another short chat with Kai. To know how other anglers had done during the day on the upper Adelaide. It seemed that with our ten fish we did well.</div>
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Arrabmundi new boat just fly on the water, and it was a quick trip back to the ramp.</div>
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The night was falling upon us, and the river seemed peaceful.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2m0I0hkKc86ipCdntvGghLRwMWOz2p0cEZud8CzfcNz48Gd0VYPlOdBOXkRRF1D4z3clnx8YizFRS4Zl5_zk0xffhSdlTDfMALLJBSABSJl5_rKCmtaZRSMLVrJuThGh9WOiUsgtk40E/s1600/20161127AdelaideRiver_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2m0I0hkKc86ipCdntvGghLRwMWOz2p0cEZud8CzfcNz48Gd0VYPlOdBOXkRRF1D4z3clnx8YizFRS4Zl5_zk0xffhSdlTDfMALLJBSABSJl5_rKCmtaZRSMLVrJuThGh9WOiUsgtk40E/s400/20161127AdelaideRiver_14.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Sunset on Adelaide River.</div>
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One could have easily forgotten that these waters are full of big crocodiles.</div>
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Thanks again to Arrabmundi for inviting me on his boat, I had a ball of an afternoon.</div>
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It was a long time that I hadn't see so many Barramundi up close.</div>
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The only problem with these kind of fishing trip, is that they are addictive...</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-87180331562018409102016-11-12T14:00:00.000+09:302016-11-15T19:26:08.852+09:30The Reidy's Lures WinnerHi there,<br />
<br />
In each issue of the North Australian Fishing & Outdoors Magazine (NTMAG), a fishing report posted on the <a href="http://fishingterritory.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">free fishing forum FFF</span></a>, is reprinted and earns the writer a $150 fishing lure pack courtesy of Reidy's Lures.<br />
And guess who won it this time around?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQ59_D0dVi2-ABPDdyvK9b6USzc3BZVoOHWILOE2Wn1b0hLkGpCsR5Y98G326TW2AiungDYNu6JZ1sPNJYcqHhsrP7exdlr0WUM14QPBtCMxabfQ9o2OsCjnYyJ9m3lvnEM0w36o98Kk/s1600/FFF_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQ59_D0dVi2-ABPDdyvK9b6USzc3BZVoOHWILOE2Wn1b0hLkGpCsR5Y98G326TW2AiungDYNu6JZ1sPNJYcqHhsrP7exdlr0WUM14QPBtCMxabfQ9o2OsCjnYyJ9m3lvnEM0w36o98Kk/s400/FFF_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Magazine cover and page 7.</div>
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Yes it's noted on page 7 that I won the Reidy's Lure Pack.</div>
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This was a great surprise and honestly it did make me very happy.</div>
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I love fishing lures, and Reidy's lures are right up there among my favourites to fish the local waters of the Australian Top End. They have a wide range of strong lures, with great action and colours. Basically the team are locals to the area and as such make the best lures when it come to catching the local fish. </div>
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And because I am good at loosing my lures while fishing, it is always nice to get a few new ones.</div>
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I contacted the people from Reidy's via Facebook to ask when I could drop by to pick up my prize. Karen kindly replied that despite the fact that they close before I finish work in the evening, she would be happy to stay a bit longer for me to have the time to drive there and choose my lures.</div>
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Now talk about a great service, not only they offer the prize, but they were ready to accomodate my time schedule so I could pick them up!</div>
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So off I went to the factory that very day. Yes I couldn't wait! I was like a kid before Christmas, I wanted to get there as soon as possible...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaEJ6YcWRQ0V2HV2r_Cx9BDiD8hIaFiQZGGYqTvnhyphenhyphenQdXohLL5YsEcaiEDzslBScmEtDunt1KgYX9bhue1KAruqdXEg_rEPE_GOooUcZRZRCcqkSCkFxhwM9yEaA_4lhUagryffWM5ik/s1600/FFF_01b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaEJ6YcWRQ0V2HV2r_Cx9BDiD8hIaFiQZGGYqTvnhyphenhyphenQdXohLL5YsEcaiEDzslBScmEtDunt1KgYX9bhue1KAruqdXEg_rEPE_GOooUcZRZRCcqkSCkFxhwM9yEaA_4lhUagryffWM5ik/s400/FFF_01b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Reidy's factory.</div>
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Just on the outskirt of Darwin, the factory is just a short drive away and it didn't take too long to get there. Once there, I felt like Willy Wonka in the Chocolate Factory...</div>
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Lures, fishing lures everywhere... </div>
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I didn't know where to look, my attention could not focus on any in particular, there was so many of them.</div>
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First I had decided what lures I was going to choose, then I would pick two of them.</div>
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Yes every lure would come as a pair.</div>
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Why?</div>
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Well it's rather simple really. The fishing report on the FFF Forum was the story of a fishing trip on Brett's boat and I had decided to share the bounty with him as a thank you.</div>
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After much inner debate, I made my selection and was able to walk out of the factory with a great bag of lures:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_x0_D-QBXXeLJi5K2JV5yhwSh_wFHKNBRsgAONJUcNPuB4f1HXy9TxclF9dvjizSV1pM4aYJIi0DnqVyqQoPI7OYWugCWRufVyJSpV_N6JpNoz5pm1-Rm6Uzuxd9S_1e8uWhO8rl4urg/s1600/FFF_01c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_x0_D-QBXXeLJi5K2JV5yhwSh_wFHKNBRsgAONJUcNPuB4f1HXy9TxclF9dvjizSV1pM4aYJIi0DnqVyqQoPI7OYWugCWRufVyJSpV_N6JpNoz5pm1-Rm6Uzuxd9S_1e8uWhO8rl4urg/s400/FFF_01c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My favourite sort of party bag.</div>
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What is in the bag, some of you might wonder...</div>
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Here it is:</div>
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First two Big Lucifer in the H-CHAR colour:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVCST9smkO6CV-iS-qW6BKJ665j-RXRjjHVQS9XWp5vDcTXIxw1LTcv2wLjf734g4oeBVT0rdQTajo1MmPri8fnp-M9RylAaoZylkhlqLos95WMsWRzrVT8YyZV_nhXZF9RHoYW-kuKI/s1600/FFF_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVCST9smkO6CV-iS-qW6BKJ665j-RXRjjHVQS9XWp5vDcTXIxw1LTcv2wLjf734g4oeBVT0rdQTajo1MmPri8fnp-M9RylAaoZylkhlqLos95WMsWRzrVT8YyZV_nhXZF9RHoYW-kuKI/s400/FFF_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Big Lucifer.</div>
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I really like this colour, and think that it might be slightly underestimated by a few anglers.</div>
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I already had the B52 and the Junior B52 in this colour, but didn't have any lures in the Big Lucifer size. </div>
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Now I do.</div>
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I really like the Big B52, simply because my best Barramundi so far was caught on a Big B52 and the fish measured 111cm (43.70 Inches).</div>
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This is why I went for the Big B52 in a newly released colour:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7Kpw99SGzpqGfdsQcmQGzTdYiknRrgq65kBY8s9zN57KeoaEGtHTg8hwOu2OqsZtLkfz2NgNJ37_HiKoJmmU8nl-KnYyLbIqbKt4cKLSbH_2xj-wkLwwI43_0axl_fGbQn5ds7Vbdz0/s1600/FFF_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7Kpw99SGzpqGfdsQcmQGzTdYiknRrgq65kBY8s9zN57KeoaEGtHTg8hwOu2OqsZtLkfz2NgNJ37_HiKoJmmU8nl-KnYyLbIqbKt4cKLSbH_2xj-wkLwwI43_0axl_fGbQn5ds7Vbdz0/s400/FFF_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Big B52 in Midnight colour.</div>
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Karen had just told me that if I was after a certain colour in the range and couldn't find it on the shelves to ask for it, and that she might have it at the back.</div>
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Immediately I asked for this one and she got it from the factory storage area for me. I really wanted one like that and nearly took all the lures in the Midnight colour.</div>
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I never had a hardbody lure in black before.</div>
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Now I do.</div>
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Another lure that has been released only a short time ago is the Renegade:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8sNEP77b_FUJIcjfSUD4aWTz9SWNfkHK8o1wfKQctp0eeZUcY6lMf8raKMVEBw0PcI2DDOqwkafVDelIrmIPYdcucDmbwtslFtvDCzddmSvIIYttpwILa4ryv6mU2_ItRSbIseksrnc/s1600/FFF_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif8sNEP77b_FUJIcjfSUD4aWTz9SWNfkHK8o1wfKQctp0eeZUcY6lMf8raKMVEBw0PcI2DDOqwkafVDelIrmIPYdcucDmbwtslFtvDCzddmSvIIYttpwILa4ryv6mU2_ItRSbIseksrnc/s400/FFF_04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Renegade in the colour 008.</div>
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As some of you might know, the colour 008 is my all time favourite in the Reidy's range.</div>
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If I had to have only one colour for all of my lures that would be the one.</div>
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When the Renegade was released I went to the shop to get one, and I wanted it in this very colour.</div>
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They didn't have it in this colour yet at the time, so I didn't get one.</div>
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Now I do.</div>
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For the grand final, I chose the biggest B52 that you can find, the B52 Big Ass 200:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlndsCGf5Z4h-F-msW1_sZkPYnuRWuyKMckL2G340UQBFLa-7R0rwtdPnMwdaHVDZ_UkPEoYT0F06etG-42Hf0QUUqJsULS6MQ7rZeD2qf-VhBla-HvlkrLo2Lqf57AEEKG5wuvdX2TtE/s1600/FFF_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlndsCGf5Z4h-F-msW1_sZkPYnuRWuyKMckL2G340UQBFLa-7R0rwtdPnMwdaHVDZ_UkPEoYT0F06etG-42Hf0QUUqJsULS6MQ7rZeD2qf-VhBla-HvlkrLo2Lqf57AEEKG5wuvdX2TtE/s400/FFF_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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B52 Big Ass 200.</div>
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This one is the largest of the B52's family, as its name suggest it is 200 mm long (7.87 Inches).</div>
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The lure is building a solid reputation as a big Barramundi lure, and can also be trolled fast for pelagic. In other words, a good all rounder, it was released in 2015.</div>
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I chose this one in the colour called Purple Rain.</div>
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Why did I choose to take it in this colour?</div>
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Well I didn't have a single lure in this colour...</div>
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Now I do.</div>
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And here is the full loot of fishing lures:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EfwXWzFTj3jHWSa7voS-dvaD7KLwdLKrZDpsuUd5AOk6yZjAFSKNWFzVTKhBx-6u3dhpxO13v8SpyttDQYKwPsR06m8HBOQ2dN3fqw-TEQG7MJL5-d0Ub1uU9CywjJSRg6GYqQu0ZUg/s1600/FFF_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EfwXWzFTj3jHWSa7voS-dvaD7KLwdLKrZDpsuUd5AOk6yZjAFSKNWFzVTKhBx-6u3dhpxO13v8SpyttDQYKwPsR06m8HBOQ2dN3fqw-TEQG7MJL5-d0Ub1uU9CywjJSRg6GYqQu0ZUg/s400/FFF_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My Pack of Reidy's Lures.</div>
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Big thanks to the FFF Fishing Forum and Reidy's for this win! You guys made my day.</div>
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Now, I realise that on the first photograph of this post you can't read the full story that allowed me win these great lures...</div>
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Well you can buy the North Australian Fishing & Outdoors Magazine or go on the FFF forum to read it there. There is even a blue link to take you directly to the forum at the beginning of this post.</div>
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As to the quality of the photographs in this post, well please be indulgent, as this is the first time that I written a post, where all the images were produced with only my mobile phone.</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-89893315782126483552016-11-07T22:01:00.001+09:302016-11-07T22:04:11.386+09:30Fishing In The Mangroves.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Yes, I went back to Channel Island...<br />
<ul>
<li>I fished in the morning.</li>
<li>At Channel Island.</li>
<li>Even small fish are sweet.</li>
</ul>
<div>
I arrived at Channel island earlier than usual. As I wanted to fish a different spot than the one that I usually go to there.</div>
<div>
Every times that I went fishing on Channel Island land based, I walked past a small clearing in the mangrove. Both Theosodius and Arrabmundi had told me that they got fish in that clearing. I needed to try it.</div>
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It is a beautiful little place:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1GfNLuse36kKHL4p3j47RASMe1w-LfEKXKaYoGavJLqvIL46utwzDmkOl0lqqTjBvV1F_vWHKWx8HZmMy_VhSw7HczbD6OxmAhxo24HaZ88MkkN63MjTkNCnNwkYD8GE3ElzPTUl3ZQ/s1600/20161106CI_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1GfNLuse36kKHL4p3j47RASMe1w-LfEKXKaYoGavJLqvIL46utwzDmkOl0lqqTjBvV1F_vWHKWx8HZmMy_VhSw7HczbD6OxmAhxo24HaZ88MkkN63MjTkNCnNwkYD8GE3ElzPTUl3ZQ/s400/20161106CI_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Arriving near the mangrove.</div>
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To arrive at the mangrove, you first have to walk on the rocks, and this is the hardest part of the walk.</div>
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Luckily it doesn't last very long. Once there, it is like a small oasis, or the tropical mangrove version of it:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGdBffoIAuCkiHFIYKEviw4btpofKJT-gWrXpaezlXIjkHPz6rpzEswWZdDyB5r3-1D14eZ21GUWsFUSTUwt6s6kAWepmJ_jElp0Zfxc-kLwUl1tE1mpi670uKbs10wikmp-j8JLXgso/s1600/20161106CI_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGdBffoIAuCkiHFIYKEviw4btpofKJT-gWrXpaezlXIjkHPz6rpzEswWZdDyB5r3-1D14eZ21GUWsFUSTUwt6s6kAWepmJ_jElp0Zfxc-kLwUl1tE1mpi670uKbs10wikmp-j8JLXgso/s400/20161106CI_02.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I fished from there.</div>
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It is a great little spot. Without much room to flick a lure from, every cast there is for me a mini challenge.</div>
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Yet I was thinking that I could manage to get a fish from there, and was rather optimistic about it.</div>
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In fact I keep waking up in the night leading to it, being as exited as the average kid on the night before Christmas. No I don't have a fishing problem, I just like it...</div>
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Anyway, perched on this little outcrop made of mud and roots, I had a great view of what was swimming in this waterhole. And I felt relatively secure crocodile wise, yet I wasn't too cocky. And was definitively not going to get down in the water if my lure had been stuck on a submerged pice of timber or anything else.</div>
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This was good thinking as Theodosius told me later on that he had seen a crocodile in this very spot in the past...</div>
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For me still looking for a spot where I could take my child for her to have a go at Barramundi fishing, where I would not fear for her to be taken by a crocodile... This was not going to be the spot, that is for sure.</div>
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So all seemed good, except that there was no bait swimming around, and that the spot seemed strangely calm...</div>
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Not a single hit on the line...</div>
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Starting to be a bit bored, I went to look at the rocks from where I previously fished on.</div>
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Once there I immediately saw that the tide was still way too high, and that I could not fish there.</div>
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Back to the mangrove was the plan.</div>
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It was still very quiet, the only difference was a couple of big diamond scale mullet lazily floating around. No jitters in these fish, obviously no-one was trying to make a meal out of them. At one stage I was even starting to take photographs of the mullets, that how fast paced the action was.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilUQF8zga78J8L0LRRwLZwZkwr6v68Q_AJrI7-qz2iNroyQ_FrCPfmul0v38lEAvfk9j04Az2x9xoNYqdOPL9FRxInNbg1O4ylGDDuw3iK1HHaTAMrEh6uhfM9Stfxb0iez35mqVAcl0/s1600/20161106CI_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilUQF8zga78J8L0LRRwLZwZkwr6v68Q_AJrI7-qz2iNroyQ_FrCPfmul0v38lEAvfk9j04Az2x9xoNYqdOPL9FRxInNbg1O4ylGDDuw3iK1HHaTAMrEh6uhfM9Stfxb0iez35mqVAcl0/s400/20161106CI_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Relaxed Mullet.</div>
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Oh well, I was there, I had a fishing rod and a few fishing lures. I might as well practice my casting, and lob my lure as close as I could of the underwater roots opposite me.</div>
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Doing so, I retrieved my lure in a rather mechanical kind of way, looking at the marks of the receding tide on the wet trees. When a sharp jerk in my line made me focus back quick and sharp on why I was there in the first place. But the only thing I saw, was a big silver flank followed by a large yellow tail, waving goodbye to me.</div>
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After all this time I finally had a hit from a Barramundi, and totally missed it.</div>
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I tried to see the positive side of it. At least, I was in the right spot, using the proper lure.</div>
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With my attention back to the task at hand, I noticed that baits had entered the mangrove, and that the occasional boof or splash could be heard around the place.</div>
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Optimism was back in full force, and I concentrated my casting near a half submerged snag.</div>
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I was watching my soft plastic moving in the water, in an injured fish manner. When I saw the Barramundi come out of the snag, and attacking from the side, swallowing the lure.</div>
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I hooked him up by raising sharply the rod, and he seemed a bit surprise, not moving, just staying on his side. Then just like that, it hit the burners and made a line for the mangrove. I thumbed the spool, and pulled on the rod. Luckily it wasn't a big fish and this made him change direction and head straight for the middle of the water pool. From there a short fight in zigzag across the water separating us, and the Barramundi was at my feet. I grabbed the leader and pulled the fish out of water.</div>
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It wasn't a big one, but when you have been trying for a few hours, even small fish are sweet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIFgjl_ySHXmkQVx4C9yFx75e9d1DCFSIXPHNRF9bCPjmsI9nMgYJp1Z4xyqtSQOQ8y_68FyTVoN1YklQRW5fl243APnz0L9KCiNkTVEcPhkzJPJLg3E1ma0nIYS8jpNJo2rDz9kSQhA/s1600/20161106CI_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIFgjl_ySHXmkQVx4C9yFx75e9d1DCFSIXPHNRF9bCPjmsI9nMgYJp1Z4xyqtSQOQ8y_68FyTVoN1YklQRW5fl243APnz0L9KCiNkTVEcPhkzJPJLg3E1ma0nIYS8jpNJo2rDz9kSQhA/s400/20161106CI_04.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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My little Barramundi of the day.</div>
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It was too short to be kept, so it was released to grow a few more centimetres before next time.</div>
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By now the water had really gone down, and it was too shallow for me to continue fishing there.</div>
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This brought me back for the second time of the day to go on the rocks from where I fished on my previous visits to the place.</div>
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From there, with a clear view on the harbour, I realised that a storm might be about to hit.</div>
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I still wanted a bigger fish and tried to fish there. After just a little while, I saw a guy pass in from of me on a kayak, with two fishing rods in the holders.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSTs66oI20GGHIAQUICjRtB4gmtY2fc8ct2Y0biGpmkHz6wHxpCIUbgekehDOjvEyeR4t55GJwQw7CcxGgQ86M23HdiNiE3a5ESfcTuHGODZ0ePSAjIgCyI_E_VtGUdMKcHguQpqrDnk/s1600/20161106CI_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSTs66oI20GGHIAQUICjRtB4gmtY2fc8ct2Y0biGpmkHz6wHxpCIUbgekehDOjvEyeR4t55GJwQw7CcxGgQ86M23HdiNiE3a5ESfcTuHGODZ0ePSAjIgCyI_E_VtGUdMKcHguQpqrDnk/s400/20161106CI_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fishing from a kayak.</div>
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It was clear to me that this guy was much braver than I.</div>
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Between the approaching storm and the risk of meeting a crocodile, I would not have swapped place with him for anything in the world.</div>
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A few minutes passed and I began to feel the cold wind, and see the mangrove trees behind me starting to bent and move a bit too much for my liking. The storm was closing in.</div>
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It was time to leave, and fast. A brisk walk got me back to the car, just as the first raindrops commenced to fall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKK2nH6SDBxVaHgtTPKj0WJlw_lthxngDxVtMyZI1ezD5rQzbdPp_dsurZDqt7hmbS_OB1OHKCIlkFL8mZHeJuUFl1LADFbTzFnrgIo-wK3Oe2QBozTPf1CjK8cS0KQFuZXqlFIvwo6ZQ/s1600/20161106CI_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKK2nH6SDBxVaHgtTPKj0WJlw_lthxngDxVtMyZI1ezD5rQzbdPp_dsurZDqt7hmbS_OB1OHKCIlkFL8mZHeJuUFl1LADFbTzFnrgIo-wK3Oe2QBozTPf1CjK8cS0KQFuZXqlFIvwo6ZQ/s400/20161106CI_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The storm upon me.</div>
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So I didn't get a big Barramundi, and the fishing was cut short because of the storm.</div>
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I really would like to eat some good fresh fish.</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-15195627865355187182016-11-02T21:43:00.001+09:302016-11-03T10:42:19.794+09:30Channel Island Two Days In A Row.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Yes last weekend I went to Channel Island, again, a lot...<br />
I went there on both days of the weekend.<br />
<ul>
<li>I fished Channel Island.</li>
<li>I didn't catch any Barramundi.</li>
<li>I did catch a strange fish.</li>
</ul>
<div>
First on Saturday I went fishing with Theodosius, on his boat.<br />
We launched nice and early from Dina Beach and made our way to Channel Island.<br />
But we arrived there a bit early and the water was still too high.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafegLBHmbIq79jfU3fcyP6bRqE_4Y6i5Aq2I3AHUzBv4WDdfcv86KMDyhRZDoZ-cj23evxdgKOkShWwoNCzbwZgLtPWmi_tPVPqFKuVcJ0hpZNPYr70Rgy5fkQmRZA3mNvu7_S7yyfnA/s1600/ChannelIsland_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafegLBHmbIq79jfU3fcyP6bRqE_4Y6i5Aq2I3AHUzBv4WDdfcv86KMDyhRZDoZ-cj23evxdgKOkShWwoNCzbwZgLtPWmi_tPVPqFKuVcJ0hpZNPYr70Rgy5fkQmRZA3mNvu7_S7yyfnA/s400/ChannelIsland_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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High tide in the mangroves.</div>
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Due to the tide, we couldn't catch a fish there. </div>
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The water was flat as a tack, and we moved to another spot.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKE54EdQZHR_WOKD-tknvSV1p0Hquh5krHZ48hLdv5x9Ucmdf6QdWJ2isGDbKA4nEP53t04Ksh-3ZHJ8PVI8pSvlR5et63WD2lqwaqI5ejfR9KejiKZVywdgzm32aci9t9Y_KW-wXdn88/s1600/ChannelIsland_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKE54EdQZHR_WOKD-tknvSV1p0Hquh5krHZ48hLdv5x9Ucmdf6QdWJ2isGDbKA4nEP53t04Ksh-3ZHJ8PVI8pSvlR5et63WD2lqwaqI5ejfR9KejiKZVywdgzm32aci9t9Y_KW-wXdn88/s400/ChannelIsland_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Flat waters in Darwin harbour.</div>
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This is about when the special apparatus, destined to the best fishing possible on the mud flats first appeared:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgum1zItNJN2Uszk4l1QP4iV89emjs2EMdqaoGNPr2GlWcudLTIn1I5b_rloBmDLsg4xfz3HeN1Rh9YYM-L92vYU4NnB3kjhHeeQ8bZ6wIoETE0GBFSHRRY-HSbPXK-31mtqvG278SMkp8/s1600/ChannelIsland_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgum1zItNJN2Uszk4l1QP4iV89emjs2EMdqaoGNPr2GlWcudLTIn1I5b_rloBmDLsg4xfz3HeN1Rh9YYM-L92vYU4NnB3kjhHeeQ8bZ6wIoETE0GBFSHRRY-HSbPXK-31mtqvG278SMkp8/s400/ChannelIsland_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Higher is better.</div>
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Yes, a step ladder was erected on the cast deck, giving a higher point of view. Permitting to spot the unsuspecting Barramundi from far away.</div>
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And it worked.</div>
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As soon as Theodosius got perched on it, he saw a Barra hiding back in the baby mangrove.</div>
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He flicked the lure toward it:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3SBB-AezYhvUsJuUp8_DHg8oei2SETNyZc46fv9vs9sThvCXfdhnWV-9uTYewDehZBOPtz5ZZq4_8y652EMFKOG4YiQtCtdJiqS52w-IzA8L8G1c51bIioYU3jgrLGrfRxYnfOOyATE/s1600/ChannelIsland_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3SBB-AezYhvUsJuUp8_DHg8oei2SETNyZc46fv9vs9sThvCXfdhnWV-9uTYewDehZBOPtz5ZZq4_8y652EMFKOG4YiQtCtdJiqS52w-IzA8L8G1c51bIioYU3jgrLGrfRxYnfOOyATE/s400/ChannelIsland_04.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Casting from the ladder.</div>
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The Barramundi took the lure, but failed to connect.</div>
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This had nearly be a massive success, but it still was exciting to see that the idea wasn't bad.</div>
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But still, we couldn't get any fish there.</div>
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So we went in beautiful little creeks in search of success.</div>
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The scenery was grand.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGvBZq70stP1Asy0NTEZ5DwDcP8kMHskgUih7hV-tqGzblJx8KOZJDKmz0p0WKW6auzh_esEfyoh0QDgfOUK3lL7qqJUdQKgbPmMlQ6T48CCU5vt0fl856VWsxA1JlNP4n2t36y5pBVQ/s1600/ChannelIsland_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGvBZq70stP1Asy0NTEZ5DwDcP8kMHskgUih7hV-tqGzblJx8KOZJDKmz0p0WKW6auzh_esEfyoh0QDgfOUK3lL7qqJUdQKgbPmMlQ6T48CCU5vt0fl856VWsxA1JlNP4n2t36y5pBVQ/s400/ChannelIsland_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tree in the water.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjnMtQrdYVNv5B_TdpHJR_94EDYkRN84M7dUg2AeVqchraKoivQA1UNYAFY-H2_4XjybOde-k-ccD8pKw3QMhluAUTqb4TqBZy8z7jfoTPpLQ8lryTdM7s7ioL6AU5-RrxuIyaySuJAI/s1600/ChannelIsland_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjnMtQrdYVNv5B_TdpHJR_94EDYkRN84M7dUg2AeVqchraKoivQA1UNYAFY-H2_4XjybOde-k-ccD8pKw3QMhluAUTqb4TqBZy8z7jfoTPpLQ8lryTdM7s7ioL6AU5-RrxuIyaySuJAI/s400/ChannelIsland_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Tree on the bank.</div>
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The fish were not.</div>
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At one point we came across a snag, and Theodosius told me that he often caught fish on it.</div>
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So... We sent our lures swimming over it.</div>
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First, we saw a big boil just behind my lure.</div>
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Following cast and I got a hit from a small Barra, but didn't hooked it.</div>
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So we continue to flick our lures on it, making them swim very nooks and crannies of it.</div>
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Then a better Barramundi hit my lure, give a sharp pull on my line, and swam away like if nothing...</div>
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No, we couldn't get any fish from this very snag on that very day.</div>
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So we moved along.</div>
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Arriving on a new large flat, from the top of his post, Theodosius saw a Barramundi that I could not see from the casting deck.</div>
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He made the right cast, and swam his lure in front of the fish, who presto got onto it.</div>
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And a nice big slab of silver Barramundi started to dance on the surface of the water, between us and the shore.</div>
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Quickly I got my lure back, and grabbed the net...</div>
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And then went on to commit the worst crime that a ducky can ever commit...</div>
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I was simply unable to open the net properly, and by the time this very nice harbour Barramundi was boat side, I was still battling the net, and not ready at all.</div>
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What happened after that is what you never want on your boat.</div>
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A skipper with a nice fish ready to be netted and a decky, who is not even able to open a net, is by itself a pretty bad combo... Yes you might have guessed it by now, the fish spat the lure after fighting on the side of the boat for a little while.</div>
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This was criminal from my part, and I felt rather bad after that. </div>
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The fault was all mine.</div>
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I think that I am lucky that Theodosius didn't just show me the way to Darwin and said : Swim!</div>
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Now all kudos to him for taking it in a very cool way, and even still trying to put me on a fish after that.</div>
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We arrived in a new creek where he said that he snag should be there under water, but that we couldn't see it because of the water condition.</div>
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We send our lures in a few different places, until I screamed: I'm on!</div>
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to which he replied: You must have found the snag then.</div>
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I wasn't on to a Barramundi, but still Theodosius had the net ready in the water before I could get my small fish near the boat.</div>
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And he netted it first try, this was a little cod:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISLv2_2PY23tP_Nuemxc6B-B9tYXuKJYkhmNVP-QcYJVSg4ydoXHyVnb4cyCSnNGi0RE8lRrhpFEAmtoU5DZ3p4qoi_6PezBgN-38P5NIIGUpXrvETEazHE4N1FItb9Q36S3QUPUHDFg/s1600/ChannelIsland_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISLv2_2PY23tP_Nuemxc6B-B9tYXuKJYkhmNVP-QcYJVSg4ydoXHyVnb4cyCSnNGi0RE8lRrhpFEAmtoU5DZ3p4qoi_6PezBgN-38P5NIIGUpXrvETEazHE4N1FItb9Q36S3QUPUHDFg/s400/ChannelIsland_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My first fish of the weekend.</div>
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This fish was too small to keep, and was put back in his element. To grow up and hopefully lead a happy fish life.</div>
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My skipper for the day climbed back on his ladder for a little bit, but not more fish were sighted, and we decided to call it a day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicahkxSydMEZWB125pu8ACDoWoch-HZfZ0PJDCNFLPthA0UfGJjKW81l-XGtwIkkXEB52vC-G0z5A6vCo9CwzG6tmsk64zPofmaLcozm_lDQbMJZ4_kRi_dBjybD7d1vZ-bPvAqfZqV6M/s1600/ChannelIsland_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicahkxSydMEZWB125pu8ACDoWoch-HZfZ0PJDCNFLPthA0UfGJjKW81l-XGtwIkkXEB52vC-G0z5A6vCo9CwzG6tmsk64zPofmaLcozm_lDQbMJZ4_kRi_dBjybD7d1vZ-bPvAqfZqV6M/s400/ChannelIsland_08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Scanning the water for Barramundi.</div>
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This had been a very pleasant morning on the water. Thank you for inviting me on your boat Theodosius, and sorry for not being able to net your fish.</div>
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On the following day, Sunday, it was a land based attempt.</div>
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This time I was fishing with Tony, the maker of the beautiful Captain Seaweed Lures.</div>
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We arrived to channel island parked the car and walked straight where I had been on my last land based attempt on this island.</div>
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I did feel sorry for not insisting that Tony take a good pair of shoes as he hurt himself walking on the rocks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_M6mCMKhKGfUs8WV19IcMmNJnCRCqpP3YkixPtPwIIeX3aPA5V9eq1g9uGe_8D02CqBmtxC-tAjeVTvJXjt7ZeGLvkQIANbgof4H9N8gi6tBAWu5T7yzSB85DR7TWP8yAS0EDPU_Jn2I/s1600/ChannelIsland_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_M6mCMKhKGfUs8WV19IcMmNJnCRCqpP3YkixPtPwIIeX3aPA5V9eq1g9uGe_8D02CqBmtxC-tAjeVTvJXjt7ZeGLvkQIANbgof4H9N8gi6tBAWu5T7yzSB85DR7TWP8yAS0EDPU_Jn2I/s400/ChannelIsland_09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The rocks of Channel Island.</div>
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The spot is nice and shady in the morning, expectations were high.</div>
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With the tide starting to recede, I walked a bit further on the rocks.</div>
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But a few big splashes in the mangroves on my left, kept me on my toes. I couldn't figure if it was a crocodile or a shark, and I didn't liked it.</div>
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As I was on the rock, I saw a very nice Barramundi swam next to me, it must have been in the mid 70cm and was just cruising past. I sent my lure in front of him, and brought it back, twitching it under his nose. He didn't even take any notice of it and went on his way. Either he was not hungry at all, or was the most snobbish Barramundi ever.</div>
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A tad frustrated I kept looking in the water all around, to spot the eventual fish, or approaching crocodile. Luckily no crocodile were seen on the day.</div>
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But a massive Queenfish came very close. </div>
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Once again, it didn't even had a second look at my lure, and just swam calmly toward the horizon.</div>
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Thinking about it I was just reeling in my lure, when I saw something from the corner of my eye, having a go at my lure, but turning away just before hitting it, very close to the rock I was standing on.</div>
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So I made a long cast, and tried to retrieve my lure, in a way that would make it pass just between the rocks at my feet. </div>
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And bang! This time the fish took my lure in earnest and was starting to pull on my line. It wasn't the fight of the century, but at least I had a fish, it was a small cod:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinz6AuhN9ELoYsi75qEs3-GG75wkPlpIwe7Eyy0LIVdcEUJqrlFfJKowqqwz31tuRgQP78xjX5skojlUVv8HTeNX5z2I64y-dWP4BubwDmkr-0YQ_k0Hjg9CeyNa00JqjPkZwCbEyvKs8/s1600/ChannelIsland_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinz6AuhN9ELoYsi75qEs3-GG75wkPlpIwe7Eyy0LIVdcEUJqrlFfJKowqqwz31tuRgQP78xjX5skojlUVv8HTeNX5z2I64y-dWP4BubwDmkr-0YQ_k0Hjg9CeyNa00JqjPkZwCbEyvKs8/s400/ChannelIsland_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rock cod from the rocks.</div>
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This one was just the right size to be put in a soup, so in the esky it went, so Tony could have a fish soup.</div>
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Yes, this is becoming a spot where I catch more cods than Barramundi.</div>
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But still a fish is a fish, and I was happy.</div>
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The tide by now was becoming low. </div>
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Tony had started to use a surface lure.</div>
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I had to do long cast to give my lure a chance to swim before hitting the bottom rocks. </div>
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It is just on one of these long cast, my lure had just entered the water, and no more than two turns of the handle on my reel were made when...</div>
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I was on again!</div>
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I saw a flash of silver, so it wasn't a cod or a shark.</div>
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It started to jump.</div>
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But seemed a bit skinny for a Barramundi.</div>
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Maybe a Queenfish?</div>
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But it didn't look quite right for a Queenfish...</div>
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It was a <a href="http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2081" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Chirocentrus dorab</span></a>, most commonly known as a Wolf herring:</div>
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<h1 style="color: #317d84; font-family: proxima-nova, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
</h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6h6447ZRabFtyoAe8YJIGLLW9bJe4OzcFvpaMoQQwEZcsgzswJDUDdltrZUU0GTcEA19g-r9AluZbeXoirMnlNZ3UCBN8BwranAphQW19gWuIdFDbHEYiCBu-egZ0fi_DOeRKIvZJks/s1600/ChannelIsland_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6h6447ZRabFtyoAe8YJIGLLW9bJe4OzcFvpaMoQQwEZcsgzswJDUDdltrZUU0GTcEA19g-r9AluZbeXoirMnlNZ3UCBN8BwranAphQW19gWuIdFDbHEYiCBu-egZ0fi_DOeRKIvZJks/s400/ChannelIsland_11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Surprise of the day.</div>
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Not much to write home you could start to say...</div>
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Have you seen its teeth?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmJFRYDDL8a2J3DqN9NKa39Er91PAFHK0LAk-vhPIuu6aQ4vq0tTTHTmBAEeGOo5miZLCSbo-Al1R6b3K1bLY9Ia6f9HqmFDKxVxc5VkUD4sM6YO7B2Pi0G0hk25OULV-98R7K7RG2rI/s1600/ChannelIsland_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmJFRYDDL8a2J3DqN9NKa39Er91PAFHK0LAk-vhPIuu6aQ4vq0tTTHTmBAEeGOo5miZLCSbo-Al1R6b3K1bLY9Ia6f9HqmFDKxVxc5VkUD4sM6YO7B2Pi0G0hk25OULV-98R7K7RG2rI/s400/ChannelIsland_19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Wolf herring.</div>
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Some being have a face that only a mother could love...</div>
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I personally think that even the mother of this one has nightmares.</div>
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I had caught it on a small Junior B52s made by Reidy's, and started to think that this was going to be my lucky lure of the day.</div>
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Well it didn't took me long for the lure to get snagged and for my line to be cut on the oyster rocks.</div>
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I had lost my new lucky lure...</div>
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Still it was a beautiful morning in a beautiful location:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0T4p3lvZTUkRf1k5omyAOjKhnool7fQ4omK6IDwAm5s8_5uhz8EgayMGW0CJQZtZKk0Z3XUtCLhbSh2Y350Yx2Y8msFwW8y7SMfmOawVbg7vIEaxbFsWrOB0303c7fko6Y7F1SWG9HQw/s1600/ChannelIsland_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0T4p3lvZTUkRf1k5omyAOjKhnool7fQ4omK6IDwAm5s8_5uhz8EgayMGW0CJQZtZKk0Z3XUtCLhbSh2Y350Yx2Y8msFwW8y7SMfmOawVbg7vIEaxbFsWrOB0303c7fko6Y7F1SWG9HQw/s400/ChannelIsland_15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Calm waters from the shore.</div>
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Looking at the calm waters of the harbour, and the falling tide, I got a second surprise for the day.</div>
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My lost lure was floating very close to the shore.</div>
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And a little puffer fish was munching on the back of it.</div>
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In no times I walked toward the water edge, flicked the soft plastic I had attached to my line and hooked the floating lure, bringing it back to me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYnzugPInY2r4WySEF5QNjt9sOTNm_Hr7TO-3wAceeBXlxE_ZPn37v3i3A8H0iMn2EFVBWapm6u1EjzLHVDC0qsFQKJr0ZZKEvBFDJpj5dNvOqZ5A__9xxzFxCfshrK5OrfcWx1Y_G9g/s1600/ChannelIsland_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYnzugPInY2r4WySEF5QNjt9sOTNm_Hr7TO-3wAceeBXlxE_ZPn37v3i3A8H0iMn2EFVBWapm6u1EjzLHVDC0qsFQKJr0ZZKEvBFDJpj5dNvOqZ5A__9xxzFxCfshrK5OrfcWx1Y_G9g/s400/ChannelIsland_16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Not lost after all.</div>
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I was very happy to get my little lure back.</div>
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But by now it was time to go back.</div>
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On the walk back to the car, we got more or less lost and visited the back of the island and the camp that was on it in the past.</div>
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Walking back Tony remembered that the last time that he brought his sons fishing near the same spot, he had seen a Bowerbird bower somewhere around it.</div>
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Sure enough he spotted it again and showed it to me:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3lRlfI116L7J8ce05LwblQr8tGjZoasza-JBmOTGBpW1T-dop9il4imvmnxhS84eCet29uxKD6hqzWnNK0TIHwa0ssMuOgJAx-ZtgLCS12JZp5Gy248HCxXviusL91FXq9Uz_MDBHAk/s1600/ChannelIsland_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3lRlfI116L7J8ce05LwblQr8tGjZoasza-JBmOTGBpW1T-dop9il4imvmnxhS84eCet29uxKD6hqzWnNK0TIHwa0ssMuOgJAx-ZtgLCS12JZp5Gy248HCxXviusL91FXq9Uz_MDBHAk/s400/ChannelIsland_17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Bowerbird's bower.</div>
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This is another part of the Australian bush that I really like. </div>
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There is always something interesting to see, if you just take the time to look around you.</div>
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Now about all the Barramundi that were caught over the weekend?</div>
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Well I don't really know what to say about that, as none were caught by my fishing comrades or me...</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-73635279058291381902016-10-17T19:54:00.000+09:302016-10-17T23:18:54.880+09:30On The Shores of Chanel Island.Hi there,<br />
<br />
On Saturday Morning I went exploring and fishing the shores of Chanel Island.<br />
I hadn't been there in a long time, and certainly not on the side that I wanted to fish.<br />
I had set my eyes on a spot near the boat ramp.<br />
So early and happy I drove there, managed to get lost on the way, but finally arrived at destination.<br />
Once there a bit of a walk on the rocks and through some mangroves, to finally arrive to a place that looked the right kind of fishy to me.<br />
So i started to fish.<br />
<br />
First with a standard Gold Bomber. But for no hits.<br />
So I changed to a white Storm, for nothing better.<br />
Changed again for a small Bomber in the Tiger Lily colour, and got two small hits.<br />
So decided to change lure one more time and went for a small soft plastic, in black.<br />
Not much more at first...<br />
<br />
But I suddenly saw a very nice Barramundi swimming towards me from my right.<br />
I tried as discreetly as possible to cast my lure a bit forward of where it would pass, just in front of me.<br />
That was not a bad cast, for once, and the lure on the retrieve, passed a few centimetres in from of the Barramundi... Who immediately bolted sideway and went for the high sea as fast as it could.<br />
I had spooked him.<br />
Yes, I was a bit disappointed with that.<br />
But, it looked that I had found just the right spot, as not long after, another one came from the same direction, and it was an even better fish.<br />
Same thing, flicked the lure in front and a bit past it.<br />
Reeling nice and slow to arrive just in front of him...<br />
And this Barramundi, turn behind the lure and swim closer and closer to it.<br />
The lure was now just a few centimetres from him, now it is just about one centimetres. The Barramundi seems to swim in perfect line with the lure, I am waiting for the strike...<br />
And with in a rather nonchalant way, he turns away and calmly swam away.<br />
Why?<br />
Why did this fish came that close to my lure, and turn away from it like that?<br />
Did I really deserved that?<br />
Well apparently I did...<br />
Oh well, Better luck with the next one, or so I thought...<br />
The next one surprised me by suddenly appearing facing me just at my feet, and vanished in the same way. These big chrome fish, can sometime be very good at camouflage.<br />
<br />
Yet I still had my hopes high. After all I had already seen three Barramundi, just in front of me, so I was in the right spot and this was going to pay soon.<br />
Right?<br />
Well, life has some mysterious way, hard to comprehend at time.<br />
Because the fourth Barramundi, Not only I didn't see it coming, not only did it really surprised me, but I missed it too...<br />
I was standing on my rock, with my lure retrieved and waiting in the water at my feet, scanning the water to try to spot another fish. Not seeing any fish, I lifted my lure out of the water to do a blind cast in hope to meet my elusive prey. Just as the lure came out of the water a big boof at my feet made me jump! Looking down, I saw the boil in the water with a big yellow tail saying bye bye to me, before I could fully realise what had just happened.<br />
Yes, I had just missed another Barramundi.<br />
So far it was Barramundi: 4 VS me: 0<br />
<br />
You my boy, you have had some better fishing day, the little voice in my head was starting to say...<br />
And I was starting to wonder what I should do to catch a fish?<br />
With a little colour change happening on my left, I send my lure straight in it.<br />
This is when I finally got a good smack on the line, and a Barramundi started to dance on the surface.<br />
You beauty !<br />
It was smaller that the other ones before, (because as you certainly know, the ones that get away are alway enormous) but it was on my line and seemed to be above the minimal size, this was going to be my delicious dinner, just right there!<br />
I got it to the shore, and dragged it on the mud.<br />
Got my brag mat out and put my prized catch on it...<br />
52cm... 3cm short of a nice dinner... and full of mud...<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-QWDlmuJ1n6mXVXdnC-AHbTDssO1qema7z6LT8OFyDSLQ0ePUqUf2-y3f7LXxYHWPCao05xuRM2kmTRAl3XoTXZCZfgn_U7dKvYr1zUgHrg16SRu3Q9gpf9apKFMldFfs-6zXxqSJeQ/s1600/CI20161015_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-QWDlmuJ1n6mXVXdnC-AHbTDssO1qema7z6LT8OFyDSLQ0ePUqUf2-y3f7LXxYHWPCao05xuRM2kmTRAl3XoTXZCZfgn_U7dKvYr1zUgHrg16SRu3Q9gpf9apKFMldFfs-6zXxqSJeQ/s400/CI20161015_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A little mud mullet.</div>
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Yes this fish was a bit too short and I had to release it. Still after all the ones that I missed or just saw swim past, I was rather happy to catch one. To me it was the confirmation that my little exploring wasn't in vain, I had found a good spot.</div>
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Here is an image of the little colour change where it came from:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAI7rxZpiMoq9Lp-BIEQUm3nNDDTm7oDwWjjke38ilDEeWuNPhHsqxPc_tyPdPHYGnZPA_6CN7HoKGb_gxr3_gKpGfpXvtbQlelFojQdXMLweMt3p6NlpnFoRdQJNBpkox7-1i9QoD6c/s1600/CI20161015_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAI7rxZpiMoq9Lp-BIEQUm3nNDDTm7oDwWjjke38ilDEeWuNPhHsqxPc_tyPdPHYGnZPA_6CN7HoKGb_gxr3_gKpGfpXvtbQlelFojQdXMLweMt3p6NlpnFoRdQJNBpkox7-1i9QoD6c/s400/CI20161015_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Colour change along the rocks.</div>
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You can see that it was muddy terrain, even the rocks had a fine covering of mud.</div>
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Now out of this I had to try to catch a bigger one out of the receding tide.</div>
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Alas what was to follow was indeed a good little session, but without anymore Barramundi.</div>
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First I got my first little cod of the day...</div>
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And the key words here are: First and little...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtujZwZzDQVbundYV9rB_iZNS_hayPpPligi64vpXbw3zFBPbTeDxbLtE4egEzYh1FNttwXl-BOmIj0nrpQgeZftnugny845EMyyW96MlF96C5dOZCrJ5MDOWCzbhyphenhyphen4vpYBJ65UdEkoQ/s1600/CI20161015_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqtujZwZzDQVbundYV9rB_iZNS_hayPpPligi64vpXbw3zFBPbTeDxbLtE4egEzYh1FNttwXl-BOmIj0nrpQgeZftnugny845EMyyW96MlF96C5dOZCrJ5MDOWCzbhyphenhyphen4vpYBJ65UdEkoQ/s400/CI20161015_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First small Rock Cod of the day.</div>
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It was a cute little fish and I let it go.</div>
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Then a second one came along:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6b5Iym0xjm27iH6KpdKNsaiHwI7DFwVJdnSQ_Nmuh9zSEc_9yYiFl15TKu0sI0hiPBGD6NEnqqWikpuynRvYhlE1RP7eoA9w0ipZsFsn_PPtuLc14NUlXD89fV34qphMQ2ZRQaRYDZAo/s1600/CI20161015_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6b5Iym0xjm27iH6KpdKNsaiHwI7DFwVJdnSQ_Nmuh9zSEc_9yYiFl15TKu0sI0hiPBGD6NEnqqWikpuynRvYhlE1RP7eoA9w0ipZsFsn_PPtuLc14NUlXD89fV34qphMQ2ZRQaRYDZAo/s400/CI20161015_04.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Second Cod of the day.</div>
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I couldn't help but think that Barramundi are often found on the same grounds than Cods.</div>
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So I persisted, and got another cod. But this one came with a surprise:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9jq1kQF75jgq9O6Gd6D9B-EuQPEPojdSKVtf2I6la1kiQIrHdlzzjZtAgZ5AqDMlHMUou26dMAwgb2XwUot_TP7F-YF754W7x8MekESbU8uMFOIvl1BN6UxwwjRAED5VPA8cIqXydGo/s1600/CI20161015_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9jq1kQF75jgq9O6Gd6D9B-EuQPEPojdSKVtf2I6la1kiQIrHdlzzjZtAgZ5AqDMlHMUou26dMAwgb2XwUot_TP7F-YF754W7x8MekESbU8uMFOIvl1BN6UxwwjRAED5VPA8cIqXydGo/s400/CI20161015_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Third, and wounded.</div>
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This one was my third little cod, all caught within no more than 3 cast between them.</div>
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But this one must have had an encounter with a watery predator, before meeting my lure.</div>
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It really deserved to live, and I put it back in his element as quick as I could.</div>
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Here is where they all came from:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismm0mrFrXwircI3WuFUJ6bCsNU7NhQXmQwmlRmMbtgHxJTa_7He983ndGYjlhz9_vxvgJx-jMI5d2qp9NJ9v50TptSML3RUltlFr_8ognWuUhxjAGGd99H2hQFtYEbIW4qPykIsJLLl4/s1600/CI20161015_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismm0mrFrXwircI3WuFUJ6bCsNU7NhQXmQwmlRmMbtgHxJTa_7He983ndGYjlhz9_vxvgJx-jMI5d2qp9NJ9v50TptSML3RUltlFr_8ognWuUhxjAGGd99H2hQFtYEbIW4qPykIsJLLl4/s400/CI20161015_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Cods honey hole.</div>
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This spot had to me looked a perfect ambush point for Barramundi, but it was in fact Cod's Heaven.</div>
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Before fall of the tide, while the water was clearer, I did saw a few Barramundi swimming in there. So when the colour of the water started changing with the outgoing tide I thought that I was going to be Jack on the Spot...</div>
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Well on the Cod's spot yes...</div>
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Still it was definitively a fun way to pass time in the outdoor. I was having a ball catching all these little fish.</div>
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I finally caught my last fish of the day, and it was a new specie too. I had just seen some bait being smashed by an hungry bigger fish, and flicked my lure a bit in front of the fleeing bait.</div>
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The hit came but the fight wasn't huge...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUniLJKZYQ6lJrch2uXMsOJpGgPe9ETR-mwKtpqhaY4S4FVW7r7qEa7sBLAij8WhhxRf6IVFZP26y6AY514HvlTwt1yV_nDSxx5PSXZYnJNdxsh6ZHiMr-CTHNJcWNAvcKGQ1U7vPpp4/s1600/CI20161015_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUniLJKZYQ6lJrch2uXMsOJpGgPe9ETR-mwKtpqhaY4S4FVW7r7qEa7sBLAij8WhhxRf6IVFZP26y6AY514HvlTwt1yV_nDSxx5PSXZYnJNdxsh6ZHiMr-CTHNJcWNAvcKGQ1U7vPpp4/s400/CI20161015_09.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Baby Barracuda on the lure.</div>
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It was just a little one, but for this one, I still decided to use my pliers to get the lure out of its mouth...</div>
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And by then, I had finished my two litres of water, and started to think about the walk back to the car.</div>
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With a dry mouth...</div>
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So I walked back through the mangrove and rocks, dreaming of an ice cold soft drink.</div>
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Just as I arrived at my car a scooter rocked in and parked a few metres away.</div>
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It was Hiro from the very famous blog <a href="http://secretbarramundi.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Secret Barramundi</span></a>. It was great to meet again, after not seeing him for a long time. He has always been very kind and helpful to me, in sharing good information about land based fishing spot and technics for Barramundi.</div>
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And now it was time to head back home, without a feed of freshly caught Barramundi.</div>
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But hey, It could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-79992142870464420182016-09-17T20:19:00.001+09:302016-09-17T20:19:06.376+09:302016 Top End Barra Series Round 5.Hi There,<br />
<br />
Last weekend the fifth round of the 2016 Top End Barra Series took place at the mouth of the Adelaide River.<br />
Here comes the story of it.<br />
<ul>
<li>It was very hard fishing.</li>
<li>I used many lures.</li>
<li>And it was a dress up round.</li>
</ul>
<div>
I was going to fish this round with Seano, who did very well in that round in the previous years.</div>
<div>
But being earlier in the season, the fishing was much harder than in the previous years.</div>
<div>
We could see fish, and big ones on the sounder, but they didn't want to bite.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Still it is with great optimism that we launched at Leaders Creek and made our way along the narrow water way.</div>
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Arriving at day break.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5A1DEdgvpvfzUmVXjpspHVoBsmFmkn3hYpIPAfu-WJqEKe8F6M0UFvf-rrMq0p4JhD2x3TEarRyFzQtkFUitPKEcLRcgnF6gsCQgqzsz-tSLWWNlleaXCMz1CNO7MA9KmmaTtqf-MZc/s1600/TEBS2016R5_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5A1DEdgvpvfzUmVXjpspHVoBsmFmkn3hYpIPAfu-WJqEKe8F6M0UFvf-rrMq0p4JhD2x3TEarRyFzQtkFUitPKEcLRcgnF6gsCQgqzsz-tSLWWNlleaXCMz1CNO7MA9KmmaTtqf-MZc/s400/TEBS2016R5_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Leaders Creek mouth in the morning.</div>
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It was one of these morning, where every things seem to be in place for a good day of fishing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRATcaDbdxLIUa3Cbje8943zw41mKMNl_2Qvv11aGOVFQTyZFW8RIG4_WM24W0wSMQwyI0oO_QpUmy7SxFVgS11HVzmi25YHpA5yyhX_YVkwRjgKr3odGT0WcbAJM-PwEY9pf8Sdl7_8/s1600/TEBS2016R5_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRATcaDbdxLIUa3Cbje8943zw41mKMNl_2Qvv11aGOVFQTyZFW8RIG4_WM24W0wSMQwyI0oO_QpUmy7SxFVgS11HVzmi25YHpA5yyhX_YVkwRjgKr3odGT0WcbAJM-PwEY9pf8Sdl7_8/s400/TEBS2016R5_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It looked like a fishing commercial.</div>
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It looked great, and soon we saw a friend getting on a good Jewfish:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8F6LP6cmRWeCm2eATvaHfVOZLOZazF0uI83BWvYWIhFCww_fofWifRE6izVifeKZ2E2A2cO3N4uxiSThNE93gPmecpnS2c9XBLv2cNT1r40mseP2LdXZ3N06ZcBPK7uDErrvFf_L1o4g/s1600/TEBS2016R5_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8F6LP6cmRWeCm2eATvaHfVOZLOZazF0uI83BWvYWIhFCww_fofWifRE6izVifeKZ2E2A2cO3N4uxiSThNE93gPmecpnS2c9XBLv2cNT1r40mseP2LdXZ3N06ZcBPK7uDErrvFf_L1o4g/s400/TEBS2016R5_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Kel on a good fish.</div>
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It was Kel, he was the first that we saw catching a fish on the weekend.</div>
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And it would be a long time before we saw another fish being caught.</div>
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We tried trolling big lures at the mouth, using vibes in the creek or where ever we saw fish on the sounder. But to no avail.</div>
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Luckily, it was a dress up round, and it was fun to see the attire that some people had chosen.</div>
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Personally, I had gone for the French fisherman look:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMViVaGvo-vWRWW2mkbog4eWxBN48rlnj28m-Wnxk25K_7LRggeHNmZy7bUndCP-4vdCPRgAoYNencdSjk03WbYS9H1ISpdjQYliQhO0T4Rvsgk5qBftHgpzEWq64vLa2SALoi3FHQ9g/s1600/TEBS2016R5_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMViVaGvo-vWRWW2mkbog4eWxBN48rlnj28m-Wnxk25K_7LRggeHNmZy7bUndCP-4vdCPRgAoYNencdSjk03WbYS9H1ISpdjQYliQhO0T4Rvsgk5qBftHgpzEWq64vLa2SALoi3FHQ9g/s400/TEBS2016R5_05.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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My attire for the first day.</div>
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Other had gone for different looks:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpiZVZIl93N_WCs4bnL9ppxsmXr28h9SlsYx_CAXnuSB0Owc329hthyS4ymaWQBHEL5paryGggL8ChM8PF5RlYRD-SRpHoPfGoUs5wLIGj-9bwVnhnGaHpZqmRi-m7xKiiKubdXc65Yk/s1600/TEBS2016R5_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpiZVZIl93N_WCs4bnL9ppxsmXr28h9SlsYx_CAXnuSB0Owc329hthyS4ymaWQBHEL5paryGggL8ChM8PF5RlYRD-SRpHoPfGoUs5wLIGj-9bwVnhnGaHpZqmRi-m7xKiiKubdXc65Yk/s400/TEBS2016R5_08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Carrot and the Disco Fisho.</div>
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All this was fine and fun, but the fish were missing at the party.</div>
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Seano and I, still fishless toward the end of the day, finally moved to some smaller creeks, with the idea to try to find fish in the snags.</div>
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And it worked!</div>
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First snag that we stopped at, Seano got a Barramundi on his first cast:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D90Obpf1ECm7DVzFtAqrIOrOAqszW1J6uJ6PsyEjL-BcNtPzGpr96PTxolq9AqfoLQ-dKKj4Bp-YNYzO-nAUTVfg5cj4gAuAUH2uMUuQphUn35WLEupp3-1xMPB1ZOelvagZhO3hJcA/s1600/TEBS2016R5_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D90Obpf1ECm7DVzFtAqrIOrOAqszW1J6uJ6PsyEjL-BcNtPzGpr96PTxolq9AqfoLQ-dKKj4Bp-YNYzO-nAUTVfg5cj4gAuAUH2uMUuQphUn35WLEupp3-1xMPB1ZOelvagZhO3hJcA/s400/TEBS2016R5_09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Barramundi on the old Nilsmaster.</div>
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Just like that, our spirits started to fly high again.</div>
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From the same snag, I too got my first fish of the weekend:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyf5q7iQV8RW-tY5N0w9onjvKfX8Qe8T4H7Dpe6QHLfk-D_MviyyAMifWDQ8lbdFo9CGU1liosT6Jkj6427ysNGvK1tMcritg6ooi8WvCCmHa3Q6iS9_gZMQE0sMl0W6qGmcMgHRydnLc/s1600/TEBS2016R5_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyf5q7iQV8RW-tY5N0w9onjvKfX8Qe8T4H7Dpe6QHLfk-D_MviyyAMifWDQ8lbdFo9CGU1liosT6Jkj6427ysNGvK1tMcritg6ooi8WvCCmHa3Q6iS9_gZMQE0sMl0W6qGmcMgHRydnLc/s400/TEBS2016R5_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My first Barramundi of the weekend.</div>
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This one was too short to be a point scorer, but still it made me really happy.</div>
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I got it by casting an old Gold Bomber, with a lot of paint missing on its body. Yet, it still worked.</div>
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Not long after, I finally caught my first point scorer, and we then both had a fish on the board.</div>
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The table had turned.</div>
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But that was to be it for the day. </div>
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The night was near, and we decided to try one last time at the mouth.</div>
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Where we saw some more dressed up participants:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3FrrIhGumHhu_QJopEXNjc3LQw71Y7NBBIHyUayzCMKFsJW3g35vncYAsAY4OMjXwGvn7DykfvdKACsS6swtPY7MxugbqBHdP2SPd6kbUVDxU7gp7Cs41D-qA2CLpXdLA64z8AVIS74/s1600/TEBS2016R5_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3FrrIhGumHhu_QJopEXNjc3LQw71Y7NBBIHyUayzCMKFsJW3g35vncYAsAY4OMjXwGvn7DykfvdKACsS6swtPY7MxugbqBHdP2SPd6kbUVDxU7gp7Cs41D-qA2CLpXdLA64z8AVIS74/s400/TEBS2016R5_12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mario and Luigi went fishing...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwRUEdNtLlKeXeK9ANx6tIbu2u3onhCzS1eypB-G4WgnbKor4RM_aQnxCYhTgVqi3CqcR6X66CO7Rk7yFxgICoA5GehqUBAEcAa5_cPcOnEDSGEAa1-oszKln2eyo4ejdJ-G1TAHwoSA/s1600/TEBS2016R5_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwRUEdNtLlKeXeK9ANx6tIbu2u3onhCzS1eypB-G4WgnbKor4RM_aQnxCYhTgVqi3CqcR6X66CO7Rk7yFxgICoA5GehqUBAEcAa5_cPcOnEDSGEAa1-oszKln2eyo4ejdJ-G1TAHwoSA/s400/TEBS2016R5_13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last troll run of the day.</div>
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Lady luck had decided to try to avoid us for the day.</div>
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It was time to go, sleep and get ready to change that the following day.</div>
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The first thing that I heard on the Sunday morning, was the sound of grilling bacon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiu0mYHaToMko-CAUy3JrLHQ5-fE9s_uaTcEjhTwffCt3bDk5fUk5B-3X9aZ4LSfDZtR8CLGtDU4BkBISV37ktkYOjwCtLjxuSW6UJbzfqwQxc8g5JzP1hpaIgfo9xncxOcmWMVjNUEoo/s1600/TEBS2016R5_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiu0mYHaToMko-CAUy3JrLHQ5-fE9s_uaTcEjhTwffCt3bDk5fUk5B-3X9aZ4LSfDZtR8CLGtDU4BkBISV37ktkYOjwCtLjxuSW6UJbzfqwQxc8g5JzP1hpaIgfo9xncxOcmWMVjNUEoo/s400/TEBS2016R5_14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Best alarm clock in the world.</div>
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This was a great sound to wake up to, and it didn't take me long to be ready.</div>
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We had talked with Cuddlescooper, and he told us that he got a full bag the previous day in Salt Water Arm, so we decided to launch from there.</div>
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The water was perfect:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDO4iMgmPrlxrxzs8eW3dq5EdOZS2pkzfH-nHRWmLKXKg4TDKJfJr-Tev62zvEfj5tZbyMVTENiut4kqjs54i8aBQCSG_P-sjiT5FGMHkJqaKK8rUTn9ko2_VAFweVbC3BvOAzWi2ZPU/s1600/TEBS2016R5_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDO4iMgmPrlxrxzs8eW3dq5EdOZS2pkzfH-nHRWmLKXKg4TDKJfJr-Tev62zvEfj5tZbyMVTENiut4kqjs54i8aBQCSG_P-sjiT5FGMHkJqaKK8rUTn9ko2_VAFweVbC3BvOAzWi2ZPU/s400/TEBS2016R5_16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Calm sea in the morning.</div>
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From there we moved to a small creek, which looked like a good spot to catch a few fish:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KnCO_4UcbYVlwQ5L2sQrlu4Z4uOorGOz-yjwIiWsSf03m3cTfYO2IpGeqxy1TLaJhqH1usUfM9vG7i1rI8HehsrdkoE6oDxIw3cc86FnQkyG9O62s7JkpjaPQALxPRHEYIkTmqU753Y/s1600/TEBS2016R5_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KnCO_4UcbYVlwQ5L2sQrlu4Z4uOorGOz-yjwIiWsSf03m3cTfYO2IpGeqxy1TLaJhqH1usUfM9vG7i1rI8HehsrdkoE6oDxIw3cc86FnQkyG9O62s7JkpjaPQALxPRHEYIkTmqU753Y/s400/TEBS2016R5_17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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One of Salt Water Arm's many creeks.</div>
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But the fish must have swim past before we arrived, as we didn't get any action in there.</div>
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Another creek, not far away was going to bring us more luck.</div>
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It started with Seano getting a Croaker:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVevGPLd5jwuAWdERQvAs2a6GIsqEYTDfepvGc2VnpffH_TM7chmlLQUFTa1i4nGdGqEC6lNVzflHqjKrFYx2Ivq-Ivn6N5T7YEtjzTc4rSSQjRPDJrpL9EH9fpn_OWUBhhTEM0YIynVE/s1600/TEBS2016R5_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVevGPLd5jwuAWdERQvAs2a6GIsqEYTDfepvGc2VnpffH_TM7chmlLQUFTa1i4nGdGqEC6lNVzflHqjKrFYx2Ivq-Ivn6N5T7YEtjzTc4rSSQjRPDJrpL9EH9fpn_OWUBhhTEM0YIynVE/s400/TEBS2016R5_18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A croaker from a little creek.</div>
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From there we got a few smallish Threadfin Salmon, and even more Catfish.</div>
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To the extend that when I got a good hit, and that my line started to go for a big arc circle on the water, I said that I must have just got a better Catfish.</div>
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What a surprise it was to see a little Barramundi coming splashing at the surface.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVFs0per4Uq4R_5bOI7JAvJYWTUFFHGqBtAP9KsLxgOiywhR0X8DakUv8MyxNyVKRmhbqaB3mT5LSGU2JvxVH_Jh39pvzG-yz3Hc4omgUUYhSM03wqrieqX23cRo413uPW_VaklT7Gjk/s1600/TEBS2016R5_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVFs0per4Uq4R_5bOI7JAvJYWTUFFHGqBtAP9KsLxgOiywhR0X8DakUv8MyxNyVKRmhbqaB3mT5LSGU2JvxVH_Jh39pvzG-yz3Hc4omgUUYhSM03wqrieqX23cRo413uPW_VaklT7Gjk/s400/TEBS2016R5_19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My best Barramundi of the weekend.</div>
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This was still no giant, but it was going to be my best fish of the weekend.</div>
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With the fishing slowing down, we warmed some meat pies.</div>
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And as you sometimes do, used lures trays as plates:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuE9cnWFCz7dsNMnmBaIKZnJ80Tw0yIzYclq7zvdqToZsF06x4_RhyFJrqczhAdKk09l2t1TgsLyzYrAPkFmquimijsyJi3pdETLN1wO7dgBcExbKeujbct7FBXamnKtau3tT3hTUIeCk/s1600/TEBS2016R5_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuE9cnWFCz7dsNMnmBaIKZnJ80Tw0yIzYclq7zvdqToZsF06x4_RhyFJrqczhAdKk09l2t1TgsLyzYrAPkFmquimijsyJi3pdETLN1wO7dgBcExbKeujbct7FBXamnKtau3tT3hTUIeCk/s400/TEBS2016R5_20.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Meat pie and fishing lures.</div>
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We then started to make our way back towards the boat ramp.</div>
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Stopping for a chat with every mates we saw on the water:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-M3W9wIm3WF9q70sN-2Sv61FOCaTsG6-I6zkZk0gjiR28Mjc90t1QjWEKT1Okn0nmZw-TxGtME4ch3KtCFVOQNmeBZv7fmcvOmd9Q6bFwF9aAzJDQ6mnnX5Z4MjuFTqJmWzWvBYyvnKs/s1600/TEBS2016R5_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-M3W9wIm3WF9q70sN-2Sv61FOCaTsG6-I6zkZk0gjiR28Mjc90t1QjWEKT1Okn0nmZw-TxGtME4ch3KtCFVOQNmeBZv7fmcvOmd9Q6bFwF9aAzJDQ6mnnX5Z4MjuFTqJmWzWvBYyvnKs/s400/TEBS2016R5_21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sean and Cuddlescooper having a chat.</div>
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Because one of the best success of the Top End Barra Series, is that even in its 6th year, it is still very much a social event. Where participants chat to each other more than a hard core competition.</div>
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Kudos to the organisation members for keeping it like that.</div>
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And a big Thanks to Seano for inviting me on his boat for the weekend.</div>
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As a bonus, here is a little photo of me, in full Pecheur Dress up...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvk9Wtm6x2qJxbSBQiEbJkR-GUMcfRWyiNeuq3IPew-A4PcxAJcsF501oL3Eo07NQyqL9X09xvXGA59t_jiq-PbAhiGzJnDCBVaaUAjFmruwn5DCARuPJRJ79YEHqiUnpRLqAyCXGeMU/s1600/TEBS2016R5_23.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvk9Wtm6x2qJxbSBQiEbJkR-GUMcfRWyiNeuq3IPew-A4PcxAJcsF501oL3Eo07NQyqL9X09xvXGA59t_jiq-PbAhiGzJnDCBVaaUAjFmruwn5DCARuPJRJ79YEHqiUnpRLqAyCXGeMU/s400/TEBS2016R5_23.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Dressed up for the round.</div>
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Yes I know, this attire didn't bring me the luck I was hopping for.</div>
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Despite using 17 different fishing lures over the weekend, I caught a grand total of three Barramundi, of which only two were big enough to be point scorers.</div>
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Next year I will definitively need to find a better costume to attract the fish. And hopefully one that cover my arms a bit better, so I don't get as sun burned as I ended up this year.</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
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Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-5585874365985009402016-09-05T21:16:00.000+09:302016-09-05T21:16:12.756+09:30The Colour Pecheur. Hi there,<br />
<br />
Today I will present to you three beautiful fishing lures, in the colour Pecheur.<br />
But what is the colour Pecheur?<br />
You might ask...<br />
<br />
Well, a few years ago, my good friend Dean gave me a handmade timber lure, that he had done especially for me, and painted in the flag colours of the country I was born in.<br />
And Pecheur had been my alias, or nom de plume in online fishing and lures forum for a long time.<br />
<br />
So what does it look like?<br />
Here is a look at the first one:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFp0v5IIzNL_QAE5YoCo_iCSRnqAjY9PhQil09UevXDW3M2MGxla1UIXGdZFcSZ5Q8LFOIOVWhRaoTEe8zS7PiI44tQ3Rvxss-rsndxS3j9jqTDH39ilmeRbB6QId-9Kp5ttdw3pUHpc/s1600/CP_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFp0v5IIzNL_QAE5YoCo_iCSRnqAjY9PhQil09UevXDW3M2MGxla1UIXGdZFcSZ5Q8LFOIOVWhRaoTEe8zS7PiI44tQ3Rvxss-rsndxS3j9jqTDH39ilmeRbB6QId-9Kp5ttdw3pUHpc/s400/CP_04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The colour Pecheur.</div>
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This one was given to me by James P. The lure is a Bomber 15 Long A, in a colour that you will not find in shops.</div>
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This lure has a special marking on the head:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCF5Vha6L-0t4caw8oy2zXl7tcGBTHLhCBvwOaYVaBsbusFz_vWD49ndCqRRCH3iT8QszzutaQDMmNW83bndEcV3AtKcRuKgYbw0NcllF9kQzq43Hw0bm-_jBmFvhI_mlQehp1xHBTEk/s1600/CP_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCF5Vha6L-0t4caw8oy2zXl7tcGBTHLhCBvwOaYVaBsbusFz_vWD49ndCqRRCH3iT8QszzutaQDMmNW83bndEcV3AtKcRuKgYbw0NcllF9kQzq43Hw0bm-_jBmFvhI_mlQehp1xHBTEk/s400/CP_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fishing lure with team marking.</div>
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Now why on earth is the #TeamSlootz, and why would James give me a lure in this special colour with the team marking on it?</div>
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Well from what I understand, #TeamSlootz is a very tight group of rather good fisherfolks from around Darwin. (And no, I do not claim to be part of this tight community, I am just lucky enough to have one lure with the team marking). This secretive group, compete between themselves for a year, and the person who will have caught the biggest fish of the year, will have for a full evening, his drinks paid by the other members of the team at the end of the said year.</div>
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What did I do to deserve this lure? (And another one, just wait until you see it).</div>
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That was pretty easy really, in the second round of the 2016 Top End Barra Series, I hooked my lure, on a lure that was snagged on some underwater tree branches. I got both of them back, and one of them was a rather big and expensive one, no not mine, but the one I had just brought back with it. And it had the #TeamSlootz marking on the head. </div>
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Once I learned that a guy that I know was a member of the team, I offered to give the lure back.</div>
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I exchange I was offered two lures in the colour Pecheur. That was very kind of James, I was not expecting anything really, and that was a great surprise. Thank you James.</div>
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The other one that James gave me?</div>
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Here it is:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8StvUez2TtRk42ooC35IjV60PpjdSf7Gijk98PnsZt8stZh8K9m1UEbaD8MvjgqMhZIgG6WWeyym5iQ5BlERdLq_KZvdo1K26ZAXnEUnzujG2CPL-AvhUCkgXkcLhEYGbS4HdVPM5Y4/s1600/CP_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8StvUez2TtRk42ooC35IjV60PpjdSf7Gijk98PnsZt8stZh8K9m1UEbaD8MvjgqMhZIgG6WWeyym5iQ5BlERdLq_KZvdo1K26ZAXnEUnzujG2CPL-AvhUCkgXkcLhEYGbS4HdVPM5Y4/s400/CP_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Reidy's in the colour Pecheur.</div>
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This one is a Reidy's Big Ass, one of my favourite fishing lure when it comes to Barramundi fishing.</div>
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But this one, off course, will go straight to the collection, and will stay dry.</div>
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And now the one that Dean gave me, the one that started the colour Pecheur:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKGuOBcSBTQgmPqAoIXQGsXZUt6_LMcSUXT6aXCTcrI8gRkgexiZguC1tejCMMKJ1MYe71VPV56dIPa3Ao4U9O_u6k7Hbmll4_f6W0y0Lxt1kFmAiNSko8tu5EEJ43SZIXnsx49aNiOA/s1600/CP_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKGuOBcSBTQgmPqAoIXQGsXZUt6_LMcSUXT6aXCTcrI8gRkgexiZguC1tejCMMKJ1MYe71VPV56dIPa3Ao4U9O_u6k7Hbmll4_f6W0y0Lxt1kFmAiNSko8tu5EEJ43SZIXnsx49aNiOA/s400/CP_01.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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The Tastic Lures in colour Pecheur.</div>
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Yes, this is the one that started the colour Pecheur, at least for me.</div>
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It is a very beautiful handcrafted timber lure, made in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.</div>
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A lure made with the Barramundi and nothing else in mind.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyX-ldbfJb7YaH1H-UjLPo5JenbtpAuz3_0gZ-THsutSVWAHDa4ZO8yQ0rwMVXG9iBUuxQDjpSgyLLClDI97nL71M37XDtGV0VvbRYR7_g4dh-YKBryl9gJyTQXMZe6s-lICRz2xW97vY/s1600/CP_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyX-ldbfJb7YaH1H-UjLPo5JenbtpAuz3_0gZ-THsutSVWAHDa4ZO8yQ0rwMVXG9iBUuxQDjpSgyLLClDI97nL71M37XDtGV0VvbRYR7_g4dh-YKBryl9gJyTQXMZe6s-lICRz2xW97vY/s400/CP_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Handmade in Darwin.</div>
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As the card says, this one was the number 1 in this colour. And is now to me a very precious lure in my small collection.</div>
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And to finish in beauty, the final bouquet:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ydReBFkQj2q5RiYxGVEOYybvG7dRYBqrc7Buq4OaGdEHdaUKwgPmGwCnUNH0hpOzcrILo11uHaRxYYFKNCM_mgSK6glFekz92u8rQovNQVlEd7HVdboxEYsfE8mhsn1kxRBiaRc7Ll4/s1600/CP_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ydReBFkQj2q5RiYxGVEOYybvG7dRYBqrc7Buq4OaGdEHdaUKwgPmGwCnUNH0hpOzcrILo11uHaRxYYFKNCM_mgSK6glFekz92u8rQovNQVlEd7HVdboxEYsfE8mhsn1kxRBiaRc7Ll4/s400/CP_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Three version of the colour Pecheur.</div>
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I feel very privileged to have mates who painted these lures just for me, thank you guys.</div>
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James told me that he would like to see one of them in a Barramundi mouth...</div>
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I am not really sure that this will happen.</div>
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Sometimes I think that I could use the Bomber one to fish and retire it as soon as it would have caught a fish.</div>
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(There is absolutely no way that the other two will get near the water, ever).</div>
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But then I think that it will be scratched, damaged and all...</div>
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I don't want that to happen!</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-32426707974258197042016-08-26T21:49:00.000+09:302016-08-26T21:49:08.394+09:30The Renegade.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Do you remember the 21st March 2011?<br />
On that day, on this very blog, I introduced you to <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://theramblingexpat.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/reidys-lure-factory.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">the prototype of a fishing lure</span></a> </span>made by Reidy's in Darwin...<br />
At the time the lure was called <i>The Big Judge</i>, but that was not the definite name...<br />
the lure was to be named the Renegade, and it finally hit the shops on this beautiful month of August 2016.<br />
<br />
What did the prototype look like?<br />
Like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlvkpLBCHPQKCCpd3qyM2E_S_f3Urn7f88dS91bV6i4eH0A_5EroYQ_dcclWts_QfOtROukoOICxayWKP9HsaD8fBmQnHjLpBRFiTJ480x8a73jTl3rjUcLs58QeQbfj3NlCnHEWXemY/s1600/Renegade_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlvkpLBCHPQKCCpd3qyM2E_S_f3Urn7f88dS91bV6i4eH0A_5EroYQ_dcclWts_QfOtROukoOICxayWKP9HsaD8fBmQnHjLpBRFiTJ480x8a73jTl3rjUcLs58QeQbfj3NlCnHEWXemY/s400/Renegade_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The prototype.</div>
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This lure was a present that I received while visiting the Reidy's factory on the outskirts of Darwin.</div>
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I have never used it and kept it very preciously. </div>
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But this week, I went to a shop, and bought my first Renegade as soon as I could.</div>
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And here it is:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiLCUfozMqwFVnosByFM37JCr76NjLlK94cy7XAAhm6FeuhIoYa3DP8eIHvkV-RkbEotsaUu_rHsJqLWBs_LGAPqsm38snTWm-RirNyWoLRKPeFiJ_UpxQjB2S3Mo67QMsq9rCRY1L4U/s1600/Renegade_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiLCUfozMqwFVnosByFM37JCr76NjLlK94cy7XAAhm6FeuhIoYa3DP8eIHvkV-RkbEotsaUu_rHsJqLWBs_LGAPqsm38snTWm-RirNyWoLRKPeFiJ_UpxQjB2S3Mo67QMsq9rCRY1L4U/s400/Renegade_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Reidy's Renegade.</div>
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I choose it in the kryptonite colour as it was the closest one to my favourite colour from the Reidy's range, the 008, which is not available yet for the Renegade.</div>
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Yes the prototype and the retail version of the lure are very similar.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLsrDf3rGnvWkGe7LrfhKP5RVbtXb4lDEuJVCKGd0W7_bm2_dviJvueg62r4QAn6Khq6oRDzfNE-lhfHRScwlZlBLXXJ-wjJBbAA5vDYnPa_W6-hlaiDIC9eV6E6n7nADS7ZewtoB0lA/s1600/Renegade_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLsrDf3rGnvWkGe7LrfhKP5RVbtXb4lDEuJVCKGd0W7_bm2_dviJvueg62r4QAn6Khq6oRDzfNE-lhfHRScwlZlBLXXJ-wjJBbAA5vDYnPa_W6-hlaiDIC9eV6E6n7nADS7ZewtoB0lA/s400/Renegade_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Prototype and retail version of the Reidy's Renegade.</div>
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If the seems slightly different on the above image, it has more to do with the photograph and light than with reality. The prototype is at the top and the retail lure on the bottom of the pic.</div>
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The real difference come in the eyes, and the built of the lure.</div>
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For the eyes it is pretty obvious, but for the built? Well what I mean by that is that all the tow point and hook hangers are much beefier on the retail one than on the prototype.</div>
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Look by yourselves:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rLfjiLKQ2KV1AvSKFLffg4Bd80Nm0I-JE0iX6kKntS8mmTP2YHmihQF1Xh3yyYlVzrIHgGB9bxvBnp96zXHVyeSbWd47kxIznc_mTeEhNyP_drGf52gsXe5HBZY9Tp9BjFfORfDkvMY/s1600/Renegade_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rLfjiLKQ2KV1AvSKFLffg4Bd80Nm0I-JE0iX6kKntS8mmTP2YHmihQF1Xh3yyYlVzrIHgGB9bxvBnp96zXHVyeSbWd47kxIznc_mTeEhNyP_drGf52gsXe5HBZY9Tp9BjFfORfDkvMY/s400/Renegade_04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Eyes and tow points comparison.</div>
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As you can see once again the prototype is in the top part of the image while the retail one is in the lower part. And clearly, the tow point is much stronger on the retail version.</div>
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I don't know if it is because during the testing phases, the lure encountered bigger fish than planned? One can only ponder...</div>
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But I do know that with such a tow point, it should be able to bring back some pretty big ones.</div>
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For the hook hangers, judge by yourself:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvwYJuDJwJFriz5HEu4n2s7d3a-QDPSWX-OEI_CruKez9G_HDQvggZjMpDVD3u2QEtM_atxPq8XAWShUHjfBslP9wyhgciG2RHCVaYZZYcbIRb_hsTeJCCoRO3A5qWTWD9Uy3Z37TJiA/s1600/Renegade_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvwYJuDJwJFriz5HEu4n2s7d3a-QDPSWX-OEI_CruKez9G_HDQvggZjMpDVD3u2QEtM_atxPq8XAWShUHjfBslP9wyhgciG2RHCVaYZZYcbIRb_hsTeJCCoRO3A5qWTWD9Uy3Z37TJiA/s400/Renegade_05.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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Back hook hangers.</div>
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The retail version is on the left and the prototype on the right. You can easily see which one is stronger.</div>
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The Renegade is a big lure, which can be trolled slow or fast, to a depth of about four metres.</div>
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From March 2011 to August 2016 may seems a long time, but I believe that it took in fact longer in research and development to get the lure to shops. All the kudos to Reidy's for not rushing a product out of the factory doors, without making sure first that it was truly tested and ready.</div>
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Now I just hope that it will not take me as long to be able to swim and test mine. I can't wait to catch my first fish on it. When it come to play with a new lure, patience is not my stronger point...</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-983777233835628802016-08-21T13:11:00.000+09:302016-08-21T13:11:09.857+09:302016 Top End Barra Series Round 4.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Not long ago was the fourth round of the 2016 Top End Barra Series.<br />
Here is the story of it.<br />
<ul>
<li>It was at Corroboree Billabong.</li>
<li>Lots of crocodiles, few fishes.</li>
<li>All my "good" fish were caught with soft plastics.</li>
<li>It was truly a good weekend.</li>
</ul>
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For this round I was fishing from Rossco's boat.</div>
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Thank you for inviting me on your boat for the weekend Rossco.</div>
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At 5:30 am his car and boat were in front of my home, and it was great to see him after so long.<br />
It was still dark, and the road to the billabong was spent talking about fishing and catching up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmhlgXh-3IeBiIG6Jr_aNMi83_J0LRDQUWrVgwHrrHN8NECfE2ExKbh_i5l-sg9oKQbc-jPNqliZrVGZHn1nbwzZGLH4Whe2rOs4napHHv8caJ07HF6hjrBc61N5r0v51wFPcPUOFfac/s1600/2016TEBSround4_000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmhlgXh-3IeBiIG6Jr_aNMi83_J0LRDQUWrVgwHrrHN8NECfE2ExKbh_i5l-sg9oKQbc-jPNqliZrVGZHn1nbwzZGLH4Whe2rOs4napHHv8caJ07HF6hjrBc61N5r0v51wFPcPUOFfac/s400/2016TEBSround4_000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the rod again.</div>
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It is only a short journey to Corroboree Billabong from Darwin, and we were soon able to launch the boat, at a near empty boat ramp.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s_mxJc0CSTHcj0DSpQHiCZYf0vDNldyAGe8tgvomCVyTd3hnh0oS78QxOArXGZFzHv-mMrE15IUV8EQ_KldN13GOC4UyLBKfVPxXPyxhtYDFtcLrY-pjDZ61XcPDjZCyP3S8hxOX1hE/s1600/2016TEBSround4_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9s_mxJc0CSTHcj0DSpQHiCZYf0vDNldyAGe8tgvomCVyTd3hnh0oS78QxOArXGZFzHv-mMrE15IUV8EQ_KldN13GOC4UyLBKfVPxXPyxhtYDFtcLrY-pjDZ61XcPDjZCyP3S8hxOX1hE/s400/2016TEBSround4_001.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Early morning launching.</div>
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Most of the participants in the fourth round of the 2016 Top End Barra Series had already launched, on the Friday evening, to spend a night between mates on the water, before the competition start.</div>
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The weather was typical of a dry season morning: Cold!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-E7bvSGXAWp5Ko-B4UWjH6-alHuapexxW4_DMdDVzQnOutXaFk1rhaVUmaICtC1yEeDUjIu1xxggTzErGq02Aw4kfes5SntQPwCtNwNSjYvTYNfUwD_aDtxnn5Z5VTf-GBpo3Ke_Sm4/s1600/2016TEBSround4_001b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-E7bvSGXAWp5Ko-B4UWjH6-alHuapexxW4_DMdDVzQnOutXaFk1rhaVUmaICtC1yEeDUjIu1xxggTzErGq02Aw4kfes5SntQPwCtNwNSjYvTYNfUwD_aDtxnn5Z5VTf-GBpo3Ke_Sm4/s400/2016TEBSround4_001b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cold morning on Corroboree Billabong.</div>
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It might have been cold, but there is some kind of magic to this place. The seemingly peaceful waters, full of big crocodiles... </div>
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It is beautiful, and it keeps you on your toes at the same time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGCqEoGeNT0VXhWyXlA19XvXutxHVU5OfQI1ruxKKOWAEQl9JKXkuujiwd1Rbt47DwARqGsohoi9KKQaD8XilkSbFEaZH_YDLEi1r4UM3FJgnxBvim-zdheHWIqf4fXcAxrAk907RBz4/s1600/2016TEBSround4_001c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGCqEoGeNT0VXhWyXlA19XvXutxHVU5OfQI1ruxKKOWAEQl9JKXkuujiwd1Rbt47DwARqGsohoi9KKQaD8XilkSbFEaZH_YDLEi1r4UM3FJgnxBvim-zdheHWIqf4fXcAxrAk907RBz4/s400/2016TEBSround4_001c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Peaceful morning.</div>
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In fact it was so cold, that when we saw the first boat that was part of the competition, they were dressed for the cold. And remember that this is tropical Australia...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUW1eG6oOrz1nTrIe0otxB7B7KMx2_sYp-kJAbCYLGgXvBKKSsJjjihcOuUFhuvgbTAyywJUx8CTKXp_qwC6zX_CxaoYV0c3eD3fa_PVgUfhBxVZ0NuWSjTZ3dclgtZ0Xoc3MpDaLOt8/s1600/2016TEBSround4_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUW1eG6oOrz1nTrIe0otxB7B7KMx2_sYp-kJAbCYLGgXvBKKSsJjjihcOuUFhuvgbTAyywJUx8CTKXp_qwC6zX_CxaoYV0c3eD3fa_PVgUfhBxVZ0NuWSjTZ3dclgtZ0Xoc3MpDaLOt8/s400/2016TEBSround4_002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fishing in the tropical winter.</div>
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The crew of the Liquid Diet Boat, was to give me a very nice present in the form of two fishing lures painted especially for me:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtPdAlLk6DRz0z63oIF08XOpu60YRo0THA1euktXJ11TUUw7LE21Y8ekxgPXaxwqXmEcbMGf8ZSJXEU1GhzHmmj1D0Z1APdzgBH0cFeZlx7L1q969gKx7mdiHKh2Wifsf5_KE1hfvgDs/s1600/2016TEBSround4_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtPdAlLk6DRz0z63oIF08XOpu60YRo0THA1euktXJ11TUUw7LE21Y8ekxgPXaxwqXmEcbMGf8ZSJXEU1GhzHmmj1D0Z1APdzgBH0cFeZlx7L1q969gKx7mdiHKh2Wifsf5_KE1hfvgDs/s400/2016TEBSround4_003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Two fishing lures painted Bleu Blanc Rouge.</div>
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I already had one lure in this colour that had been made by Dean B. the maker of the Barratastic Lures, and he had named the colour Pecheur. I will soon do a post about all my lures in the Pecheur colour.</div>
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Rosso also gave me a beautiful Lee's Lures made of Timber at the same time. It will too be in a post on this very blog soon, watch this space!</div>
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With the sun slowly rising, the resident crocodiles started to make themselves visible. Trying to get a bit of warmth in their cold blood.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWWVskzO4MM9w5RDCh5nXKyjFD6Ussu3SYzvsAaaGU-sJmF4VJkMaLJ-GqDmjaQbjWVLfNC4Y4BFG2VtcmwZ0TwbiGawDXtrLTHnXBA0pwR7ZbCm7wAZLmpE8DKTiO1CLEgIxtz_ifIk/s1600/2016TEBSround4_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWWVskzO4MM9w5RDCh5nXKyjFD6Ussu3SYzvsAaaGU-sJmF4VJkMaLJ-GqDmjaQbjWVLfNC4Y4BFG2VtcmwZ0TwbiGawDXtrLTHnXBA0pwR7ZbCm7wAZLmpE8DKTiO1CLEgIxtz_ifIk/s400/2016TEBSround4_004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Salt Water crocodile warming up.</div>
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We had some intel telling us where in the previous week, a few nice Barramundi had been caught in full daylight, and we went to the spot.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjKYYjhQYucCb-ffDxMlVrrCv8ruyq936TAlgos4IgrSCpN_puQeAhYgeLh7popudQKhB2bNHfPNH2eVE0CqcV7cJKvm-GEWhONu7wmx4olP6oKQ2g1ergzZhJY7c_G7ikwIFR9E-x4k/s1600/2016TEBSround4_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjKYYjhQYucCb-ffDxMlVrrCv8ruyq936TAlgos4IgrSCpN_puQeAhYgeLh7popudQKhB2bNHfPNH2eVE0CqcV7cJKvm-GEWhONu7wmx4olP6oKQ2g1ergzZhJY7c_G7ikwIFR9E-x4k/s400/2016TEBSround4_005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Pandanus on the bank.</div>
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Yes this is the spot.</div>
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We did spot a few fish there, even got a few half baked hits, but nothing to write home about. Sometimes in fishing a day can makes all the difference.</div>
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Yet it was good to be there, and enjoy the relative peace of the place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQgmS8p22kcTpC8D8bFl8VaxCVgu2a3DHSD7jLYOmMN-aPUfXt6bmpZEWIvq1fHUE-Xc9VEOqYJSy4KnT917rGQrH0RioHf9mEdoCNJF4fxoLNhIQpXjWzv0vOJzvE4yshCk2Qi5wxWs/s1600/2016TEBSround4_007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQgmS8p22kcTpC8D8bFl8VaxCVgu2a3DHSD7jLYOmMN-aPUfXt6bmpZEWIvq1fHUE-Xc9VEOqYJSy4KnT917rGQrH0RioHf9mEdoCNJF4fxoLNhIQpXjWzv0vOJzvE4yshCk2Qi5wxWs/s400/2016TEBSround4_007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Water Lily flower floating away.</div>
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When I say relative peace of the place, it is of course because of the numerous crocodiles that were lining the spot. </div>
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Yes, there was fish in the water, but the crocs knew it too, and were around for a feed.</div>
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In fact later on in the evening, we got chased from this very spot by a cranky big crocodile and had to move away.</div>
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But during the day, it was easier to keep an eye on them, and we started to cast weedless lures deep in the lilies.</div>
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I was using a weedless soft plastic lure in the Drop Bear colour, and had just flicked it as far and deep in the lilies as I could. I had let the lure drop to the floor of the billabong, and was bringing it back by little successive jumps very close to the bottom. When the line tensed, and the fish came straight to the surface: It was a Barramundi!</div>
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Lucky me, instead of trying to go further away in the deep water, it swam near the surface, and straight to me. Rossco was quick to put it in the net, and I had a fish on board!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrMdoxsDK8rPeOhqY3TuzkqYTVZnaCNWMXI871rYXfDZ9Z56hzpWNPrAsqNAnYQF0H1WJP4Qt7ImS0kZkzq6z3ghNt873aU5-84aHqq5z6m8YZM0XL2QfSbUC3H8-XrL86HP2NodQO0Y/s1600/2016TEBSround4_008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrMdoxsDK8rPeOhqY3TuzkqYTVZnaCNWMXI871rYXfDZ9Z56hzpWNPrAsqNAnYQF0H1WJP4Qt7ImS0kZkzq6z3ghNt873aU5-84aHqq5z6m8YZM0XL2QfSbUC3H8-XrL86HP2NodQO0Y/s400/2016TEBSround4_008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First Barramundi of the weekend.</div>
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For a billabong fish, it wasn't too bad of a fish, coming in at 62cm (24.409449 inches).</div>
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Most of all, it was our first fish in the boat, and it showed us that everything was still possible.</div>
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It was early afternoon, we hadn't caught a fish in all the morning, but now we were talking.</div>
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Or saw we thought. </div>
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Yes, it was hard fishing especially when you see where the first fish came from:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoORQOGL8mkQnQTWWJm0kleeUS7UfFql-EPaQUcCJ8hjpaw5_6Le_Vd4xaH5SH9SeoBh50BRKxWkuXnnVb50gCeYPHYy08ILHrfKpbThNFQi86vp8zmEE_4jQNjGYXN24BKXofZsf_a4/s1600/2016TEBSround4_009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoORQOGL8mkQnQTWWJm0kleeUS7UfFql-EPaQUcCJ8hjpaw5_6Le_Vd4xaH5SH9SeoBh50BRKxWkuXnnVb50gCeYPHYy08ILHrfKpbThNFQi86vp8zmEE_4jQNjGYXN24BKXofZsf_a4/s400/2016TEBSround4_009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is where we had to cast our lures.</div>
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After this, it was to be a no more Barramundi kind of day.</div>
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The sunset arrived and was as great as they can be on the billabongs, event in the middle of the dry season.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsF5jSrSiPvThC-Zi3PpGTKaeTps316m7IS38YpYfGwpUQZA1itpt0CdaPTBojhJSRCNgeAmiBJzqSwHkZemR8ohBN2fuwTogJb9G2EZQW6sdnAqnu6ab223Rt0e8ntTgChyphenhyphenkU_GycuV0/s1600/2016TEBSround4_010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsF5jSrSiPvThC-Zi3PpGTKaeTps316m7IS38YpYfGwpUQZA1itpt0CdaPTBojhJSRCNgeAmiBJzqSwHkZemR8ohBN2fuwTogJb9G2EZQW6sdnAqnu6ab223Rt0e8ntTgChyphenhyphenkU_GycuV0/s400/2016TEBSround4_010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sunset on Corroboree Billabong.</div>
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It was photo time:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEims6MKzbZ7DrIjtmOjFzxdj8imVe_7NiJI_tJsLJ4ILS9GeSqmj6IN2XqYvWeiwFw3p2Hf0Ef9ssOyQ8X72xgSg_NVsNQhyphenhypheno7JnK2LgnqdABySg9wAkerpK_K2xBsa1MGotHWVvNJrZ9Y/s1600/2016TEBSround4_011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEims6MKzbZ7DrIjtmOjFzxdj8imVe_7NiJI_tJsLJ4ILS9GeSqmj6IN2XqYvWeiwFw3p2Hf0Ef9ssOyQ8X72xgSg_NVsNQhyphenhypheno7JnK2LgnqdABySg9wAkerpK_K2xBsa1MGotHWVvNJrZ9Y/s400/2016TEBSround4_011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rossco, snapping the sunset.</div>
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From there, we tried a bit of night trolling, but to no great result, only a few little tap on the lures, with nothing staying connected. Some other participants in the round achieved great results by night trolling. A 92cm (36.220472 inches) Barramundi was caught, and it is a great billabong fish. </div>
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But for Rossco and I, it was going to be a long time until the next Barramundi.</div>
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As darkness fell upon us, we caught up With Dean who was fishing with his son.</div>
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We rafted the two boats, had a bit to eat and drink, and talked of all the very important matters that fisherfolk talk about when they catch up... I will let you imagine what it could be...</div>
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While talking I cold not help but flick a fizzer here and there, to try to catch a surface Barramundi in the dark of night. One very exciting for of fishing. The only fish having a go at my fizzer were Tarpon:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJVSjViwmJxi6ujQO1WnVh1J-pkMZHBxP0HBG-urfGOVj31TfGl-phMcy5exc62HfG0qsG7tqOXPq_f_wvYEyq66s5C_7sQ1ciUP0zCaZFPwapJMCkyr8mL9BBmtHsi-kUk4mBruO8BE/s1600/2016TEBSround4_012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJVSjViwmJxi6ujQO1WnVh1J-pkMZHBxP0HBG-urfGOVj31TfGl-phMcy5exc62HfG0qsG7tqOXPq_f_wvYEyq66s5C_7sQ1ciUP0zCaZFPwapJMCkyr8mL9BBmtHsi-kUk4mBruO8BE/s400/2016TEBSround4_012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Night time Tarpon.</div>
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They were great fun, but not the targeted specie. One Barra did boof my lure, but must have missed by a few centimetres and didn't even inhale the lure, so not a chance in the world to be hooked.</div>
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After a little while, everybody on both boats was deep asleep.</div>
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Despite waking up a few times during the night, I could not hear any fish feeding activity near us, and went back to sleep each time, hoping for the sound of boofs.</div>
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Finally the morning arrived.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoI3Zl2OAkqARMdi1pcUX6SCbo8BhyphenhyphenPMYuSkvmeuDa1wjqbJcbyN8TwoZtoy23psQ0wetS5X62GmaVtM0XTCghPJqi0XFH3IVNnyStgKcMI3HHRLWp2LstJNAwBMXvAibl6huSH0Y4ixA/s1600/2016TEBSround4_012b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoI3Zl2OAkqARMdi1pcUX6SCbo8BhyphenhyphenPMYuSkvmeuDa1wjqbJcbyN8TwoZtoy23psQ0wetS5X62GmaVtM0XTCghPJqi0XFH3IVNnyStgKcMI3HHRLWp2LstJNAwBMXvAibl6huSH0Y4ixA/s400/2016TEBSround4_012b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First light on the water.</div>
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It was beautiful but cold, and I stayed in my sleeping bag a bit longer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6GLZIpnqFktPtSHB0BTCr9yISlYYouOfl-PNaMOtas1vf7sFTxJL7W_fS179id8pdZm9sgafxSrC-SJPwZ9D1-N65Z99ciF_Kqu9qMtRzfEc4SLRWpfk7FWVLCvSxZsY_brln9QOkyI/s1600/2016TEBSround4_013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6GLZIpnqFktPtSHB0BTCr9yISlYYouOfl-PNaMOtas1vf7sFTxJL7W_fS179id8pdZm9sgafxSrC-SJPwZ9D1-N65Z99ciF_Kqu9qMtRzfEc4SLRWpfk7FWVLCvSxZsY_brln9QOkyI/s400/2016TEBSround4_013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cold morning at Corroboree Billabong.</div>
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The only thing that could keep me warm in this cold morning, was to move.</div>
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What kind of movement can you do on a boat?</div>
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Well it is pretty simple, I got in on the action, and started to flick my lure. Doing the longest cast that I could, at the back of the lilies, trying to get warm in the raising sun.</div>
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When far away, deep in the cold water, a fish found my lure.</div>
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But this one had decided to fight dirty, and went straight for the bottom, trashing in the lilies underwater stems. After a bit of tussle, he was next to the boat. Yet still green and ready to fight some more, he wrapped the line around a few lilies, just a feet or two from us. This is when I truly believed that this fish was lost to me. It was at netting distance from the boat, but every times that Rossco tried to put the net under it, the lilies stems blocked the net, with the other fish moving to the opposite side.</div>
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The stems looked green and strong. </div>
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Both Dean and his son had jumped into Rossco's boat to see what was happening from a better vantage point. </div>
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Dean realised what was going on, and brought his long lips gripe to try to secure the fish.</div>
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But just then the combination of Rossco pushing on the stems with his net, and the line sawing in them, made them break, and the fish was in the net!</div>
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What a fight that had been!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IJiOM84VWnTua6p-G4gFOWA-JKuqWn50jdU9eJtoY7sPMsmnZF0LEQ1_IWOiEqyVpaYshCsnUdAkAvEFO1KwvimManaOmIXQQGMSMm66qQJXGS66OeCsmOJByVIZab98VHxHmWtwqYs/s1600/2016TEBSround4_014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IJiOM84VWnTua6p-G4gFOWA-JKuqWn50jdU9eJtoY7sPMsmnZF0LEQ1_IWOiEqyVpaYshCsnUdAkAvEFO1KwvimManaOmIXQQGMSMm66qQJXGS66OeCsmOJByVIZab98VHxHmWtwqYs/s400/2016TEBSround4_014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The dirty fighter Barramundi.</div>
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at 67cm (26.377953 inches) it was going to be my best Barramundi of the weekend.</div>
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But not the last, and it had been caught on the same lure than the previous one too.</div>
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In the background of the photo, you can see from which terrain this Barramundi came from.</div>
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It was still early, and a fish so soon in the morning was a good sign for the day to come.</div>
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The four of us, quickly finished our breakfast, said goodby to people from the other boat and went our way.</div>
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It had been a very good night and morning, in great company.</div>
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It is nice to see people bringing their child with them for the weekend. That is what I would call real quality time, and it would for sure build in the kids some great memories for the rest of their life.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ktGcYV82skTf9ZH8ZiTuVLflQ61UgCeHzJ9YM3bz7dtKbPPBsIyLPteBtnfKBfwkbXIgQYNSQqdP_dGzr5ThXQsS_dGgHtSfcGqyH_hP6XiiyargynxJsNja8zq4hJLQbYdBEhL2q5o/s1600/2016TEBSround4_014aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ktGcYV82skTf9ZH8ZiTuVLflQ61UgCeHzJ9YM3bz7dtKbPPBsIyLPteBtnfKBfwkbXIgQYNSQqdP_dGzr5ThXQsS_dGgHtSfcGqyH_hP6XiiyargynxJsNja8zq4hJLQbYdBEhL2q5o/s400/2016TEBSround4_014aa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dean & Son, going for another day of fishing on the billabong.</div>
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I say good on you to the parents who can bring their child for a weekend of camping in nature.</div>
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So this first fish brought our expectations to a new level of fishing envy.</div>
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Yet, it was nearly a fluke, as the next catch was going to take a long time to come to fruition.</div>
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Another of all the iconic fish that we have around Darwin is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saratoga_(fish)" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Saratoga</span></a>. </div>
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This is a fresh water fish, and as such was part of the target fish for the weekend. It a beautiful fish, and I love to see them. I did caught one, but a very small one:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQODqnfzO3LMuxYRj2tNqhT1qKO2wIGMjYSkOztCJ3d7sOwtml7cNonSAthHRKpagjGStDe8H2q8dv1D1tli4XlI9KzrzZkn5e-BbyxI0yeuFxm-RyLf8UOGIi2km8RUpdiXYGOWicqu4/s1600/2016TEBSround4_014aaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQODqnfzO3LMuxYRj2tNqhT1qKO2wIGMjYSkOztCJ3d7sOwtml7cNonSAthHRKpagjGStDe8H2q8dv1D1tli4XlI9KzrzZkn5e-BbyxI0yeuFxm-RyLf8UOGIi2km8RUpdiXYGOWicqu4/s400/2016TEBSround4_014aaa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My little Saratoga.</div>
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Despite being on the smaller side of sizes, this fish totally destroyed my lure and I had to use another one after it.</div>
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It was again a hot day, the wind had started to blow, and made the fishing difficult.</div>
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We had to look for sheltered spot, where we hoped to find some fish.</div>
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Finally, less than one hour before it was time to get the lines out of the water, casting against Pandanus roots, I retrieved my lure, in a very steady way. Slow, but without any jig or jerking of the line, I was remembering how Brett alway tells me to stop jerking that lure! So I was trying to be a good student. And it worked, I got my last Barramundi of the day.</div>
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At first I called it for another Saratoga, due to the yellowish colour I saw when it hit the lure. Rossco was calling it for a Barramundi and me for a Saratoga.</div>
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And lucky me there was not to many snag around, as this fish was strong and kept taking line and making runs every time I had it to the boat.</div>
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Finally it was netted:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCn1U8onrOK3sALqmyhSMYJDj3uLU1XW12S4058ANRMXQC31riU9gqBsT0-b9JH_VJQV2T5NERZztnJ3kpgBgAjQka2W7GfwwibXuQ8GG9eHI1RUL_C19t8BfgmxsQxPIaXYzZLGJiFM/s1600/2016TEBSround4_014b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCn1U8onrOK3sALqmyhSMYJDj3uLU1XW12S4058ANRMXQC31riU9gqBsT0-b9JH_VJQV2T5NERZztnJ3kpgBgAjQka2W7GfwwibXuQ8GG9eHI1RUL_C19t8BfgmxsQxPIaXYzZLGJiFM/s400/2016TEBSround4_014b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last Barramundi of the weekend.</div>
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The last Barramundi of the weekend came at 62cm (24.409449 inches), just like the first one of the weekend.</div>
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Some people might say that I am easily amused, but yes I did find that funny.</div>
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After that we tried to see if I could get another fish in the last twenty minutes of the round, but it was not to be.</div>
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We then quietly made our way to the ramp, enjoying the evening light and profiting of the last moment of peace for the weekend, before going back to civilisation.</div>
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That is when we caught up with a boat of Tebsies.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadwfudMGvWbIrB8on1nUu3ovD_h-HSYEkL2GCNITDWVYPefZKMbEJXAbE46wabPzjnVAR0160bxUZ1A5QCa9Ys8FiY-HWjLDS_W2pPjdZTQVGFzpCFWyAt3vjdWR095ldAlVn45HTA4s/s1600/2016TEBSround4_015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadwfudMGvWbIrB8on1nUu3ovD_h-HSYEkL2GCNITDWVYPefZKMbEJXAbE46wabPzjnVAR0160bxUZ1A5QCa9Ys8FiY-HWjLDS_W2pPjdZTQVGFzpCFWyAt3vjdWR095ldAlVn45HTA4s/s400/2016TEBSround4_015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fellow Participants in the 2016 TEBS.</div>
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They too had found the fishing a bit hard over the weekend. But one of them had caught the second biggest Barramundi of the weekend at 91cm (35.826772 inches). So the smiles were still on their boat.</div>
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It had been a great weekend on the water, thanks Rossco, but it was getting dark and it was time to go home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtDmtwvfOkztLDVaD5o8euMwOmKp11MqiwnLzDqS33QKpbGzt-l0qzHMbQmM7dC_3tD6MWUsJJWspNWBXobHqoUop0HZb6hbwFrRd8D4sEd8Q3FygsfWOyDcRfYcAFwcvHmNY78WDTCQ/s1600/2016TEBSround4_016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtDmtwvfOkztLDVaD5o8euMwOmKp11MqiwnLzDqS33QKpbGzt-l0qzHMbQmM7dC_3tD6MWUsJJWspNWBXobHqoUop0HZb6hbwFrRd8D4sEd8Q3FygsfWOyDcRfYcAFwcvHmNY78WDTCQ/s400/2016TEBSround4_016.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Evening light at the boat ramp.</div>
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Rossco had been in pain during most of the round, and had been unable to cast his lure as often as I did. Yet he allowed me very generously to fish all over the weekend, when most people would have just gone home to try to mend their pain. </div>
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During this round, I used, eleven different hard body fishing lures, and 4 soft plastic ones.</div>
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My first two Barramundi had been caught on the same lure.</div>
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And when it was destroyed by a little Saratoga, I really missed it, and cursed myself for not having brought with me the other similar one that I had at home.</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
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Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-35189415482608185242016-08-06T08:29:00.000+09:302016-08-06T08:29:00.378+09:30A Morning Fishing Middle Arm.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Last Monday was a public holiday, and what could we do on a public holiday?<br />
Well, we spent the morning fishing in Middle Arm.<br />
<ul>
<li>We fished in Middle Arm.</li>
<li>We caught many fish.</li>
<li>Some crabs too.</li>
<li>It was an epic day.</li>
</ul>
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Brett had been looking on Google Maps to try to find some new spots to explore.</div>
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There was a mud flat in Middle Arm, that he was yet to fish, and asked me if I wanted to go with him on this little exploratory trip.</div>
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Of course I said yes.</div>
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We left rather early and arrived way too early to our destination. The water was still high in the mangrove. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xbj7lpnatgniJ8UL4dFEQW902oCOR0sqtHS5JelP93NOOjMjeG_2ZdPNWrnkN8Hrl1SivWSdT3wzDJDRYlz6AhUGQp1bAZsO3zH6uR5Fth5YC41apyKx4soGTJ90FUCdwl3GLt169A4/s1600/Fishing20160801_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xbj7lpnatgniJ8UL4dFEQW902oCOR0sqtHS5JelP93NOOjMjeG_2ZdPNWrnkN8Hrl1SivWSdT3wzDJDRYlz6AhUGQp1bAZsO3zH6uR5Fth5YC41apyKx4soGTJ90FUCdwl3GLt169A4/s400/Fishing20160801_02.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Morning light in the mangrove.</div>
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No matter how beautiful this was, we had too much water under the boat to catch any fish.</div>
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To kill a bit of time we sailed along the mangroves, enjoying the scenery. I did try to blind cast a popper here and there. And one Barramundi boofed it, got connected, dived and promptly got the lure snagged on a submerged taproot. The fish swam away, the lure floated back to the surface, alone...</div>
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By then, the tide had begun to go down, and we could start to see a few Barra on the flat.</div>
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Most of them spook before we were even ready to try to catch them.</div>
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But one, swimming parallel to the boat, going in the same direction, attracted our attention.</div>
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Brett told me to have a go at it. I flicked my lure, swam it past its nose, for not even the slightest reaction. I tried a second time and the same scenario unfolded.</div>
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Brett tried then to cast a fly near him. When the fly passed in front of him, he turned toward it. Followed for a little while, very slow, then just boofed it in a flash! And Brett got his first sight casted fish on a fly for the season.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijo8IUSGJv8SQcnrQF31a9rm19m3t2iOi6Yd8vwPUNxuf1_KF-9GfUE659TN8N54KZ2v4pSHWedeaJMyUsWk1Kg26EWcQ4KJat0JXQBEongjn-xAQa9Lc91YYF4ONpyBE_ChZuVok36Xk/s1600/Fishing20160801_04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijo8IUSGJv8SQcnrQF31a9rm19m3t2iOi6Yd8vwPUNxuf1_KF-9GfUE659TN8N54KZ2v4pSHWedeaJMyUsWk1Kg26EWcQ4KJat0JXQBEongjn-xAQa9Lc91YYF4ONpyBE_ChZuVok36Xk/s400/Fishing20160801_04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First Barramundi on the fly of the dry season.</div>
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Ok, with one Barramundi on the board, we knew that we had come to the right spot.</div>
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It was a nice little specimen, and was released to fight another day.</div>
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The water high was not yet optimal for the pursuit of Barramundi. Yet, we could spot another delicious prey walking below us...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkshqxipz5g0TtM7qPPw22DfzW8bEOTO2KlhIU1wQ3XmWx7TRZgyBbNZT5sGaz2kxpc_0nmQn_-AblTif9vynqA8umM8dXD9OLbLkdKPOmm4hOtOjjcANgru0SJn0kWU_Qs6iU1dSJbE/s1600/Fishing20160801_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkshqxipz5g0TtM7qPPw22DfzW8bEOTO2KlhIU1wQ3XmWx7TRZgyBbNZT5sGaz2kxpc_0nmQn_-AblTif9vynqA8umM8dXD9OLbLkdKPOmm4hOtOjjcANgru0SJn0kWU_Qs6iU1dSJbE/s400/Fishing20160801_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mud crab on the spear.</div>
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Yes Mud Crabs of good size seemed to be in good numbers on this flat.</div>
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The yell of "Mud Crab, Give me the spear!" would resonate two more times:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRPhh7suKFr0AVclSA5R5vTlzn3yZmms9IWoWwZRlwwAbImOVT2icA6mEb-HDhPYFPF1Pk53IOr4ztIDWYXvyaNqeIzsx28sny_aywwI9jTAFaimCyLtN-8eY2Iod6rQ4rBO0CC50Dk4/s1600/Fishing20160801_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRPhh7suKFr0AVclSA5R5vTlzn3yZmms9IWoWwZRlwwAbImOVT2icA6mEb-HDhPYFPF1Pk53IOr4ztIDWYXvyaNqeIzsx28sny_aywwI9jTAFaimCyLtN-8eY2Iod6rQ4rBO0CC50Dk4/s400/Fishing20160801_06.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mud Crab number two.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoZt6osgLUDKO0-_ymmgQ31bY4W_f6wcytwMQzS9BkJ-njSAf8eP92WmhxGzA9r6h8v8SgOBhpTDhacUJQUbT-h_UqIvw18ziIvut7yiQcZ19Exw4dY7_YXf8DL5hBmRAyU9dcFKtZr0/s1600/Fishing20160801_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoZt6osgLUDKO0-_ymmgQ31bY4W_f6wcytwMQzS9BkJ-njSAf8eP92WmhxGzA9r6h8v8SgOBhpTDhacUJQUbT-h_UqIvw18ziIvut7yiQcZ19Exw4dY7_YXf8DL5hBmRAyU9dcFKtZr0/s400/Fishing20160801_07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Mud Crab number three.</div>
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After putting three of them in the esky, we were reassured that none of us would be hungry on this day. Our focus switched back to the more elusive Barramundi.</div>
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Brett had got one on the boat, I had lost one, most of the ones we saw, were too nervous and panicky for us to have any real chance to tempt them with our lures...</div>
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They would sometimes follow the lure, nearly to the boat, get very very close to the lure, and turn around and disappear in a dash.</div>
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When I finally got one to take my lure in earnest, and start jumping around.</div>
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It wasn't a monster, but I got excited, and managed to get it in the boat.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6QPSrgUvXYtrLkZsN_143hMIjwQ4qRC0JTQUGd70bJqgq_QR4FEF_lDfxZpeLHL6aCpcaAF8JKMQLZ0RTvV8F23yR6glDJ7YIUExM8kRzvnbN5P1P7bQ2RO9KE1QUMthVmTENjXIdWQ/s1600/Fishing20160801_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6QPSrgUvXYtrLkZsN_143hMIjwQ4qRC0JTQUGd70bJqgq_QR4FEF_lDfxZpeLHL6aCpcaAF8JKMQLZ0RTvV8F23yR6glDJ7YIUExM8kRzvnbN5P1P7bQ2RO9KE1QUMthVmTENjXIdWQ/s400/Fishing20160801_08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My first Barramundi of the day.</div>
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This one was slightly undersized, and was put back in his element, so he could grow a bit more, until next time.</div>
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We continued to move around on this rather large flat, were we saw a large number of ray and shark.</div>
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Some small, some bigs, I tried to take some photograph of them, but my pocket camera doesn't have a polariser filter, and they didn't come out as expected.</div>
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In fact they were so many rays, that we sometimes got confused by their wings flaps thinking it was the flash of a Barra. </div>
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We stayed a while without catching anything, starting to wonder what was going on.</div>
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When I pointed to a silvery flash in the water saying: Barra, there!</div>
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And casted a bit in front of it.</div>
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Brett said that it was a stingray, as we then saw one just in the spot I had pointed to.</div>
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But just then with a sharp jolt my line pulled me back to attention, the rod had a serious bent in it, and the water splashed all over as a nice slabe of chrome erupted out of the water.</div>
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I was on!</div>
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And to a nice Barramundi.</div>
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It started to go right, then left, trying to get away. I got it near the boat, but it then made a good run away from us again. Brett asked me if I had forgotten to put any drag on my reel. This fish truly was able to take some good run, but I assured Brett that my drag was on.</div>
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Finally it was close to the boat, I was going to be able to get it in the boat.</div>
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And the lure flew pass my head at great speed... The Barra had spit it as he was just at my feet.</div>
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Looking at the lure I saw that the hook had bent. Yes, I had some drag on my reel, maybe even a bit too much of it in fact...</div>
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Hard lesson...</div>
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On the same spot Brett came up with a fish, and a good one too.</div>
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This one was going to be for the esky:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98pnz3Lx5ViJKO1Ed0E5T-swZLEYBC0g1B6PXPRx3mYaWuxVInhu0P_rh_HzJlpZPYpmbENvjRpqDYt3eLZMeLiKe-6aFOJrN74D96kfDrUa6G7_3mFx6lKn7q0OUjtwBb9gx2XmiPnk/s1600/Fishing20160801_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98pnz3Lx5ViJKO1Ed0E5T-swZLEYBC0g1B6PXPRx3mYaWuxVInhu0P_rh_HzJlpZPYpmbENvjRpqDYt3eLZMeLiKe-6aFOJrN74D96kfDrUa6G7_3mFx6lKn7q0OUjtwBb9gx2XmiPnk/s400/Fishing20160801_09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A fish for the table.</div>
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We now had an esky with three mud crabs and one good Barra. But I was yet to contribute to any of the bounty.</div>
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It started to sink upon us, that we might have found a nice little honey hole.</div>
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I got a lot of hit, but kept loosing my fish.</div>
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Brett on the other hand was having a ball of a time:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wBPfH1MzIwKxMc1P4UPlgTOtWhDNo88lvF4ufcaMf8KZ0znTr2v6ZaUb267Qt0XrkwSdiH4nz-4mBDV8UPZWNVQzvmnfR8Nq9z79e1QSrPDeq2He6OoTzf3M9Tfg1y6RQ-WdKJiNalA/s1600/Fishing20160801_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wBPfH1MzIwKxMc1P4UPlgTOtWhDNo88lvF4ufcaMf8KZ0znTr2v6ZaUb267Qt0XrkwSdiH4nz-4mBDV8UPZWNVQzvmnfR8Nq9z79e1QSrPDeq2He6OoTzf3M9Tfg1y6RQ-WdKJiNalA/s400/Fishing20160801_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Brett's third fish of the day.<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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And ...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2teDaMShwDa9ELQKlRQ8VNCreppttQnH390HgykFbHS3BAD-C-f5EdwC1vCd2cmixQAsqZflWNdhC-hEezl5EakWXmWHuAcnfu0Xzj3s1zyfSbEon3vKr4xS3pGj0hTPAS1KOlvtvRX0/s1600/Fishing20160801_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2teDaMShwDa9ELQKlRQ8VNCreppttQnH390HgykFbHS3BAD-C-f5EdwC1vCd2cmixQAsqZflWNdhC-hEezl5EakWXmWHuAcnfu0Xzj3s1zyfSbEon3vKr4xS3pGj0hTPAS1KOlvtvRX0/s400/Fishing20160801_11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Brett's fourth Barramundi of the day.</div>
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It is not that like me he was losing some fish. But he still managed to get a good proportion of them in the boat.</div>
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I was starting to think that I would need to do some homework on how to properly hook a fish.</div>
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At least I got one that stayed connected to the lure, and was able to bring it to the boat:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4zpqUq4c8jvA7l6c9d89O3cqb5SvdpMI-koZNdREF0zqGwj2TgRKP-96lImCjcR_IU9xdrApiyVUEZwQXtfjHg0ua69iP1xDbKWtqrZSPJAzDnJ2VZnDlD14vpr1ZE_MLYeHqz9gJW4/s1600/Fishing20160801_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4zpqUq4c8jvA7l6c9d89O3cqb5SvdpMI-koZNdREF0zqGwj2TgRKP-96lImCjcR_IU9xdrApiyVUEZwQXtfjHg0ua69iP1xDbKWtqrZSPJAzDnJ2VZnDlD14vpr1ZE_MLYeHqz9gJW4/s400/Fishing20160801_12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My first legal Barramundi of the trip.</div>
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This one was of legal size, and I kept it for dinner. I was happy.</div>
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I loose some more, and Brett got another one in:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Su5eBTEE0iVfE24JOSTBscMulqd9FHstRa86M97xzCAAjWuw4uuIO_JXUedMj-ULVjhLbypL7UE4BdrZhPnaW5YrjqtduTuJ3TZTDrYuRYwugUM9_FezZOQaIJljPxKg8OJQuSPF6Rw/s1600/Fishing20160801_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Su5eBTEE0iVfE24JOSTBscMulqd9FHstRa86M97xzCAAjWuw4uuIO_JXUedMj-ULVjhLbypL7UE4BdrZhPnaW5YrjqtduTuJ3TZTDrYuRYwugUM9_FezZOQaIJljPxKg8OJQuSPF6Rw/s400/Fishing20160801_13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Happy as a man who catch all the fish.</div>
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A lot of Barramundi were swimming around a rather small patch of mud. It was really good fishing.</div>
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Even if I kept loosing them.</div>
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Still I got a good hookup, and this one seemed of a reasonable size.</div>
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It took me a bit longer to get it in the boat:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJF39Is44HM3PcusglNa_jC-IPuhPMHO-2S9EejKEiJDCMcchWW-ny5uWbayUpkVhfItUl62vjHFkxTnlQLQVgkaTxOAB58C3E4eh4URCTVRVKNYZ2Fu2GcBypeYJPW5WdI-y68xA5i8/s1600/Fishing20160801_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJF39Is44HM3PcusglNa_jC-IPuhPMHO-2S9EejKEiJDCMcchWW-ny5uWbayUpkVhfItUl62vjHFkxTnlQLQVgkaTxOAB58C3E4eh4URCTVRVKNYZ2Fu2GcBypeYJPW5WdI-y68xA5i8/s400/Fishing20160801_14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My best Barramundi of the day.</div>
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Still no giant fish, but a nice one that I decided to keep for my mother in law.</div>
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Because she is a good woman, and sometimes staying in the good books is as easy to bring back a fresh fish.</div>
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This one was going to be the last fish of the trip, it was time to go back.</div>
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But what a trip it had been!</div>
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Thank you Brett to invite me to explore this part of the harbour that you had never fished before. It was really worthwhile. </div>
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This had been a great day.</div>
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Yes we did miss and lost a lot of fish...</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-31070815570527774302016-08-01T00:03:00.000+09:302016-08-01T00:07:53.509+09:30I Haden't Fished In A Long Time.<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Hi there,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Yes For multiple reasons I had been in the absolute
impossibility to fish for a very long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Well, to be honest mostly because I went on
vacation overseas...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">But I am back, and more eager than ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">First time in a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">We fished on the Elisabeth River.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">We got fish and crabs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">I was still jet lag and rather tired when Brett
called offered me to go fishing on the Elizabeth River.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">I immediately said Yes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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again...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Yes I was sure that I wanted to go fishing. So sure
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up at 2:00am and could not find sleep again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">After a little while, slowly but surely, I could
feel myself falling asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">There was just one thing to do, get out of the car,
and take some pic of my close environment to try to keep awake. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">That is about then that Brett spotted me. He had
arrived a few minutes earlier, but was parked on the opposite side of the
parking, we hadn't seen each other, and were both waiting for the other one, on the same parking...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16pt;">This could have easily make us lost some precious fishing time, lucky that it
didn't.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Once we had caught up we quickly launched, and made
our way toward some little creek and mangrove to try to find our old friends Mr
and Mrs Baramundi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Mangrove
lined creek.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">This was a nice and quiet place, I started to
attach a lure at the end of my line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Brett told me: "Flick your lure just over
there."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">This I did, making my first cast of the day where I
had been told to. Reeling in the lure, I was looking at the water, the trees
the sky and everything in between, thinking that the holidays had been great,
but that I had missed the noble art of angling, and more so, catching a fish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">This is when I felt a little bump like a dead
weight on my line and started to think, oh no, I just arrived, first cast and I
am already snagged, hopefully it is only in the mud...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Well it wasn't in the mud...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Because the water erupted, my line went out of my
reel instead of coming back on it and a nice little piece of piscatorial chrome
started to dance over the water. Doing numerous jumps and all. I was on! On my
first cast of the day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Oh yes I got excited, I wanted to laugh and be
serious, I wanted to get this fish to the boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">And in the boat it came.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">First
Barramundi after the holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">It wasn't a monster, but it was a sweet baby. It
not only made me happy, but to me it proved if needed be, that Brett who will
start to be a fishing guide next month, will be a very good guide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">The fish was one cm too short, and was quickly put
back in the water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Our spirits started to fly high, we were in for a
good day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Well it did take a bit of time after that, before
anything happens. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">But eventually, Brett started to scream Muddy! Mud
Crab! Give me the spear!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">It went a bit like: What where is the crab? Just
give me the spear! Ok.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">And voilas! Brett speared the beast and got really
happy to have his dinner sorted out, with a nice big full </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scylla_serrata"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Mud Crab</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Now, if only I could catch myself a fish big enough
to eat...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Well it didn't take long after that, I got on my
second Barra for the day, and once again simply by sending my lure swimming
where Brett told me that it should be a good ambush spot for a Barramundi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Second
Barramundi of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">This was was of a better size, and as such it was
not his lucky day, head first in the esky it went.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">We both had our dinner in the cold box, from now on
it would be just fun and games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Well lucky that because the water started to be too
low, the fish had disappeared and we couldn't find any more of them to play
with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">But the command for the spear came again and this
time I knew what to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Even if I got a bit slow, and the crab nearly
eluded capture, it was in the end harpooned and Brett had now not one but tow
big crab for dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Life was beautiful, we had been on the water for
about three hours, the change of wind and the tide made us decide to call it a
day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Low tide
on the mangrove.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">We headed for the bridge and the ramp:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">The
bridge over Elizabeth River.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">This had been a great morning, and I was able to go
home and nurse my jet lag with a good nap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Thank you Brett for inviting me on your boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">So yes, I had outfitted my skipper and this is a
pretty rude thing to do. But to be honest, I got the fish, because he pointed
them to me. Without this help I could very well have come back empty handed,
like I have more than a few time in the past...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">But hey, it could be worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Have a good day,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16pt;">Me.</span></div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-10188820799739892452016-06-10T23:05:00.000+09:302016-06-10T23:05:48.356+09:302016 Top End Barra Series Round 3.Hi there,<br />
<br />
A week ago the third round of the 2016 Top End Barra Series was taking place at Bynoe Harbour, here comes the tale of it.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>It was very hard fishing.</li>
<li>I fished from two different boats over the weekend.</li>
<li>I didn't come back home empty handed.</li>
</ul>
<div>
For the first day, I was fishing with Jason, who had never fished on Bynoe Harbour before.</div>
<div>
Luckily for us, Brett gave us all the good information on how to catch a fish over there.</div>
<div>
And did we put this knowledge to good use?</div>
<div>
No we didn't...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We arrived early and full of confidence, to see a beautiful sunrise over the harbour:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Sunrise at the boat ramp.</div>
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<br /></div>
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From Six Pack Creek, we launched.</div>
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Zooming to our first point of attack. The place was already occupied, by some really keen anglers, who had beaten us to the spot.</div>
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We stood to the side and tried to get a fish, with no success. </div>
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We moved from one spot to the other, but could not get a fish.</div>
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We finally went all around Turtle island, but for no results, once again.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5tP6EobtLy-luNSWbL9T51-d2IAWFfZxMCd679S-kceLq17Br26CWQRMnWMQSpHN4v-tzK_xZh72Is3O8f88w9M233UkshB2NsGC9Oi7xqV6rfrknQeZLz1j6rsK3z3tJhM34IFFU1k/s1600/R3TEBS2016_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5tP6EobtLy-luNSWbL9T51-d2IAWFfZxMCd679S-kceLq17Br26CWQRMnWMQSpHN4v-tzK_xZh72Is3O8f88w9M233UkshB2NsGC9Oi7xqV6rfrknQeZLz1j6rsK3z3tJhM34IFFU1k/s400/R3TEBS2016_03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Jason fishing at Turtle Island.</div>
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From there we went to try our luck in one of the numerous creeks of the harbour.</div>
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Where we didn't get anymore chance than before.</div>
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It was great to catchup with Jason, to enjoy a calm day of fishing, even if the day was hot and humid. </div>
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The water was real flat, like a mirror.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnulwMhsLajbeVaMICrs8Z6XLFFAL9piZ1XAkqo_Xx99-GYsQD5qT5w2NQTFLydtBjMtQy5h68_RSeFS-Er5uQyuG2J-7QZW7tFB-nyINQh6OiITZwUPgRx-z1Zc0b1BZoa08JQJ6fU4/s1600/R3TEBS2016_05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnulwMhsLajbeVaMICrs8Z6XLFFAL9piZ1XAkqo_Xx99-GYsQD5qT5w2NQTFLydtBjMtQy5h68_RSeFS-Er5uQyuG2J-7QZW7tFB-nyINQh6OiITZwUPgRx-z1Zc0b1BZoa08JQJ6fU4/s400/R3TEBS2016_05.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Living the life!</div>
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the only fish I got on the day, were three little cods.</div>
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All released to grow bigger.</div>
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With not much to call home about, we decided that it had been a hot and long day, and to cut it short.</div>
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So at around 3:00pm, we were off the water, starting to roll back toward civilisation.</div>
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And just then, the rain started falling...</div>
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At this time of the year, we should have had a nice and cool weather, it should have been the dry season...</div>
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At home in the evening I called Brett, and told him how the day went.</div>
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He said, that tomorrow was going to be a day with some fish.</div>
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So Sunday, one quarter of an hour early, I was in front of his home, texting him to ask if he was still sleeping. Yes I was keen to go back on the water for a revenge against Mr and Ms Barramundi.</div>
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Light at the ramp was even better than on the previous day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEx4zBVc7YJcZmz3yzu23NSw01nPIGg1BhKnUr5MfqUrLzyfc6gDRi8didgsPsRxeqdFJHsfFcFmsj-xXiJc8oJrs8uttJinxVhhdH9HXFPuyeCTnY-85lSz-aWf6LKZy6xn8u1ODduQ/s1600/R3TEBS2016_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEx4zBVc7YJcZmz3yzu23NSw01nPIGg1BhKnUr5MfqUrLzyfc6gDRi8didgsPsRxeqdFJHsfFcFmsj-xXiJc8oJrs8uttJinxVhhdH9HXFPuyeCTnY-85lSz-aWf6LKZy6xn8u1ODduQ/s400/R3TEBS2016_08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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View from the boat ramp.</div>
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Once the light started to shine, we could see that the water was still like glass.</div>
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Not a ripple in view.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzih-P6jVh3MAUzoUfuZAzJoxKiLriluDW9JrJYjV2214ehV_RYLqI5eygPFW9Bb4cPPAC0wZqdQIjHqA2b4GkrLSQiF749Bus0wRg6wBry9l1sUIP08IeajQiS6ckEeiYbUp-fwgnWLE/s1600/R3TEBS2016_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzih-P6jVh3MAUzoUfuZAzJoxKiLriluDW9JrJYjV2214ehV_RYLqI5eygPFW9Bb4cPPAC0wZqdQIjHqA2b4GkrLSQiF749Bus0wRg6wBry9l1sUIP08IeajQiS6ckEeiYbUp-fwgnWLE/s400/R3TEBS2016_09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cruising in the clouds.</div>
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Being a bit early for the Barra, we decided to go and try to hook a few Queenfish behind a small island.</div>
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There we didn't really see as many Queenfish as expected. But the light show was worth the journey.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPyhHsbOs1jxtGa_mndm2sfUIXDbVvhFwtjmejLK1i2hY10hUwqh5E61s9dzIyw0lPcCWXHh3xk_JhjNmH47OSGQqPQDGU0b6HmEhi-AxSLC8T78D1RO6g6JtN0axu_A2udu_BJv37-E/s1600/R3TEBS2016_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPyhHsbOs1jxtGa_mndm2sfUIXDbVvhFwtjmejLK1i2hY10hUwqh5E61s9dzIyw0lPcCWXHh3xk_JhjNmH47OSGQqPQDGU0b6HmEhi-AxSLC8T78D1RO6g6JtN0axu_A2udu_BJv37-E/s400/R3TEBS2016_11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Rising sun over Bynoe Harbour.</div>
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Brett and I had nearly as much trouble to find the fish than Jason and I had on the first day.</div>
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Yet we finally found some, hiding in very skinny waters, straight against the bank, between tree roots.</div>
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The first fish to swallow a lure, had grabbed Brett's offering. And what a show it gave us!</div>
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It was all over in about one or two second, but it will stay etched in my memory for a very long time.</div>
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The small lure swimming towards the boat.</div>
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The Barramundi following it, and engulfing it very close to the boat.</div>
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Turning straight away and breaking the line nearly at the same time.</div>
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The line clacked in a very sharp way, and I thought that the rod had broken.</div>
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Thankfully it was only the line.</div>
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Never had I seen that before, it was pure raw force. It didn't even look like the fish had made any effort, yet the line had broken like if it was made of the most fragile material.</div>
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On this, Brett decided to put a stronger leader on his line.</div>
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And it did pay off, for the first Barramundi of the weekend was caught.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLegXDkAEndJ78OnJjZugJo_NxMWP5VB6KdGcMV3JKvTOq9sIf9SPaeHG1ObwM0af9m7x5IEVNEUBod9_n-Q1rf_CXfBqbPYn6pcVVLvWQ9dgaHgJ1wTeq8iRK3JbuFEHj7m3smaKCsa4/s1600/R3TEBS2016_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLegXDkAEndJ78OnJjZugJo_NxMWP5VB6KdGcMV3JKvTOq9sIf9SPaeHG1ObwM0af9m7x5IEVNEUBod9_n-Q1rf_CXfBqbPYn6pcVVLvWQ9dgaHgJ1wTeq8iRK3JbuFEHj7m3smaKCsa4/s400/R3TEBS2016_14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First Barramundi of the weekend.</div>
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With Brett on the board, it should have been my turn to catch a fish.</div>
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But he had other ideas, and while I was constantly putting my lure in the trees branch, or snagging the tree roots. Because, yes, by this stage, I was getting too excited every times that we saw a fish. Sight casting to Barramundi, can be really entertaining. So while I was busy catching trees, Brett caught his second Barramundi:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhcL4zoEpA5X3WrmZVdHVwvDJFiWU_2GYc1killAkabGhKdZARqdP7H_dUwETMLSuolazabbIH5pvtYOvsfsH5924A5i5GiHXerhxZvvY3dr08cfA8h7LaU94_CqzZvRrB49RRKb7fVc/s1600/R3TEBS2016_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhcL4zoEpA5X3WrmZVdHVwvDJFiWU_2GYc1killAkabGhKdZARqdP7H_dUwETMLSuolazabbIH5pvtYOvsfsH5924A5i5GiHXerhxZvvY3dr08cfA8h7LaU94_CqzZvRrB49RRKb7fVc/s400/R3TEBS2016_15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Brett's second fish.</div>
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And the fish disappeared, and the action went down.</div>
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It started to look like I had totally missed my chance.</div>
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Slowly we were on the way of the ramp.</div>
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Casting lures towards any bank where we could see the bait being harassed, by what we estimated to be Salmon. </div>
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At one stage right on the bank we saw once again the bait being very nervous and the splashing of a Threadfin Salmon.</div>
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We sent our lures flying in the direction of the action, for no avail.</div>
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Halfhearted I flicked my lure, and thought that it had fallen in the water way to short of where the commotion was taking place. Just reeling in the lure in a slow roll, I suddenly felt my line tense, and saw the rod bending. I was on, I had the Thready! Fighting the fish and reeling in, it was only once it was near the boat that we saw it and realised that it was a Barramundi.</div>
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I was so surprised that I nearly lost my ability to reel.</div>
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But after a little while, the fish was in the net, and all the effort of the weekend forgotten.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxzcfLar_4HH1EHjX3ypiiHl2PcQd43xJZUBT8zP1i_qL4ArCw-Gx4noARF2tHovnklGhfVG_8zbIzw-hqs5UyFUcg_CTaiyl259YQrh5fC30c8VGvNVoee8ZBkfhRPMO9xouBHgbEDI/s1600/R3TEBS2016_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxzcfLar_4HH1EHjX3ypiiHl2PcQd43xJZUBT8zP1i_qL4ArCw-Gx4noARF2tHovnklGhfVG_8zbIzw-hqs5UyFUcg_CTaiyl259YQrh5fC30c8VGvNVoee8ZBkfhRPMO9xouBHgbEDI/s400/R3TEBS2016_16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My Barramundi of the weekend.</div>
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Just like that, along a muddy bank, without any structure or snag, I had caught a nice little Barramundi. That little fish made me very happy, and by now I can also tell you that it tasted very good.</div>
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Alas, as it is often the case when fishing the time flew quick, and it was time to go home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsixgI2hSCWtwkgDVIlYM25VA4sJz9wu9jwzOAPTP09OC8OX7aomXf1VqZBPIeU46ux35VNHaHsIBRkCIwUEh1CZ2Vs6jdIWcsfzFqfhYQPMhhsyaTEjd9rs1OP_5nbEaXTPy_9PCC-E/s1600/R3TEBS2016_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsixgI2hSCWtwkgDVIlYM25VA4sJz9wu9jwzOAPTP09OC8OX7aomXf1VqZBPIeU46ux35VNHaHsIBRkCIwUEh1CZ2Vs6jdIWcsfzFqfhYQPMhhsyaTEjd9rs1OP_5nbEaXTPy_9PCC-E/s400/R3TEBS2016_17.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
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Boat going for the ramp.</div>
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It was a great weekend of fishing, thank you to Jason and Brett for having invited me on their boats.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNh1GJ8IzuBkmoKd7QC5h8zo44ejP3BqfzQVZiwE6wnUTI8FkbbGPk_mdGd1PcT2-slXHYTKVxCN2ayxsL2gLCUUYhlH2sOvbA0Lox6orZZJipfWjhc8U39ZHVEnilycviT1gTFLO7ak/s1600/R3TEBS2016_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNh1GJ8IzuBkmoKd7QC5h8zo44ejP3BqfzQVZiwE6wnUTI8FkbbGPk_mdGd1PcT2-slXHYTKVxCN2ayxsL2gLCUUYhlH2sOvbA0Lox6orZZJipfWjhc8U39ZHVEnilycviT1gTFLO7ak/s400/R3TEBS2016_18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Leaving the fishing grounds.</div>
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Yes, I do hope to fish Bynoe Harbour again in the future.</div>
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This is the kind of place that can turn magic, when the condition for great fishing all aligns.</div>
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So as it has been said in the past: I'll be back.</div>
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Now it is true that I was thinking at the beginning of the weekend that I would have caught a lot more of Barramundi... Yet fishing is sometimes like that...</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-20263146489008524072016-06-01T20:02:00.001+09:302016-06-01T20:02:30.015+09:30My First Two Deep River Lures.Hi there,<br />
<br />
I just received two very beautiful <a href="http://deepriverlure.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Deep River Lures</span></a>.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>They are Handmade from timber.</li>
<li>The two are very different from each other.</li>
<li>I won them on the FFF.</li>
<li>I intend to use them to fish.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Look at what I received:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaldv6BaPc027OTxOOCHcqgKvQtL9EZAwQfUzFnknHXDdKrkfC4fG9DSTDy2_kY7PeJPkh8X2dsYmaiepWrKRJ5Fi0Z9MVmjYg1hQiSmKEBLc8sHTNK9XrdAwqZRhwATXa5W78H_6o7TQ/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaldv6BaPc027OTxOOCHcqgKvQtL9EZAwQfUzFnknHXDdKrkfC4fG9DSTDy2_kY7PeJPkh8X2dsYmaiepWrKRJ5Fi0Z9MVmjYg1hQiSmKEBLc8sHTNK9XrdAwqZRhwATXa5W78H_6o7TQ/s400/FullSizeRender.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Two Deep River Lures.</div>
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So, how and why?</div>
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Well, it is pretty simple in fact.</div>
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If you post on the great <a href="http://fishingterritory.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">fishing forum FFF</span></a>, and at the end of your post use the <i>#DeepRiver</i>, your post could be chosen as the lucky one for the month. And you would be sent one or two lures, directly from the man who makes them himself, Mr Barney.</div>
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And boy oh boy, they are nice.</div>
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So now that you had a preview of the lures, and know how I got them, lets look at them a bit closer.</div>
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First is the Slim.</div>
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A very beautiful fishing lure, that I will use mainly in the pursuit of Barramundi.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKdI12dd-TUv7huefgrGI8vAk_XqVV-ZlwKpQMiCmzkA_juE1hk2oHDCXrAj4lBsIKsIXl4usvANNdpriZSWgjGkWRQ1M3RlxiHZ9SwNf26JkMCPMtzGfzLbacRV1ej9DLgOy0h1scwE/s1600/Snapseed+6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKdI12dd-TUv7huefgrGI8vAk_XqVV-ZlwKpQMiCmzkA_juE1hk2oHDCXrAj4lBsIKsIXl4usvANNdpriZSWgjGkWRQ1M3RlxiHZ9SwNf26JkMCPMtzGfzLbacRV1ej9DLgOy0h1scwE/s400/Snapseed+6.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Deep River Lures Slim 100.</div>
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To me, this lure has Barramundi written all over it.</div>
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From the shape, the colour, the fins and the shallow bib, just like I love them.</div>
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Here is a portrait of it:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLJxqVM5GuB3CQxANOYHxkm8l6ZQyJ8MzThWPiqrPX5xoVMY-rLf0csqOwYG6XHnVYr0RfzStg8duDZ2rEUCAGOTwK6hMmNxKAak6b1s4VMyWM2DLcTVmurcTs_NlkithvCBHx7eugZA/s1600/Snapseed+7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLJxqVM5GuB3CQxANOYHxkm8l6ZQyJ8MzThWPiqrPX5xoVMY-rLf0csqOwYG6XHnVYr0RfzStg8duDZ2rEUCAGOTwK6hMmNxKAak6b1s4VMyWM2DLcTVmurcTs_NlkithvCBHx7eugZA/s400/Snapseed+7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Portrait of the Deep River Lures Slim 100.</div>
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This one is the shallow version. Which to me is great, as I mainly fish shallow waters.</div>
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And now comes the Mugil:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RLVgslyNYz__I2IxGrRSJ5hZIGN8xtfOOHI4cMaWzyEw9tEm_FWBdJt2Qt5IYPJC79SZlEE3nNPtjbZb41LmgLL_P0Gt3Uz7yAlIwsDRN7eg_ovlNmThqjN_AK8amKmWQJauMdnBHTM/s1600/Snapseed+4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RLVgslyNYz__I2IxGrRSJ5hZIGN8xtfOOHI4cMaWzyEw9tEm_FWBdJt2Qt5IYPJC79SZlEE3nNPtjbZb41LmgLL_P0Gt3Uz7yAlIwsDRN7eg_ovlNmThqjN_AK8amKmWQJauMdnBHTM/s400/Snapseed+4.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Deep River Lures Mugil 70.</div>
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Now if this is not a really good looking little lure, I don't know what this is...</div>
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It is well finished, with an interesting shape. I think that it would be a great lure to target the Mangrove Jack. I can't wait to see it's action in the water.</div>
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And talking about the finish, look at the bib:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUZuN1DPA6fVuKxu-JKxcxY65h1Ne0hg1EKb5Jv_XuwsUFXqwElq-NXu9bNW1-N68BoS9AHf6X4kyRvBPTN2iGtdf_hau0m9pHYXBjTTzY3IqTNdGzaNXCwtuRcUu96txGSPZUvOhZ6A/s1600/Snapseed+5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUZuN1DPA6fVuKxu-JKxcxY65h1Ne0hg1EKb5Jv_XuwsUFXqwElq-NXu9bNW1-N68BoS9AHf6X4kyRvBPTN2iGtdf_hau0m9pHYXBjTTzY3IqTNdGzaNXCwtuRcUu96txGSPZUvOhZ6A/s400/Snapseed+5.jpeg" width="245" /></a></div>
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Pinned bib for extra strength.</div>
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This is one of the reason I personally would feel confident to target Mangrove Jack with this lure. The bib seems solid and well attached to the lure body.</div>
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Deep River Lures are handmade in Queensland, Australia, by Barney.</div>
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There is a great selection of body shapes and colours have a look at their range. (The link is at the top of this very post, in blue)</div>
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Thank you to Barney and the FFF for organising this friendly competition, and sending me these two beautiful lures.</div>
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Here comes one last photo, for the road:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNc-bEkK5xk1M3SmWuoIsbYsmH3Ex4rVO_SlUgAIYp3jw5EM03nk5jc7yFQRNqmi8-phFOvgLdMb-0lgkZVgHRsTHhN3zzx0RsFq9RLADlBVAum2hGoCD5UZ3AyiD1CA2U52qLUg8DDsU/s1600/Snapseed+3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNc-bEkK5xk1M3SmWuoIsbYsmH3Ex4rVO_SlUgAIYp3jw5EM03nk5jc7yFQRNqmi8-phFOvgLdMb-0lgkZVgHRsTHhN3zzx0RsFq9RLADlBVAum2hGoCD5UZ3AyiD1CA2U52qLUg8DDsU/s400/Snapseed+3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Little lure for big fish.</div>
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Now it is true that when I receive such beautiful lures I usually keep them for the collection.</div>
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But this time I will actually fish with them.</div>
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Even it they will certainly end up with a few scratch from the carnivorous fish that swim around in Darwin's waters...</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-632543994728488519.post-28849075478838181482016-05-21T13:21:00.000+09:302016-05-21T13:21:10.380+09:302016 Top End Barra Series Round 2.Hi there,<br />
<br />
Here comes the long awaited story of the second round of the 2016 Top End Barra Series.<br />
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<ul>
<li>It was on the Daly River.</li>
<li>The water was very dirty.</li>
<li>The fishing was real hard.</li>
<li>The camaraderie was great.</li>
<li>I fished it with Jason.</li>
</ul>
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This year the second round of the TEBS as it is known around our part of the world, was taking place on the mighty Daly River.</div>
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And what a round it was... The water was really low for the season, despite the Daly round being much earlier than on years gone by. A few people damaged their props or got stuck on the sand. And more than should have been, came back without having caught any fish at all...</div>
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Not even some little cat fish.</div>
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But that was not our story, we did get some fish!</div>
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Now how dirty the water was?</div>
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Well take a look:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOAeFfSA1AzdqUnJpvOux92S1mK32aQkw8TnYwW99ltJIgs1MCTPLM-DLrY6fU0Iz-Oh7JebnnDCQt537lUjCNLdILsCBwxVnl_Fe3qLGk1VD9uSOGrymbEs1uwCrG9skJuI6LOw_RG0/s1600/TEBS2016R2_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOAeFfSA1AzdqUnJpvOux92S1mK32aQkw8TnYwW99ltJIgs1MCTPLM-DLrY6fU0Iz-Oh7JebnnDCQt537lUjCNLdILsCBwxVnl_Fe3qLGk1VD9uSOGrymbEs1uwCrG9skJuI6LOw_RG0/s400/TEBS2016R2_001.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Daly River.</div>
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As you can see, the river was dirty and dangerous.</div>
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Dangerous for boat's outboards, and for lures that got snagged on so many drifting pieces of wood.</div>
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Yet, as we arrived near this spot, we caught up with Brett and his mate Karl. And Brett told us that he had caught four Barramundi the previous day, and to troll just there with a +10 lure.</div>
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Naturally I put a Reidy's Big Ass in the 008 colour, one of my all time favourite, at the end of my line and we started trolling.</div>
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We must have been trolling for about 10 to 15 minutes when I got a massive hit!</div>
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The hit was sudden, and the line immediately started to fly from my reel at great speed.</div>
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I could not stop it, no question about that.</div>
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It lasted a few seconds, then the line went slack, the fish had spit the lure...</div>
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This must have been a really big one and we both called it for a metery.</div>
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Wow, we thought, if it is starting like that, it will be a cracker of a weekend!</div>
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Well life is not like that, and it was indeed a great weekend, but with not many fish to play with.</div>
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It was going to be a long time before the next fish bite.</div>
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We then saw Brett and Karl again:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Fgv_ny6Pn6wj24QH8wazDvjtSo4U0Q8w5sJrxweOXPpG5xGUGNrVpe59QyrDj3AhdIkq-y9XCEYFf8sBWHJRB12gfrdfVLfpQ3YU9m22SU_2rOmBMjRaP91qs89VZkZGH8pDYxsUTFc/s1600/TEBS2016R2_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Fgv_ny6Pn6wj24QH8wazDvjtSo4U0Q8w5sJrxweOXPpG5xGUGNrVpe59QyrDj3AhdIkq-y9XCEYFf8sBWHJRB12gfrdfVLfpQ3YU9m22SU_2rOmBMjRaP91qs89VZkZGH8pDYxsUTFc/s400/TEBS2016R2_002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Paparazzi everywhere!</div>
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Yes they were getting ready to take some pictures, but not of us...</div>
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In fact they were getting ready to photograph Pete who had just caught a nice Barramundi:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kkfGzTdajcpBcY2j_L9ZQNnJNK1smkvqYWAo4p-1jEARzKZprnxVRXHkEtQUERqQB2N-2SYIIzPYqJ2l5s5Vk4jr1QhxjxvOU4frl6BduZtzDh2dziL9fxJNJojAgIMP5ixBTo-gXcY/s1600/TEBS2016R2_005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kkfGzTdajcpBcY2j_L9ZQNnJNK1smkvqYWAo4p-1jEARzKZprnxVRXHkEtQUERqQB2N-2SYIIzPYqJ2l5s5Vk4jr1QhxjxvOU4frl6BduZtzDh2dziL9fxJNJojAgIMP5ixBTo-gXcY/s400/TEBS2016R2_005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The photographers at work.</div>
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And yes, I did take a photo too:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFFK6-N1qixHec98W92qcShsnRW7XRkBinwwQFVgPHR-oY8aKHaE_8i4zA6RlknEaaFTTBRDzOwFa6Q-n7X2Zq_VixXkZUvYWub2FOkHNuKRNB783b9uXpgGjtXVx9e_EB7GfGCbP2l0/s1600/TEBS2016R2_004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFFK6-N1qixHec98W92qcShsnRW7XRkBinwwQFVgPHR-oY8aKHaE_8i4zA6RlknEaaFTTBRDzOwFa6Q-n7X2Zq_VixXkZUvYWub2FOkHNuKRNB783b9uXpgGjtXVx9e_EB7GfGCbP2l0/s400/TEBS2016R2_004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Pete with a nice fish.</div>
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This was a weekend where Pete was going to shine. Being one of two only to get his full bag of Barramundi (5).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN6dtCz7nOeo2NWV5wmgb02LAH1IzmKmLc4uDErQIwlufPBFOb4WgD5lTkQ4s7rSDmZxvCdEM4UoOWobZ11A6_QWqbZkTpfkHw0hRJnxBROcOGdduA2_d-V-9yVR6zYW2SfjMWkyUb3o/s1600/TEBS2016R2_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikN6dtCz7nOeo2NWV5wmgb02LAH1IzmKmLc4uDErQIwlufPBFOb4WgD5lTkQ4s7rSDmZxvCdEM4UoOWobZ11A6_QWqbZkTpfkHw0hRJnxBROcOGdduA2_d-V-9yVR6zYW2SfjMWkyUb3o/s400/TEBS2016R2_003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Catch and release in action.</div>
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At least it showed us that their was still some Barra in this stretch of water.</div>
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This brought us to trolling it a bit more.</div>
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I was by then using a lure that I had found a bit earlier, floating by. It was a Classic +10 and as the saying goes: " A found lure is a lucky lure". I got a hit.</div>
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The line tensed and started to pull a bit on my rod.</div>
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We got all excited and I was afraid that the fish would go in one of the numerous snags bordering the river. But we got it in the boat, thanks to a great netting action from Jason. And I was on the board!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviHGmCUBRh_9Cm82MFv7COXrZMMf7Zysbi5cDIRC26osf6bnM_2_a7PadykGgE8fU9yHLWi25xPSJ50QOM74v3InhsL5IFG3rzlYb9h8wxklx11M-FVlE2jBBI63kFV1Su7WN6XjniQ0/s1600/TEBS2016R2_006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviHGmCUBRh_9Cm82MFv7COXrZMMf7Zysbi5cDIRC26osf6bnM_2_a7PadykGgE8fU9yHLWi25xPSJ50QOM74v3InhsL5IFG3rzlYb9h8wxklx11M-FVlE2jBBI63kFV1Su7WN6XjniQ0/s400/TEBS2016R2_006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My first Barramundi of the weekend.</div>
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At 71cm (27.952756 inches), this was no monster, but still made me feel very content.</div>
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This newly found lure was a lucky one.</div>
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And look at the chrome on this fish!</div>
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It was release too, to grow bigger and fight another day.</div>
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Not long after, Jason got a rat of a Barramundi, too small to be a point scorer.</div>
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And that was about it for the day...</div>
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The river was as beautiful as it can be:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1wgUaL_gyZ8QmJjEw0AJX9gL1wfwYFImsxnUQSTQhxNty-aZoyfdMkUXLWcPZh2HgZ-u0Ra54avAn_ltO4USXISAxMDqxuklQRKJtvEbj_KHAcf-teQLXoQ8p1rFSSOcIec7gkulBPY/s1600/TEBS2016R2_007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1wgUaL_gyZ8QmJjEw0AJX9gL1wfwYFImsxnUQSTQhxNty-aZoyfdMkUXLWcPZh2HgZ-u0Ra54avAn_ltO4USXISAxMDqxuklQRKJtvEbj_KHAcf-teQLXoQ8p1rFSSOcIec7gkulBPY/s400/TEBS2016R2_007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The daly river in the afternoon.</div>
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But it was time for us to go back to the camping ground.</div>
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On the way we saw some TEBS participants who had elected to sleep in their boat. Straight on the river ready to fish at night if the fish were to come on the chew.</div>
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But with what seemed to be a storm coming we went for the safe option.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2j60fIBN7AX_W6bwqla2CcYXvFSF9XMepgBOYsKUr9DULIE5gcIp9SSW9KFdlw9M_SERPYvIskeX6DBevnBeYTMhf_t3UEj6i-rxdlBHdXyCv8c1KHryFRmQaboMTDZ6hX4G4nlR4mo/s1600/TEBS2016R2_009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2j60fIBN7AX_W6bwqla2CcYXvFSF9XMepgBOYsKUr9DULIE5gcIp9SSW9KFdlw9M_SERPYvIskeX6DBevnBeYTMhf_t3UEj6i-rxdlBHdXyCv8c1KHryFRmQaboMTDZ6hX4G4nlR4mo/s400/TEBS2016R2_009.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Sailing back to camp.</div>
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The rain was only very short, and after a good shower and a steak at the camp, we fell asleep pretty quick. Yes fishing is exhausting...</div>
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On the following morning, the light gave a sensation of end of the world, or maybe new beginning...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ_GoVI0Ky1TFGG0rZuKJBKc8Xb4z_BVEX3lP6eBLQjyBcomTDkwH3qs9sYlwoYFpohyphenhyphenmHOcr24xla9SNwXYrqKNbK_z18almpRC9XdE0TLJW8hXsfPi87fepvAJcN3PeR_FbTs-zS2A/s1600/TEBS2016R2_010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ_GoVI0Ky1TFGG0rZuKJBKc8Xb4z_BVEX3lP6eBLQjyBcomTDkwH3qs9sYlwoYFpohyphenhyphenmHOcr24xla9SNwXYrqKNbK_z18almpRC9XdE0TLJW8hXsfPi87fepvAJcN3PeR_FbTs-zS2A/s400/TEBS2016R2_010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Morning light at the Banyan Farm.</div>
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This is what I saw as I was getting out of my tent. </div>
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And then we went to the boat ramp:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7uYE73uqyqnZVYqQxb-ScmO9hX-YaE8foMeRGjOyA-Oo3kE8T8HMFjcfZ_lmv0yPEixcKW-w3adkELVOvjtTlDoJcCtx7IRUELo7uf_yHEWiM0ORLQv63kdmGb7159qfxu5t4JzRwBg/s1600/TEBS2016R2_011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7uYE73uqyqnZVYqQxb-ScmO9hX-YaE8foMeRGjOyA-Oo3kE8T8HMFjcfZ_lmv0yPEixcKW-w3adkELVOvjtTlDoJcCtx7IRUELo7uf_yHEWiM0ORLQv63kdmGb7159qfxu5t4JzRwBg/s400/TEBS2016R2_011.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Light at the boat ramp.</div>
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There the light was a bit different, but still quite impressive.</div>
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No wonder I love going fishing so much. At any time of the day, there is something to look at.</div>
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Just wait to see...</div>
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Jason drove the boat past Brown Creek, a spot of very low water, where a few boats ran into trouble:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0QdyJcNcO_A6iXJZL8UsegBKsd3V2BAMDHqHcwIoS4zRvmG0-AMH7uuyN4IIvhOrVvqIkwmHjEKzipuHDbDVbHV5XUt43h6S-DVY-YdhCxBznSIe5RNuk31-fbw7od0-r00XQgOV5qU/s1600/TEBS2016R2_012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0QdyJcNcO_A6iXJZL8UsegBKsd3V2BAMDHqHcwIoS4zRvmG0-AMH7uuyN4IIvhOrVvqIkwmHjEKzipuHDbDVbHV5XUt43h6S-DVY-YdhCxBznSIe5RNuk31-fbw7od0-r00XQgOV5qU/s400/TEBS2016R2_012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Jason driving his boat.</div>
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Not long after that, we were at the spot where I had caught my Barramundi on the day before.</div>
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And Jason line got stretched!</div>
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He was on!</div>
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The fish started by taking a good run, and quickly as I could, I opened the net.</div>
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Yes this was going to be the biggest fish of the day, but after a good fight we saw what kind of fish it was.</div>
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And Barramundi it was not...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQKi4uqv7abIff0bZAJEmIUlzOS1A6VALESCfhaglNtxU2-s7Z73wzjAs5O-jPqUBA56f2QT3h6lOtG52xHAtp5G47nixDZtJflV2FZj_FuMb4zVFpwwq4Dr5v2stpToy1ZvkMJpaIUo/s1600/TEBS2016R2_013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQKi4uqv7abIff0bZAJEmIUlzOS1A6VALESCfhaglNtxU2-s7Z73wzjAs5O-jPqUBA56f2QT3h6lOtG52xHAtp5G47nixDZtJflV2FZj_FuMb4zVFpwwq4Dr5v2stpToy1ZvkMJpaIUo/s400/TEBS2016R2_013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Shark on the lure.</div>
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Yes the Daly too is a river with a healthy population of shark.</div>
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Even if we both felt slightly disappointed that it was not a Barramundi, we did have a good laugh about it. These sharks can give you a good work out on Barra gear.</div>
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Not long after I got my second Barramundi of the weekend.</div>
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As soon as it hit, I thought, Oh this is not a big one, but please be at least 50cm...</div>
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But it was only 48cm, not even a point scorer.</div>
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Still a fish is a fish, and it definitively made me smile.</div>
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It was on the same lure than my last fish too, the lucky found lure.</div>
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As we were cruising along the river, either trolling or casting our lures to snags and fishy looking spots. We kept an eye on all the crocodiles that we were seeing. Yes the Daly has a big population of large salt water and fresh water crocodiles.</div>
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We then spotted a salt water one, that seemed to swim a bit strange.</div>
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So we went closer, once we realised that it looked pretty much dead.</div>
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And dead it was:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3djVKiY6IdTWg6LvHSTL4H1azTnyfJgED2H4PBmkvwULGAVD9KdEFjc73foXnvW5ZvMdA2wMjeW-qvzRXzDNlzMBWE5DF6ZedFDA8FP-050-HvZnXDfQAc9XGCPTRIceStkw7t3SwgE/s1600/TEBS2016R2_015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3djVKiY6IdTWg6LvHSTL4H1azTnyfJgED2H4PBmkvwULGAVD9KdEFjc73foXnvW5ZvMdA2wMjeW-qvzRXzDNlzMBWE5DF6ZedFDA8FP-050-HvZnXDfQAc9XGCPTRIceStkw7t3SwgE/s400/TEBS2016R2_015.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dead crocodile on the Daly River.</div>
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It was floating along with the tide, and was really smelly. In fact you could even say that the thing stank like there was no tomorrow!</div>
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Now I don't know what killed it, but if that was another crocodile, it must then have been a very big one... Scary...</div>
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And this, was the story of the 2016 Top End Barra Series Round 2 from my own point of view.</div>
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The fish that I caught put me in the ninth position for the round and 19th on the overall scoreboard.</div>
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Which for me is not that bad really, even rather good.</div>
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We still had a great time, it was good to catch up with some mate, and to fish on that river where I don't go very often.</div>
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Thank you Jason for inviting me on your boat.</div>
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Yes we could have caught more fish...</div>
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But hey, it could be worse.</div>
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Have a good day,</div>
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Me.</div>
Rambling Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05776927925905364489noreply@blogger.com0