Bag a Barra — 26 November 2021

It's time to head to the Top End and Bagabara with Glenn Watty Watts. Thanks to Shimano. Remember to buy local and fish local, visit Shamanofish.com.au. Well, he's our expert up there, Glenn Watty, of course, he's the owner operator of Barefoot Fishing Safaris.

up in the northern territory. And if you're heading that way next year, you want to book those fishing trips to get out and grab that elusive Barramundi, you need to jump onto Barefoot Fishing Safaris.com.au. Or, of course, just jump on the Facebook page and make your booking and get on because, let me tell you, if nothing like catching a bar of money with my mate, Watty, who I'm led to believe we've caught with a long neck between his legs. Is that right? Yeah, that's right, duck.

1st one for the day. So you know, life's good. We are talking about a beer, of course. Now, listen, look, 1st and foremost, we've had some COVID drama up there, which we won't get into too much here, because it changes rapidly up there, but not a good place for COVID.

How are they managing all of that? Yeah, I mean, we're pretty lucky up here in that we are separated by pretty big distances. So, they've been able to get on top of this, um, the outbreak, which is out in a couple of um, aboriginal communities out there past Catherine. They're doing a pretty good job and everyone's working hard.

The community's, um, you know, small towns, they get behind each other and everyone sort of does a lot thing. So, you know, fingers crossed, they continue to, um, get it sorted out and um, and the job be right. vaccinations going through the roof, of course, because of this sort of stuff. It's our 1st scare up here.

So, um, you know, that I guess that's good for us uh, going forwards. But yeah, it's uh, it's, um, it's something they've uh, been working pretty hard to try and clotch. And of course, it's, um, it doesn't seem to be as virulent in the, um, hotter weather, so that's something that really goes in our favour up here, particular this time here. Absolutely.

You made a good point too. There's some large distances between towns up there. So that will certainly work in your favour. And, look, I thought the northern territory were almost immune to the coronavirus, to be honest. I mean, it was done such a great job of cooping in a bay, but it could spread spread all over the world, so at some point it was probably going to make its way there.

So I'm sure your mate gunners, who hasn't had a bad job of managing the COVID-19 outbreaks and keeping it at bay. He's probably all over it and probably won't do a bad job of all of that. Now, mate, how's the weather been? We're into it now, we're what, you know, at the end of November.

Um, mate, you be steamy. Yeah, that's right. Yep. Been on the water every day this week, actually, and it's been, there's certainly been hot, particularly in the Arvos, but we are getting those pretty regular showers still, like we've been mentioning.

It continues to build really nicely. So everything's beautiful and green and gardens growing like buggery. So, it, um, you know, we're, we're lining up and I think they have forecasts for pretty good one eating year events. So, um looks like we're in for a big wet season, which is, you know, that's what it all is all about up here for everything, not just the fishing, but everything.

Yeah, hang on a sec. Watty, now. Bunch, are you in the bleachers mate? Yeah, yep. Did he, did that, Watty pronounce it, right?

Yeah, nailed it. He nailed it. Yeah, everyone's on form today. He nailed it.

Yeah, everyone nailed it. Yeah, you nailed it. He nailed it. I didn't think I nailed it.

Yeah, you nailed it. Duck, don't you? You nailed it. Okay. I'm not a fan of, I don't know who comes up with these names, but I'm not a fan of LaNania or whatever you want to call it.

Well, I believe the word was the people who came up with it with the Spanish. Really? Yeah, that's right. Yeah, it means little girl. Well, what's that got to do with rain and cold temperature?

Well, because the other one's La Nino, which means little boy. So, you know, there's siblings. Again, I repeat the question. What does any of that have to do with?

It's just being poetic, Doctor. Whether weather events. Anyway, I've got to say to you, in our part of the world, we're not too keen on it. It's not real good on the East Coast, I can assure you, what, you're actually going away next weekend, and the forecast for the next 7 or 8 days, this looks like rain, rain, and more rain, but worst of all, some days the temperature's 17 degrees.

I'm tipping, it's been a long time since you've seen 17 degrees. Oh yeah, you're not wrong. We, we probably had 17 degrees for 2 days in a row in June, I reckon, but that, that's a, um, that's a distant and not very fond memory, but, um, yeah, I, I'll just correct Bunchy there a little bit. The, uh, the opposite of, uh, of, uh, the, uh, La Nino is El Nino, which is the little both of you right that way.

See, I'm not, I'm not crushing it. everyone else is crushing it. Being an old retired farmer. And I'll retire.

Oh, hang on, an old retired farmer. Oh, that'll do me. I mean, you... I mean, I think you're almost 20 years younger than me. You're kidding, aren't you?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, we do a tough out in the bush there. Oh, yeah. I've seen how tough you're doing up there.

I have spent some time with you. It's a short memory, pal. I know exactly how tough you're done. You're getting down to the bottle over before it closes. That the only time you're doing it tough.

Now, listen, what about the fish? You've been out in the water every day, had any luck? Yeah, look, it has been good. We've come off some pretty spring tide this week and then easing into the neap tides over the weekend there.

We had one trip. Oh, half day for 4 hours in the morning there. We, um, we, uh, the biggest, um, guys landed um, was the 92 and blew another 3 fish about the same size, that the boat got um, taken into snags and um, and this and that and another couple of others. So, as well as another, uh, actually the trip before that, um, the day before that, um, about a dozen barrow on the end of the line that day. So, yeah, they're certainly biting pretty well and it always happens up here at this time of year.

Not many of you guys. I keep referring to you every now and then as the Mexicans, you don't, you don't experience it too much, but uh, because you're all too scared of the hot weather, but this is a really good time of year to be in the Top End if you're, if you're keen on a bit of barrow fishing for sure. The more uncomfortable we are, the better the fish seem to bite. Yeah, it's good way of putting it, isn't it?

And like you say, we've actually spoken here on other programs too, in regards to, you know, don't ignore the Top End in the wet season and when things are warming up because, you know, there are some advantages to that. I mean, the water's flowing, you know, the plant lives out and about. It's you get a light show every night of the week. It's not a bad spot to be at any time with you.

I just wish I was there with you now, mate. Yeah, well, that's right. I mean, it's this is the time of year, particularly when you get those really nice black seas as well. So, if you get out and get your fishing done by lunchtime and you can be back there, on the, on the, at the pub at the front bar for a cannery, lunch and a couple of frothies over the wood, you know, life, life's pretty good, isn't it?

Hard to beat that. Matt, now you're talking. Now, what about the $1000000 fish competition? Any tag fish court this week?

Yeah, there was. We jagged another one and that was another daily rear fish. So, um, the local boys down there are doing all right out of it, I think. Um, this bell has, this has got one the year before or the year, uh, maybe 2 years prior as well, so they're doing all right. Um, and yeah, um, caught land based off the, you know, you only need a handline to, to make 10 grand up here.

That's what we've found. So, you know, um, yeah, goes to show just how, how well the fishing is down or how good the fishing is down there. There's always a couple of these tag fish caught down. you know, and that's within that particular spot of their Bamboo Creek off the bank there.

That's within couple of K's of the public boat ramp. You can walk down from the road, 50 metres and you're, and you're within a chance and, and a lot of big fish get caught there too. So, um, yeah, an amazing part of the, the world and anyone who's been there. you know, it really is one of those sort of places that when you think of the territory,

That's, that's sort of, that's the, that's the real deal out there type thing, you know? Yeah, love it, mate. Sounds fantastic. As well as, yeah, my favourite spot, corrobory, Billabong. I thought that was pretty much the real deal as well.

That's a great spot there. And but like you say, the Daly River, well, it's produced a couple of dollars for the locals down there, which is pretty good. I reckon there'd be people down there every day, every afternoon after work, going down to jag that 10 K. Yeah, bloody oath.

You can't blame them either. I'll be doing the same thing if it wasn't a 3 hour drive from 10. I know. Anyway, you can always pop down to the Daly Waters pub from there, mate.

Yeah, yeah. Well, that's right. I mean, you can you can drive your boat up to up the river and tie her up to a tree and walk up the up the bank and get one over the wood there at the Daly River tab. So, yeah, like, um, it's, it's actually, it's a good little stopover when it gets a bit saucy, that's for sure.

Magic right, it'll stop over any time of year, mate. I know I spend some quality time there last year and we're, we're moving into a, we're venturing off, or when I say venturing off. We're sort of stretching our wings, Watty, and getting involved in other businesses, and part of that will be up your way, mate. So it could be spending some quality time with you next year, mate, which I certainly would look forward to.

But in the meantime, Watty, we'll let you go and get to that bottle shop before it shuts because I know you, once you get down to what a carton and a half you start to panic, so you better go and stock up. Well, that's right, especially if we, you know, perish the thought, we end up in another lockdown here, you want to have some supplies in the shed. So, yeah, I'm not, it's a good thing to prompt me with. I better go and stock up.

Just go and get a pallet, mate. Look, you usually do. We talk to you next week. Good on you mate.

There he is, of course, that is Glenn, what, our man, Watty, and he is the owner, operator of Barefoot Fishing Safaris, like I said, earlier, jump on the website, Barefoot Fishing Safaris.com.au.