Bag a Barra — 10 June 2022

It's time to head to the Top End and Baga Barra. With Glenn Watty Watts. Thanks to Shimano. Remember to buy local and fish local. visit Shamanofish.com.au.

Well, he used the man up in the northern territory and our Top End fishing guru. And in fact, we've been up there with him and went out fishing with him and done all this stuff. Hang around. We thought we were mates.

And then this year he just flicked us. But he did give us the flick for a pretty good reason because he's busy time of the year, and in light of COVID and borders closures and stuff, he had a, you know, he had a bit of a couple of lean years here, just like everybody else, but he's been full noise, and it all started when he took off with his base camp and based himself down at the Daly River, and he's been flat out ever since, and I've had people say, where's Watty? Where's Watty gone? We're going to send out, we're going to get these stickers, mate.

Where's Watty? Where are you, Watty? G'day, duck. Yeah, I'm back at home. Today.

I'm actually, I'll give you a good visual image here. I'm tidying up the fly, tying desk, all the feathers and fluff and everything going around, and it's warm enough to be sitting near me jocks with the windows open. so. No, I want to know if it's freezing here.

Seriously. Freeze a dog off a chain here, mate. It's absolutely freezing in our part of the world. You've just been cold.

But yeah, I know, up there, you just, well, I know. I mean how good is it? But mate, you haven't been on for a while and people have been worrying and, you know, where's Watty and, you know, did you give him the flick and all that stuff? I said, mate, he's flat out.

But it's great, mate, you've been hard at it, mate. Firstly, how was the Daly River camp out? That was when you 1st took off. Uh, it's just they've been catching them up there now.

This is the time of year to be in the Top End thrown in the line, isn't it? Yeah, well that's right. So we, um, we started off at the Daly there in uh, mid-February, um, and uh, fished right through until the end of April, um, down the Daly, and it did, it fished really well overall. Of course, like any, any efficient spots, you have um sort of quiet days and, and um, good days, but no, overall, a fish, um, probably the fish the best, it's, it's fish since, you know, in the last 4 years anyway, which was really good.

getting some good numbers and and good average size, which was really good, and and from there I moved the, the base camp to um, Dundee where it still remains. I've got one more uh 5 day trip, starting next week to, to finish off down there, and then, then I'll give myself a bit of a break actually, and um, and sort of cut back to just a couple of trips a month, and um, and get stuck into these other businesses that we've got going on as well, which of course, um, you know, with international travel opening up, and and these sorts of things, our, our booking agency side of things is, is really starting to ramp up again as well. So it's all, it's all going, mate. But um, you know, uh, I'm lucky enough to do something that I enjoy.

So, you know, it's, um, that time has flown since, I guess since I last spoke to you for sure. Yeah, absolutely. And I'm like you, mate, we are very, very lucky to do what we do for a job, that is 100%. Mate, the, it's great that you, you know, that you're busy and you've gone through those quiet times, you know, we're uncertain times, I guess, really, when we weren't sure what was happening with COVID and border closures and the like, and now it's just all systems go for you, and fantastic that you're busy and plenty of people booking with you.

Why wouldn't they? You're the best in the business as far as we're concerned up there. I know there are other fishing guys up there, Watty, but no, you're our man, mate. So, mate, the $1000000 fish.

Did anyone jag it? I don't think so, did they? No, he's still out there swimming around. They gave us a big clue this year for the 1st time ever.

Actually, as to where this year's fish was released, and funnily enough, there's a bloody good chance of getting caught, actually, because the $1000000 fish remains active right through the year, and it was released for this season in Darwin Harbour. Yeah, right. So any, anytime anyone goes fishing in, in Darwin Harbour and starts get, and get the barrow jumping, you, you know, you could be in with a chance of your, your entire life changing. sort of thought. So in other words, even though that the promotions are over, if you still catch the fish, you can still jag the million.

is that right? Yeah, that's right. So the $1000000 ones remain active right throughout the year. So I think this season was the servant, 6 or 7th season.

So, um, there's, there's over half a dozen fish out there now where you can, can still catch a $1000000 fish. um who knows what's happened to the ones from season one or 2 by now. But, um, yeah, certainly, you would expect that the, the, um, the one from this season still happily swimming around out there in Darwin Harbour. Unbelievable, unless someone's called him after a few beers and didn't, Jerry.

Hey, wouldn't you be dirty on? wouldn't you be dirty on that? It's like throwing out a lotto ticket with the right numbers ticked. eh?

There's every chance that's happened. Yeah, especially up there. Hey, the blokes on the drinking, what's this? I'm just, or how would you be if you had the thing just about in the boat?

And it got off or a crock took it. Yeah, well, I've got a lot. You'd be diving back in to get it, wouldn't you? Oh, we had one at the side of the boat there a couple of years ago jumping in November in Darwin Harbour, and I definitely saw it that it had a red tag, and he jumped off, but I went back to that same spot on the same tides every fortnight that I could for about 6 swings and didn't even catch a barrel, so he must have told all his mates, too. Oh, yeah, not bad, mate.

not bad at all Yeah, no, I knew that they'd had a bit of a celebration up there in light of that competition because the radiators who were mates of mine. There's a band down, the base down here, who travel over the place. Obviously, he's been around for a long time.

They performed up there, so I actually spoke to one of my mates who's in the radiators on the show, and they flew in to entertain the masses up there at Daily, Daly River, which was great. Mate. mate, so it's all happening up there at the moment. Plenty of people about.

Yeah, there is. There's heaps of people. It's really good. everyone's flat out.

In fact, a big problem at the moment for, for a lot of the restaurants and stuff, they were just looking like getting back up on their feet. He's actually getting staff to serve all these people, whereas um, a lot of time we're going out at the moment, you've got to book well in advance, of course, which is a good tip and um, and some of them have even got reduced seating capacity because they, um, they can't get the staff, but uh, there is so many people around. There's so many caravans and camper vans and, and of course, we're, we're, we're truly into the dry season now. We actually just had our, um, 1st 1st sort of really cold night, um, here where everyone woke up whinging, um, we're dropped down to about 20 degrees overnight in Darwin. Yeah, yeah, the locals, the locals, the locals would be, uh, the only ones whinging because the people from the southern states should be going, how good is this? I can tell you now this morning when I woke up at my place.

I checked the temperature it was one. Yeah. I don't think my weather station goes down that way. Yeah, I know, it doesn't. I understand that.

But have you been at the corroborate Villa long lately for a bit of a go? My favourite my favourite fishing spot up there? Yeah, I haven't, you'd be happy to know that it's fishing really well too, actually. It's quite busy.

All the houseboats and barbeque barges are out every day and we were out there. I took some family out there. Um, over the weekend just to do a bit of bird watching and crock watching and stuff and um, yeah, there was heaps of people and, and uh, I fished it with Fly about the week before, um, and yeah, Saratoga and Barra are in there in good numbers and really good sizes again too. So it's, um, it's a sign of a good seat, um, of sort of a good enough wet season when, when the billabong's fishing well, and, of course, the most beautiful place to go for a look.

So yeah, we love it out there. Mate, I, I, for me, that was, that was a highlight of that trip while I was up there, you know, that's a couple of years ago now. What do I got to get back there, mate? That is for sure.

But that was the highlight for me, just getting out there, albeit I was 5 minutes late, I think, other day. But uh, getting out there and that with that sun coming up was we hit the water was just an amazing place and for me, it was, it was the real deal. It was like, it's what the territory's all about. It's what people would expect when they go to the Top End, I reckon.

And look, if you get up there, if you're going up there. you've got to do it. You talk about a lot of people about, mate. We're right at the start of the travel season.

I mean, we're in what? You know, the 2nd week of June, uh, mate, it's your run right through till the end of September, won't it, this year? Ah, yeah, absolutely. That's right. So, there's still plenty of time for people to come up and uh, actually, even now, there's probably, there's still um, some of these bush tracks and stuff out in Kakadu that, that aren't open yet.

So, there's no great panic for people, you know, um, you, you get up here by the end of June. I suppose all these tracks should be opened up and and then you've got you've really got everything to go and have a look at as far as options goes. They have opened up a heap more camp sites in Lichfield too, which is really awesome to hear. I haven't been there.

Yeah, thanks, Scoop. Thank you, Scoop. Thank you, Scoop. Thank you, Scoop, because mate, if you'd have been on this program or even had the time to listen to it.

You would have known that we spoke about those campsites with Pat Callanan. a while back and I think and I think we've spoke on them, I spoke about them with Vic Whitman as well here on this show. Yeah, they're the new they're the new camp spots in Litchfield and uh, you know, happy days. I mean, if you can get up there.

For me, it's the jewel and the crown. I love it. And as people know, probably sick of me saying it, to be honest, but I just think it's fantastic, that Top End and the northern territory this time of year is the time to be there or in the next, over the next couple of months, as you say. Mate, you mentioned Kakadu.

Have you been out out there? had a chance? Uh, yeah, we came, we went out to Kakadu. Oh, gosh, it's such a long time since I've spoken to you.

I dont know if I've mentioned it since, but yeah, we had a quick kiss of the south there, um, a couple of months ago just to, uh, get some trails for the low tide and stuff. The river, um, is pretty notorious for putting people on the mud for, for a day and a half if you don't know where you're going. So I like to go down there when I got plenty of time one day and just slowly mark my channel down each year, which is cool. And big news for us this year. It's only just come through in the last week or so, actually, is that I've I've now got a permit to um do my guided fishing in Kakadu, which is uh super exciting.

There's only 3 operators. I think these days to do guided fishing in the whole of Kakadu. So that opens up a heap of heap more billabongs and a couple of more river systems for us as options for fishing, which is super exciting. I'm actually trying to plan a 2 or 3 day trip out there myself so we can figure out how we're going to do all logistics going forward, which is going to be awesome.

Oh, absolutely, because I know you'll go out there for a personal fish, but now you can actually take pay customers out there, which is fantastic, mate. Well done. Congratulations on that because, look, a lot of people, look, a lot of people who travel to the Top End, they want to go to Kakadu, and they want to go fishing in Kakadu, and then explore everything else that Kakadu has to offer. There's plenty in there, as you know, which is great.

Mate, you mentioned a couple of new businesses. Do you want to elaborate on that or what are we up to? Yeah, well, of course, uh, my uh, the online core stuff continues to um, sort of tick along. I haven't had much time to focus on that, obviously, um, since runoff fishing's been, um, sort of taken up the attention, but I'm really keen to get back into that and uh, and sort of serve some more clients and, and help get them on their barrow journeys kicking along, and then, um, I'm sure we mentioned earlier, uh, maybe late last year that um, myself and my brothers bought a business called Angling Adventures, where we, we, um, sort of act as the conduit between people who haven't been um, on any of these big charters before, and and we can um, we can get them booked on with the sort of the best operators around, and, and of course, overseas as well.

One of our biggest markets is the um, is the Barramundi and Black Bass in Papua New Guinea, so, there's always huge demand for that. It's a real cultural experience as well as amazing fishing. So, I'm really keen. I'm actually heading over to Fish for Blackbath in Lake Murray in September myself.

Um, so that I know what I'm talking about when I'm, um, you know, organising other people to head over there. So, super excited for that to get going and, you know, as the, as the planes start taking off again, off we all can go. Well, mate, I didn't know about that one, so that's breaking news. Angling adventures.

So we'll keep people up to date with that so they can go and do all that big... Oh, mate, there's plenty of people who love it and blokes who get away. and girls, get away with those big fishing trips and those ones where you, you know, scoot overseas and scoot the wild ones and the like. So mate, good stuff will keep people posted.

All right, Watty, you're a good man. We finally, finally got a hold of you and got you back on the show, which is great, mate. We might start getting a few listeners back now that you're here. It's lucky it's not a video show, mate.

Otherwise we'll be scaring them away again. Oh, no, no, no. Well, that's well, that, well, hello, please. I mean, that's why it is a radio show because you can't see me.

But no, good stuff, mate. I'm sure the, and I'm sure all the bottlos in Darwin, I've wrapped to know that you're back. And they probably thought, geez, it's been quiet around here lately. But what he's back.

If you own a bottle in Darwin, well done. Get ready because Watty's back in town, which is fantastic. you'll get your sales back up again, which would be great. You're a good man, mate.

We'll see if we can't jag you next week for you. Yeah, that'll be good. Should be a problem. There he is.

Glenn. What do you want? Barefoot Fishing Safaris. Well, tell you more about that angle as adventures as well.

We'll get some information. We get Watty to send me some information on that and we'll give that a run. That's, that is the go. And, uh, see, more of a Scott Watty is a bit of a broker. He'll organise the thing for you and off you go and do it, which would be fantastic.

What a great idea. And so we'll keep you up to date with all of that. And certainly, I'll get Wadi to send me some details and all of that. But in the meantime, if you want to go with the best in the business and go and catch that, you know, that Barramundi in the Top End, you need to jump onto Barefoot Fishing Safaris, jump onto the website or check out the Facebook page of the same name, Barefoot Fishing Safaris, and it's great that Watty, who's been a part of this show now for a good couple of years, at least 3 years, I think, and he had to take that break because that's, he's been out fishing.