Bag a Barra — 28 October 2022

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

Well, he's got the promotion. Finally, after 3 years, we've given this bloke a promotion straight off the top of the order because our man, Vic Woodman, was on some hill and struggling to get phone service, so he's moving to a different location, and I said, well, Vic, guess what? You've just been demoted because now we have to go the next in line and he's been waiting. This is a big day for you, Watty.

You must be so excited straight off the top of the show, eh? Come running in hot off the bench, mate. I'm ready to go. Put me in coach.

Not off the bench, at 1st up, you're on the run on side, mate. In. How good is it? Mate, they tell me...

Anyway, listen now, I'm broadcasting from one of your old stomping grounds at the Nullahbor. I think he got stranded with a couple of Swedish backpackers or something once, didn't you, Eddie? somewhere. Yeah, I think you might have driven past it by now.

Yeah, the Caiguna Roadhouse. I actually watched Warney take his 700 Test Wicket there on Boxing Day, broken down on the side of the road at the roadhouse and then, yeah, met a couple of nice girls there, which was, you know, the, the, that's another story, I suppose. Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

one that we don't talk about these days, but they were from where? They were backpackers from where? Yeah, yeah. Swedish girls.

Good girl. I mean, it could only happen to you, eh? I mean, seriously, broken down on the Nullabore at Christmas time with 2 Swedish backpackers. anyway.

Not to worry. They're still talking about it in these in these parts as well, apparently. But anyway. Yeah, I remember that poor bastard yeah.

Yeah, listen, now, I've got to tell you, actually, talking to a bloke this morning, mate, from up at your part of the world, who's travelling around with his wife at the van, on from Dundee Beach, and he was, he was travelling about, and he was, he handed us over some, you know, them lemonades and some onions and stuff, because he's not let, obviously, take produce and fruit through quarantine stations in this part of the world. Quarantine and border. chatted to him. I've got to say about this on the quarantine and the borders.

And I mean, obviously, I came through South Australia, then obviously in the WA, and I don't know why they ask you if you are carrying anything because they because, I'll tell you what happened. When I went into South Australia, the lady said, are you carrying any fruit and vegetables? I said, no, she said, I need to look in your fridges and your pantry, and I said, well, don't you believe me? She said, no.

I mean, seriously? I mean, why ask if they're going, and they did the same thing in WA. I mean, they said, oh, are you carrying? I said, no.

They said, okay, I need to check. I said, well, why don't you just say, you know, welcome to the border. We just need to do a routine check of your fridges and things like that. Instead of asking you, because they just don't take your word for it anyway.

So the question is just irrelevant, isn't it? I think they're probably trying to profile you, duck, to see how much of a dodgy bugger you are. They already know that you are, but they're just going to see which part of the spectrum you're on. How far are they got to look through all your stuff?

Ah, fair enough. But anyway, well, wait, I've never, we've never eaten so many vegetables and fruit in the last day and a half, I can tell you because we weren't throwing it away, Watty, as you'd expect me out. Oh, well, mate, of course.

Now, mate, they tell me that there's a couple of wealthier people in Darwin at the moment. Made some money this week. Oh, mate, they just keep going off and off. There was 33 of these $10,000 barricord in 3 days up here a few days ago.

One of them was actually a tourist, which was cool. That's the 2nd 2nd tourist in the in the whole time that's caught one. So, they're finally starting to happen, and um, yeah, I mean, they were just, that's just a scattering of fish amongst the, the huge numbers of Barrier that are getting caught up here at the moment. As you know, I've got my online core stuff, and we've got a couple little closed Facebook chats, and it's just going off every day with people catching heaps of barren, and we did pretty well ourselves down there at Dundee and Buino area, um where your old mate there is from, uh, last week.

So yeah, it's, it's definitely um, really fishing really well up here at the moment. And why is that? Is that because of the of the wet on the way and the and the change in the temperature? I mean, we've discussed this before, where the changes in weather and temperatures and seasons, you know, when you say seasons, you have two, you have wet and dry, but it'll change the fish habits.

Why? Is that why is that why they're biting at the minute? Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So they, they, um, yeah, the water temperature change and and um, a bit of increased or, or decreased salinity in the river, so they start getting some rain at, at, um, decrease the salinity and that really triggers the barrier to go into their um, sporting cycle.

Um, so to do that, they, they sort of congregate together in bit bigger groups and, and where they do that is, is, uh, so largely predictable once, once you know what you're looking for. So, um, yeah, I mean, uh, in general, up here, the, the, the harder it is for us as far as conditions goes, you know, hot and steamy and, and that sort of stuff, the better it is for the barrass, so, um, the more uncomfortable we are, the more comfortable they are type things. So, yeah, it's, I mean, it's, um, it's just a prime time to be out, uh, on the water, catching Barra, but it is, uh, it's also, you know, it's a hot, steamy and and can be a sort of dangerous time as well. You know, you've got to look after your heat stroke and all that sort of stuff, how to bloke get heat stroke on the boat um last trip, actually. So, yeah, you've got to be pre-mindful of that, this time of year, but uh, you know, it can be um absolutely worth it, especially if you get one of those tagged fish.

Absolutely. You're talking about the tourist court one. I was actually talking to old mate here who he's actually hit it off again now. He's heading back your way.

And he was saying that he lives near a caravan, but he must live near the caravan park up there at Dundee. He said that it's funny. He said during the dry, it's just packed. He said, this year was just enormously, just full, all lined up getting in.

But as she warmed up, they evacuated. I mean, the tourists would be dropping off a little bit up there now, wouldn't they? Oh, big time. Yeah, I can tell you right now that the Dundee Beach caravan park is virtually empty.

There's a couple of caravans there on the weekends from locals, but um, yeah, compared to, say, you know, August, September, um, you know, when it was, it was still chockers, uh, and of course, all through the dry season. Yeah, it's absolutely empty now, which is, um, yeah, it's a bit of a symptom of the, the weather and and also, well, the weather up here, but the weather down south, you know, generally getting better by this time of year too. So, they're tasting that comfortable. Medium temperature, I suppose, and off they go back back down south, but it's actually probably getting more rain down there than we are here at the moment too.

I'm going to say to you, mate, no good humming down. No good Eden south for the good weather. I mean it's absolutely crap. I mean, fed, ink.

I mean, is it raining over that? Oh, no, no. No, no, but no, no, it's not raining right now, but there has been rain here and we drove through a fair bit of rain. And when we pulled up here where we are now, There was, you know, big red mud puddles everywhere. It was and there was a bloke.

There's a couple of people camped here and one bloke walked up to me and he says, oh, mate, we've had a lot of rain here. But it's gone. It's reasonably sunny but cloudy today and but just so cold at night, which I guess was where we are. I mean, you got that wind coming off the Antarctic.

We are on the, you know, you can't get much more south than where we are now unless you're in the drink. So, um, so basically uh, at night it's fairly cool, but uh, no, we have had rain. The one thing that's just stood out for me in all of my travels basically from Northwest City to Adelaide was just the road conditions is terrible. Absolutely shock.

Because of the, you know, the rain and the potholes and the water everywhere and closures and just, yeah, anyway, I don't know they're going to keep up with it because they reckon there's more coming, so it just seems to have been, you know, in this, you know, in that part of the world, the longest winter ever. But anyway. So mate, what else? Anything else biting?

What are people up to or are they just out there after the jag, jag these barrers and try and get themselves 10 grand, hand good with that? Well, I mean, it'll be so good. It's definitely, I mean, the large focus is on the barrow, but of course, this time of year too, in between the periods of weather, we do get these absolute glass off conditions, these sort of proper, oily, slick oceans, and we had that last week down at Dundee there, and, and, um, you know, it's a perfect opportunity to head, head down towards the Parent Islands, um, which is one of the best places to fish, but pelagic fish, and, um, you know, we had a really, you know, fun day catching heaps of Travalean queenfish, and and some big mackerel as well. pitcher on the Barefoot uh Facebook and Instagram page there of about a 20 kilo Spanish mackerel that one of the boys poured on it. I want to be on one of my little barrowods.

So, that was a bit of fun. and um, you know, it took a bit home for himself, and we ate some there, and and given the rest away to all me friends and family up here too, which was really good. So, yeah, plenty of good blue water fishing happens at this time of year as well as bar fishing. just got to pick the windows a bit more. Yeah, good stuff, mate.

Sounds fantastic. All right. Well, mate, we'll leave you to it and just, you know, make sure you keep yourself hydrated, okay? Shouldn't be a problem for you.

Yeah, there's no problem about that. This time of year, we're going into, we'll get our 1st Christmas party on this weekend, so we... Hang on, hang on. Whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on. You've got your 1st Christmas party.

Yeah, yeah. It's October. As soon as soon as Willie starts putting the decorations out, we, um, Christmas party start after your birthday, yeah, we got the 1st one and then the fully, fully booked calendar every weekend until, till Christmas day, or till the week after Christmas, maybe we have another one there, just to make sure. You're kidding.

I mean, fed Tinkum. I mean, you blokes up there, if you, I mean, you should get drunk at an envelope opening. I mean, fair Dinkum, it's October. Your 1st Christmas party.

Christmas on. Your 1st... I mean, it'd be the 1st Christmas party in the country, if not the world. Seriously. It could well say.

It's actually a pretty cool one too. It's a, it's a, it's going to be a dog wedding and then the Christmas party. So there's 2 dogs that are getting married at the ski club. And, um, and... Two dogs are getting married.

Yeah, big pro, big Harley parade, bring the dogs in. Big dog wedding. What sort of dog? Oh, I just like a blokes, dogs.

I think one of them's a terrier and one of them, the pig hunting dogs. I just want to get married, mate. everyone's allowed to get married these days. No, but hang on a minute.

So what happens? Where do the dogs live once they're married? Oh, well, I don't know, whether they're going to share a bed or what's going on there? I mean, it'll be up to them.

for the dogs to decide, I suppose, once down there. This is an arranged marriage. Well, I guess it's um partially arranged. I don't know how a dog would go.

Partially. Are you imbecile? I mean, that would be partially arranged. I mean, do the dogs know what's happening?

Yeah, yeah, they're best mates. They're in love. That's why they're getting married. Only in the northern territory.

I mean, seriously, Christmas parties in October. Dog weddings. I mean, I just said you get, mate, I just said you get, you bloked up there, get, get on the drink at an envelope opening. You are just making up excuses now.

Not only are you putting the Christmas party in October, but getting dogs to have a wedding so you can get drunk at the wedding. I mean, Fed, Ing and Watty. I mean, seriously. Alcoholic gene animus for you, son.

Bit of mango madness, bit of Tropo happening up here, you reckon? It might be the case, too. I got to say to you, that was only in the northern territory. I love it up there, mate. Wish I was going to that wedding.

Thanks for the start. Are you the best man or? Who's the best dog? Do they have a best dog and all that or not? I don't know.

Well, we sort of talked about whether we should be inviting other dogs, but I don't know. Be a bit wild. Oh, what? I'm going to let you give, son. I just see you next week. I'll give you the report.

Just a quick, just a trick question. Is there any mid strength at this wedding? No. I think, yeah, well, that's the morning beer.

You know, we have that before lunch and then you have the full strength after lunch. usually how it goes. Yeah, so you want a rule? Hey, listen, see you, Watty.

See you, mate. There he is, Wadi. He'll be off escorting the dogs on their honeymoon after the wedding. Can you believe that?

Only in Australia, folks, in fact, only in the northern territory, a dog wedding and that is something else, and an October Christmas party. Geez, what he can find himself a gig, can't he? Fan Inkum. Anyway, you can check him out Barefoot Fishing Safaris.com.au.

can jump onto his Facebook page, buy the same name. He is the best in the business when it comes to catching Barramundi and fishing up there in the Top End and beyond now these days. He runs motherships and fishing trips over to New Guinea and the like, but he is our man in Darwin and of course the top in and the northern territory all up, really. He goes everywhere.

Barefoot Fishing Safaris. Check him out on Facebook or check out the website, Barefoot Fishing Safaris.com.au.