Bag a Barra — 6 March 2026

It's time now to head to the Top End and Bagabara, with Glenn Watty Wat, thanks to Barefoot Fishing Safaris and Uniden, for the best in UHF communications, explore the extract series at uni.com.au. Well, we were just talking to Vic, we've been about all the water that's happening up north, and I've got to say, it doesn't get any more north than the northern territory, and in the Top End, and of course, it's very wet up there at the moment, and our man, who has just been on some sort of wrought junket in South Africa. God knows what he was doing there, what he contributed is beyond me. But anyway, we'll find out.

Our man, Watty from Barefoot Fishing Safaris. He's on the line. Watty, g'day. G'day, duck, yeah.

It was a good little trip over there. What did you do? What did you do there? I mean, what was your contribution to this?

Well, yeah, I sort of wondered that meself. After the 1st couple of sessions, mate, because there's about 180 people there from 27 different countries and 178 of them were scientists and fisheries managers and stuff, and there was myself and one other fellow there from America that were fishing guides, and the rest of them were, they were thinking on a bit of a higher level than us a lot of the time, I think, but some really high, high level and really interesting scientific work going on all around the world in recreational fishing space. So that's what that's all about. It's a scientific conference where they all sort of share their work and network and, of course, something that you probably don't think of too much and until someone tells you, is that there's a lot of fish species around the world, like the various Marlins and big tuners that cross international borders.

So it's a good chance to do a bit of collaboration between countries that are sort of relying on the same fish to travel between the two. So yeah, it was a really interesting thing to go to. Did you understand what they was talking about? I mean, when the, you know, when the scientists got up and stuff, I mean, were you dozing off or were you just thinking about, what the hell are these blokes talking about? Or were you across it?

Yeah, no, I wouldn't say I was across the whole thing. I mean, there's a lot of pretty complex graphs and numbers and charts and stuff going up on the PowerPoint presentations, mate, but the, the crux of the whole, uh, virtually all the talks there is, um, sort is the same, and that's that, there, there's just not enough, um, sort of uh, accurate data out there for recreational fishing, and then to actually get it into some science, and, and then turned into action on the ground. Seems like it's a really hard thing to do. So, um, I guess that's where people like myself and a couple of other guys that were there, um, sort of come in.

You know, we get a chance to sit in those rooms and try and understand it a bit and then we can explain it to, um, you know, the regular guys over the radio and via our newsletters and social media and stuff like that. So that's probably my role in it. Yeah. And just quickly, I mean, you said it was you and an American guide.

I mean, so what happened at night after the conference through the day? I mean, did it go all day and what did you do at night? Oh, mate, it was 4 days. Yeah, 4 full days of 15 minute lectures, one after the other after the other.

So I did about 70 odd lectures I attended. But yeah, a big part of it is the social sort of networking stuff afterwards as well. Of course, they had functions after each day, which was really cool because you get meet some really interesting people from all around the world. And Australia actually puts up a pretty good show there.

We, um, we were the most uh, we had the most attendees by far, probably double next to probably Canada was next to us. Uh, and and also the most presenters from Australia as well. We really lead the way in a lot of the wreck fishing sort of management and um, and research and stuff like that in Australia, which, which is sort of good, but, you know, it's a, also a bit of a worry because you, you think about. I mean, we still have some fairly significant challenges right across the country and if we're the best in the world,

There must be a lot of countries that are really battling um just to try and get some regulation and sustainability in their wreck fishing. So, um yeah, good, good and bad. But, um, yeah, it's nice. It's comforting to know that sort of Australia's having a real crack at, keeping wreck fishing, sort of at a high level.

Well, we do, we are an island and we do have rivers everywhere and creeks. So, you know, so fishing's a big part of life here now. The Top End, it's got a lot of rain up there, what's doing with the fishing and how is life up there in the Top End of the moment with this wet season that just seems to big, isn't it? It's a big one

Oh, mate, yeah, it's the, it's certainly the weirdest one I've ever been involved in. And our local um, weekly uh, big um, feature in the newspaper, Alex Julius, is a longtime fishing guru up here. He wrote an article saying that, you know, it's not very often you say that's enough rain, but this might be about one of those times. It's absolutely flooded still. You can hardly get on the grass to mow the lawn and yeah, I've been sort of lucky, I guess, that I haven't started my guiding yet, not until another couple of days from now.

But, um, yeah, the guys that have been getting out there being, um, standing the rain most of the day, but there has been, um, plenty of good reports coming through already. Um, the coastal creeks around, uh, Shady Camp, and the Mary River there, efficient really well as long as the weather's not too rough to get to them, and, and then, of course, they're into Kakadu, where I'm heading, um, is, is sort of easier as well, um, when it's all flooded up on the Billabong floodplains there. So, yeah, it's going to be good. that's for sure.

So you're into kaku. Is that for your camp? You go in there and you stay in there, don't you? Yeah, that's right.

I'll run the caravan in there tomorrow or so, set that up, and then I'll get it out for a fish for a couple of days myself, see if I can figure out what's going on, and then a couple of days after that, the clients turn up for the 1st trip of the year. So it's exciting to get back into it. But hopefully the rain sort of eases off a bit because I don't really like being soggy all day, mate. Well, a bunch everywhere.

I mean, I mean, it's a lot of water about. We've mentioned it a few times today, but certainly the Top End I know up around Cape York as well, well, obviously a fair bit east from you, but yeah, cyclones and all sorts of things. I mean, it's seems to be happening, but I have seen some of those videos up there in the Northern Territory, and certainly it's been a massive, wet, massive, and yeah, for sure. Anyway, so but obviously that'll all have an effect on all the fishing as we talk about it here.

as we move along. And, mate, I've got to say, I'll look, I'm thinking, I'm tipping, we'll be in for a treat when we get up there and spend some great quality time. you in July. Oh, yeah, I mean, it'll be absolutely prime by then. All those waterfalls will still be cranking and stuff, but, you know, the weather will be a bit more stable and it'll be all be happening.

I mean, and you never know, the grass might still be green by then if it keeps raining like it is, mate. See what happens. Yeah, absolutely. We're going to put Dundee on our list this time too.

going to camp out there. Yeah, that's the go. Yep. Go out and have a couple of...

Put your mate's name out there, Popey, your mate, Popey. We get onto him and we'll get out there. Look forward to that. There we go.

And it's downtime too, so we'll be able to just, you know, kick back. be good. It'll be good. All right, you're a good man.

I'm glad you got back from South Africa safely and that you're over there holding court and running things. And, um, I mean, did you? I mean, I mean, you're probably set there after those sessions colouring in, to be honest. But I mean, at the end of the day, you were over there doing it, mate. Well done to you.

And it is great because you can pass on what you've learnt there and as you say, you can put that out on social media and videos and other things that you do. You're very passionate about it. So, um, and these things are held for a reason and that's why you were there. So hopefully all that will be benefit to people that go fishing with you in the future, mate.

Yeah, that's right. It's good to be part of it, and it sort of makes you realise that, um, that it's, uh, it sort of extends further than just your own little patch at home. So, um, yeah, some really interesting stuff went on over there and over the next few weeks, I'll get a bit more of it out. I've got a little summary of each of the lectures I attended and yeah, I'll start getting that out to people. As it all sort of soaks into the brain, mate.

It's taken a little while, but, um, yeah, it was good to get home and sort of just, um, just relax a little bit because of a pretty intensive few days. All right, good stuff. All right, mate. Will you take it easy up there?

Try and stay dry. We'll catch you next week, eh? Righto, mate. Good on you.

There he is. That's our man, Watty, Barefoot Fishing Safaris, and of course, angling adventures based up there in Darwin in the Top End.