Sweetwater Fishing Forums
General Category => Fishing Reports => Topic started by: Dick Pasfield on March 05, 2011, 10:44:30 PM
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The floodplains of the Gulf seemed to miss some of the rain this year. TC Carlos sorted that by filling the whole lot up, now with regular top ups daily there's plenty of water running off into the rivers.
The Ord fishes pretty well at this time so it was worth a look the other day. Problem is the unsealed road along the river is closed due to flooding so we had no option but to go around the long way from Wyndham. That involves a 30 kay trip up the gulf to the mouth of the river and a further 50 kays down the river to lunkerville. In total we travelled 176 kays by boat and a further 200 by car on the day.
We got away just before dawn passing a couple of boats lined up at the jetty
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish1.jpg)
Mouth of the Ord, looking down towards Mount Connection, half way there. The gulf was like a indoor swimming pool.
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish2.jpg)
Getting close we sussed out the bait situation. Find the bait, find the fish
That ripple in front of ol' mate are mullet not game to leave the mud bank, one throw and we had heaps.
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish3.jpg)
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish4.jpg)
That's more bait in front of the chariot determined to stay on top. We literally had barra boofing within a metre of our legs as we disturbed the mullet.
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish5.jpg)
As the tide dropped the bait had no choice and we got a good 30 minute session before it was all over, barra, sharks, golden catfish and threadfin were all in the fray.
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish6.jpg)
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish7.jpg)
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish9.jpg)
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish15.jpg)
We moved up up river to lunkeville, incidentally the entire gulf is essentially freshwater at this time of year even the tidal sections. Wasn't long before we got to where we wanted to be
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish10.jpg)
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish12.jpg)
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish11.jpg)
The tide was dropping so we only had a few hours so we put the time to good use. Best fish of the day was a metre barra that spat the lure boat side. Didn't matter too much we had a feed in the esky
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish13.jpg)
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish14.jpg)
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish20.jpg)
At 3.00pm we headed for home, dodging the odd storm and being centre punched by one that copped us for about half an hour. Fair to say the gulf chopped up a bit more on the way home so it was a bumpy final 40 kays.
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish16.jpg)
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish17.jpg)
Back at the ramp we missed the worst of the weather but one poor old boab apparently got the worst of it.
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish18.jpg)
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr4/dickpasfield/ordfish19.jpg)
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Great report Dick!
You're dedicated on travelling those miles for a fish in a boat, well worth it though by the look of you both caught. That country upstream near Lunkeville looks sensational.
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Thanks for another great report Dick!
Sshish though...fighting rays in knee deep mud!!! :o
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Nice adventure mate.
Knee deep in mud with awesome fishing brings back memories a hop and a skip NE of there.
Take it easy,
Cheers Lyndon.
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far out what a journey!! and what a reward for the efforts :thumbsup