Ord River Part 3

[Vagabond]

All too soon the end of the charter was looming. We had a couple of days out with “Doggie” who was Macs second in command, camp cook, and drove a huge off-roader labelled “Dog’s Truck”.

On one of the days, Doggie brought four huge crab pots, and an eskie full of the frozen trimmings from the barras and fingermarks we had been catching and eating all week. Down went the baited pots at low tide, one at the mouth of each of four creeks. After we had fished the tide up, we pulled the pots up. Three were empty, but the fourth held a large mud crab and a 30 lb bignose shark. We really had to struggle to get the shark out of the pot, it was coiled up like a spring. Certhia got the action on video as Doggie and I wrestled with the pot, with snapping shark jaws and with a very disgruntled mud crab determined to shake hands with somebody.

Talking of sharks – I haven’t mentioned them before, but they plagued us at intervals throughout the week. Most of them were blacktip sharks up to 25 lb or so, but one day we had a couple of bull sharks. Much to Mac’s annoyance, after going up river to net some prime mullet bait, and anchoring upstream of one of the best bits of "barra timber" we had seen, both Certhia’s bait and mine were taken by sharks as soon as they hit bottom. Both were bull sharks, with others following them and trying to snatch the bait which the hooked ones had regurgitated up the line.

As soon as she saw this collection of sharks, Certhia wanted to catch it all on video. “Here, take my rod, you can manage two can’t you” she said – so I found myself with a rod in each hand, each connected to a lively bull shark whilst the whole pantomime of shark release was recorded.

We only got video shots (no still photos) of most of the sharks, as they were T-barred off the hooks in the water at the boatside – using a very long T-bar. I also got a nice leopard whipray - like a sting ray, but a VERY long tail, with two barbed stings in it. That too was released without leaving the water.

However, here is a shot of a baby blacktip shark that Certhia was allowed to bring on board for a still shot.



This is a Dahl’s Frogfish that swallowed Certhia’s bait (almost as big as itself) Ugly little brute, isn’t it?



Here is a reason why mangroves are so prolific – each of those things looking like runner beans is a miniature Red Mangrove plant.



When they come off they float around until the heavier end sticks in the mud somewhere, and hey presto, there is a ready-made cutting as soon as it takes root.

A double-figure barramundi.



Australia operates a “slot limit” the lower limit being 50 cm and the upper 80 cm. That means you can only keep fish between these limits. It’s a good system, as it means you only keep those over 50 cm (which will have spawned at least once), and the very big females over 80cm are put back as valuable breeding stock.

A bit more variety here, a Northwest Sea bream.


…and the fish of the trip – a baby Green Sawfish, courtesy of Certhia. These fish grow to 400 lb or so, and are not very common. We were very pleased with this one.



One of Certhia’s barras.




Now it was time for that final voyage. Down the creek into Cambridge Gulf, past the False Ord River Mouth, past the Sphinx Rock, into the Ord River, up past the islands, through the long sweeping bends of the Eastern Arm with their sandbanks and basking salties. Now we could see Houseroof Hill, first on one side, then on the other as the river twisted and turned through a complexity of bends. Up through the rapids of the Houseroof Cattle Crossing, close under Houseroof Hill itself.

At last we could see Hedgehog Island, with the camp just beyond.

A final meal of mud crab, followed by fried fingermark seaperch fillets and chips, washed down with the remains of the slab of Hahn’s Special Lager - packed in ice until required .

Sunset at the camp.

We leave tomorrow with great memories and will be back one day.

[lutra]

Thanks for taking the time to right it up Dave, it was a great read.

[Norfolkboy]

Wow, some great looking fish again, Dave. That Green Sawfish is superb!

[wellyfish]

grat report as usual old boy and some awsome looking fish mate ,well done

[pingu]

another top report

god knows what id do if i ever caught or even had to trhink about unhooking a sawfish


dave

[tonybolton]

Great reports, and a cracking array of fish. Have a good trip back.

[Twiddler]

Aww, coming home??? I will miss your fantastic write ups and the pics of some marvellous fish.

Have a save journey back

[silverfish]

Well done it gets better & better.Well done mate.

[fishypaul]

another superb report vagabond,i do love them sawfish,

[Portland Pirate]

It is like watching the last programme in your favourite TV series. You don't want it to end, but you can't wait for the new one to begin.

Fantastic read. Even as a proffesional fishing guide I am very envious.

Oh! I just want to add, the pictures are fantastic.