BarraBase.com Newsletter – December 2006

Welcome to our newsletter

The 1st of November is the official start of the Northern Australian Wet season. Rain has been mainly confined to a late afternoon storm if any, as the steel grey clouds often just teased of a break from the intense humidity. If you can handle a bit of perspiration, we continued to have some of our best fishing during November. But, as the imminent thunderstorms have begun to roll in more frequently, along with their magical electric light shows, mid December has seen the beginning to the end of our 2006 season. Unlike the drought being experienced down south we have had some decent rain so far this month. This will make for a promising start to the 2007 season in late February.

The Year That Was 2006
We started the year fishing from Shady Camp, but this proved to be slow due to the lack of early wet season rain. We made an early move to Dundee Beach and the Finnis River area late March. Although we were fishing an average wet season of rainfall, the Dundee Beach area was fishing superbly. Our good friends Barry and Ron Kyte were back for their 10th year in April. They were averaging about 30 Barra a day. Ron left us this year with a story you only read about. They were fishing out of Dundee Beach for Queenies when in no time Ron hooked up only to be spooled a couple of seconds later. They sat around laughing and giving Ron a bit of cheek when Geoff spotted the illuminating green fishing line in the water.
“Hey Ron that looks like your line,” Geoff called out.
Geoff scooped up the line and threaded it back through Ron’s rod. Ron started winding and the 12kg Queenfish on the end became the most unlucky fish in the water. Ron and Barry’s fishing trip was to end a day early as the news of cyclone Monica drew close. Barry was taking no chances as the vivid memory of cyclone Larry, a month before, had made its wrath on his Queensland home in Mylanda. For us it was sit and wait, and as the threat of devastation passed the rain it brought would only add to and already good season of fishing. To give you some idea of the water that was running off our floodplains, in the 24 hours until 9am on the 26th April we experienced 340mm of rain near Darwin River Dam.

The path of cyclone Monica travelled inland and took with it the high humidity of the wet season. The 1st of May brought the beginning of the dry season and almost to the date we were experiencing blue sky days and cooler nights.

A mix of Barra and Bluewater fishing over the following months would have our clients catching between 25 and 50 Barramundi a day as well as good sized Queenfish and Mackerel. Regular client Michael Ryan couldn’t get his mate Cose to come up this year so he brought his son Phil instead, he summed up his time in this letter to Geoff;

Hi Geoff,
I have returned to the land of the living dead with a thud. How I wish I was fishing! I suppose the fishing we enjoyed with those big Queenies and Mackerels was something which in my mind only other people did, so thanks for that. Cose was crying in his beer when I sent him the pics. I feel we are very fortunate to be able to fish with a guide such as yourself as your knowledge and experience put you more than head and shoulders above the rest.
I hope I can find the time and money to see you next year.
 
Catch Ya
 
Michael Ryan

Pic1: Phil with Queenfish. Pic2: Michael with Barramundi. Pic3:Phil with Barramundi.

August was a busy month for our family as we welcomed Wil Allan Corry and as the suit his Auntie sent him says he’s our, “Fishing Guide in training.” This is not the only thing that brought a smile to Geoff’s face in August we also purchased a new GS Marine boat. This will help cater for our larger groups using our own hand picked guides.

Rex Hunt and his mates were back for their annual trip. This year was to be the celebration of their 25th year as the ‘Barra Boys.’ Last years success was going to be hard to beat, but to come just close would prove to be another blockbuster trip. And to sum it up in a couple of words from Rex’s email; “Geoff our trip was super as usual. Your professionalism and friendship are most valued.”

Pic1: Pat Leavy with Threadfin Salmon. Pic2: Pitzy Folk and Rex Hunt with Mangrove Jack

Pic1: Mr Ted Donolan with Barra. Pic2: Pitzy Folk with Barra

A word from some of our clients

Dear Geoff,
 
As dedicated fisho's from down south (Vic) I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your time as our guide and source of information for our trip up to the territory.
An excellent time was had by us all and with your assistance we were able to fish by ourselves as well as with you.
 So many different types of fish to be caught up there, just amazing!
 Thanks for the extra effort for our group. Very much appreciated.
 You will be recommended by us for any one that travels up that way.
 By the way I typed in barrabase as a internet search and you came up trumps.
 Once I get everyone’s pics together I will send some to you for your photo gallery.
 
All the best to you and family.
 
Thanks Wazza

Geoff,
 
Just a quick note to say, thanks for the trip last week. The boys had a great time and are keen to return. It's pretty hard to settle back into things down here after a week away but at least I have the memories to keep me going until next time. Looking forward to catching up soon.
 
Ben Foster

Geoff /Sarah
Thanks for a great couple of days fishing and going out of your way for us. The fishing was great and the company even better. Hope your both getting some sleep although Geoff doesn’t seem to need it.
We arrived home in slightly better condition than our arrival.
Thanks for everything
Hope to see you again
Regards
Matt

JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR A FANTASTIC TRIP AT DUNDEE. ANDREW IS STILL
BULLSHITTING ABOUT HOW BIG HIS FISH WERE. IF YOU REMEMBER WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT EMPLOYMENT IN THE MINES, WELL THAT IDEA HAS GONE BY THE WAYSIDE. I
HAVE BOUGHT A GARDEN SUPPLY INSTEAD.WE HOPE TO SEE YOU UP THERE SAME TIME
NEXT YEAR!
PS. HOW ARE THE WIFE AND KIDS, MINE ARE SICK OF HEARING MY FISHY TALES

MARK FITZPATRICK

To all our clients old, new and to be,

We would like to thank you for supporting us in 2006. We have had some very memorable trips. We hope you leave us with your own stories to tell some great photos to show your mates and knowledge to use in your own fishing at home. Enjoy the festive season and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

Kind Regards,

Geoff and Sarah Corry

If you have any questions, queries or comments about this newsletter please forward them to our email cast@barrabase.com.au.

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