Daily Blog
One of the best sport and fly-fishing opportunities Down Under is in Weipa, in Far North Queensland.
In a country where aquatic sports rule, Weipa takes the cake because charters offer the best active and laid-back tours around.
One choice is to wade waist-deep in the clear blue water and hope for a nibble from a barramundi or blue salmon while swigging an Australian brew.
The other, more adventurous choice, is to venture along creeks, rivers and coastal reefs and fight the notoriously testy red emperor, queenfish and coral trout.
Whichever one you settle on, make sure you bring your best equipment, as this location is one of the most challenging you'll ever find. Contact: Fly Fishing Adventures - +61 (0) 8 89811015 email: paul@flyfishingadventures.com.au
The Northern Territory has some of the best Estuary fishing in the world. Fresh and salt water collide along its vast coastline as many tidal rivers meet the ocean, providing the perfect environment for a fishing challenge.
The Daly, Victoria, Adelaide, Finniss and Mary Rivers are some examples of the Northern Territory's famous estuaries. They stretch from the Timor Sea and wind their way far inland, remaining tidal for many kilometres.
Kakadu National Park is also famous for its excellent Estuary fishing. The South and East Alligator Rivers that flow into the Park and on through Arnhem Land from the Timor Sea are favourites for many anglers.
Most Estuary fishing will require either trolling over the many hidden rockbars or casting into the smaller creeks that run from the floodplains. These creek mouths are a prime spot to hook a big one, as the fish congregate under the flow of fresh water running into the salt.
Access to the big rivers is easy. There are plenty of public boat ramps at different locations and most are connected via good roads. Join a local guide on a tour - they know the best spots and techniques, and their local knowledge can add an extra element of enjoyment to the experience.
Fish varieties caught in the Northern Territory's estuaries include threadfin and blue salmon, cod, queenfish.
Names
Chinook Salmon: Also known as King, Quinnat, Spring Sockeye Salmon: Also known as Red, Blueback Chum Salmon: Also known as Dog Coho Salmon: Also known as Silver Habitat
The Chinook, Sockeye,Chum and Coho salmon are amongst the most popular sports fish on the Alaskan coast. They can be found in all coastal waters from the artic down to the US Mainland and in most associated freshwater systems.
Size - The Chinook salmon is the largest of all Pacific Salmon having been found weighting up to 57kg. It is common to catch the Chinook today weighting up to13kg. The Chum is generally the next biggest averaging around 5 to6kg with the Coho Salmon following with average weights around 4 to 5kg. The Sockeye is the smallest of the four species averaging around 3kg. The averages above can vary in different areas and between males and females of different species.
Feeding - All Pacific Salmon feed on insects, small fish such as herring, Salmon eggs and plankton.
Seasons - Fly Fishermen in Alaska generally target Salmon during the spawning runs in spring, summer and autumn. At this time millions of Pacific Salmon return to the freshwater lakes and streams of their birth to fertilize and lay their eggs. It is quite a sight to see many broad rivers literally clogged with Salmon trying to migrate up stream. Chinook generally run in June and July, Chum in July and August, Coho in August and September and Sockeye Salmon migrate in July. This can vary slightly in different areas of the Alaskan coast.
Description - It is often very difficult to distinguish one species of Pacific Salmon from another as they can be similar in color and size and their colours can change according to habitat and breeding cycles. Chinook are generally the largest species and are normally blue/green in color. Chum are metallic green/blue developing vertical bars of green and purple during spawning. Coho are generally bright silver with black spots over the back and develop maroon to reddish sides during spawning whilst the Sockeye Salmon is normally metallic blue/black. All tend to have silvery sides with a white belly.
How to catch them - Most Pacific Salmon can be caught on fly tackle in streams and lakes from June to September.
Chinook or King Salmon are the smallest in numbers but the largest fish in size. They are generally found in deeper waters and best fished by drift boating.
The Chum is the least flavorful of the salmon but it is a great fighting fish. It is very aggressive when it first enters its native streams returning to spawning beds. These fish aggressively attack a bright colored fly that is presented in an erratic stripping motion.
The Coho Salmon could be billed as the most exciting and acrobatic Pacific Salmon to catch. The aggressiveness of this fish is amazing. While sight casting to pools of these fish in crystal clear streams you will see two, three, and even four fish move towards your fly. Once hooked, these brutes of the Pacific will make run after run trying to loose the hook.
Sockeye Salmon use river and lake banks for navigation so they will generally be swimming just a few meters from the bank. They migrate in massive numbers and are a great tasting fish.
Hot Spots - Alaska Equipment This is a general list covering Rainbow Trout and the four types of Salmon mentioned above. A more specific list of equipment and flies can be emailed on request.
9 foot, 6 to 10 weight rods Large Arbor, heavy drag reel, 200 m backing Floating line, some with sink tips 9 -12 foot leader, 3-5 ft for King Salmon Tippet 4 to 10kg
Popular Flies Again this will very depending on application. Some possibilities may include. - Elk hair - Caddis - Royal wolf - Stimulator - Calf hair - stonefly - Pink - deer hair - Pollywog - Foam pollywogs - Crystal Buggers - Egg patterns - Wooly bugger - streamers - Green headed leech - JW Enticer - Salmon - Bunny Bug - King Kong
My name is Captain Ross Hunter, having fished these amazing waters for over three decades I am convinced that this magnificently picturesque place is one of the most productive marlin fisheries in the world and for us lucky New south Welshman, it's right on our door step.
Imagine catches of 16,18 and 21 marlin in a day or 248 for a season, that is world class by anyone's standards. The average size of a Pt Stephens striped is around 80kg and these double figure, per day numbers are achieved by the charter fleet every season from January to late April. Each summer season there are many charter boats that travel from as far as Cairns to the north and Batemans Bay to the south to join us locals at Pt Stephens.
These boats target the abundant stocks of blacks; blues (and the most predominant marlin) the striped on all types of tackle, be-it fly fishing, spear fishing or conventional tackle.(P) Many of my long time friends are in this regime,very experienced skippers and the most respected marlin captains in the world, all turn up on que- Captains Glenn Hunter on Billfisher, Jim Dalling on Reel Chase, Tim Dean Calypso, Scott Thorington Freedom, Bill Billson Viking 11, Brian Felton Inya Dreams Cory Hard Maunakia, Bob Jones Fascination 11, Paul Whelan Devil's Pride, Sparrow Denham Square Bear, Biggles on his boat and yours truly on Broadbill we all drift in and out for the season.
Us Captains love the place, not just for its beauty in landscape but also for its camaraderie. The charter industry works well in this Port, there is a lot of harmony between skippers and that always works well, no petty jealousies, just a bunch of likeminded skippers wanting to catch fish, many of us not seeing each other for most of the year then catching up for a couple of months doin' what we do best and that's catching marlin..
In the long run "Happy customers,smiles on dials …that’s what I'm talkin' about". And we get that from catching marlin and we do work together to achieve that end result.
I recall Jim Dalling calling me up and saying from his vantage point on the tower of "Reel Chase" "Come over here Roscoe there's a bunch of stripes on a bait ball'. We caught several fish in a couple of hours, both of us going backwards chasing a hot fish, most of the time.
However it is not just the brilliant marlin fishing, it is also the superb scenery of the place that I never get sick of looking at, it really is a breathtaking port to leave from and then come home to after a busy days fishing.
The heads, that are made up of Headlands and Islands are remnants of an extinct volcano from a long forgotten dinosaur era. The highest mountain to the south Tomaree forms an embattlement that protects the mariners from bad weather, making the port a most safe passage for our boats.
To the north Yaccabah with its picturesque, almost vertical mountainous slopes and giant wind eroded gorges that the sea pounds into with great force sending plumes of spray forever skyward., a most spectacular sight as we steam to the bait grounds at first light. The colours of these beautiful steeped cliffs changes constantly with sunlight, depending on the light of the day.
Then there's Cabbage Tree Island with its western rain forest and gorges full of cabbage trees, home of the tiny Goulds Petrel and a resident family of white bellied sea eagles, Little Island and Boondelbah Island they all form the breathtaking oceanic entrance to the Port.
Over the years there have been many milestones, Broadbill's twenty one marlin in a day in February 2005. A day when a bait ball was found with an estimated 80 striped marlin working it up all day, all we had to do was to back up to it and throw two live baits in and immediately hook two 80 to 120kg stripes up.
There also has been many World and Australian records on all kinds of tackle all caught from this world class fishery. The area constantly produces record catches of stripes and juvenile black marlin (fish to 150kg) and some "honker" blue marlin up to 350kg But there are other species that are targeted and they are mahis, yellowfin and cobia and they come in XXXOS size as well.
Pt. Stephens hosts the largest tournament in the Southern Hemisphere 'The NSW Interclub" 250 boats turn up and fill the port in February each year. To compete in this extremely well organised event.is a busy and exciting affair. Local boat "Born Free" winning in '07 with Captain Tim Dean at the helm It is a most spectacular sight when all these boats from 6 metre trailer boats to 50metre fuel guzzling battle wagons gather together to fish these waters.
If it is a fisherman's holiday you want and you also wouldn't mind coming back with "Your arms dangling like those of an ape from the stretching they'll get during your stay" then visit us at
PT.STEPHENS you will not be disappointed.
Samoa is located east of the international dateline and south of the equator 4400 klms from Sydney, Australia. There are ten islands in the group, the two larger islands Upolu and Savaii and eight smaller islands. Approximately 180,000 people inhabit Samoa. Along with its idyllic location, Samoa also has another wonderful attribute - its fishing!
The Samoa Ports Authority has taken up a new challenge in its strive to promote tourism especially Fishing and Yachting in Samoa with its new development the Apia Marina, ideal for the cruising Yachtsman or Charter Fishing operators. The Apia Marina is divided into 2 phases, phase 1 is the completion of the 50 berth facility for yachts, phase 2 the construction of Samoan design Mall for lease offering the Marina as a one stop place of convenience.
Phase 2 will also see the extension of the marina to berth another 32 yachts and further , Apia Marina will not only offer beautiful surroundings but a secure berthing area for boat owners.
Apia Marina’s phase 1 opened on the 22nd August to coincide with the South Pacific Games 2007, SPA was also a proud sponsor of the Games. There was 22 Flags flown on the Marina Breakwater to acknowledge the 22 countries who participated in the games. Samoa’s first ever floating restaurant was moored next to the Marina during the games and offered a romantic dining setting while enjoying the Sunset.
You really had to be there to believe it.
Contact: Samoa Ports Authority Phone: +685 64400 email: spa@spasamoa.ws
Website: www.spasamoa.ws
