Northern Territory Fishing Trip

Pre dawn on 17 March saw all 9 of us assemble at Canberra airport. After lodging a varied assortment of pvc rod holders, eskies etc with the obliging staff of Qantas, it
was off to Darwin via Brisbane. Mostly uneventful, except for the hosties
rewriting our grocery shopping list, too much junk & fatty they scolded. They then came up with packets of Meusli Bars, which were most welcomed referred to as Qantas Bars thereafter.
Arrived Darwin early afternoon, & part of party collected 3 boats & 3 4by dual cabs
from hire companies. Then followed a $1300 buy up at Woolies grocery shop & a
slightly less expensive grog bill at the adjoining booze shop.. a stop off for bait, & we hit the road for Dundee Beach..about 160 k sw..
Arrived at beachfront house, hired, with ig pool (a saviour) & unpacked. After a short, sharp session on the sauce, very travel weary gang hit the cot.
Early next morning saw 2 boats head out on the 30 min seacruise to the Finnis River. Other lot tried the ocean, without luck. Finnis warriors were rewarded with good barra & set some crab pots. We returned for 4 days & caught fish each day & crabs. Needless to say fish was consumed in big slabs each night after crab entree.
Day 5 saw a well earned rest day with excess alchol absorbed poolside & many lies
told. By this time the sea was rough, but we found access to the river by jungle &
beach, only managing to get well bogged once. Near flat tyres & a good anchor
rope saw car salvaged & several more actions saw boat reattached & the show continue. Returning home was sometimes delayed due to high tide creek
crossing. Strangely, no one would walk the creek to assess levels.
Fun continued, with Rex Hunt for company on 2 days in the Finnis, & two groups
hitting the big jewies on the last day. It all came to an end, as all good things do,
& we packed up & headed to Darwin, returned cars & boats, put gear in Main St digs
& tried to drink place dry. Success was varied, last stayers went to 5am.
Next day saw bedraggled group at airport for return journey, completed without
incident. All agreed it was a great trip, aided by some good planning & prebooking
of house & equipment. All up cost...$2700 ea...inc airfares, boat & car hire, house,
fuel, tucker, booze & bait, accomodation in Darwin. For the boaties....4.8 m, deep
hull tinnies with 70 hp Hondas, gps & fishfinders, 4 seats, carpeted & Ice Box. Lure
of the trip...Elton John Classic Barra No 10, pink & blue.

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