Kimberley Warning.
Submitted: Sunday, Oct 15, 2006 at 18:52
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Member - John P (NT)
just got back from three weeks fishing at
Honeymoon Bay ,Kalumberu and thought some may be interested in the following information.
Met Ron Moon there with a tour ,he intended going to
Walcott Inlet however when he got to Mt Elizabeth Station (mid Sept) he was informed some campers at Walcott had a disagreement over something with the local aboriginals,the latter set a fire which burnt out their
camp and a vehicle,injuring someone in the process.If you intend going to Walcott it may pay to check out the situation and to me serves as a warning in general that if you are in aboriginal territory dont antagonise anyone as there the ones on their own turf not you and they can get pretty stired up after happy hour.I confirmed this story from another source before writing.
The other thing I would warn against is towing boats to Kalumberu on unsuitable Trailers .The day after I arrived at
Honeymoon Bay one trailer was towed in with bits falling off everywhere and their mates a hundred clicks back with their trailer broken in half.It was eventually recovered and with assistance from other campers rebuilt.
The road is not that bad by Kimberly standards but you cant take clapped out old trailers up there ,especially if you dont drive to suit the conditions.
I would also report that the fishing was still good lots of Mangrove Jacks in creeks and Red Emperor on the reefs,plus Queenies,Mackerel, Trevalley,Barracoota,Cod and Snapper around.Also got a few Barra, my son from
Bendigo got his first Barra ,only 96cm so you can imagine his disappointment.
I have tried to ad some pictures but get a
server error notice ,will try again later.
John
Reply By: oldsquizzy - Sunday, Oct 15, 2006 at 19:37
Sunday, Oct 15, 2006 at 19:37
Being a mechanic in
Kununurra and part of the RAC contractor crew you get to see the ammount of unsuitable machinery taken into the kimberleys and Bungles. I just had my first weekend off since march we are kept that busy with call outs.
Sites like this one at least give people the information they need to go safely, Just a shame more dont read it.
Squizzy
AnswerID:
199317
Reply By: Mama June - Sunday, Oct 15, 2006 at 21:44
Sunday, Oct 15, 2006 at 21:44
John P
Can you tell me how far out you had to go from Honeymoon to get all that wonderful catch? We stayed at McGowan's for 5 days in mid July and caught nothing from shore (we don't have a boat). Tinnies had to go 20 kms out for anything spectacular, but were able to get something reasonable at 6 kms out - although nothing like your catches.
AnswerID:
199344
Reply By: Member - John P (NT) - Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 00:52
Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 00:52
As with most of northern coast it is difficult to fish from the shore due to access,mud flats and crocs.There are a few
places I know at
Kalumburu where the locals fish , from the rocks at Jakes Beach around from McGowans and the eastern side of the point at
Honeymoon Bay are a couple.
I always take a boat up there and have a good knowledge of to area which always makes a difference,However all the parties with boats were getting there share when I was there.I fish all over the place, some day just around the rocks going 3-4km other times going up to the top of the Drysdale ,travelling 70km for the day other times out to reefs in the bay. I enjoy the exploring as much as the fishing.
I have put some photos off fish we caught at the bottom of MY PROFILE for you to have a look at . Hope you have more success in the future John
AnswerID:
199358
Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 09:01
Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 09:01
John
Looks like you have a top job. CCNT or private? I had my scary moments with crocs while conductiong tours on the South Alligator some 25 years ago. They now seem to be getting bigger in size.
That'll have to be a concrete Hippo at Tipperary..... lol
Whatever happened to all the wildlife there? I seem to remember an issue with Warren Anderson and the wildlife not all that long ago , although he had sold the station to other parties by that time.
Cheers
FollowupID:
458211
Reply By: Topend - Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 13:38
Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 13:38
Is ULP available
Kalumburu? Thinking about going there by boat.
I believe some of the animals from Tipperary ended up at Australia Zoo.
Topend
AnswerID:
199402
Reply By: The Rambler( W.A.) - Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 20:52
Monday, Oct 16, 2006 at 20:52
A horrible story at
Walcott Inlet.Having camped there I can't understand how they were involved unless the dissagreement happened on the way in as I never saw one member of the "local" community while camped at the inlet.It is hard to make a judgement wiyhout the facts but to me it looks as though it should be a police matter.Ihope to be up there again next year.
AnswerID:
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