Boating in the Kimberley?

Russ

I am interested to note that Geiki Gorge is free of crocs. I have some photos of mid sized Freshies in Geiki Gorge taken in 1982. Maybe they have been removed by Parks and Wildlife?

Crocs have been seen as far south as Karratha....but it is exception rather than the norm.

Debbie

Hi Willem.

Let's put it this way, the crocs at Geikie Gorge won't bother you if you don't bother them. They are not estuarine crocs or "salties".Cheers

Russ.

Hahaha Russ

Err..... yes you stated free of crocs, but not really, eh?

Methinks you may be in for a big surprise. I wouldn't mess with a Freshie. Them buggers have sharp teeth and have been known to bite on occasions

Cheers

Lake Kununurra, Lake Argyle, 56klms of the ord river above the diversion dam through gorges and wetlands

I agree with Oldsquizzy,

Just add Geikie Gorge to the list, the other safe area's are basically to small to bother with.

Willem
Have to disagree with you here mate.

I've been going to Lakefield NP for a few years now Barra fishing and regularly see freshies and salties together in the same billabongs. (And yes, I do know the differences)

Later,
Geoff

Yep. That rule isn't valid. I have a photo of a freshie and saltie sunbaking about 1 m apart. Also have a photo of a freshie on a mud bar at the mouth of a river.

Willem, just a few Klms south of that bridge is where I slammed into the big Saltie, this side of the large sandbar on the left side of the river, just past the Mary River Caravan Park riverbank launching area, it was their boat engine that I had been working on and was using as 'payment' for same.

Plenty of crocks seen in the area, unfortunately did not see any Barra, grr.

(G'day John, how's the horses)

The estimated # of crocs above the 26th parallel in Willems day ways 1000 +, Today there is 10,000 (no typo) in Kakadu alone.

Shady Camp on the Mary river has the Highest density of estuarine crocs any were on the planet.

I also no the # of estuarine crocs has risen in the Kimberley.

Hey Willem as kids (back in the mid 70s) we used to jump or get pushed off the Mary River Bridge on the Arnhem Hwy, not any more.

Cheers Steve.

Maybe your freshies and salties have learned to tolerate one another. My observations are different.

I'm not saying it isn't possible just that my rule of thumb is that freshsies and salties don't mix and that is the principle we used when swimming in unchartered clear waters in the Top End up to 20 years ago.

Maybe we were just plain lucky. Who knows?

Cheers

I to use the same logic as Willem.

Having said that I have seen Estuarine (Salty one of the same, re above post.)and Freshies in the same area or side by side.

I have also seen the same 2 crocs estuarine chase the freshy, this took place at Corroboree Billabong, Mary River, yet I wouldn't swim there.

How ever there are freshies at many water falls in Kakadu that I would swim at, But once the warm water moves as the water system rise with rain it is now not recommended to swim or enter these places as the breeding cycle of an estuarine croc is triggered by moving warm water.

Estuarine crocs and freshies can co exist with large a food source, The Mary River has such a food source, It is possible but not likely that an estuarine croc would be found if a freshie was about in the water holes at the base of these water falls.

Just to clarify An Estuarine Crocodile ( Crocodilus Parossus) Aka Salty are one of the same, I use the term Estuarine Croc out of habit as people I take on tour are mostly of a non English speaking back ground.

We found a family from Switzerland once swimming in Home Billabong behind Cooinda, they had tasted the water and assumed that because it was fresh water it was safe from SALT WATER ( Estuarine) crocs.

Cheers Steve. who loves these big Gecoes.

ohhh,... these ignorant Swiss!!!!

cheers - lukas

PS: am Swiss too, but luckily i know the difference between a Freshy and a Salty

Steve, the picture of the 'bait' fish in my Members rig area is taken at Shady Camp.
Stayed there in the fenced off camping area a few nights, as you would know it's only fenced off to keep the crocks out, it's the only fence for miles lol.

On the first night there we were going to go fishing from the barrage only to see 60+ red eyes looking at us, in the spot light.
They would only be the ones looking our way and we would not be able to see those looking away from us.
We went home with all limbs attached and the adrenalin rush of the night time experience.

Don't blame you mate. I've followed this thread with interest as I'll be up there fairly soon.

Think I'll give it a miss too. Plenty of other opportunities