Karumba

July 22, 2018

Raptis Prawn Trawlers in Krumba

Karumba

The next morning we set off on the 140 km journey to Karumba. The first part of the journey was through the Mutton Hole Wetlands and started to see Brolgas and other wetland birds. Despite the dryness this continued for the journey out to Karumba as well as seeing many also cattle grazing country with many Bos indicus including Brahman, Brahman cross and tropical composites which are generally live exported through the Karumba Live Export Port.

We arrived at our Karumba Point Caravan Park and were made very welcome and informed of all the camps activities including the Thursday night Market and the free Fish Bar B Q that was on Saturday night, the night after our departure. The van was set up and we spent the afternoon relaxing with a short drive around the town and beach front. Later in the day one of the long time locals of the Caravan Park returned from his mornings fishing. I sensed he was a bit put out with where we were and perhaps making it a bit difficult for him to park his boat and car. So, I went over to ask if I was in his way. He soon replied that all was OK and introduced himself as “Willo”.

From that point on Willo would call by and have a chat and ask how our fishing was going and offer a few tips. It was just like being back at Beachport SA, a place I fished over many Christmas vacations. Interesting characters, not intrusive but giving plenty of free advice which you could sense straight away as not being BS!

We checked Willy Weather and the tide was high at 12noon next day so we planned beach fishing 10.30 though to 1.30pm. Purchased the bait and set up a float for paleagics and a bottom for bigger fish. Well some either side of me caught bream and some small fish. I wasn’t getting much in the way of bites. Anyhow, I went home with a nice size bream that we baked for dinner that night. Next night we went to Ashes Café for a fish meal and met with some lovely people from WA and NSW who had teamed up after meeting at several places along their journey. It was a great night out.

Back at the camp Willo came to see me and ask how we went and where we went to. No you don’t go around there mate you have got to go out on the main beach in front of the Airport! What about the Croc signs on the beach there I responded! You’d be bloody unlucky to get taken by a Croc there, go and get your self some bloody prawns and set up a slop line with some mullet tipped with prawn. Then with another line fish the bottom with prawn baits, where your likely to pick up a bluey (a Gulf Salmon) and or some lovely whiting. Well we decided that Dallas would stay and do some washing and I could go fishing.

I am sure she did not want to see me fighting off Crocs! Well she need not have worried as I returned right on time (I thought that prudent) having caught two nice sea bream and a lovely, just size, Bluey. Willo was pretty happy too, particularly when I handed him our left over bait. Next, he popped over with another 2 fillets of Bluey because, as he said, there was not a feed for both of us out of the one bluey. He continued the conversation by insisting we stay till Saturdy night for the free fish Bar B Q. He said it was a great night with lots of Country and Western music and plenty of fish. They make sure everyone gets a plate first and then call out for those who want seconds and thirds. We had to say sadly it was time to move on.

Karumba was a great spot, good fishing, particularly if you had a boat. The Caravan Park was lovely and welcoming with very clean facilities and a fish cleaning area also. We said our farewells and Willo was a bit upset we could not stay on! He went on to tell us the fishing had dropped off ever since the Gulf had lost all of its mangroves from Karumba up to Darwin. This occurred at the same time the Great Barrier Reef had suffered coral die back. Both phenomena’s are having a great impact on fish and birdlife stocks in the top end.

That night we went out bird watching along the same area I had fished and spotted a number of Brolga’s, a Jabiru, some King Fishers as well as many small species. After this we went to the Karumba Sun Set Tavern for drinks whilst watching one of the most spectacular sunsets we had ever seen.

Next day we set off soon after purchasing a few of Raptis’s cooked prawns for my lunch over the next couple of days.