Billy's Camp No.17, King Ash Bay, NT. Gulf of Carpentaria.

26/06/2012

The "No Barra" is not no barra no more, see pics at the bottom.
I caught my first one on Saturday 23/06/12 after 4 weeks to the day, I caught my second one 15 minutes later :) 

20/06/2012

Hi All,

As mentioned I'm at King Ash Bay, 50 k's from Borroloola, NT. I left The Pebbles on 26/5/2012 and traveled via Barkley Hwy, Tablelands Hwy and Carpentaria Hwy, passing through the service stations of Barkley Homestead and Cape Crawford. I camped at Cape Crawford for one night. The tablelands Hwy is a single lane bitumen 375 K road.
King Ash Bay is run by an incorporated fishing club, just like your local club, but it is a million dollar business. It is basic and has expanded in typical club fashion over the years, a bit here and a bit there. It is basically a camping ground with a licenced "club house", with some permanents. Unpowered sites are cheap at $78/week for me and $52/week for members. Includes showers, toilets and water. What more do you want. The people come from all over oz, mainly husband and wives, both generally fish. A lot have been coming for years and set up a semi permanent camp for up to 4 months. It is on the McArthur River.
It is 34 k's to the mouth of the McArthur river, and there are various other arms you can reach the Gulf of Carpentaria via. I have traveled 4 to date. It is not impossible to get lost amongst the creeks and arms. The fishing is tough as the water temp dropped to around 18-20 degrees a week prior to me arriving. It has been a learning experience, just the 1 hr trip by boat to the better spots takes some getting used to. Because of the distance, one fishes all day, and so it becomes a long day once back in camp. To date no Barra !!!!, but close encounters with two, to make me feel better my neighbor has not caught one since I arrived and he has been coming to KAB for 6 years. I have caught 9 different species to date, but not in big numbers, except mud crab, to date about 11 or 12. Having said that the little freezer is nearly full and I have had two red meat meals since arriving.
Temps have been, 20 -30 during the day and 10-15 at night, and low humidity. Gentle breezes during the day.
The commercial crabbing is done by Chinese and is mainly for the Asian market, I believe.
Petrol is $1.85/l and if you want alcohol from Borroloola. you can get one of two types of mid strength beer, one carton only, no wine or spirits, after presentation of your drivers license for scanning and a breathaliser test !
I am into my fourth week here, not sure if I'll stay another, not sure why I'd leave either :) The No Barra is playing on my mind !
If I leave I'll head towards Katherine via Roper River. Or maybe.....

Barkley Hwy

Tablelands Hwy...375 K's of this

A triple,and that's where he stayed.....didnt move over one inch !!

Every things big up here

And this is the overtaking lane....a normal two lane road !

One gets bored sometimes

It was like driving through a tunnel, and just out of site is a triple, dropped the camera and hit the breaks, this bloke moved over though.

I pulled up at camp 1 hour after the previous people left, and this was the site I got :)

Moored to allow for the low tide, I pull mine out each time, no biggy.

Typical creek

The Gulf of Carpentaria

They are everywhere...they will stay put until they hear or feel the outboard motor change revs.

Jabiru

Nearly....

These guys are everywhere

But not so smart...

Entree !

Fingermark Bream or Golden Snapper

Moon eclipse

Aboriginal lit fires are incessant, dont know why, cant understand whats spiritual about killing mature trees.

The Kites clean up the scattering wildlife, ie,  whats not grilled.

Boat ramp

The neighbors heading off, Liz is up front

Zac, ( the boat ) was clocked at 34 K's, not bad for a 10 HP

They sink when you come close.

Queenfish, 750 long, not much to eat, but acceptable, as is all day old fish.

Black Spotted Rock Cod, 2 Kg, 4 meals for Billy, yum. They also are a by-catch in the crab nets.

The other neighbors dining out KAB style

The Chinese crabbers overnight accommodation near the mouth.

Tried and tested construction methods...

Caught, cooked and eaten yesterday, yummo. The filleting knife is 350mm long.

Thats it for a while, catch ya's later..

Bill (y)

UPDATE :)
 

First Barra, 560mm, just legal but legal none the less.

Back at camp, a 560 and the second one at 670, and a tan.

Great day all round for one bloke and 18' water temps, Barra, Barracuda ( 800mm long), 3.5kg Cod, large muddie, a small mangrove jack and the second barra. All great eating.The Barra and jack bought the specie total to 11.

The eyes have it

Seeya's :)