The Kimberley: A Sportfisherman's Paradise

The wildlife and scenery is second only to the fishing.

As the myriad of bays, islands and river systems glistened below, the first glimpse of our home to be, the MV Cannon came into view, a white speck in an otherwise harsh and wild expanse of greens, blues, browns, greys and reds of mind boggling shades. For me it was a place I knew well and loved, having worked onboard the old girl for a number of years, but having never flown in on the flying boat, the aerial view was something in and of itself.

We had just landed in the Mitchell River, in the Northern Kimberley region of Western Australia, and while the clients I had flown in with were here for a week, I was to be guiding them throughout, and other groups for several weeks afterwards.

But to be back, in what I consider my favourite Northern river, my mind was racing with anticipation of what the weeks ahead would unveil. For as far as untouched fishing goes, this area stands rival with anywhere in the world. It’s sheer wild nature, inhospitable and highly limited access as well as the logistics involved with spending any time in the region make it a place that gets little visitors, and even less fishing pressure, for it is time that will allow the place to truly show itself!

Tripletail fight well above their weight class.

Tides in this area govern your fishing practices greatly, and as it stands, we were to make the most of the clean, green waters in the river for a couple of days, before being forced out toward the offshore islands and reef systems as the tides built, rendering the river to a muddy stew, but triggering the regions blue water beasts into feeding mode!

As Northern Australian river systems go, this one is a beaut, albeit a big and at times, dangerous one. Fishing structure takes the form of creeks and drains that diminish into seething pools of mullet upon the low tide, timber stands (a favourite of mine) that will fish throughout the tide, and play home to nearly any desirable species you could hope to catch up here, rock walls and rock bars that house mammoth Barra, black jewfish and possibly the most famous Kimberley creek icon, the rusty red bandits, or Mangrove Jack, which can be caught in plagues at certain times, destroying many a hapless angler who is too slow to stop their driving attack back into the rocks and timber from whence they came.

The clean water tides proved to be their consistent-selves, allowing all anglers onboard to tangle with beautiful chromed Barramundi, Mangrove Jacks, Golden Snapper or Fingermark in QLD, Tripletail, which I have a serious respect for their fighting abilities, Queenfish, GT, Threadfin, Black Jewfish, various Cod species, Blue salmon, and a lovely 15kg Cobia caught off the back of the mothership ten kilometres from the mouth. Such is the teeming life and at times oceanic nature of this river. But alas, the tides were building, and with each day the water dirtied more, and the time upstream diminished, due to the lack of want to be stranded between rock bars and sand islands. With Barra appetites satiated, it was time to holster the bait cast outfits and stretch up for the offshore onslaught that was to begin.

Such is the beauty of mother shipping in this part of Australia, you could be targeting and catching Barramundi before lunch, steam at lunchtime, and find yourself in a tug-of-war with a 30+kg GT or dancing with a Sailfish in the afternoon light.

Pack Attacks of GT are not uncommon

A safe anchorage was chosen, and the surrounding reefs, rocky islets, sand quays and islands were our playing field for the next few days. I picked my victims based on their age and fitness level, as this was were I wanted to tick off some BIG GT, and I needed clients who were willing to work hard, casting, fighting and holding these beauties for the camera. The Northern Kimberley is a truly untouched GT fishery, and while it may not hold the by catch of the QLD reef flats and drop offs, it is home to a large number of eager and trophy sized fish, as the proceeding days were testament to.

Focusing on points and outcrops that intercepted the now 5-6m tides, the areas of interest were well defined, and you could anticipate the explosion before the lure hit the water. Double hookups, destroyed hooks and rings, wounds that needed licking and tax that required payment, high flying Spanish Mackerel and Queenfish broke up the procession of landed GT’s. But after landing fifteen fish to 25kg and losing just as many, my clients were happy to relax and have a troll with a beer… for all of 2 minutes before getting interrupted by another double on Geets, and as is usually the case, hers was bigger than his.

Others had similar tales, with Spanish Mackerel dominating the catches of the trolling brigade, a couple of Sailfish were raised by those who tried, but the smaller tides are more desirable for targeting these incredible billfish, the chef’s calls for Coral Trout were answered by all tenders, with small stickballs and plastics over the shallower grounds filling the esky’s and subsequent evening dinner plates.

The need to move East to liaise with the fuel barge saw an overnight steam to Vansittart Bay, and with a father son duo who were keen flyfishers, I had a shallow flats system on my mind, knowing full well that on the first incoming push would be home to Blue Bastards and large neon green Blackspot Tuskfish. Sure enough they were in attendance, but finding a receptive fish took time, and patience, with cast after perfect cast being refused, or even frustratingly inspected without commitment. Finally a small rubber crab imitation presented on a light spin outfit proved irresistible, and after a frenetic and visual fight over the flats, we slid a 4kg Blue Bastard into the net. Nevertheless, the fly rod was redeemed, with some stubborn Brassy trevally and an incredible ten pound Fingermark on fly, which I truly believe to be a trophy fly capture.

A trophy Fingermark on Fly

With the week coming to an end, and all clients happy, sore, reminiscing and spouting tales of those that got away, all we as the crew needed to do was make a game plan for the next week, and start working our way through the endless bays and islands, to once again make anchor in one of our Barra rivers for the next neap tide cycle, perhaps further East to the Drysdale or back West to the Mitchell, Hunter or Roe this time around? The Kimberley really is a true Sportfisherman’s paradise!

Cannon Charters operates week long fishing charters in the Kimberley region from late July through till mid/late September each year, one of the VERY few operators in the area, they will base themselves between the King George River in the East through to the Hunter River in the West, exploring and fishing the never-ending expanses of incredibly fishy waters between.https://www.cannoncharters.com.au/

A Few Happy Snaps

Spanish Mackerel are in huge numbers and can be targeted in a variety of ways.

A 106cm Barramundi taken under the cliffs of the upper Mitchell River.

The wildlife and scenery is second only to the fishing.

Jewtopia

Mangrove Jack are synonymous with the Kimberley and are receptive to all manner of lures.

Some true trophy sized fish exist up there.

BlackSpot Tuskfish are brutes in shallow water, bricking many an angler without hesitation, this fighting ability, plus their striking colours and eating qualities make them a warranted target.