ET visits Shady Camp

Malcolm Douglas and his Across the Top television adventure specials during the '70s and '80s sent me barramundi dreaming from an early age. To me, these shows were the equivalent of Christmas morning, when you jumped out of bed brimming with excitement. I never missed a show, and I was convinced that one day I would be battling a big barra in the Top End among the crocodiles like the original Bush Tucker man himself.

Malcolm's treks across the top of Australia have grown from a dream into reality for many southerners over the last 25 years. Flash four-wheel drives towing the latest camper trailers with the ubiquitous tinnie and outboard motor are a common sight when heading north. Today's off-road vehicles offer unprecedented toughness and comfort, meaning you can escape almost anywhere in comfort and safety. Thousands of Aussies are doing just that each year and the numbers on the road are on the increase.

During a recent shoot for Escape with ET in the Northern Territory, it became evident that people were passing up trips overseas in favour of a four-wheel drive trekking adventure around Oz. I met one such couple at the Shady Camp boat ramp, a couple of hours south of Darwin. They had travelled up from Sydney and had plenty of exciting stories to tell about their trip so far.

"The good thing," Mick said, "is that we're only halfway through the trip, and I'm gonna catch my first barra today."

FRESH OR SALT?
Shady Camp on the upper Mary River is the perfect place for the trailerboat fishermen. A barrage was constructed years ago to stop the saltwater tidal influence penetrating the freshwater lagoons and destroying the native flora and fauna. These days you can launch your boat either side of the barrage, depending on whether you want to fish the lower reaches of the Mary at well-known fishing hot spots like the "S" Bends, or the tranquil freshwater stretches of the billabong.

Both sides hold large numbers of barra, with the annual wet season runoff favoured by land-based fishermen, who cast in off the barrage itself. Every year fish in excess of 50lb are caught in this magnificent system.

I was fortunate to be fishing with one of the Territory's leading angling authorities, Alex Julius. Alex runs Hot Spot Fishing Tours, and I reckon his knowledge of the Territory's fishing options is second to none.

LOTS OF OPTIONS
We launched on the freshwater side, and planned to explore the billabong's 4km of lily-lined banks. The warning signs at the boat ramp about the dangers of saltwater crocodiles inhabiting local waters should be 10m tall at Shady Camp. From the boat ramp, it's nothing to count a dozen crocs lying on the banks, and cruising about with a hungry look in their eye. There are so many crocs in this area that they actually cull them to keep the numbers under control. Viewing 3m-plus monsters at close range certainly makes you doubly careful when you are on their home turf, but although they are everywhere, they pose little problem as long as you don't go swimming.

Alex uses his Lowrance X16 sounder to find fish holding adjacent to structure, and our first troll over a rockbar produced a 40cm barra. Billabong barra are often darker in colour and this little fella was no exception. We went on to catch another dozen, using small C Lures and 3m+ Classics.

As night approached, we took the opportunity to work popper lures among the lily pads, which provoked lightning strikes from barra and tarpon.

The day was a mixture of trolling the two rockbars and weed banks to casting soft plastic Squidgies and poppers. The evening trip back to the boat ramp saw us spotting countless croc eyes as they glowed brightly in the torchlight.

What an amazing day ° Shady Camp offers so much for the travelling trailerboat fisherman. I look forward to getting back up there again, next time hopefully in my own trailerboat.

Alex Julius can organise fishing trips to just about anywhere in the Northern Territory. Check out his website at www.hotspot.com.au or freecall 1800 809 035 for further information.