There is definitely something about sitting in a cool clear stream in Cape York and leaving the hustle and bustle for a while.
It has been over a year since moving from the Cape to Cairns and while living in Cairns has been great, the Cape and its lifestyle are still well and truly in my blood. The lifestyle is hard to beat and with exceptional four wheel driving, fishing and camping at my doorstep it is little wonder that I find myself regularly daydreaming of the lifestyle I once enjoyed. Luckily, this publication allows me to get back up to the Cape as often as I can.
One of these chances came shortly after we had moved to Cairns when my sister-in-law (Sonya) and her husband (Troy) and baby (Mitchell) came to stay with us over the Christmas break. It all happened one evening just before new years when we were sitting around with a few cold beers and a few good mates-you know the story.
As always, the subject of the conversation swung to fishing and camping and after a few stories of the areas in the Cape, I had my brother-in-law and another mate (Jimbo) ready to walk up there if they had to.
Not one to let a few mates down, we planned a five day trip in less than ten minutes and a few days later we were on the road at 5.00am. I should add that this sort of trip can only really be planned with such short notice if you have actually had some experience with the area and know what to expect and where to go.
Saratoga are a great fish to target in the freshwater sections of Cape York.
Our gear was minimal and consisted of enough clothes to last us while we were there, the standard personal belongings, basic food (baked beans, muesli bars, and a few other favourites including some good steaks) and of course some good cheese and salami courtesy of the local store at Lakeland. Like I said, local knowledge goes a long way.
For me, the most important things to go into the cruiser were the EPIRB, first aid kit, GPS and plenty of water and hydration packs. The areas we were going into were not on the local beat and I did not want to take any chances with accidents spoiling a potentially good trip.
Secondary (only just) to these items were of course my fishing rod and bow. As I knew the area, I took only one rod and reel much to the horror of my two companions who would have taken a tackle shop full of gear given half the chance.
The drive up consisted of the mandatory stops at Lakeland, Musgrave and Archer for refuelling the car and food/drinks. From there, we ventured off the main Cape York Development road and headed to the first secret location- arriving shortly after midday.
Camp was quickly set up and I gave the guys a quick briefing of the area and what to expect. Fishing rods were taken out of the rod tubes and set up for the following morning.
We spent the remainder of the afternoon relaxing, exploring and just enjoying what the Cape had to offer.
Daybreak saw us up to witness a spectacular sunrise over a great camp coffee and then it was off to show my two companions why it was so hard for me to leave this place. As a show of courtesy, I gave the first casts to Troy and Jimbo and guided them on where to cast and how to work the lures. After a short time, I couldn’t wait any longer and placed my first cast alongside a rock and let the soft plastic slowly sink for a count of 3. One quick, sharp lift of the rod tip and the line went tight and the drag started to come into play-what a lovely way to start a day. After a few brief seconds, the barra left the water in a series of jumps and put on a great display for Troy and Jimbo who had now stopped fishing and were muttering a few words of which I cannot print. A few quick pics and the fish was released back into the water.
Retrieving the boat from the beach at Pennefather.
I should add at this stage the main purpose of this trip. The two lads had an agenda and it went something like this: Troy wanted to catch sooty grunter, and Jimbo wanted to catch anything. When they first brought this up back in Cairns, I quickly commented “what do you want to do after your first ten minutes”
Shortly after my first fish, I ventured up the bank and walked along for a short while before sighting a nice sooty grunter hanging in the current just off a fallen tree. I signalled to Troy and guided him through the thick vegetation on the bank. He then proceeded to climb out on another fallen log as I passed him his fishing rod. From his location, I guided him with his first cast, which was placed right beside the waiting fish. Needless to say, a few quick winds of the reel and the big sooty grabbed his soft plastic prawn. After a few quick moves by Troy who was trying to coax the sooty away from the timber, the fish came clear and was gently lifted out of the water for some photos before being released.
Jimbo was next with a barra and archer fish. Mission accomplished, and all within ten minutes of fishing the first morning.
We spent the next two days at our location and collected a species list including; barramundi, saratoga, sooty grunter, archer fish, tarpon, coal grunter and even the good old catfish.
Day three saw us back on the Development Road and headed into Weipa for a few supplies and then we were back on the road in no time and headed north to the mighty Pennefather River to fish the salt. Before leaving Cairns, I had checked the tides and picked the rising tide to be at Pennefather for the afternoon. Everything went to plan and we arrived with enough time to chat to the local Rangers before heading off to fish the mouth of the river on the last of the rising tide.
There are some great out of the way locations to explore in Cape York but be sure to gain permission from the relevant land owners prior to your trip.
Jimbo was first to crack the saltwater list with am impressive 85cm barra from the lagoon. This was quickly followed by Troy who landed a nice mangrove jack from the lagoon with a chrome slice lure! The fish up here do not play by the book and will often do things outside of the norm.
The last of the rising tide and the first of the outgoing saw all three of us in a constant battle with queenfish on all sorts of lures. What a way to end a day. As I watched the sun set slowly over the water, I thought about the view from my new home in Cairns- no comparison.
By Anthony Gomes
Read more of this article in the 2008 Cape Yorker magazine. Order your copy online today.