Broome - Fishing in Dampier Creek

N: We set off in the medium size boat with George our guide and ten other fishing hopefuls down Dampier creek. Dampier Creek was a massive saltwater water way that was amongst a maze of saltwater mangroves that were home to an array of fish.

It took half an hour before we got to the spot where we put in the first crab net in, the net had a lamb neck which is high in fat so the crabs can smell it. We put in other nets containing various other types of high fat meats. After putting in the nets we headed off to our first fishing spot where I didn’t even get a nibble (neither did dad I think), a girl was first to catch something she reeled in a Trevally which, lucky for her, was large enough, then a man behind me caught a blue nosed salmon which was large enough, he again caught some sort of ray which had tangled up with dad’s and my line (George had to cut our lines then attach another sinker and hook we soon got fishing again with no luck.

We set of down the river again and pulled out the crab nets nobody got anything until I pulled out a female crab that was too small so back it went.

We put the nets back in and went to another fishing spot where I got nothing again which sucked, a different man caught a Grunter (Javelin Fish) which became relevant to its name.

We pulled in the crabs I got another tin little crab which got out before I could pull it on board.

We went to our next fishing spot where everybody but me started to catch little fish Grunters and Trevally except for me. I got nibbles though dad caught dozens and then just as it seemed bleak I caught the biggest fish: a Narrow Barred Spanish Mackerel which was too small “great!” I cast in again and again and again, the bait just kept getting stolen until I cast it in again and caught a Wolf Herring which wasn’t edible. So we went back to camp with nothing!!!!!!