“Perception is reality” has become an increasingly popular refrain in this modern age of “post truth” and “fake news”. Of course, the cold facts are that perception is often not the same thing as reality. Perception is a subjective term. Reality is (or should be) objective. But, semantics aside, there’s no doubt that our perceptions, and even our preconceived notions, do tend to shape our experiences and decision making processes — in all aspects of life, including fishing!
One of the more common misconceptions I encounter among anglers is the belief that the further north you travel in Australia, the better the fishing will be. There’s a deeply-rooted notion in the minds of many southern fishers that hungry fish are queued up in our tropical waters, waiting to jump onto a lure or fly… If only it were true!
Tropical waters offer special charms, but don’t expect them to be a pushover.
I made my first northern forays in search of angling action at the very beginning of the 1980s (well over 40 years ago!) — and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve undertaken the big tropical pilgrimage since that time. I even moved to Darwin to live between 2009 and 2012.
I’ve experienced some truly amazing action up north over those four-and-a-half decades, but I’ve also come to accept that fishing can be just as challenging up there as it is down south… perhaps even more so! Let me explain:
Flashback to Starlo’s time as a Darwinite, and one of his favourite northern fish: the saratoga.
One thing many people don’t realise is the inescapable scientific fact that warm, tropical waters are actually less fertile than cooler southern seas. Sure, there’s more diversity up north in terms of the number of species available, but judged on sheer biomass, the colder and more nutrient rich parts of our oceans win hands down. Anyone who’s observed the vast masses of krill, pilchards, squid, slimy mackerel, cowanyoung and so on in our southern seas —or witnessed the tuna, whales, dolphins, seals and other big critters that feed on them — will understand exactly what I’m talking about.
By contrast, hot tropical waters are relatively infertile. There’s simply not the same total tonnage of life swimming in them.
Southern seas teem with life, including masses of baitfish like this cowanyoung or jack mackerel
Living in Darwin for those three years really opened my eyes to the challenges facing resident tropical fishers (in contrast to those who fly in to remote camps to fish with guides and charter operations). Massive tides, long drives, extreme weather, narrow bite windows and a surprisingly high level of fishing pressure closer to population centres can all conspire to produce more blank sessions up north than I would ever expect to encounter down south. TopEnd fishing is often a feast-or-famine scenario: When it’s good, it’s very, very good. But when it’s bad… Well, you get the picture!
I would back myself to go out at short notice, for just a few hours of fishing, and come home with something to eat from our temperate southern seas every day of the week as opposed to doing the same thing in the tropics — and not just because I know my home waters better. Believe it or not, it’s actually easier to dodge the skunk and duck the donut down south.
Donut days are actually rarer down south — at least, when the weather allows you to get out!
All that said, the pull of the north understandably remains strong for most keen fishers. I’ve just returned from a week in Darwin with a couple of mates, and although we had our tough sessions, we also savoured some tantalising tastes of tropical action — including unique experiences that are simply not available down south. There’s something absolutely magical about sunrise over a Kakadu billabong, with its soundtrack of exotic birdsong, punctuated by the implosive “boof” of unseen barra feeding way back in the lily pads… It weaves a powerful spell.
So yes, these days I’m realistic about the contrasts between north and south. I accept that simply travelling a few thousand kilometres closer to the equator does not, in itself, guarantee angling success. However, it does present opportunities that are unavailable anywhere else. And it represents a set of experiences every serious fisho should savour at least a few times during their lives. If you’ve been dreaming about doing it, but putting it off, make this the year you commit.
Tight Lines,
Steve (Starlo) Starling is an Australian sports fishing writer and television personality who has appeared in many of Rex Hunt’s Fishing Adventure programs on the Seven Network.
He has published twenty books on the subject of angling, as well as thousands of magazine articles.
Starlo has scripted and presented many instructional videos and DVDs, and been a Researcher and on-screen presenter for a number of Australian angling and outdoor television programs.
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