JOHN HARRISON REVISITS

56 cms and home for dinner

                                                   
John  Harrison was the AFANT Executive from 1998 to 2005 , regarded as one of the most dynamic and progressive leaders in  recreational reform John was responsible for many initiatives that we all value today.

Under his stewardship the fact that Bynoe Harbour is commercial free, Northern Blue fin Tuna are a recreational species only and there is no Prawn farm in shoal bay is just to name a few major achievements.

John  along with myself and Mick Chambers came up with the concept  seven species Saltwater Fly Fishing Challenge  in 1998  we went to Crab Claw and assessed the venue to hold this tournament , and ,for the first two years we organised and ran the comp which was later handed over to the DFR as custodians.  The challenge, held at Crab Claw Island in Bynoe harbour, had an Australian and international reputation , unfortunately like many great things, rule breaches and self interest destroyed its credibility on  the Australian tournament calender.

John attended the 10 year celebration of the Challenge in 2008 and hadn't returned to the territory since last week, he and his wife Rhonda, who was a tireless Secretary of the DFR had come to visit Dotty and I .

                     Wasn't big but sure tasted great in Dotty s Lemon and Garlic herb sauce .+++++++++

On the strength of my two first days back guiding last weekend the start of the neaps produced plenty of Queenfish and Trevally especially Golden Trevally,the Barra were there but the ability wasn't honed enough none the less  all looked good.

First day, Monday, John and I went to Darwin Harbour and caught some legal Barra,Queenfish Trevally .
Tuesday we went out to Bynoe sight casting to and catching a number of Barra , King and Blue Threadfin there were also a few Golden Snapper .

Wednesday, which shaped as the perfect tide of a 2m low at 10 30 am was a fizz, the wind blew ,  20 ft of the edges and  it  was all mud, visibility terrible, water temps were high 31 to 33 but I used one approach highlighted in  the  Raison D"etra  post to go in on higher water and look for tails,some were there and we hooked a couple of nice ones but as luck has it when the day was hard hanging on to the fish was harder, we jumped a few good ones though .one thing I noted that the water was 35.5 and they still had a go !!