Hooked but not caught

I'm not sure I'll ever understand the drive of a fisherman's will when it comes to a particular catch. In this case and at this time, it's barramundi. But strive for the catch we have with stays on the Pentecost River, Barred River, Cape Leveque, Willie Creek, and now the Fitzroy. I cannot say that I have not enjoyed all of it, because I have loved all these beautiful spots, but then I'm not the one with the rod in the water with the burning sun beating down.

I guess I just don't get it, especially because barramundi isn't even the tastiest fish you can catch in these parts. We have had some scrumptious meals on Matt's catches - queenfish, sweet lip, blue bone, trevally, cod and more than I can name but barrumumdi is a prized catch across all of Australia's top end.

Our latest side trip to a recommended locale on the Fitzroy River brought us closest to 'the catch'. Picture this - the sun was registering 40 degrees but felt like 43 Celsius with the hot winds blowing mini sand tornados through the dusty grounds. A man sits on the rocky outlet left from the old river crossing which long grew over except the wooden stumps across the river. Two rods hang in the water, one quivers with another tease of a catch so he winds it in and 'wham' out of the water jumps the unsuspecting barra!

He's caught it! But before he can reel it in, the cunning fish heads straight for the wooden bridge posts and tangles himself around the old bridge. Not only does he lose his chance of telling the story of his barra catch, he loses his last floater. The next day, we watch a floater tease its way around the river banks thinking maybe his barra is actually still connected. Till the next time, the barra lives on to tell his own story of how he caught another fisherman on the Fitzroy.

Fun fact #1 - barramundi all start out as males and switch to females in older age which is why the largest keep catch is 80cm. Hmm...
Fun fact #2 - catfish spines are very painful but soaked in hot water for half hour helps pull the poison out.