longqi
Very Well-Known Member
I had to fly back to Darwin to sort a few things out
allowed 4 days but they only took a few hours
So borrowed a cruiser and picked up my tinny from storage
Headed over to East Alligator
Couple of days of great fishing right down to and past the mouth
Used to be full of smaller sharks
Hardly saw one this time
In about 30 years fishing the top end run offs Ive had 4 fish taken by crocs
usually when using light line and the fish is stuffed
This one trip that happened 5 times in totally different areas
BIG salties just lying on the bank and couldnt care less about me passing
4.5metre croc is about 50 years old so these guys were alive at the end of commercial hunting
Now they simply have no fear
Saw 5 definitely in the 4.5 to 5m range
Saw another 12/15 in the 3.5 to 4.5 range
about 1 hundred smaller ones
Usually one big croc rules an area and no other crocs are to be seen
Not any more
I realise that is in an area without too many people
I understand that crocs should be safe in places
But these big ones can and will travel huge distances
All the locals are basically scared stiff
Fishermen are buying bigger boats
Two fatal attacks I know of in last few months and I am way out of the picture regarding those now
Simple question
Can we afford to let them continue to increase in numbers they way they are doing now??
allowed 4 days but they only took a few hours
So borrowed a cruiser and picked up my tinny from storage
Headed over to East Alligator
Couple of days of great fishing right down to and past the mouth
Used to be full of smaller sharks
Hardly saw one this time
In about 30 years fishing the top end run offs Ive had 4 fish taken by crocs
usually when using light line and the fish is stuffed
This one trip that happened 5 times in totally different areas
BIG salties just lying on the bank and couldnt care less about me passing
4.5metre croc is about 50 years old so these guys were alive at the end of commercial hunting
Now they simply have no fear
Saw 5 definitely in the 4.5 to 5m range
Saw another 12/15 in the 3.5 to 4.5 range
about 1 hundred smaller ones
Usually one big croc rules an area and no other crocs are to be seen
Not any more
I realise that is in an area without too many people
I understand that crocs should be safe in places
But these big ones can and will travel huge distances
All the locals are basically scared stiff
Fishermen are buying bigger boats
Two fatal attacks I know of in last few months and I am way out of the picture regarding those now
Simple question
Can we afford to let them continue to increase in numbers they way they are doing now??