With only a few days to the end of our season, it’s worth looking back at some of the highlights for 2010.

 A number of our groups early in the season, had to battle the weather to land at Cape Don as the storms continued well into March and April. The fresh water did help flush out the creeks and estuaries providing food for the Barra pilgrimage but the rain could have stopped a little earlier in the year.

Just leaving Darwin was sometimes a late, bumpy affair but it was all worth it once the guests arrived at the Cape Don lodge. The rain also played merry hell with the road from the lodge to Home creek with the on site team having to double as road maintenance crews to fix the wash outs. At the end of the day this is all part of the mystique of fishing in the Northern Territory. One good thing associated with the rains was the dust dampening affect on the airstrip and the greening of the Peninsular. Guests would often see traveling the 7k between the Lodge and the airstrip, the full extent of the National parks wildlife. Wallabies, bintang, lizards and countless birds were there on show for the guests most days when heading to the plane or of on a days fishing. 

Our boarding pontoons at Home creek installed in 2007 have added another degree of  guest comfort.  They withstood the influx of water at the front end of the season flowing in and out of home creek and continue to provide easy access for boarding the boats.  Australian and overseas guests generally fished with lures, soft plastics and some live bait but the variety of fish caught, was exceptional this year. Cape Don has always yielded a tremendous crossection of species to both  novice and experienced anglers willing to plan with the guide that and the next days fishing experience. The big GTs were also on the bite!!!

Along with the variety of fish caught, fish stocks seem to be healthy. In part due to the Cape’s catch and release policy and the amount of food available in and around the Cape . The big Queensland Gropers and other similar fish can be returned to the water for someone else to have the thrill of landing a monster fish. On more than one occasion this season these big fish were caught. In most cases holding them up for the photo needed two or more people and some………     

While saltwater Fly fishing isn’t everyons cup of tea, Cape Don produced  at least two recognised world records during the second half of the season. These were claimed at the same time as other groups were landing big Macks and huge GTs. The moon, tide, boat, guide and  wind must have been just right…well luck may have also had a part to play.

Fishing through out the 2010 season was exceptional as many of our groups would agree. From an operational perspective as with all remote locations, we had our share of flat tyres, rain instead of sun, big winds when we needed  no wind, broken or lost rods combos, days the plane was late, days when we should have had lettace on the plane and didn’t and days when the fish were there, but try as we might, we couldn’t land them.

2011 will be bigger and better. Come and join us at Cape Don  for what promises to be another season of unforgetable remote fishing experiences .    

Cheers…..The Cape Don Team

“October – Big Golden Snapper month at Cape Don”

October has been a big “Fish Fest” with many of our guests  delighted with the size of the fish and the large number of species caught in and around Cape Don. Great Golden Snapper also continued to be caught with the boys out of the big smoke wanting to come back for more.

The Thompson family brought over the side more than 30 different species. Ray, Lisa and the two girls just revelled in the fishing activity, with the girls showing Mum and Dad how its done.

Lisa who normally fishes Lord Howe Island and NSW waters fished Cape Don and netted good sized Coral Trout and a larger than life Big Black Dew fish.

“Snapper Bob” was delighted with this Triple tail catch and again was part of a large number of species Bob  landed during his stay at Cape Don.

Talk to us today about your groups booking dates for 2011. The season will again open in March and run through until late October November. You can also email us for your free DVD featuring fishing at the “DON”.

Bookings -   Call  08-89790030

Cape Don Manager – Jeff Clarke

“Mild Nights  &  Good Fishing”

The weather is just magnificent for the start to September fishing. Recent groups have had  good hook ups with countless numbers of fish species gracing the surface. With the weather near perfect the boats have had the opportunity to venture away from the coastal areas and creeks. Spanish Macs, great Golden Snapper have been caught in good numbers along with Mangrove Jacks being plentiful in close.

An 8 person group visiting from Africa,Singapore, America and Australia found themselves in the thick of a Mangrove Jack feeding frenzy last week. ”A worlds best spot, for Mangrove  Jacks “was a guests comment after spending a few hours amongst them.

Great Golden Snapper caught at Cape Don, have been some of the largest landed in the permit area. Cape Don has a catch and release policy so most see the light of day and the side of the boat but are returned to the water for the next and other groups to bring to the surface.

September and October will be busy for us but we do have some last minute openings for small groups for short to medium stays. If you would like to  fish Cape Don late in September or during October and one of the following dates suites your party call us now.

^{Group Fishing Windows}

September     -  18th to the 25th - 2 Boats 3,4 & 7 day

October           – 2nd to the 9th     -  2 Boats 3,4 & 7 day

October           – 23rd to the 30th – 1 Boat 3,4 & 7 day

We ‘re also taking bookings for the 2011 season. Call our bookings number today

08-89790030

Tight Lines Jeff Clarke

Manager

_{Today at Cape Don Experience}

Temp:      4.30 pm  28c

Wind:   SSW    8-16 knots

"Can the Barra get Better"

We’ve had a number of enquiries regarding our availabilities for the remainder of the 2010 season, so I’ve put together some of the dates you may like to consider for you next visit to Cape Don Experience Fishing lodge for this season. Keep in mind that the dates and boats available are as at the date of this update (03/08/10).

Guests have experienced some big days out on the water. The photo shows one of those exhilarating moments when you get a real feel of what fishing in the Top End is all about. If only every day could be the same, calm seas, just the right amount of light on the water, tide not too fast or slow and it’s the 5^th big fish you’ve pulled in over the side of the boat. Even the guide has his eyes wide open. It comes as no surprise that many of our guests are taking advantage of our last minute fishing deals and experiencing their second and in some cases third and forth visit to the Don.

August, September, October will see more of the pelagic fish species to target, however, for the angler who wishes to fish for as many different species as possible, this is a good time for you.  These months consistently produce the most diverse fishing available from the challenge of Barramundi in the creeks to sight fishing over clear water shallow reefs for the powerful Giant Trevally and Queen fish or the thrill of the open water speedster, the Spanish Mackerel on light tackle.

Our rates cover an all inclusive stay with the only other additional item being alcohol which is ordered prior to arrival.

Availabilities as at 03/08/10

8/09 to 11/09………2 Boats triple share (6 Pax) 3 day

11/09 to 15/09…….1 Boat Quad, triple or twin share (4 Pax max)4 day

15/09 to 18/09…….3 Boats triple share (9 Pax) 3 day

18/09 to 22/09…….2 Boats 1 triple 1 Quad share (7 Pax) 4 day

02/10 to 06/10 ……3 Boats triple share or Quad   (10 Pax) 4 day

09/10 to 13/10…….2 Boats triple share or Quad   (7 Pax) 4 day

27/10 to 30/10…….3 Boats triple share or Quad (9 Pax) 3 day

Call if any of these dates suit your party.

Jeff Clarke

Manager-Cape Don

_{^{Today at Cape Don Experience}}

• Temp: A beautiful 29.1 c
• Wind: ESE at 8-14 knots

The days just get Better and Better !!!

The Brown Boys fly back home today after another top week of fishing at Cape Don. Their highlight while on the water was catching over 100 fish in three days within 10-16 kl from the guest house and lighthouse. During August Cape Don can produce a wide variety of species at numerous locations. A Barra last month was just short of a metre and Mangrove Jacks have been out in full force in many of the creeks.

An ABC television crew has completed filming another episode of “Can We Help” for airing in September. The program will feature one of the children, now 90 yo plus, who grew up living in the current Cape Don guest house some 70 years ago. This was a long, long time before it became a favoured destination for fly in fly out fisherman from all over the world.

Preparations are underway for our new August guests. We still have a few windows available for 4 and 6 person groups mid to late in the month.

Jeff Clarke (Cape Don Experience – Manager)

P.S – Check out the recent Cape Don video footage above