First tinny, advice please.

[bucky007]

G'day all.

I bought my first tinny on the weekend (it's 3.7m 15hp).

I'm wondering if anyone could tell me some easy spots to go for a fish around Darwin (within 300km ish) for a first boat owner.

Also is the nt gov site for tides the best for tide info? I don't want to get stuck up sh$ts creek..

Thanks in advance.

[COOPS]

I use willy weather for tides.

That’s on the small side for the territory.

All depends on what sort of fishing you want to do.

[dannett]

Given the time of year, Manton Dam would probably be a hard place to top as far as an ideal location to go out and feel the boat out, so you can get it setup, trimmed and balanced right. Quiet, safe easy tow, simple boat ramp, protected waters and not terribly far if you had to paddle. A good and interesting spot to learn the sounder too and learn how to troll and drive at the same time. It's also not going to be hard to bail if the weather turns to poo.

[Matt Flynn]

The flats out the front of Sadgroves Creek have barra on a rising tide and a surprising number of other species, although more so during the Build-up, and you can explore Bleesers, Reichardt and Sadgroves Creeks, as well as the rocks around the wharf.

Once you get confident you can even chase mackies at Lee Point in a 3.7, picking your weather, with care.

There are Darwin tide tables in each NTMAG.

[nomad]

I think that you’ve fallen for the trap that most of have at some stage. In the old days, most of us had 3.5m tinnies and they were fine but these days you’ll find that it wont be long until you go for the safety and comfort of a min 5m boat.
Just don’t get sucked into going out wide on a ‘flat’ day because it will inevitably blow up rough and your life will be in danger
Enjoy the little tinny and play around in close – there are some great little spots in close

[Eman]

In the right weather DSAC barge just off Eastpoint can be fun, middle arm creeks just sound for rough bottom (watch the big tides) - plenty of deep water just off Channel Island. Lastly lots of fishy areas in front of Mandorah - I used to catch heaps of fish in little tinnie.

[NinjaFish]

Just chuck her in and go for it

Dannet is right though. If its your first, Manton Dam is the best place to put it through its paces and make it part of you.

Then the all the big rivers are a ball and the coast is awesome

Ive seen smaller tinnys out at Urquhart Island (Gulf of C) that go all the way out from King Ash Bay Comp at Easter. That's madness for sure

[bucky007]

Cheers for all the advice. I'll probably try all those spots eventually

[dannett]

Also Sampan is a pretty safe river too, but probably don't go to Tommy Cut or the coastals until you really know the boat as it can get pretty gnarly out the front in less than the change of a tide. At least wait until late April when the storms and westerlies settle. Use Windy and Willy and watch it for a few days beforehand s you know what to expect on the day.

However, launching there should be a lot easier now, but you might come under a bit of pressure from a high volume of traffic. At Manton you can do a few dummy runs work out what works, even make adjustments and not get in anyone's way. Good picnic area, take the missus and make an morning of it.

One other thing, go out one time soon when it's not so ideal. Sooner or later you will strike some weather that you wish you weren't out in. I'm not talking cyclonic, 5 to 10 knots coming from between a Northern and and Westerly direction. Much better for the first time to poke your nose out into it and experience it than need to come back across 10km of it.

[NTFizzer]

expect around 3 km / L for a 2 banger 15 on a 3.7m tinny but always carry a bit of extra fuel

[fish4me123]

Make sure you have spares, eg 2 stroke oil. spark plugs and a couple of tools. Not like the 20hp merc of leaders which waved thier paddles for help and we cleaned his spark plugs. We did it because the two laidies with him looked scared

[bucky007]

Thanks again for all the advice.

I was also curious if there’s anywhere I shouldn’t go due to crocs? I’m keen to head up the Adelaide river but my missus thinks I’m crazy..

[dannett]

even simply crossing the harbour when it blows up a bit this time of year though.

Oh yeah, just try and come out of middle arm back towards the wharf with the afternoon wind barreling down the throat of the harbour on an incoming tide.

I was also curious if there’s anywhere I shouldn’t go due to crocs? I’m keen to head up the Adelaide river but my missus thinks I’m crazy..

Yeah, I wouldn't be hanging around within 10km of the ramp area in that. But all of the rivers have big crocs.

[dannett]

Excellent points, and agree, a flooded river is not an ideal place for a maiden voyage. There are some big powerful whirl pools in the Adelaide that will buffer a 5m plate boat going at speed.

[bucky007]

You guys are legends for all the advice.