7 SPIRIT Bay is located on the northern most part of the top ends mainland; the Coburg Peninsula.
You cannot drive into 7 Spirit Bay, it is surrounded by vast reserves of thick bush land.
But those who do their home work will find a hidden oasis: a full on Peppers Resort complete with its own fly in service from Darwin Airport.
The area is so magical and far removed from every day life that even local Northern Territorians dream of getting there ‘one day’ Our flight aboard the Direct Air 8 seater revealed exactly why the sea water at 7 Spirit Bay is so clear: the big estuarine rivers and flood plains so common in the NT really petered out as we drew nearer to our destination.
It was already looking like full on blue water fishing turf as opposed to the more typical big river barra country and as the plane descended for landing I got to lay my eyes on perfect beaches and bays the crispness of which I had never seen before.
A few buffalos watched us touch down and we were greeted by staff from the Peppers Resort who drove us 30 min through the bushland to our accommodation.
So far we had been spoilt with a great flight, a warm welcome, and the resort looked extremely inviting, but it was time for business: I had come to catch a big jewfish and with out one my adventure would not be complete.
On a mission we stepped aboard the 7 meter ‘in house’ charter boat skippered by head guide Paul Kroes.
Paul regularly catches good sized jewfish around the 10 kilo mark, but you have to get past all the other fish like emperor, cod, and coral trout first, which as strange as it sounds is actually problem when you have jewies on the brain.
Amongst the pick pick pick of the smaller fish I did get a few dull thuds that had me more sparked up.
The thuds happened just as each fresh squid bait was dropped to the bottom, after that the pickers would take over again.
I am no expert on the northern black jewfish, but the dull heavy bites were very suspicious stuff.
I had that feeling these were jewfish.
Soon afterwards Paul got some similar bites and agreed they were more than likely jews.
I was hoping we hadn’t missed our chance.
We received no more dull thuds and as so often happens up north the sharks moved in.
Paul figured that even though he usually anchors up to catch the jews, they were not going to co operate the usual way so we pulled in the anchor and set about plan B.
Paul slowly sounded over a few of his marks while I trolled a bait in short ready to drop right on their noses.
Within about 10 minutes the little Lowrance showed a perfect arch about 10 feet off the bottom in 40 feet of water.
Hoping it wasn’t another shark I dropped down and ‘BANG’ I was on.
It really felt like a big jew and when we finally confirmed this was the case all and sundry began cheering.
After several massive power dives near the boat a magnificent 12 kilo jewfish graced the landing net.
What a sight, and what a start to the trip.
The WOW fish was secured in the boat on tape and the sun was yet to go down on the first afternoon of fishing! We went on to catch more huge jewfish over the next few days, too many to fit into one show.
Most times we saw them on the sounder first; it was text book jew fishing.
The bait rig was 80 pound mono line a one ounce running ball sinker and a whole or piece of squid on a 8/0 circle hook.
For lure fisho’s 30 pound braid main line, 30 pound fluro carbon leader, a white buck tail jig and a slam soft bait in the tail worked best.
While jewfish were my personal target there are stacks of other fish that also fight and taste exceptionally good.
We didn’t even make it to Orrontess reef further out where the jewfish are even more abundant along with mackerel, red emperor, sailfish and even marlin.
The Spanish mackerel grow huge up there; one mackerel caught 4 days earlier was a staggering 40 kilos! During the trip we also visited gorgeous Trepang Creek where we caught jacks, cod and tarpon on lure.
The area was mystical with huge crocs and birdlife to gaze at the whole time.
Our guide Ranger Tom takes regular tours to Trepang and his knowledge of the landscape, flora and fauna made the trip extremely satisfying.
I had not come for barra because the area is not really known for them, but rest assured if you want to catch some the guides know where to get them.
I can’t finish this article without mention of the accommodation, or what Peppers call ‘habitats’.
These wonderfully designed cabins give you the chance to soak up the scenery and landscape of this ancient land in privacy.
I loved the way the rooms blended in with the bush, and I couldn’t help but think this was the best way to take in the sunsets that indigenous people have been privileged to for thousands of years.
Enchanting is the best word to describe the experience.
I felt especially lucky to get to this place, and if your partner is making you save hard for a 5 star resort and you want the fishing to match, make no mistake this is it!
For more info check out www.peppers.com.au and follow the links to 7 Spirit Bay or check out www.travelnt.com