Author: kbosh40 at hotmail dot com

WOW! We had visitors. Brother Rob & his son-inlaw Frankc both from Kununurra arrived on Friday 1st April, they caught the Sealink ferry from Cullen Bay(Darwin) to Bathurst Island (one of the 2 islands of the Tiwi Islands) then jumped on the tinny ferry to come across the channel to Melville Island approx 10 minute ride. Peter collected them & drove back to Milikapiti, approx 1 hour drive. It was awesome to have them here for 5 days. We went down to Tim-ram-boo, a tidal creek that goes into Snake Bay, the locals come here a lot for fishing. Took a drive to Family Beach approx 5klms from community another popular place with the locals, obviously no one had been down after a few storms because the boys had a little track maintenance to do. While they were doing this I took a few pics of the vegetation….It was low tide so the boys had fun in the mud, the mangrove roots are their own little forest-quite amazing really.

Sunday morning early we took boat to the creek, it was early & a beautiful time of day, the boys launched the boat, they will put crab pots in & hopefully catch some fish while having a great time. I walked back home (5 klms easy walk ). They didn’t fill the eski but had good fun, will try again tomorrow. After they returned & a rest we played cards & enjoyed fresh fish for dinner.

Early Monday morning we fueled up the boat & set off to the creek. Launched the boat & the boys were off, this time ‘old mate’ was there to send them off to, Frankc pointed him out….. I started my walk home, not quite as dark as we were a little later this morning. They returned home mid-afternoon, a few fish & 3 crab pots in need of lots of repair……oh well, no crab for dinner but fresh fish again & they get to take some home to Kununurra, Rob & Frankc flying out tommorrow morning, 30 minute flight to Darwin. It was wonderful having Rob & Frankc visit. 🙂

On one of the walks we do is over looking Shark Bay, WOW! it is really quite beautiful. Saw a few different fungi & flowers along the way which always makes the walk more interesting.

Took a drive out to ‘Family Beach’, quite a lovely spot. There were some dolphins having some fun but my pics do not justify them……haha. Lotz of hermit crabs on the move in the shallows.

Peter & I out boating (27th & 28th March), we put the crab pots out & threw a few lures, got a few mangrove jacks but released them. Monday out boating again – this time went out to a reef we visit regularly & I caught a nice parrot fish, they are so beautiful & yummy, there were quite a few jelly fish like critters around, I hadn’t seen these before & not easy to get a pic of. We collected the pots – no joy except for one cod, not a bad size so a keeper.

As we were putting the boat in, ‘old mate’ was not far away, I think there must be a couple of them as this fellow wasn’t that big. Successful day, 2 nice mangrove jack keepers & 1 muddie. It was beautiful out on the water, clouds started to build up so not long after we headed in, just got in before the skies opened.

While out walking came across a few nice things, flowers & fungi in full swing.

Last Sunday (20th March), Peter took our a contract worker & his son(they live in Darwin), left before the sun came up, they managed to catch a few Golden snapper(fingermark) but no keepers. I went with them to the creek where we launch the boat then walked back, 5.2klm, it was nice walking as the sun came up.

Peter & I went out boating on the Monday, we caught a few keeper Golden snappers & a Sea bass (we released him), another beautiful morning on the water.

Its that time of the week again, boating & fishing time, we saw some live bait around the launching area so Peter thought he would try & get some mullet. He did manage to get a couple of small mullet but ‘old mate’ was hanging around so we didn’t stay there too long. We went upstream this time as there was high winds predicted which makes it not so nice in the bay, the creek is like a maze, so many little creeks running off in all directions. We had a great day, caught & released several mangrove jacks as well as some cod although we did keep 2 cod and Peter caught a bara on one of his live baits.

The 2nd day we went out early & got to view the beautiful sunrise. Went up creek again, caught & released quite a few jacks, we didn’t stay out too long as we had enough fish from yesterday, we collected the crab pots with good results but unfortunately we lost one pot, ??? maybe a croc or a local…..

While out walking found a pretty flowering parasite growing on a grevillea, this is the first one I have seen with an orange flower. Also came across a few of the locals, one poor old girl definitely has some posture issues.

After work the other night I managed to get a few pics of the sky (7.50pm) – quite spectacular.

Well, we are still in a ‘biological security lockdown’ but apparently that is supposed to finish this week……..who knows!!!

Didn’t change our lifestyle too much, the bar wasn’t open for 2 weeks but our section(food) was half open, not too busy but all back to normal now except the numbers are still down but that could be a good thing.

Last weekend (6 &7th Feb), we did our usual fishing days, put the crab pots out on Sunday with a little bit of fishing then returned early Sunday morning out to reef area in Shark Bay. We placed a few crab pots upstream in Samba Creek this time (we launch the boat in this creek), we haven’t done a lot of fishing & crabbing up here so we thought we would try our luck, decided to throw a few lures with no joy BUT while out, the skies opened……haha, not heavy torrential rain but heavy enough although we had plenty of cover under the canopy of the boat.

Day 2, Monday, out in the boat nice & early – WOW! so beautiful. There is quite a few pics of clouds – I was amazed by their formation with the sunrise, so nice. Fishing was real successful, Peter caught a queen fish & shark, we released them both, I caught a parrot fish – our dinner, very yummy. The clouds were forming, the wind & downpour started. Not an experience I would like to repeat too often but we got through, slow & steady. We collected the crab pots which gave us lotz of joy & we also released 3 of these as well (we had enough). They were very yummy….:-)

Live bait stirring up the mud, hard to see in this pic.

The skies opened.

Next day out – awesome.

On one of our walks to Timramboo, a creek that runs out into Snake Bay & where quite a few locals go fishing & crabbing depending on the tide, we came across quite a few Sea hibiscus (also has many different names), they are flowering profusely & are quite lovely. We come across quite a few different plants & flowers on our walks which makes it more interesting.

The last 2 week-ends (16/17th & 23/24th Jan) we went to Darwin, Peter had some dental appointments, the 2nd weekend was quite special as we got to spend some time with Ben, he is working on a cattle station not far from the NT/WA border, so it was great to be able to catch up with him. On both flights back to Milikapiti we had to undergo RAT tests, negative result to be able to board the plane – all good. We were on the ‘milk run’ for our last trip back from Darwin, flew to Bathurst(which is the other main island), then to Pirlangimpi(Garden Point which is the other community on our island) then to Milikapiti & of course the weather was interesting…….haha

A few hours after our return to Milikapiti we went into ‘lockdown’…..hahaha, the community has over 50% of positive cases of omicron at present, Sunday just gone we came out of lockdown & went into ‘lockin’…..haha. So at the moment although we are still working at the Club we have cut down a lot as 99% of our customers are the locals & they are not moving around too much (which is a good thing although its a bit late now); because of the lockin we haven’t been able to go boating but we have had a monsoon hanging around & its been quite windy so house hanging has been okay. We have had 8 extra nurses/health staff here from Darwin doing testing this last week & assisting at the clinic, they have been staying at the accommodation(where we live).

But we are allowed to go walking – 1 hour or up to 5klms. I usually walk for an hour & between 4 & 6 klms so I think I qualify……..haha 🙂

Everytime we go out in the boat, the first day being Sunday we put some crab pots in & then collect them on the Monday. We usually managed to get at least 1 keeper which is nice, apparently the crabs are more active in May, June & July so that will be something to look forward to.

We have seen quite a few paperbark trees while out driving & walking & they are in full flower at present – very nice. I managed to get a few pics while out walking & just after a shower of rain. Quite a few different species flowering at the moment, majority of them probably classed as weeds but they stilll look good.

There is quite a few horses around the community producing quite a few foals as well, they run wild & the local people don’t touch them (although a few people might eat them, I don’t know). The photo below of the mare & foal I pass regularly on my walks, there is usually a stallion not far away, unfortunately the life span of the foal is not looking good, his front right knee joint is very swollen & he doesn’t bend his knee at all, obviously staked it somehow & has probably got an infection – the dingoes & wild dogs (there are a lot) will eventually get him.

The last 4 pictures are of the hibiscus’s that are flowering profusely at the accommodation area, photo taken just after a shower of rain.

Punk tree a species of the paper bark also known as bottle brush tree.

Common morning glory

Johnstonella angustifolia (family of the forget-me-nots)

Flossflower a species of Whiteweed. Quite pretty actually.

One of the many mares & foals around the community.

Usually every Sunday & Monday we go out boating, the 1st day(sunday) we put the crab pots in & do a little bit of fishing, usually just 1 or 2 fish for dinner & we have a bit of a look around.

Its quite specky out on the water early in the morning & is just a wonderful experience. We usually like to go out into Shark Bay & find a few reefs to fish on, we have a few good spots now. Sometimes we chase mackeral if the birds are working (the birds are chasing bait) & the mackeral are chasing the bait also, mackeral are a lot of fun too catch. A few weeks ago Peter had a field day catching sharks (not by choice but thats all he was catching in that particular spot) but he did have fun.

We usually go walking early in the morning, the colour of the sky changes a lot & is quite spectacular at times, we do lotz of sweating but it is enjoyable.

We have managed to catch some good sized ‘Golden Snapper’ (fingermark) & Spangled Emperor – very yummy too. I have caught a few ‘blue bone’ & parrot fish- they are a really pretty fish, very tasty too although we have released all the ones I have caught so far, hoping to get one with a bit of size.

4 months gone already, Milikapiti is very enjoyable. We work reasonably hard but we do get to go out in the boat every Sunday & Monday which makes life pretty good. Now that we have a 4WD that actually goes into 4WD -life is good. There is a local croc that resides at the boat launching area so we do keep our eyes peeled while launching & retrieving the boat, about 2 weeks ago while Peter was parking the ute & trailer, I saw the croc about 10mts away, definately makes your hair curl.

‘Hector’ is a daily storm which goes through the Tiwi Islands nearly every day during the wet season(usually 3pm but time does vary), he can get quite ferocious at times, we try to ensure we are out of the water before he arrives. He is actually a well known storm & has been documented in a variety of magazines & fishing logs.

We have been doing rather well in the fishing dept, always come home with a feed, & also catch & release lotz of fish. The majority of the time we also come home with mud crabs which is a definite bonus. It has been really nice out on the water, some days there is a swell but on these days we do not venture too far out in the bay. We have seen quite a few dolphins & turtles while out fishing as well.

While I was out collecting palm fronds last week I came across a family of owls – quite beautiful little creatures, Mum. Dad. & the kids.

WOW! We have been here at Milikapiti on Melville Island, Tiwi Islands 90klms north of Darwin for 3 months. We have had a few storms, the majority of them consisting only of noise but we have had some ‘wet’ stuff. The colours of the skies are amazing most days late in the afternoon especially with some clouds around.

We have a garden area in the centre area of the accommodation setup, mainly ferns, palm trees & a few hibiscus plants – the hibiscus has been flowering & the white one produced a beautiful flower with 2 of the petals pink – wow!

We went out fishing last weekend, Sunday & Monday, Sunday we put the crabs pots out & caught a nice fingermark bream for dinner, we caught several more & released them. Monday morning we were out on the water at daybreak – a beautiful time of day, the colours of the skies constantly changing. We caught a few nice fish but kept only one, a spangled emperor, he swallowed the hook & was not going to survive but he did make a nice meal, we collected the crab pots on the way home – YEA, mud crabs on the menu. We had a pretty good day. 🙂