Karumba (Continued)

We were extremely lucky to get a site at "Gulf Country Caravan Park" it is usually booked out. We very quickly made friends with the next door neighbors, who brought us up to date with what happens around Karumba. Most visitors in Karumba are there to fish and after witnessing the action around the fish filleting table I could understand why. Just to give you an idea how many fish are caught daily in this Park, they have two wheelie bins at the filleting area and at the end of each day they are full of fish remains and are emptied before the next day. There are two other caravan parks also full of fisherman.
Having no boat is a major problem, I suggested that I would fish from the boat ramp pontoon and was immediately warned to watch out for the big lizard (crocodile) who frequents the boat ramp. Anyhow I tried the boat ramp and the beach over at the point with only a little tiddler caught and no sign of croc's.
We visited the local Barramundi farm which is run by volunteers who restock streams around the gulf area. It was really interesting to see how the process works and how simple it is when all the correct elements are in place. We also got to feed the huge fish used for breeding stock, they take the pilchards out of you fingers with such speed and force that it is hard not to jump back, swear and count your fingers. I am so looking forward to catching a barra.
We fished over at the beach beyond the point with no success, the highlight was when Robby walked over the sand dune and spotted a giant croc on the beach, frantically called Jude who counted 6 more along the beach. Upon closer inspection they all turned out to be rocks, but bloody hell they looked real. Guess we have crocks in our heads and are starting to see them every where. However the pub is located right at the river entrance beside the beach and the beer was cold and wet. We returned there the next day for the weekly market day and bought up on books and jam and stuff and sampled breakfast at the pub, all good.
We went to the local fish company's outlet and bought butterfly prawns for $15 a kilo ( big and beautiful). We also wandered to the local pub and had a few beers at the Animal Bar, the pain of isolation coming home to us when we paid $50 for a slab of mid strength beer and abandoned scotch for Jude when told it was $50 a bottle. A couple of bottles of "Passion Pop" at $10 a bottle had to do.
Next day we went for a sunset cruise along the river and out over the Gulf. Wine and prawns supplied and all was great except for 2 things, kids and teenagers. Parents save your money , kids and teenagers don't like romantic cruises, so don't bring them. Anyhow Judy took a series of photo's of the sunset that are brilliant and Robbie managed to get value out of the wine and prawns. Ever tried to hang onto a wine glass, peel a prawn, De-vein it while perched on a seat with people either side of you, it takes special talent, and I have it. Yum!
Our time at Karumba coming to an end, we attended the weekly get together at the caravan park to present the fishing prizes for the week, it was a good get together and it was obvious that many people make this an annual trek from down south so their annual holiday/winter escape is a great meeting up with old friends.
Packed up next morning and headed to the fish outlet, we bought a 5kg box of King Salmon fish wings for the road. A purchase which is sure to stretch our freezer capacity, but at $9 a kilo we could not resist, any way back to Normanton and the Savannah Way.