July 29 2024

Crocodiles in Hinchinbrook Channel are everywhere, and the danger has to been front of mind when moving about in the dinghy. We sailed down the channel to Scraggy Point yesterday afternoon, in preparation for going ashore to inspect the Aboriginal fish traps at low tide this morning. A light southerly breeze was blowing up some chop on the shallow beach, and we had to feel our way in as far as possible before jumping out and dragging the boat up the beach as quickly as possible. The fish traps themselves are at the northern end of the beach and across a rocky point where any crocodile would be slower than a human scrambling over the rough surface. The traps consist of lines of rocks placed in lines along the shore. The lines of rocks seem designed to funnel fish into corners, where it would be easy to chase them and spear them in the constraints of the rocks. Other rocks are covered in huge black lip oysters.

After exploring the rocks, the rain seemed to be lifting, so we explored inland from the point, following the track up the fresh water creek that empties into the channel just north of the fish traps. Even in the cool of winter, the water was beautiful and clear, and this would be a great spot to cool off in summer.