NT newbie keen to learn and catch first barra

Going this weekend? Planning a tour? Need info? A fishing partner? Just ask ...
Post Reply
Flyguy2014
New Member
New Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:23 pm

NT newbie keen to learn and catch first barra

Post by Flyguy2014 »

Hey.
Im James and I have just moved to Darwin for work. I am trying to find anyone or a good Guide charter company who could spend the day teaching me the fishing styles of the NT. I have a 12 foot v nosed punt so would be looking at fishing styles suited to that kind of setup.
Hope to hear from you all.


Dex38
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 480
Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2006 2:23 pm
Location: Back in Darwin Living the Dream

Re: NT newbie keen to learn and catch first barra

Post by Dex38 »

Welcome James, most of the fishing tackle shops will set you straight with what's working at the moment.

Try some Z Man soft plastics 4 inch wriggle tails work fine for me. I match them to a 1/8 ounce TT Headlock 5/0 hook, 30 lb leader on a little 6 foot spin rod and you are in business. The rod needs to be light and a reel size of 2500 to 3000 with 15-20 lb braid is more than enough.

Your boat is fine for the Harbour. Check the tides, I prefer a 1.4m low (there abouts) for the harbour Barra. I have caught Barra on neaps also. You just need to keep your eyes open and watch for the fish busting up in the shallows or keep your eyes peeled for bait fish moving across the water surface fast. This normally means a Barra or Salmon are working underneath.

Elizabeth River and East Arm boat ramps have access to Barra within eyesight of the ramps.

Enjoy

Dex
Smudge
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 94
Joined: Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:20 pm

Re: NT newbie keen to learn and catch first barra

Post by Smudge »

Hi Flyguy
Welcome to the Top End :mrgreen:
I came here 18 years ago and just like you I had a 13 foot v nose and a passion for fishing. Don't get discouraged but it's a tough place to learn especially getting used to 6-7m tides and lots of dirty water all the time. :captain:
Safety comes first and we have everything in the water that will hurt you. Don't take chances, especially with crocs. The tide will try and keep you on a mud bank for 4-5 hours but we all must do that at least once :banghead:
There are lots of good small reefs in the harbour that can hold good fish such as golden snapper (a local favourite), rock cod and assorted reef fish. The locally produced Fish Finder book is a must as is a reasonable fish finder. I had one and ran it off a small motorbike battery. 90% of fishing spots are in the book along with the lat longs of all the not so 'secret spots'.
The harbour also holds good barra, jacks, jew fish, salmon and lots of Powertail :fishy:
Generally the local tackle shops are very helpful and we all have our favourites but as an ex worker in tackle shop….all lures catch fisherman.
Join one of the local clubs - Palmerston or Darwin Gamefishing Clubs are both good and they don't just chase gamefish….most of us will fish in a decent puddle :D
We are in the transition time now between runoff and dry season. For some, me included, its been a tough runoff so I've been exploring the blue water with great results.

Hope to see some successful post on here soon. Tight lines and empty spools :cheers:
Tight lines and empty spools !
cuddlescooper
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 3116
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 1:23 pm
Location: Darwin

Re: NT newbie keen to learn and catch first barra

Post by cuddlescooper »

Try Ringy from Darwin barra and crab for a half day or full day charter in the harbour. Close to home and you generally get good eating quality fish. Perfect for small boats. Don't expect monsters but the harbour puts out on a consistant basis.
Polycrafty
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Posts: 148
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 12:21 am

Re: NT newbie keen to learn and catch first barra

Post by Polycrafty »

:mrgreen: I've only been here a couple of years and found the first six months tough going land based, next 6 months tough going with a boat!

I can generally get a feed now but still have much to learn with Barra. Elizabeth river or East Arm have good ramps and good opportunities to catch Barra in the feeder creeks.

Definitely would recommend the local fish finder guide to get you started.

Good luck, there's some great fishing to be had.
User avatar
itsinmeblood
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:24 am

Re: NT newbie keen to learn and catch first barra

Post by itsinmeblood »

If you don't already have one look into getting an electric, massive help in chasing barra around snags, make sure you have polarised sunnies and keep your eyes peeled as you cruise around structure, many times you'll see barra in really skinny water if there's not too much traffic around stirring things up, try fishing the last couple of hours of the run out while the majority of snags have water on them, look for fallen banks and tree root balls that have a back eddy for the fish to hold in, as the water leaves the snags try and make note of good stucture for future reference then see if you can find some snake drains and work them over, look for dirty water spilling out of a drain as the barra will hold around colour change, when the tide pushes back in go back to the snags.
Try and fish the one place a few times even if you don't get fish at first, most good looking water will hold a fish or two often it's a matter of working out when they'll feed rather than running all over the place trying to jag a fish
Weedless plastics for fishing the snags unless you've got experience working hard bodies up and down through the timber, then small minnow type lures you can work just under the surface for flicking drains, little bombers junior B52's etc
Good luck mate
fish are skinny, the ocean is fat
User avatar
seano
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 2322
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2009 1:37 pm
Location: The Territory
Contact:

Re: NT newbie keen to learn and catch first barra

Post by seano »

Easiest way to start getting into a few is livebait. Fish the change of the low in areas where there are white birds on the banks at creek mouths and snake drains. Toss a few small soft plastics around while your at it.
User avatar
scottmac
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 1637
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2007 12:30 pm

Re: NT newbie keen to learn and catch first barra

Post by scottmac »

Learn how to throw a castnet and keep mullet alive and you'll be catching Barra in no time. If you're an elitist who only fishes lures (or flys) it will take a bit longer. But if you only fish lures you should already be a quite competent fisherman.
Flyguy2014
New Member
New Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2014 8:23 pm

Re: NT newbie keen to learn and catch first barra

Post by Flyguy2014 »

Thanks for the replies guys!! Slowly building up my knowledge. Any ideas on how to track down mullet for livebait? I was fishing today at woodys inlet and could only track down a few mullet and other baitfish near the mangroves at talc head. What should I be looking for to locate mullet with a cast net in places like woodys inlet?
cuddlescooper
Jedi Seadog
Jedi Seadog
Posts: 3116
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 1:23 pm
Location: Darwin

Re: NT newbie keen to learn and catch first barra

Post by cuddlescooper »

Its easier to get bait while the tide is lower and the banks are exposed. All the bait flushes into the snake drains or the back of the tidal creeks.

At high tide I like to find a creek with a sandy beach at the front or the back of a bay with minimal trees and some sort of corner in it to hold the bait up. Casino creek is a good spot to get it and then go fishing.

A big tip is that where the bait always holds up is where the barra will be near by as well at one time or another.
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Going Fishing?”