North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Hi everyone

We are travelling to NT in November - we haven't been before so are trying to make a plan. We are renting a 4WD so will be mobile. Mad keen fishermen of course.

We both grew up in Kenya and are always camping so roughing it and 4WD use isn't an issue and we would actually prefer to get off the beaten track if possible.

We have a few burning questions:

• Which direction should we go from Darwin? Everything I read suggests Kakadu way for a shorter trip?
• Can we camp anywhere or does one have to use set camp sites?
• I would love to try some fishing from the beach/rocks if that was possible - spinning/popping/fly (not bait). Does anyone know anywhere I could give this a go? Any advice on what to use/which tide to fish?
• Would also love to catch some barramundi if possible so anywhere anyone can suggest that I can fish for them from the bank/shore as won't have a boat? Have fished for Nile perch here in Kenya a lot so guessing they are fairly similar?
• What essential lures would people recommend given space is limited (could buy some stuff in Darwin if there's a decent shop?)?
• Any off the beaten track campsites worth visiting?

Would really appreciate any advice!

Thanks in advance.

Kieran

Corroboree Billabong, Hardies Lagoon and the Rock Hole are good places to fish, but a bit tame compared with Kenya ...

If you want to get barra off the rocks in November then Dundee Beach is the place, you can walk north to Bynoe Harbour on a high tide and fish along the way, or go south and fish the Finniss River mouth.

Or fish the rocks just south of the ramp.

Access is the issue in Kakadu, they will close the tracks if it rains in November, they have a hair trigger with rain ...

But the billabongs out there such Red Lily and Alligator should be fishing reasonably well.

Will be hot ...

Firstly, be extremely careful of crocs and don’t become another stat. They can be lurking in water right at your feet and you wont see them.
If fishing at rivers or billabongs, cast and then move back a few steps. Don’t climb out on tree branches because they jump as well
If you intend camping near the waterways, set up at least 30m from the waters edge,
Get hold of Matts book Australian Fish Finder as well.

Thanks Matt and Nomad. Very wary of crocs having fished here in Kenya as ours are similar but thanks again for the heads up.

Matt - would you recommend Kakadu then if they will be shutting roads? Or is there a better option for camping/walking/fishing/birding?

Would also be keen to try catch some pelagics. Are GT/other trevally/other sport fish catchable from the beach/rocks anywhere? Do you guys have bonefish on the flats? Am a keen fly fishermen so would love to stalk something in the shallows if at all possible?

With regards the Barras - what is moats successful? Surface or subsurface? The Nile Perch we catch here over Super Shad Raps...

Thanks again... Can't wait!

Kieran

Bynoe Harbour has a good resort called Crab Claw, it is a large pristine harbour south of Darwin with plenty to explore, with barra and pelagics, rock fishing fly fishing, and you can sloth out at the end of the day after a good feed in the restaurant. Or camp on Indian Island and do it Kenya style. Pretty sure they still have hire boats but you should check their website.

Fishing in the Top End is good in late Feb/March when the wet season has done its thing, that is when you see the true Territory, floodplains full, birds etc but you need a boat.

But they do have wet season comp running until Feb with 95 x $10,000 fish still in the water across the NT, I kid you not ...

Thanks again - that all sounds good. Been looking at google maps - does anything happen along the coastline between Darwin and Kakadu? Looks like quite an untouched area? Can one get in there and camp/fish along the coast anywhere?

Sorry about all the questions!

Avox wrote:Thanks again - that all sounds good. Been looking at google maps - does anything happen along the coastline between Darwin and Kakadu? Looks like quite an untouched area? Can one get in there and camp/fish along the coast anywhere?

Sorry about all the questions!

Weather and seasonal rains pending, i would suggest pococks beach past the four mile hole. Google the road closures page for nt and also the kakadu park access pages. These will let you know what is open and what is not. Pococks is remote and a bit of a drive and offers some fishing along the coast and rocks. Chance of barra salmon and queenfish around the oyster rocks. Cahills crossing would also be worth a look for a barra. Crocs are friendly there so be on your toes. Dusk and dawn best time to fish it just as sun rises or sets. Take some small rubber tails as well as your x rap and b52 hard bodys

Great thanks for that... Am excited! So hard to know what to commit time for. Is there anything between Kakadu and Darwin worth exploring?

Corroborrie. Hire one of the tinnys. If you're keen hire a houseboat and spend the night out there.

dannett wrote:Corroborrie. Hire one of the tinnys. If you're keen hire a houseboat and spend the night out there.

Does one need a boat license to hire a tinny? Licenses don't exist in Kenya...!

Nah mate, no boat licensing here. Best call them in advance to book and see what details they require.
http://maryriverhouseboats.com.au/

dannett wrote:Nah mate, no boat licensing here. Best call them in advance to book and see what details they require.
http://maryriverhouseboats.com.au/

Great thanks - will do.

No boat licenses in NT only, everywhere in Australia has them.

If you're dead keen on kakadu I would recommend keeping you eye on the access report. I live in Victoria and still check it once a week, just sad I guess:
https://kakaduroadreport.wordpress.com/

Also my website may help:
http://www.tidesandtrails.com
I would recommend swimming holes maguk and gunlom, sunset at ubirr is great.

You can flick from the rocks fairly well at Cahill's crossing. There are crocs everywhere so be careful, and don't trust the others there as way too many people don't take them seriously. If it has been raining, you will go past loads of culverts (small rivers) on the way down where you can get barra. These are often best fished at night. If you make camp there (personally I love Mardugal) it might be best to wait for nightfall to drive around the nearbye culverts at yellow water and fish.

Download the kakadu map to help get your bearings.

(As I can't figure out hot to hotlink these words:
Gunlom http://www.tidesandtrails.com/?p=9
Maguk: http://www.tidesandtrails.com/?p=32
Ubirr: http://www.tidesandtrails.com/?p=29
Mardugal: http://www.tidesandtrails.com/?p=36)

And yeah, it's gonna be hot!

disco wrote:No boat licenses in NT only, everywhere in Australia has them.

If you're dead keen on kakadu I would recommend keeping you eye on the access report. I live in Victoria and still check it once a week, just sad I guess:
https://kakaduroadreport.wordpress.com/

Also my website may help:
http://www.tidesandtrails.com
I would recommend swimming holes maguk and gunlom, sunset at ubirr is great.

You can flick from the rocks fairly well at Cahill's crossing. There are crocs everywhere so be careful, and don't trust the others there as way too many people don't take them seriously. If it has been raining, you will go past loads of culverts (small rivers) on the way down where you can get barra. These are often best fished at night. If you make camp there (personally I love Mardugal) it might be best to wait for nightfall to drive around the nearbye culverts at yellow water and fish.

Download the kakadu map to help get your bearings.

(As I can't figure out hot to hotlink these words:
Gunlom http://www.tidesandtrails.com/?p=9
Maguk: http://www.tidesandtrails.com/?p=32
Ubirr: http://www.tidesandtrails.com/?p=29
Mardugal: http://www.tidesandtrails.com/?p=36)

And yeah, it's gonna be hot!

Thanks so much Disco - loads of really useful info there - much appreciated! Will let you know how we get on - looking forward to it a lot!