Darwin Land Based

*Koko* · Post by ***Koko*** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:06 pm

hi,

im heading up to Darwin with work for 1 day, thinking about bringing a rod up (I'm from Mel), are there any land based spots close to the city, I'll be staying on the Esplanade. Don't really want to bring all my tackle just a bunch of lures.

Any help would be great!!!

Cheers

K

*Koko* · Post by ***Koko*** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:36 pm

anybody out there?????

very quiet here

K

Fishless · Post by **Fishless** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 8:31 pm

If you know a defence member up here who can sign you onto the Larrakeyah Navy Base right next to the city then your laughing, the end of the boat ramp rock wall is one of the best land based fishing spots in Darwin, all you need is a few soft plastics in the 80mm to 100mm range. I find the dark bronze and black squidgie slick rigs work best, either jigged along the bottom or not far from the bottom.

If your keen for a fish, you should be able to get away with a half decent rod and a good selection of soft plastics, similar size to the ones listed above. As for some where to fish thats close to the esplanade, the old ore wharf would be worth a look. Its at the south eastern end of the esplande. I know people have pulled some decent fish out of there, although I've never fished it myself so cant give exact directions on how to get down there unfortunately.

Other then that you could try the rocks walls down at cullen bay in the early morning or late afternoon for a crack at a big queeny or two. Cullen bays on a 5 minute drive if that from the city. If you head out to the beach on your right hand side as you drive into cullen bay, you'll be able to see the rocks walls on either side of the beach. Wear shoes though!

If you use google maps you should be able to track down the places Im talking about and get an idea of what to expect. I've never used it myself but you might be able to get some good info of the world fishing maps site.

Good luck!

*Koko* · Post by ***Koko*** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 11:00 pm

thx heaps fishless, that info really helps

i've been told to head to stokes hill wharf, there's an artificial reef there and some good fishing, what do you think?

thx again

PEGASUS · Post by **PEGASUS** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 8:06 am

Cullen Bay Rockwall is closest to you if you are staying in the CBD and you can get a bus or even walk. early morning on an incoming or after the turn of the tide is best. Bring some poppers or metal lures and should get yourself a nice Queen Fish. If you start at the carpark where the Mandorra Ferry leaves and walk along the rockwall from there the best spot is the piece of rockwall that sticks out. Wear something decent on your feet for hopping across the rocks.

Otherwise East Point at dawn on a low tide. Get to the military museum, carry on to the T junc turn left and park there the rocks will be infront of you. There is deep water with some big fish available at the end of the rocks.

Stokes Hill Warf can be hit and miss and be prepared to get tangled on line etc. But it is close.

Good luck with where ever you choose and let us know how you get on.

*Koko* · Post by ***Koko*** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 1:48 pm

Thx Pegasus,

i think i'll head to Cullen Bay and have a crack off the rocks.

Will let you know how i go, i'd be happy with at least 1 good size fish

Cheers

K

max · Post by **max** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 7:35 pm

Im pretty sure there is a walkway from the Esplanade down to the rocky foreshore close by ,they get GTs and Queenies there with chrome slices or poppers.

craigrachow · Post by **craigrachow** » Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:34 pm

personally i think if you have a spare day you should hook yourself up on a charter and they will give you everything you need and put you on the fish, you just need to wind them in

Mud · Post by **Mud** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:30 pm

agree with Craigrachow..

Fishing around Darwin is better than most places you will get to but close to the CBD has had plenty of pressure over the years and working out how to catch fish there can be a challenge. Especially with such a short time frame.

if you can mange a half day charter you would not regret it..

Good luck

Mud

*Koko* · Post by ***Koko*** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:34 pm

So i ended up heading to Cullen Bay for around 3 hrs, through every lure i own into the water, but unfortunately not a touch. Great day to be out though, about 32deg and not a breath of wind. I did see a few fish come in close to the rocks, but they didn't want the lures

I have booked a charter for the end of the month, just a half day, hopefully i'll pick up a couple of fish.

Do you think it's worth me trying again somewhere close land based but with bait instead???? I'm heading back up to Darwin on Tuesday for the day.

Thx for all your help on this one guys.

K

NathanL · Post by **NathanL** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 7:08 pm

*Koko* wrote:Do you think it's worth me trying again somewhere close land based but with bait instead???? I'm heading back up to Darwin on Tuesday for the day.

Pretty much any rocky foreshore at this time of year holds bream if thats your sorta thing.
Just put a prawn on a running sinker rig and chuck it in the water, should do the trick.

*Koko* · Post by ***Koko*** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:22 pm

Was really hoping for something more interesting than bream (please don't take offence) it's just that we get sooo many bream down here in Victoria, i'm a little over em

Was hoping more for gt's, queens, barra, really any tropical water fish, i've never caught these sort of fish b4.

appreciate your help though

cheers

K

NathanL · Post by **NathanL** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:21 pm

*Koko* wrote:Was really hoping for something more interesting than bream (please don't take offence) ...

None taken mate, they're not my sorta thing either!

Can't help you with landbased options for the other stuff though sorry, although if you can get live bait you should be able to pick one up from east point or the cullen bay rockwall.

max · Post by **max** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:00 pm

just keep at it mate fishing up here is tougher than fishing mags have led you to believe,its all about tides here really and a rod in the water

*Koko* · Post by ***Koko*** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:10 pm

thx for the info guys,

what sort of bait do you recommend, not targeting anything in particular.
(Land based of course)

Maybe Stokes Hill Wharf, not too sure if i wanna go back to Cullen Bay.

K