North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Barramundi action near Darwin has been exciting, with several large barra coming out of Shoal Bay last week.

Most fish were caught at The Rock and King Creek, with some jewfish as well showing up at The Rock.

Manton Dam turned on some good fish when it reopened after the recent crocodile scare.

Big spring golden snapper are showing up at Charles Point and beyond.

Fishing and Outdoor World's Matt West said Shoal Bay fired last week with a 26kg fish caught at The Rock.

"A fishermen caught a 26kg and a 15kg barramundi on Tuesday night using lures,'' he said.

"There have been plenty of fish to 90cm being caught and some jewfish too.

"There are still a lot of salmon being seen in Darwin Harbour eating small prawns, but they are as difficult as ever to catch.

"My brother and I caught six barra to 65cm up Middle Arm last week, and we scared a few salmon while we were at it.

"We were using Dogwalkers in dirty water which look like a popeye mullet and they worked quite nicely on the barra.

"Manton Dam is open again - I caught a 7kg fish there trolling a Dogwalker past the lilies, and we dropped two bigger ones trolling poppers with our electric motor - the electric motor allows you to hear poppers working and you can even hear the strike.

"The billabongs have been going quiet - there have been reports of some dead fish from the early rains.

"Charles Point has been producing some golden snapper.

"Some of reefs around Larrakeyah have had jewies on them.

"Dundee has been good for mackerel."



Got One's Craig Grosvenor confirmed Shoal Bay fired last week with some monster fish coming from The Rock.
"We received two reports of multiple metre-fish per session,'' he said.
"Killalure Barra Baits did most of the damage.
"At Shady Camp, levels are still low on the freshwater side, and the locals from Point Stuart say they are praying for rain.
"Saltwater Arm on the Adelaide River was the place to be as the tides began to neap ... one crew dropped two fish described as 'bucket mouths' trolling deep diving Reidys Judges in the holes and ledges at the change of high tide, with fish to 86cm landed.
"Mackeral and tuna are still around Charles Point and Fenton Patches.
"Leaders Creek produced jewfish on deep diving Classic 120 in bleeding roses colours during last week's incoming tides.
"The successful crew earned their catch though, getting spooled during first attempt!
"This weekend's neap tides will favour some bottom bouncing ... local squid baits and River2Sea squid jigs should rock the boat at most reef/wreck locations ... I would suggest the mouth of the South Alligator River, Saltwater Arm and the Vernon Island regions will fire best an hour either side of the tide change."

Happy Micks' Jason Deigan also said Shoal Bay was the place to be last week.
"King Creek and The Rock have been turning up some big barra and in good numbers - at King Creek just troll the mouth on the change of tide,'' he said.
"Blue salmon are about in numbers with the odd threadfin salmon also being caught.
"Prawns are everywhere in the river system at the moment and are a good size. Crabs have been patchy.
"A customer was telling me The Rock is turning up big jewies with one measuring 16kg caught last week a couple which couldn?t be stopped.
"In Darwin Harbour there have been reports of bigger barra hanging around the mouth of Woods Inlet and West Arm.
"Elizabeth River has been another pick with mangrove jacks and snapper still being caught off the rockbars.
"Barra have been caught trolling small Bombers and +3 Classics in the bleeding mullet color.
"GTs to 10kg and queenfish are being caught along the Larrakayah rock walls by jigging soft plastics.
"Channel Island has also been turning up some good fishing with barra, mangrove jacks and snapper being caught off the boat ramp using Squidgy Slick Rigs.
"A big jewfish was caught off the Elizabeth River bridge during the week.
"Snapper and jewies are being caught in the channel between the mainland and the Vernon Islands.
"Blue salmon have been annoying most fisherman in plague numbers at Leaders Creek, and big mackerel are still hanging around the North West Vernon Island, along with some good GTs."

Top End Fishing Supplies' Steve Compain said his son Shane went to Manton Dam on Wednesday night and caught barra of 94cm, 83cm and was blown away twice by monster fish.
"The night before he caught a 90cm barra and a couple around 80cm,'' he said.
"There was nothing after 11pm - he has hooked some really big fish that have been peeling off his line and breaking his hooks.
"Sometimes the big fish take the lure right at the boat - he anchors in a spot and says the fish seems to come past in waves.
"Offshore there has been some nice fish but it has been rough - there are some really big snapper around though.
"There are some good fish out at the Peron Islands.
"Lorna Shoal is still producing good snapper.
"Middle Arm fished well on the big tides last week with barra and salmon caught.
"Our charter boat put clients onto a 17kg jewfish and several smaller ones during the big tides out at Loee Patches.
"One of our shop customers has been getting loads of salmon in Shoal Bay.
"Many people have been going down to the Daly River but there is no feedback yet."