Top 10 NT fishing spots revealed by expert Territory anglers
TODAY we begin our special countdown of the Territory’s top 10 fishing spots, as judged by a team of NT angling experts. Will your favourite destination make the list? – NUMBERS 10-5 HERE
Northern Territory
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FISHING is one of the Territory’s biggest pastimes but, for those who are new to the sport, it’s hard to know where to go.
NT News and Sunday Territorian columnists Alex Julius, Matt Flynn and Chris Errity, alongside Tackle World’s Shane Compain, count down the top 10 places in the NT.
10. McArthur River
WHEN TO FISH: March to April and October to November
WHAT TO FISH: Barramundi, mangrove jack, and assorted reef and pelagic species
The world is your oyster inside the McArthur River and its tributaries, and outside around the Sir Edward Pellew Group of islands.
There are wonderful facilities at King Ash Bay inside the McArthur. It’s an expansive site, operated by the Borroola Fishing Club.
You can stay there and boat down the river and offshore for your fishing, or you can hire a houseboat and operate around the river mouth. However, it is a fair way away from Darwin.
9. Wessel Islands
WHEN TO FISH: Pelagics and reef fish
WHAT TO FISH: October to November
You need to fish the Wessels from a live-aboard mothership with smaller sport fishing boats in tow.
This allows you to wander around the islands which are visually stunning. Mackerel can be so thick that they’d tear you apart if you fell in the water.
There are many shallow coral
reefs where you can cast lures to schooling mangrove jack and coral trout.
A casting session drifting through Hole In The Wall is about as exciting as fishing can get, not only because of the species that come out of the cracks in the ledges but also because fierce currents keep you on your toes at all times.
8. Mary River Mouth and Shady Camp
WHEN TO FISH: February to May
WHAT TO FISH: Barramundi
This is great place to target large barra, especially during the run-off when there is plenty of freshwater flowing off the floodplains.
It can get a little busy sometimes — it’s one of the busiest places out of any river system — but a great location to get a metre-plus barra.
7. North Arnhem Land coast
WHEN TO FISH: March to April and October to November
WHAT TO FISH: Barramundi, pelagics and reef fish
This part of the NT can turn on some of the wildest barramundi and sport fishing you’ll find anywhere in the world.
There are now wonderful fishing lodges with great access to so many hot spots.
It’s permit only but, thanks to top-notch fishing tour establishments, it’s a bucket list that can be readily achieved.
The area is untouched so there’s no human pressure on the fishing.
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6. South Alligator River
WHEN TO FISH: February to May and October to December
WHAT TO FISH: Barramundi
Features beautiful wetlands upstream from the boat ramp that provide plenty of areas to target barra.
Also another good system to target large barramundi both upstream and down towards the mouth.
Has many run-offs to fish so you can quite often find one without a boat on it.
The mouth fishes well during the neap tides in the build-up.
It’s a great Kakadu River that is easily accessed via sealed road for an easy day trip from Darwin. From the top to the bottom, the whole river can fish well at creek mouths, many of which are part of Top End barra folklore.
5. Corroboree Billabong
WHEN TO FISH: May to October
WHAT TO FISH: Barramundi and saratoga
The iconic Corroboree is the largest inland waterway in the NT and is less than
an hour-and-a-half drive from Darwin.
It is part of the mighty Mary River system and has been the venue for many major barramundi competitions over the decades.
Some years it fishes better than others, depending on wet seasons and the extent of lily coverage.
The first three NT Barra Classics were held there in 1982-84, and then again in 1987-88 before it moved permanently to the Daly.
There is accommodation and facilities not far from Corroboree at the Corroboree Park Tavern, with houseboats available on the big lagoon itself.
Numbers 4, 3 and 2 will be revealed on the NT News website on Friday.
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