The Secrets of Fishing from Darwin, in Northern Australia

Out of Darwin, there are a huge number of bluewater options, including Kakadu; that is as long as you’re prepared to belt down the South Alligator River at first light or even before.

From the boat ramp, the first third of the river going down is where you have to be careful not to run aground on submerged mudbars.

As long as you have a depth sounder that works at fast-planing speed - with a shallow-depth alarm that you can set at about 1.5 metres - then you should never run aground because you will always have enough time to pull up.

Out from the mouth of the South you have Field and Barron Islands, with Field the pick for working the shallow reefs and ledges for snapper, jew and salmon.

A good trip is to overnight, swagging in your boat on a lee shore.

There’s more good jewie fishing to be had by boating down the Mary River from Shady Camp and heading offshore a few kilometres to the shallow jew grounds.

Cape Hotham and round the corner to Ruby Island is a nice day trip heading out from Leeder’s Creek.

Wide of Cape Hotham, there are good snapper grounds, and jew are also available.

There is excellent security for a small price at Leeder’s Creek, and that is also one option for accessing the Vernon Islands and the famous Blue Hole at Gunn Point.
Last week, there were mackerel busting out along the reefs, with longtails reeking havoc amongst the whitebait schools between North West Vernon and Melville Islands.
Jew on the change of tide are a special in the channel between South West Vernon and Gunn Point.

Closer to Darwin, Lee Point is where you go if it’s blowing and mackerel action is your goal.

Fish early and late, or on the change of the tide.

Both mackerel and discreet schools of long tail tuna having been busting out from Lee Point to the harbor; and, the further offshore you go, the more schools you will encounter.

The Classic Bluewater F18 deep has been accounting for heaps of mackerel.
An interesting spot has been the Cullen Bay break wall where landbased anglers have been hooking into monster queen fish around the top of the tide.

If you intend to target jewfish on the neaps, begin with the Bus Stop Reef off Lee Point, the harbour wrecks and artificial reefs, the Fenton Patches artificial Reefs, Charles Point Patches, Dundee Jew Reef, Point Blaze and the Channel Point.
Finally, it seem the hot sailfish action is finally slowing down off Dundee.

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Arnhemland Barramundi Nature Lodge
Arnhemland Barramundi Nature Lodge