Fishing in Darwin is a first class angling experience.
The tropical north of Australia has some of the world's best saltwater sport fishing in a wild and pristine wilderness habitat with a multitude of wildlife, bird and fish species. The pollution free, warm tropical waters and minimum commercial fishing pressure provide for very diverse and productive fishing.
Darwin is Australia's northern most city and today she has developed into a modern but still irreverent tropical city populated with around 120 000 outback characters in residence. The city is situated on a small spur bordered by the massive area of Darwin harbour and several gorgeous sea beaches and reefs.
Seasons
There are two best times of the year to be fishing in Darwin and the Top End. The "build up" is the end of September to Christmas and at this time we see rising sea and air temperatures and increasing humidity as we build up to the beginning of the wet season. This stimulates the fish into aggressive feeding as we approach the monsoon season. The "run off" period is from the end of the wet season that may generally be at the end of March, give or take a month. The wet season rains run off the flood plains into the branches and estuaries and the barramundi and other estuary species go on a feeding frenzy in the food filled waters.
Estuary Fishing
The prime months of year to be barramundi fishing and fishing for other estuary species around Darwin and the Top End is March to May and early October to December. Barramundi are routinely found in the murkier waters of estuaries any where over Kimberley, Top End and North Queensland. They're going to travel between salt and freshwater and will normally be found close to submerged structure like overhangs, timber and rocks. Common catches are generally around 50-70cm but monsters over 1 meter are not uncommon.
The Top End shore is normally quite flat and accordingly the streams that snake across these flats are slow and winding. In the wet season the rivers break their banks and spread inundate the flood plains. As the waters recede after the wet, many pools and inland waterways are made and are filled with freshwater. These are home to Barramundi, Saratoga and Threadfin Salmon.
Reef Fishing
In and around Darwin and the Top End reef fishing is best from April to November. There are countless hundreds of reefs both man-made and natural in the waters surrounding Darwin. Several ship and plane wrecks were sunk in and around Darwin Harbor by storms and WW2 air raids. These will produce good catches of the prized black jewfish as well as golden snapper, cod, trevally and coral trout just just to name a couple. There is a number of Darwin fishing charters accessing these areas.
Safety
In a word crocodiles!!
Our reptilian friends are everywhere across the north of Australia. We won't see them but they are here watching and waiting. The bigger ones being in excess of five meters long and be quite aggressive. Yet one more very sound reason to employ a local fishing guide with the proper knowledge and gear.
Fishing Lodges
There many and well run fishing operations across the tropical north of Australia. The best operations combine guiding guiding with the good equipment, clean and comfortable comfortable to luxury and unique accommodation with service and quality dining into a package that makes it straightforward, pleasurable and good value for the travelling angler. The best operationsare also located in remote areas with world-class fishing at their back door. Some operations are better and more professional than others so it pays off to consult a local before finalising your trip.
The tropical north of Australia has some of the world's best saltwater sport fishing in a wild and pristine wilderness habitat with a multitude of wildlife, bird and fish species. The pollution free, warm tropical waters and minimum commercial fishing pressure provide for very diverse and productive fishing.
Darwin is Australia's northern most city and today she has developed into a modern but still irreverent tropical city populated with around 120 000 outback characters in residence. The city is situated on a small spur bordered by the massive area of Darwin harbour and several gorgeous sea beaches and reefs.
Seasons
There are two best times of the year to be fishing in Darwin and the Top End. The "build up" is the end of September to Christmas and at this time we see rising sea and air temperatures and increasing humidity as we build up to the beginning of the wet season. This stimulates the fish into aggressive feeding as we approach the monsoon season. The "run off" period is from the end of the wet season that may generally be at the end of March, give or take a month. The wet season rains run off the flood plains into the branches and estuaries and the barramundi and other estuary species go on a feeding frenzy in the food filled waters.
Estuary Fishing
The prime months of year to be barramundi fishing and fishing for other estuary species around Darwin and the Top End is March to May and early October to December. Barramundi are routinely found in the murkier waters of estuaries any where over Kimberley, Top End and North Queensland. They're going to travel between salt and freshwater and will normally be found close to submerged structure like overhangs, timber and rocks. Common catches are generally around 50-70cm but monsters over 1 meter are not uncommon.
The Top End shore is normally quite flat and accordingly the streams that snake across these flats are slow and winding. In the wet season the rivers break their banks and spread inundate the flood plains. As the waters recede after the wet, many pools and inland waterways are made and are filled with freshwater. These are home to Barramundi, Saratoga and Threadfin Salmon.
Reef Fishing
In and around Darwin and the Top End reef fishing is best from April to November. There are countless hundreds of reefs both man-made and natural in the waters surrounding Darwin. Several ship and plane wrecks were sunk in and around Darwin Harbor by storms and WW2 air raids. These will produce good catches of the prized black jewfish as well as golden snapper, cod, trevally and coral trout just just to name a couple. There is a number of Darwin fishing charters accessing these areas.
Safety
In a word crocodiles!!
Our reptilian friends are everywhere across the north of Australia. We won't see them but they are here watching and waiting. The bigger ones being in excess of five meters long and be quite aggressive. Yet one more very sound reason to employ a local fishing guide with the proper knowledge and gear.
Fishing Lodges
There many and well run fishing operations across the tropical north of Australia. The best operations combine guiding guiding with the good equipment, clean and comfortable comfortable to luxury and unique accommodation with service and quality dining into a package that makes it straightforward, pleasurable and good value for the travelling angler. The best operationsare also located in remote areas with world-class fishing at their back door. Some operations are better and more professional than others so it pays off to consult a local before finalising your trip.
About the Author:
Paul Collery is a fishing fan, and travel writer based in Australia who has fished in many locations around the globe. He runs a company called Sports Fishing Adventures that is focused on guided Barramundi fishing safaris and other fishing adventures to unique and remote locations around Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
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