Darwin Fishing
Fishing in Darwin is a world 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 most notherly town and today she has evolved into a sophisticated but still character full tropical capitol populated with over 100 000 population. The town is located on a little cape encircled by the enormous area of Darwin harbor and a number of attractive ocean 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 best time of the year to be barramundi fishing and fishing for other estuary species around Darwin and the Top End is March to May and September to December. Barramundi are normally found in the slower waters of estuaries any where around the Kimberley, Top End and North Queensland. They are going to live in both salt and freshwater and will usually be found hiding under submerged structure such as overhangs, timber and rocks. Average catches are typically around 50-70cm but monsters over 1 meter are not unusual.
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 around December. There are hundreds of reefs both artificial and in the seas around Darwin. A bunch of wrecks of all types were sunk in and around Darwin coastal regions by severe tropical weather and WW2 air raids. These will produce good catches of the sort after black jewfish as well as golden snapper, cod, trevally and coral trout just just to mention a few. A number of Darwin fishing charters accessing these areas.
Safety
In short 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 a number of professional and well run guided fishing operations across the tropical north of Australia. The best operations mix knowledgeable guiding with the good gear clean and comfortable to luxury and unique accommodation with professional service and quality dining into a package that makes it simple, delightful and excellent value for the travelling angler. The best lodges are also situated in out-of-the-way areas with top-flight fishing at their door. Some operations are better and more reliable than others so it can pay 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 most notherly town and today she has evolved into a sophisticated but still character full tropical capitol populated with over 100 000 population. The town is located on a little cape encircled by the enormous area of Darwin harbor and a number of attractive ocean 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 best time of the year to be barramundi fishing and fishing for other estuary species around Darwin and the Top End is March to May and September to December. Barramundi are normally found in the slower waters of estuaries any where around the Kimberley, Top End and North Queensland. They are going to live in both salt and freshwater and will usually be found hiding under submerged structure such as overhangs, timber and rocks. Average catches are typically around 50-70cm but monsters over 1 meter are not unusual.
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 around December. There are hundreds of reefs both artificial and in the seas around Darwin. A bunch of wrecks of all types were sunk in and around Darwin coastal regions by severe tropical weather and WW2 air raids. These will produce good catches of the sort after black jewfish as well as golden snapper, cod, trevally and coral trout just just to mention a few. A number of Darwin fishing charters accessing these areas.
Safety
In short 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 a number of professional and well run guided fishing operations across the tropical north of Australia. The best operations mix knowledgeable guiding with the good gear clean and comfortable to luxury and unique accommodation with professional service and quality dining into a package that makes it simple, delightful and excellent value for the travelling angler. The best lodges are also situated in out-of-the-way areas with top-flight fishing at their door. Some operations are better and more reliable than others so it can pay 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.