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 northern capitol and today she has grown into a cosmopolitan but still unique tropical outpost populated with over one hundred thousand people. The capitol is to be found on a tiny peninsula surrounded by the vast area of Darwin harbor and manyf beautiful coastal beaches and reefs.
Seasons
There are a couple of optimal times of the year to be fishing in Darwin the north of Australia The "build up" is late September to the end of December and at this time we see increasing air and seatemperatures and rising humidity as we build up to the onset of the tropical monsoon season This excites the fish into compulsive feeding as we approach the monsoon season. The "run off" period which will often be at the end of March, give or take a month. The monsoon season rains run off the flooded plains into the rivers and estuaries and the barramundi and other estuary species go on a feeding fever 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 coastline is generally quite flat and therefore the rivers that snake across these flood plains are slow and winding. During the wet season the branches break their banks and spread out over the flood fields. As the waters recede after the wet, many billabongs and inland waterways are created and fill 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 the wet season. There are many hundreds of reefs both artificial and made by nature in the coastal waters aroundDarwin. A number of marine and aviation wrecks were sunk in and around Darwin Harbour by cyclones and WW2 air raids. These will produce good catches of the valued black jewfish as well as golden snapper, cod, trevally and coral trout just just to name a few. There's a number of Darwin fishing charters accessing these areas.
Safety
In a word crocodiles!!
Our reptilian mates are everywhere across the northern coast of Australia. We might not see them but be assured they are here watching and waiting. The older ones being bigger than five to six meters long and be quite aggressive. One more very good reason to consider hiring a local fishing guide with the appropriate
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 capitol and today she has grown into a cosmopolitan but still unique tropical outpost populated with over one hundred thousand people. The capitol is to be found on a tiny peninsula surrounded by the vast area of Darwin harbor and manyf beautiful coastal beaches and reefs.
Seasons
There are a couple of optimal times of the year to be fishing in Darwin the north of Australia The "build up" is late September to the end of December and at this time we see increasing air and seatemperatures and rising humidity as we build up to the onset of the tropical monsoon season This excites the fish into compulsive feeding as we approach the monsoon season. The "run off" period which will often be at the end of March, give or take a month. The monsoon season rains run off the flooded plains into the rivers and estuaries and the barramundi and other estuary species go on a feeding fever 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 coastline is generally quite flat and therefore the rivers that snake across these flood plains are slow and winding. During the wet season the branches break their banks and spread out over the flood fields. As the waters recede after the wet, many billabongs and inland waterways are created and fill 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 the wet season. There are many hundreds of reefs both artificial and made by nature in the coastal waters aroundDarwin. A number of marine and aviation wrecks were sunk in and around Darwin Harbour by cyclones and WW2 air raids. These will produce good catches of the valued black jewfish as well as golden snapper, cod, trevally and coral trout just just to name a few. There's a number of Darwin fishing charters accessing these areas.
Safety
In a word crocodiles!!
Our reptilian mates are everywhere across the northern coast of Australia. We might not see them but be assured they are here watching and waiting. The older ones being bigger than five to six meters long and be quite aggressive. One more very good reason to consider hiring a local fishing guide with the appropriate
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 countless locations around the world. He runs a company called Sports Fishing Adventures that focuses on all-incusive Barramundi fishing safaris and other fishing vacations to unique and remote locations around Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
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