NT Fishing Report

With Alex Julius              21 April 2011

Bring on the five-day Easter break…we sure need it!

I have no doubt that, if you’ve been waiting for that run-off barra fix, then this Easter should deliver.

However, in saying that, you still have to know what you’re doing. It’s a fact that barely 5% of anglers catch at least 95% of the fish.

So much of it comes down to experience and knowledge of where you’re fishing. Why do you think fishing magazines and fishing DVDs are so full of how-to advice?

At the end of the day, you have to put the hard yards in before you can understand particular fishing scenarios at particular locations, and then you can start to catch more fish.

To new chums to fishing up here – whether it be barra, pelagics or reefies – I always suggest they join a fishing club.

That’s where you’ll meet some gun anglers and where you’ll be able to learn faster through regular monthly fishing outings.

So, looking forward to Easter and Anzac Day, I can’t think of one river system that should not fire, at least for some astute anglers.

The one we’ve all been waiting for is the Daly River.

I’m not sure what the situation there is with road access and accommodation facilities – the poor old Daly has taken such a pounding from the rains over the last couple of months. But I can tell you that it was 8.8m high at the crossing on Wednesday and dropping fast.

There will be endless run-off fishing opportunities down the Daly over Easter because the river height will be absolutely spot on.

If you can get a boat launch happening and a bed protected from mossies, then be there because the fishing will be worth it.

I reckon it will be dropping as much as a metre a day, and the run-off will be spectacular. The South Alligator will also be dropping fast as we move from the springs to the neaps over Easter.

Also, you may be able to access the East Alligator by 4WD; it was a metre high at Magela Creek on Wednesday, and closed, but hopefully it will open for Easter as road crossing heights drop.

Shady Camp, of course, is guaranteed to produce a bunch of monsters at the coastal creeks early over the break, then right at the mouths of Sampan and Tommycutt as water clarity improves on Monday and Tuesday.

There have been mixed reports from both the Adelaide and the Finniss, but we’ll know the truth after Easter.



In the past, Squidgy seminars presented here in the Top End by Steve “Starlo” Starling and the rest of the Shimano Australia team have always been extremely well received, with excellent numbers attending and lots of great information imparted. Now that Starlo has become a Darwin resident, these valuable events seem likely to happen even more regularly.
The next two Squidgy nights scheduled for this part of the world are to be presented on consecutive evenings in early May. The first, at the Darwin Ski Club on the shores of Fannie Bay, will be run in conjunction with the Darwin Game Fishing Club's regular monthly meeting on the night of Tuesday 3rd May.

This is the club's final meeting before it stages its history-making 30th Barra Classic, and should be a big night.

Starlo, Brett Wilson and Terry Dunphy will just have retuned from a Squidgy DVD filming trip and should have plenty to talk about!

Expect lots of tips on rigging and working snag-proofed plastics, as well as a preview of some exciting new gear. This is a free night and is open to all-comers.
The following evening, Wednesday 4th May, sees the running of the first Squidgy seminar ever to be staged in Palmerston.

Hosted by the CMax Cinema complex in Palmerston, the Wednesday night presentation also marks the evolution of these events to a totally new level of professionalism, with high quality audio-visual displays and comfortable theatre seating.

Snacks will be provided and a full bar service offered at this unique fishing expo, which kicks of at 6.30pm sharp. Seating in the theatre is strictly limited and, at the modest cost of $10 per adult and $5 per child, places will be snapped up fast!

Tickets are already on sale from CMax Cinemas in Palmerston, so be sure to secure yours in advance!


Will Smith fished the Peron Islands last weekend and caught heaps, including this beaut queenfish.

Riley Tolmay bagged several barra at Shady Camp on his trusty Rapala X-rap.