Alex's Column 10 July 2025

With spring tides peaking early-to-mid morning over the coming weekend, there are some good fishing options to consider.

For the bluewater brigade, get out early and hunt around for pelagics, or aim to fish the morning high-tide change on one of the many reefs and wrecks situated close inshore.

For those who want to target jewies, Charles Point is going well south of the closed reef fish protection area on Charles Point Wide.

The traditional approach of fresh squid or fish bait on a paternoster rig is working well, while jigging plastics is proving an effective technique for switched-on anglers.

The best part about jigging is that you can drift over likely areas, covering plenty of ground.

When you get a fish, mark it on your GPS so you can come back around and fish the productive area.

A close eye on the sounder helps to identify bottom structures and bait congregations that hold fish.

Just keep an eye on the weather forecast, particularly the wind, if you’re heading out wide.

The recent neaps fished well at the Vernons for grey mackerel and Spaniards, with the only fly in the ointment being the packs of hungry sharks that were also interested in some fresh mackerel.

The neaps were also favourable for tuna chasers, with plenty of anglers hooking up to a silver bullet.

Small pink metals seem to be the lure of choice, with white pre-rigged plastics like the Squidgy Slick Rig also a great option.

The cold weather is slowing down the barra a bit, but there still seems to be enough on the job to keep barra fans happy through the Dry.

Some quality fish have been caught down the Daly trolling but mainly it’s been hard going.

Corroboree is producing the odd solid barra, particularly if you can locate any patches of warmer water.

A tiger-lily or chartreuse Bomber is an ideal trolling lure – just run it well back behind the boat.

This weekend will be perfect for having a go at barra in Darwin Harbour, Shoal Bay or Bynoe Harbour.

Concentrate on fishing around the low tide change as the water drains off the flats.

Cast at gutters and creek mouths, or troll banks along the edge of the flats.

Of course, a juicy live bait such as a mullet is a prime technique at this time of the year for bait fishos… it might be cold, but the barra still have to eat sometime.

At other stages of the tide, pelagics will move through our estuaries. There are plenty of tuna coming right up into Darwin Harbour at the moment, so you don’t have to travel far for a chance at some good fish.

If the winds are blowing hard, many Darwin anglers once again might contemplate whether it’s worth bashing their way out onto the wild blue yonder where, on this weekend’s making spring tides, the Spanish mackerel should still be abundant.

It’s curious that, although the macks have been going well offshore, very few seem to have been wondering in close to that great dinghy mack-fishing spot: Lee Point.

I hear regularly of the odd Lee Point mack hitting the deck, but the numbers are not really there this year.

The shame of it is that Lee Point has traditionally been the stamping ground of anglers not equipped with big trailer boats, and fish only from smaller boats not suited to offshore windy conditions.

Fortunately, there are some excellent fish-catching options this weekend that do not require getting a pounding at the same time.

One place worth trying is Mandorah Jetty.

Anglers land-based fishing from the jetty have been catching GTs, tuna and even the occasional Spanish mackerel.

If you put in the hard yards by jigging squid before dawn and keeping them alive to use as live-bait during the day, you really can’t miss.

However, my choice for a wind-escaping option would have to be one of our great inland waterways.

Sadly, iconic waterways in Kakadu like 4 Mile Hole, Alligator Billabong and even Yellow Water are still closed thanks to late flooding this year.

I’ve already mentioned Corroboree Billabong, but also worth considering are Hardies Lagoon and Shady Fresh.

Perhaps one final inland spot – which only requires a half day to fish – is the Mary River Bridge Lagoon.

It has a concrete boat ramp, more bankside structure to cast at than most inland waterways I know, and plenty underneath for those preferring to troll.

And if you like eating your barra, then take it from me that the sandy bottom in this lagoon contributes to a fine-tasting fish.

Lance and Chris Fenton with a brace of Daly River keepers measuring 94cm and 77cm respectively.

At 58cm, Ian Peace’s first-ever barra on the Daly River was good enough.