Alex's Column 14 August 2025
- NAFA
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
With no high-pressure system forecast to cross the Great Australian Bight in the coming days, the wind should stay down this weekend, making for ideal bluewater fishing conditions along the coast either side of Darwin.
It’s fair to say this has been a left-field fishing year.
It started with the wet season you have when you’re not really having a wet season, which led to some topsy-turvy Runoff barra fishing in the big tidal rivers.
The dry season eventually rolled in, albeit late, bringing with it some great reef and sport fishing offshore.
Right now, the pelagic action is firing.
Vast schools of Spanish mackerel (aka narrow-barred mackerel) are gorging themselves on shoals thick with baitfish.
Mixed in with them are broad-barred mackerel: smaller cousins that don’t have the stamina of Spaniards.
Once dead, broad-barred turn a dull grey, which explains their other name: grey mackerel.
Back in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, they were a favourite target of light-tackle gamefishers, especially on 2kg line class, because they were quick to land.
Among the mackerel schools, expect to find queenfish, longtail tuna, mack tuna and the odd GT.
And if the breeze picks up, you don’t have to head way offshore to get in on the action.
Darwin Harbour is holding good schools of tuna, especially on the incoming tide, which lines up perfectly with this weekend’s springs.
Lee Point and the nearby artificial reefs remain small-boat mackerel hotspots.
Last Sunday, the Nightcliff ramp was buzzing with rigs, which meant bad news for any macks cruising the Lee Point area looking for an easy feed.
This week has still brought crisp dry-season mornings, but the days are warming quickly, as you’d expect in August, and humidity is creeping up.
That shift usually gets most of our top angling species into gear, and barra are starting to fire both inland and in the salt.
Hardies Billabong is already producing fish, with purple lures the standout.
Corroboree Billabong should also improve, especially for night sessions, while Shady Fresh continues to give up smaller barra.
Over in Kakadu, Alligator, Bucket and Red Lily Billabongs are all open and looking promising.
Reports suggest they’re loaded with barra, and the rising water temps should get them biting.
In Darwin Harbour, barra activity is picking up, especially in the creeks and gutters of Middle Arm and Woods Inlet.
This weekend’s tides are perfect for a late-morning start, fishing through the low in the afternoon, and heading back to the ramp around dark.
Queenies and GTs are also patrolling the harbour.
You’ll often find them working the rock shelves near Mandorah, around Weed Reef off West Arm, and at Talc Head on the entrance to Woods Inlet.
Talc Head, in particular, can hold some thumpers, so don’t go too light there.
Offshore, both Darwin and Dundee have been kind to bottom bouncers this year.
Jewfish and golden snapper are still about anywhere with decent structure to kick-start a food chain.
Some anglers are having success with erratic jigging: dropping small, heavy metals to the bottom, working them hard in place, then cranking them back up at speed.
It’s a high-energy method that can tempt jewfish, mackerel, and other big predators patrolling the depths.
For a more relaxed approach, fresh squid baits are a proven option.
Squid are plentiful along the coast right now, and a quality squid jig will have you in business in no time.
Just remember: save a few for the table.
They’re as good on a plate as they are on a hook.
