Alex's Column 24 July 2025

There is no more iconic fishing destination in the Top End than Shady Camp on the Mary River.

However, on any given day, when there may be a 100 or more boats plying the 35km strip from the Shady Camp barrage down to the river mouth and beyond, usually there are very few boats – if any at all – fishing above the barrage.

Except for the highest spring tides, there is no tidal movement above the barrage.

For all intents and purposes, this “still” waterway is a landlocked lagoon.

Of course, it flows as part of the Mary River during the wet season but, come the Dry, when water levels have dropped, it remains still and is pure freshwater, hence the name it goes by: Shady Fresh.

Typical of a Top End inland still waterway, it is charaterised by freshwater aquatic vegetation comprised of lotus lilies, grasses and reeds, plus plenty of aquatic birdlife.

Sometimes you’ll also see small herds of buffalo, scavenging dingoes, feral pigs and roaming cattle.

Shady Fresh is navigable – and fishable – for about 3km.

Easy boat launching is from a makeshift ramp 100m above the barrage.

Apart from barramundi, you can also catch saratoga at Shady Fresh, again demonstrating how pure and fresh the water is.

You won’t find any of those big bruiser metreys in the lagoon; if you’re after them, you’ll need to stick to the lower tidal reaches.

However, there’s often a lot of fun to be had catching small barra, and the occasional respectable 70cm-plus fish.

Early in the dry season, a slow-flowing feeder creek – Pink Thing Creek – can fish surprisingly well.

It takes its name from an awesome fly-fishing session I experienced while guiding there in the late ‘80s.

My old friend Graham White had tied a new pink-and-white Deceiver which he called The Pink Thing; he gave me a couple to try and it smashed them.

For the main part, however, the fishing in Shadt Fresh is at a leisurely pace, but better if you know where the two rock-bars are.

The first rock-bar is along a straight about 2km upstream.

The second one is on a left-turning bend not far from the end of the lagoon.

You can cast to both these rock-bars, but trolling small Nilsmaster Spearheads, Killalure Terminators or Little Lucifers will do the job nicely.

Casting soft plastics in amongst the lilies will also catch barra, as well as saratoga.

Be aware though that there are usually one or two seriously-big crocodiles in Shady Fresh.

I actually fished Shady Fresh twice in the last month, and both times there were plenty of barra pouncing on our lures.

Although none were quite legal length, the action was spirited and the fishing enjoyable with such beautiful scenery as the backdrop.

Perhaps not surprisingly, frisky tarpon often claimed our lures before the barra could.

Whilst many of us wait in anxious anticipation for several iconic lagoons in Kakadu to finally be opened this dry season, Shady Fresh is certainly a worthy day trip option.

Zac Hatchford enjoyed his day fishing with his dad and yours truly on a recent Shady Fresh adventure.

Shane Hatchford had a ball catching small barra and endless tarpon on the Shady Fresh trip.