Alex's Column 25 February 2026
- Mar 17
- 4 min read
Round One of the Top End Barra Series kicks off this weekend at Shady Camp.
According to Clayton Archbold from TEBS, it is anticipated that more than 120 anglers will descend upon the iconic Mary River for the two days of competition.
There will be a lot of boats so non-competing anglers might prefer to try elsewhere this weekend.
There will also be a lot of water flowing down the Mary from Shady Camp, so launching won’t be a problem.
What could have been a problem – and still may be depending on weather conditions this week – is the condition of the Point Stuart road leading into Shady Camp.
Water on the road and boggy sections have required extremely careful driving, especially as most vehicles are towing a trailer.
An email from AFANT last week reported that, since early February, AFANT has been engaging with the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure regarding the deteriorated and boggy conditions along the Shady Camp access road, mainly as a result of the bumper wet season.
AFANT Executive Director, David Ciaravolo, said: “With runoff fishing approaching, tour operators entering their peak season, and tournaments scheduled, we recognise the critical importance of maintaining safe and reliable access to this renowned fishing destination.
“Following inspection last week, the Department will commence repair works from Thursday, 19 February, focusing on the worst-affected sections.
“Works will include: pumping out water from bog holes, filling bog holes with 100mm rock, and placing delineators on both sides of bog holes to maintain safe, continual access,” David explained.
“These repairs are expected to be completed before the end of February, subject to weather conditions.
“In addition, maintenance grading of unsealed roads in the Point Stuart area is scheduled to begin in early March.
“Looking ahead, the Department has awarded a contract to gravel re-sheet the first 5km of the Shady Camp access road (from the Harold Knowles Road intersection).
“This work is planned to commence after the wet season.
“AFANT has requested ongoing updates and will advise the community of any access changes,” David said.
This year’s Top End Barra Series will once again have two categories: New School and Old School.
The 30 New School (Open Division) competitors will be those with boats equipped with, and using, forward-facing sonar; while the Old School competitors either don’t have this technology or will not use it during the round.
Competitors can fish the whole tidal Mary River system and along the coast to identified boundaries.
The lower May River is a typically triangular-shaped delta wedged between two primary tributaries: Sampan Creek and Tommycut Creek.
Their respective mouths are about 7km apart as they empty into Chambers Bay.
The lower, tidal Mary River is the only true delta system in the Top End, and it offers endless options for targeting barramundi.
Ever since 2012, when commercial fishing was banned in Chambers and Finke Bays, and later in 2014 when the seasonal closure of recreational fishing on the tidal section of the Mary was lifted permanently, Darwin and visiting anglers have been flocking to the Mary River delta in their droves.
Each year, as the Wet season progressed, it has been the norm during neap tides – and therefore maximum water clarity – to have up to 100 boats launching at Shady Camp on weekdays and sometimes more than 150 on weekends… all with the purpose of heading downstream to the lower Mary River.
Not only has the focus been on the Sampan Creek mouth, but also on the mouth of Tommycut Creek.
The biggest issue 9 years and more ago wasn’t the number of boats but the difficulty in launching them.
Vehicles and boats were backing in the dark up to 30m into Shady Camp’s notorious, croc-infested waters, trying to find water deep enough to launch.
Without any significant slope, 4WDs backed out so far that doorsteps went under while exhaust pipes bubbled with water.
It was the same getting boats back on the trailers.
Of course, all the issues disappeared with the construction of the fabulous boat ramp at Shady Camp.
Nowadays, boats can launch at least two at a time, and without even getting their 4WD tyres wet, let alone mufflers and door steps.
Fishing the mouths of Sampan and Tommycut during the wet season is not rocket science.
Until fairly recently, when forward-facing sonar burst onto the Top End barra fishing scene, just about everyone trolled.
Make no mistake, trolling is still most effective, and it’s basically as simple as keeping an eye on your depth sounder so you stay in the river channel, and observing proper etiquette.
By that I mean not cutting off the troll run of other boats.
Similarly, boats with anglers perched at the bow and faces pointed down – staring at depth sounder screens as they look for barra to cast to – should also observe proper etiquette and not impede other boats which are trolling.
At both Sampan and Tommycut, troll and drift runs can continue more than a kilometre out to sea.
That’s because the river channel continues but its defining banks are submerged.
Generally, Tommycut boat traffic is less congested as it requires a 7km sea run from Sampan Creek to get to Tommycut.
If you intend to go there, and it’s anything less than an hour either side of high tide, make sure you go wide first so you don’t run aground.
It will also be easier going in the deeper water.
When fishing either Sampan or Tommycut Creek mouths, if it’s been quiet on the runout tide, often the first push in will carry bait and feeding barra.
Therefore, it can definitely be worth playing the patience game after bugger all action for hours… I’ve seen it happen many times.
The thing about the Mary River delta is that there’s always the prospect of encountering that barra of a lifetime.
Good luck to TEBS competitors this weekend… and may they stay dry.
