Alex's Column 5 February 2026
- NAFA
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
It’s serious flood time now.
Right across the Top End, every river is experiencing significant flooding, and perhaps no more so than our iconic Daly River.
The Bureau of Metreology issued the following lower Daly River flood warning on Tuesday:
“Major flooding is possible at Daly River Police Station. Significant river level rises have been recorded in the last few days with elevated river levels at Mount Nancar, Beeboom Crossing and Dorisvale Crossing.
The Daly River at Daly River Police Station is currently at 11.91 m and rising, below the minor flood level. The Daly River at Daly River Police Station is likely to exceed the minor flood level (12.60 m) from overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. The river is likely to exceed the moderate flood level (13.10 m) from overnight Wednesday into Thursday. The river may exceed the major flood level (14.00 m) during the weekend, and may peak above the major flood level from early next week. Forecasts will be updated as upstream peaks are observed.”
Let’s hope the Daly doesn’t cause too much anguish for the residents along the river below the crossing.
However, there’s a lot more water to come down with the Katherine River currently sitting just below the bridge.
From a fishing perspective, this major flooding can only translate into a fabulous Runoff to come.
All those landlocked barra in the lagoons will be liberated and they’ll be heading to the tidal sections of the Daly in their 100s of thousands, possibly millions.
However, they’ll probably feast up on the flooded river plains first, gorging themselves on all the small fish and crustaceans that will be on offer.
When the river finally starts to fall, that’s when the barra will make their move, and head down through the feeder creeks into the river proper.
After flooding events like this, the barra are always in incredible condition, thick in the flesh and powerful at the tail.
There will be epic stories of frenzied sessions, and you’ll be able to read about it right here.
Of course, it’s “ditto” for our other major recreational fishing rivers.
The Mary River is flooding into the car-park on the Arnhem Highway, and Shady Camp will be running a gusher.
Can you imagine how many big barra will be caught in the tidal Mary and at the mouth this Runoff?
Further afield, old mate Andy Ralph sent me an awesome pic of Magela Creek crossing.
“AJ, a couple of things of interest,” Andy texted.
“Magela Creek crossing has reached the 2m mark for the first time this year, and fishos continue to think they are immune to crocodile attack.
“There was a fatality at the local community just upstream a few years ago!
“Also Cahill’s Crossing is running just under 4m… not huge yet but I expect it might be in coming days,” the affable Kakadu resident reported.
If the East Alligator is flooding, then the nearby South Alligator will also be full to the brim.
There’ll be torrents of raging floodwater coming down the big Kakadu River, and the mighty Nourlangie Creek will be non-negotiable.
This wet season is one of those less-common ones when the monsoonal activity captures the whole Top End and not just individual river catchments.
And it’s doing it in style, continuing unabated.
Darwin tackle shop owners will no doubt be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of thousands of anglers gearing up for what promises to be a vintage Runoff this year.
Fishing tour businesses will also be planning for a bumper year as interstate anglers make preparation for a Top End assault after this mighty wet season.
And what about Million Dollar Fish?
It really won’t matter where the red-tagged barra were released for this 11th season because they could be anywhere now with so much water for them to be able to traverse freely.
Don’t be surprised if Million Dollar barra turn up at the most unlikely places because every waterway will be accessible to the fish.
It’s going to be a great Runoff fishing season, and I for one can’t wait.
