Alex's Column 6 June 2025

Darwin anglers can look forward to increasing tidal movement straight after the neaps this weekend, as well as the ideal opportunity to target bluewater fish.

Saturday is the pick simply because the offshore wind and wave forecasts are for slightly-calmer conditions than on Sunday.

The tidal range will also increase slightly on Sunday and both the daytime low and high tides are at respectable hours.

There are a huge number of bluewater options, including Kakadu; that is as long as you’re prepared to belt down the South Alligator River at first light or even before.

From the boat ramp, the first third of the river going down is where you have to be careful not to run aground on submerged mudbars.

Be especially careful at Round The World which is strewn with mudbars.

As long as you have a depth sounder that works at fast-planing speed - with a shallow-depth alarm that you can set at about 1.5-2m - then you should never run aground because you will always have enough time to pull up.

If you suddenly find yourself in shallow water and you can’t come off the plane because you fear you will dig your outboard leg in, sometimes a full lock at planing speed will get you out of trouble because the boat will be right over on one side and the propeller will be near the surface…this might get you back to deeper water.

Out from the mouth of the South you have Field and Barron Islands, with Field the pick for working the shallow reefs and ledges for snapper, jew and salmon.

A good trip is to overnight, swagging in your boat on a lee shore.

Of course, there’s barra fishing options too down that way, in particular around Barron Island and the reefs in that vicinity.

These areas are the domain of metre-plus barra, so be ready.

There’s also good jewie fishing to be had by boating down the Mary River from Shady Camp and heading offshore a few kilometres to the shallow jew grounds.

Some of the reef patches out there are less than 3m at low tide, so you can actually work them for barra too.

And don’t be surprised if your succulent squid bait is set upon by a species of painted cray – they’re really carnivores out there.

Wildman River – accessed from Stuart’s Tree campground – is another good option for both barra in the river and reef fishing offshore.

There are great patches for goldie fishing only a few kilometres out.

Cape Hotham and round the corner to Ruby Island is a nice day trip heading out from Leader’s Creek.

Wide of Cape Hotham, there are good snapper grounds, and jew are also available.

There is excellent security for a small price at Leader’s Creek Fishing Base, and that is also one option for accessing the Vernon Islands and the famous Blue Hole at Gunn Point.

Jew on the change of tide are a special in the channel between South West Vernon and Gunn Point.

Of course, there is also the fabulous huge artificial reef out from the mouth of the Adelaide River which you can locate using the NT Fishing and Boating Mate app.

You can also camp at the Leader’s Creek Fishing Base, or avail yourself of the air-conditioned donga accommodation; it’s a pretty good setup there.

By the way, both weekend high tides are perfecto for trolling the eastern bank down near the mouth for both big saltwater barra and black jew.

Closer to Darwin, Lee Point is where you go if it’s blowing and mackerel action is your goal.

Fish early and late, or on the change of the tide.

Both mackerel and discreet schools of longtail tuna having been busting out from Lee Point to the harbour; and the further offshore you go, the more schools you will encounter.

If you intend to target jewfish on the neaps, begin with the Bus Stop Reef off Lee Point, the harbour wrecks and artificial reefs, the Fenton Patches and North Gutter artificial Reefs, Charles Point Patches, Dundee Jew Reef, Point Blaze and the Channel Point.

According to Fishing and Outdoor World’s Ron Voukolos, both golden snapoper and muddies have been easy to catch in Darwin Harbour’s arms.

Inland, there are a couple of good barra options.

Hardies Lagoon continues to produce barra on weedless plastics and small minnows worked along the edges.

However, I hear that Four Mile Hole in Kakadu has just opened for the dry season.

This is a magic little waterway, and can produce barra in big numbers early in the season.

Cruize Christophers with his 63cm Daly River Barra.

Dusty Christophers with his 61cm Daly River Barra.