Fishing in Darwin is a first class angling experience.
The tropical north of Australia has some of the world's best saltwater sport fishing in a wild and pristine wilderness habitat with a multitude of wildlife, bird and fish species. The pollution free, warm tropical waters and minimum commercial fishing pressure provide for very diverse and productive fishing.
Darwin is Australia's northern capitol and today she has grown into a cosmopolitan but still unique tropical outpost populated with over one hundred thousand people. The capitol is to be found on a tiny peninsula surrounded by the vast area of Darwin harbor and manyf beautiful coastal beaches and reefs.
Seasons
There are a couple of optimal times of the year to be fishing in Darwin the north of Australia The "build up" is late September to the end of December and at this time we see increasing air and seatemperatures and rising humidity as we build up to the onset of the tropical monsoon season This excites the fish into compulsive feeding as we approach the monsoon season. The "run off" period which will often be at the end of March, give or take a month. The monsoon season rains run off the flooded plains into the rivers and estuaries and the barramundi and other estuary species go on a feeding fever in the food filled waters.
Estuary Fishing
The optimal season of year to be barramundi fishing and fishing for other estuary species around Darwin and the Top End is March to May and late Sepember to December. Barramundi are typically found in the warmer waters of estuaries any where round the Kimberley, Top End and North Queensland. They will be found in fresh and saltwater and will routinely be found lurking around submerged structure like overhangs, timber and rocks. Normal catches are sometimes around 50-70cm but monsters over 1 meter aren't uncommon.
The Top End coastal region is in general quite flat and consequently the estuaries that snake across these flooded plains are slow and winding. Over the wet season the streams break their banks and spread over the flood flats. As the waters recede after the wet, many pools and inland waterways are made and become full of freshwater. These are home to Barramundi, Saratoga and Threadfin Salmon.
Reef Fishing
In and around Darwin and the Top End reef fishing is best from April to November. There are countless hundreds of reefs both man-made and natural in the waters surrounding Darwin. Several ship and plane wrecks were sunk in and around Darwin Harbor by storms and WW2 air raids. These will produce good catches of the prized black jewfish as well as golden snapper, cod, trevally and coral trout just just to name a couple. There is a number of Darwin fishing charters accessing these areas.
Safety
In a word crocodiles!!
Our reptilian chums are everywhere across the top of Australia. We will not see them but they're here watching and waiting. The larger ones being greater than five plus meters long and be quite aggressive. Yet another excellent reason to use a local fishing guide with the correct experience and vessels.
Fishing Lodges
There many and well run fishing operations across the tropical north of Australia. The best operations combine guiding guiding with the good equipment, clean and comfortable comfortable to luxury and unique accommodation with service and quality dining into a package that makes it straightforward, pleasurable and good value for the travelling angler. The best operationsare also located in remote areas with world-class fishing at their back door. Some operations are better and more professional than others so it pays off to consult a local before finalising your trip.
The tropical north of Australia has some of the world's best saltwater sport fishing in a wild and pristine wilderness habitat with a multitude of wildlife, bird and fish species. The pollution free, warm tropical waters and minimum commercial fishing pressure provide for very diverse and productive fishing.
Darwin is Australia's northern capitol and today she has grown into a cosmopolitan but still unique tropical outpost populated with over one hundred thousand people. The capitol is to be found on a tiny peninsula surrounded by the vast area of Darwin harbor and manyf beautiful coastal beaches and reefs.
Seasons
There are a couple of optimal times of the year to be fishing in Darwin the north of Australia The "build up" is late September to the end of December and at this time we see increasing air and seatemperatures and rising humidity as we build up to the onset of the tropical monsoon season This excites the fish into compulsive feeding as we approach the monsoon season. The "run off" period which will often be at the end of March, give or take a month. The monsoon season rains run off the flooded plains into the rivers and estuaries and the barramundi and other estuary species go on a feeding fever in the food filled waters.
Estuary Fishing
The optimal season of year to be barramundi fishing and fishing for other estuary species around Darwin and the Top End is March to May and late Sepember to December. Barramundi are typically found in the warmer waters of estuaries any where round the Kimberley, Top End and North Queensland. They will be found in fresh and saltwater and will routinely be found lurking around submerged structure like overhangs, timber and rocks. Normal catches are sometimes around 50-70cm but monsters over 1 meter aren't uncommon.
The Top End coastal region is in general quite flat and consequently the estuaries that snake across these flooded plains are slow and winding. Over the wet season the streams break their banks and spread over the flood flats. As the waters recede after the wet, many pools and inland waterways are made and become full of freshwater. These are home to Barramundi, Saratoga and Threadfin Salmon.
Reef Fishing
In and around Darwin and the Top End reef fishing is best from April to November. There are countless hundreds of reefs both man-made and natural in the waters surrounding Darwin. Several ship and plane wrecks were sunk in and around Darwin Harbor by storms and WW2 air raids. These will produce good catches of the prized black jewfish as well as golden snapper, cod, trevally and coral trout just just to name a couple. There is a number of Darwin fishing charters accessing these areas.
Safety
In a word crocodiles!!
Our reptilian chums are everywhere across the top of Australia. We will not see them but they're here watching and waiting. The larger ones being greater than five plus meters long and be quite aggressive. Yet another excellent reason to use a local fishing guide with the correct experience and vessels.
Fishing Lodges
There many and well run fishing operations across the tropical north of Australia. The best operations combine guiding guiding with the good equipment, clean and comfortable comfortable to luxury and unique accommodation with service and quality dining into a package that makes it straightforward, pleasurable and good value for the travelling angler. The best operationsare also located in remote areas with world-class fishing at their back door. Some operations are better and more professional than others so it pays off to consult a local before finalising your trip.
About the Author:
Paul Collery is a fishing fan, and travel writer based in Australia who has fished in many locations around the globe. He runs a company called Sports Fishing Adventures that is focused on guided Barramundi fishing safaris and other fishing adventures to unique and remote locations around Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
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