Advice for fishing in Darwin

[DanRob]

Hi guys,

I am going up to Darwin for work this Friday and have the weekend to try catch some fish. I have often read that it is best to just book a charter so I am doing that on Saturday. As for Sunday I am a bit stumped with what to do.

Is it worth bringing my own gear for some land based fishing (ill have a rental car)?

Does anyone have any good land based suggestions for around Darwin?

What gear should I bring and what fish are worth targeting?

I will be happy to just wet a line but any suggestions would be great.

Cheers,

Dan

[Welster]

Hi Dan,

I went to Darwin for the first time a couple of weeks ago spending 6 days there. I had my kids with me and didnt get a chance to do much fishing. We did manage to get out on a1/2 day charter with pretty poor results, the one day charter did much better. They skipper commented that the tides were big near the full moon and his full day charter boat could get to more suitable grounds for the tidal movement. You will be there near the new moon so Im guessing the water movent will be similar.

I guess landbased you you need to be mindful of crocs. One night we had a look down at the main wharf past the wave pool and oil tunnels. People park there on the wharf set themselves up and fish the tide changes. Others just walk down. One guy said they often do well once the water slows, jews and queensfish were mentioned. You would need heavy gear to lift the fish or a well equiped bystander.

Close by near the open air cinema i noticed some people flicking plastics off the rocks on the shoreline.

There was a charter flyer I read for a fishing coach in a polycraft that takes out up to 3 and teaches lure and plastic fishing around the mangrove edges of the harbour. I would of loved to do that one. If you want the details Id need to PM you tonight from home, let me know if thats the case.

Im sure you will get other comments on here from people far more familar and experienced then me. Good Luck let us now how you go.

Jason

[filthmonger]

Do a barra charter mate skip the bluewater stuff. Awesome way to catch fish and check out some awesome scenery too. We caught 14 barra between 60-90cm in just a few hours.

[DanRob]

Guys,

Thanks so much for your replies. Fishraider is such a great resource.

I am just going to take a small spinning setup and have a chat to the guys at the local tackle shop for land based info.

I am pretty excited about the charter so I will keep you all posted.

Fingers crossed!

[DanRob]

So a bit late for the reply but I thought I'd update everyone on how I went in Darwin last weekend.

Arrived Friday for work and after I finished popped into the local tackle store to get some bait and just a chat. Everyone fishes from a boat in Darwin and the tides are pretty extreme so land based can be hit and miss.

Next morning I went out on a charter, had a fantastic day at corroboree billabong with one guy gettin a 90cm barra, my mate a 71 and 55cm model and I lived up to my luck on charters and no matter how close I held them to the 40cm would have been generous! But it was fun and that was what mattered.

The next day I though I would have a go off the break wall at Cullen bay. I bought some squid and local garfish and had the plan of throwing out one of these on my 10ft rock rod and throwing a few plastics with a 7ft rod with 20lb gear.

I was up early to fish the high tide at 730. It seemed fishy but despite my efforts couldn't seem to get anything. I had something bite through 60lb leader (possible a shark) but it was hard to keep the bait in place as the water was moving quite quickly. I caught a mangrove jack about 28cm on a plastic which was a bit of a concession but overall not to eventful.

After I got back I did a bit of the touristy thing with my mate and went to a wharf in night cliff. There were a few guys fishing off that wharf with live bait under a float who seemed to have reasonable success. That might be worth a try for next time.

I think to answer my own question before I left, it is only worth bringing your fishing gear to Darwin if you know someone with a boat or are willing to put in some time and persist. Otherwise book a charter. They know where to go and have all the kit.

Hopefully I'll be able to post a fishy tale soon!!

Dan

[Guest Aussie007]

So a bit late for the reply but I thought I'd update everyone on how I went in Darwin last weekend.

Arrived Friday for work and after I finished popped into the local tackle store to get some bait and just a chat. Everyone fishes from a boat in Darwin and the tides are pretty extreme so land based can be hit and miss.

Next morning I went out on a charter, had a fantastic day at corroboree billabong with one guy gettin a 90cm barra, my mate a 71 and 55cm model and I lived up to my luck on charters and no matter how close I held them to the 40cm would have been generous! But it was fun and that was what mattered.

The next day I though I would have a go off the break wall at Cullen bay. I bought some squid and local garfish and had the plan of throwing out one of these on my 10ft rock rod and throwing a few plastics with a 7ft rod with 20lb gear.

I was up early to fish the high tide at 730. It seemed fishy but despite my efforts couldn't seem to get anything. I had something bite through 60lb leader (possible a shark) but it was hard to keep the bait in place as the water was moving quite quickly. I caught a mangrove jack about 28cm on a plastic which was a bit of a concession but overall not to eventful.

After I got back I did a bit of the touristy thing with my mate and went to a wharf in night cliff. There were a few guys fishing off that wharf with live bait under a float who seemed to have reasonable success. That might be worth a try for next time.

I think to answer my own question before I left, it is only worth bringing your fishing gear to Darwin if you know someone with a boat or are willing to put in some time and persist. Otherwise book a charter. They know where to go and have all the kit.

Hopefully I'll be able to post a fishy tale soon!!

Dan

i wouldnt be fishing off the banks either up there with all the crocs lol