Darwin today is a sophisticated city of around 100 000 residents that still retains some of its pioneering spirit and irreverence of yesterday. It sits on a peninsula hemmed in by the enormous and still un-spoilt Darwin Harbour and the tropical seas of the Arafura. The area definitely is an Anglers Paradise.
Getting there
Darwin Airport can be reached from all over the world via Singapore. It's also got several flights daily from most capitalcities through Jetstar and Virgin.
Accommodation
A major industry in the Northern Territory (NT) is tourism and accordingly Darwin has a multitude of accommodation from five star resorts to caravan parks. Accommodation can be difficult to obtain in the main visitor season of June to September so bookings should be made some way ahead.
Climate
The Top End (Darwin Region) has two seasons only. The wet season and the dry.
May to Sep is hot with rare rainfall and low humidityand typical daily maximums in the low 30's and nights in the low 20's. October to Christmas sees irregular storms and increasing humidity and temperatures. The rainy season arrives with the monsoons from Christmas to March (give or take a month) with great flooding usually happening.
Fishing Seasons
The barramundi come on the bight when the wet season has finished and the flood pains are draining into the estuaries, rivers and creeks. This is sometimes known as the run off. Pelagic fishing for Spanish Mackerel, Tuna and others heats up from August onwards and with the rising humidity, air and water temperatures from mid September onwards, all species are feeding well.
Fishing environments
The Darwin region has a considerable number of wonderful fishing environments. These include harbours and estuaries, streams and streams, flood plains and billabongs renowned for the barramundi fishing. But please do not make the mistake of targeting just barramundi as the area also has many natural and man-made reef systems, and very productive bluewater, pelagic and game fishing.
Fishing licences
You do not need a NT amateur fishing permit. However , recreational fishers currently need a temporary licence for recreational fishing on and over aboriginal tribal country and adjoining waters. Contact the Northern Lands Council (NLC) on 1800 645 299 or by visiting the NLC website on www.nlc.org.au . For recreational fishing access to the Tiwi Islands enquiries should be directed to Tiwi Enterprises on 08-8941 1162.
Distance
Everything in the NT is big. It's a large land with a small population and consequently travel over large distances is often required up here. Travel into remote regions should be done in well equipped 4WD automobiles with adequate of supplies on board. Roads in remote areas are often dirt and regularly in poor maintainence. Many areas are restricted access Native lands where permits are mandatory. All types of vehicles can be rented locally but mostly only 4WD can be taken off paved roads.
Safety
In a word crocodiles.. And plenty of them!
The entire north coast of Australia is crocodile habitat and they've been protected since the 1970's so their numbers are getting higher. Estuarine or Saltwater crocodiles can be aggressive particularly during the breeding season from October onwards so great care ought to be taken and local guiding and information should be acquired. Box Jellyfish are plentiful from October to May and one should beware of snakes when walking through the bush.
Heat stress is a problem for locals and visitors alike.
Lodges, Guides and Charters
There are a multitude of professional guided fishing companies available in and around Darwin. And sadly some unprofessional ones as well. Visiting anglers should select operations with well established reputations. The blue water day charters out of Darwin will book out well ahead in the peak tourist seasons of June to September. The lodges will most likely book out early for the peak months of April and May and also October and Nov.
Most remote area lodges will require fly in on smaller charter aircraft from Darwin. This is generally included in the price. Most will also include all the needed fishing gear.
Other attractions.
Wildlife, nature and Aboriginal culture are the main reasons that general visitors come to the Top End. National parks, camping out and festivals are popular. The Darwin Cup horse racing carnival runs over two weeks commencing late July and the Darwin Festival features all kinds of music, performance and art during Aug.
Getting there
Darwin Airport can be reached from all over the world via Singapore. It's also got several flights daily from most capitalcities through Jetstar and Virgin.
Accommodation
A major industry in the Northern Territory (NT) is tourism and accordingly Darwin has a multitude of accommodation from five star resorts to caravan parks. Accommodation can be difficult to obtain in the main visitor season of June to September so bookings should be made some way ahead.
Climate
The Top End (Darwin Region) has two seasons only. The wet season and the dry.
May to Sep is hot with rare rainfall and low humidityand typical daily maximums in the low 30's and nights in the low 20's. October to Christmas sees irregular storms and increasing humidity and temperatures. The rainy season arrives with the monsoons from Christmas to March (give or take a month) with great flooding usually happening.
Fishing Seasons
The barramundi come on the bight when the wet season has finished and the flood pains are draining into the estuaries, rivers and creeks. This is sometimes known as the run off. Pelagic fishing for Spanish Mackerel, Tuna and others heats up from August onwards and with the rising humidity, air and water temperatures from mid September onwards, all species are feeding well.
Fishing environments
The Darwin region has a considerable number of wonderful fishing environments. These include harbours and estuaries, streams and streams, flood plains and billabongs renowned for the barramundi fishing. But please do not make the mistake of targeting just barramundi as the area also has many natural and man-made reef systems, and very productive bluewater, pelagic and game fishing.
Fishing licences
You do not need a NT amateur fishing permit. However , recreational fishers currently need a temporary licence for recreational fishing on and over aboriginal tribal country and adjoining waters. Contact the Northern Lands Council (NLC) on 1800 645 299 or by visiting the NLC website on www.nlc.org.au . For recreational fishing access to the Tiwi Islands enquiries should be directed to Tiwi Enterprises on 08-8941 1162.
Distance
Everything in the NT is big. It's a large land with a small population and consequently travel over large distances is often required up here. Travel into remote regions should be done in well equipped 4WD automobiles with adequate of supplies on board. Roads in remote areas are often dirt and regularly in poor maintainence. Many areas are restricted access Native lands where permits are mandatory. All types of vehicles can be rented locally but mostly only 4WD can be taken off paved roads.
Safety
In a word crocodiles.. And plenty of them!
The entire north coast of Australia is crocodile habitat and they've been protected since the 1970's so their numbers are getting higher. Estuarine or Saltwater crocodiles can be aggressive particularly during the breeding season from October onwards so great care ought to be taken and local guiding and information should be acquired. Box Jellyfish are plentiful from October to May and one should beware of snakes when walking through the bush.
Heat stress is a problem for locals and visitors alike.
Lodges, Guides and Charters
There are a multitude of professional guided fishing companies available in and around Darwin. And sadly some unprofessional ones as well. Visiting anglers should select operations with well established reputations. The blue water day charters out of Darwin will book out well ahead in the peak tourist seasons of June to September. The lodges will most likely book out early for the peak months of April and May and also October and Nov.
Most remote area lodges will require fly in on smaller charter aircraft from Darwin. This is generally included in the price. Most will also include all the needed fishing gear.
Other attractions.
Wildlife, nature and Aboriginal culture are the main reasons that general visitors come to the Top End. National parks, camping out and festivals are popular. The Darwin Cup horse racing carnival runs over two weeks commencing late July and the Darwin Festival features all kinds of music, performance and art during Aug.
About the Author:
Paul Collery runs Sports Fishing Adventures and Fly Fishing Adventures, companies that specialise in unique sports and fly fishing trips to remote areas around Australia, New zealand and the Pacific.The company is based in Darwin.
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