The Top End’s Arnhem Highway is Australia’s barramundi highway, leading to some of the nation’s best barramundi hotspots.

Shady Camp heads the list.

Shady Camp is a camping area with boat ramps next to a barrage that separates fresh and tidal water in Sampan Creek, which is part of the lower Mary River.

While Shady Camp itself is a good fishing spot, it is more of an access point for nearby areas.

The great fishing is associated with the Mary River wetlands, which extend west to the Adelaide River and east through to Kakadu National Park.

Famous freshwater fishing spots Corroboree Billabong and Hardies Lagoon are located upstream of Shady Camp. Boats can not reach these places from Shady Camp however, only road access is possible from side roads off the Arnhem Highway.

There are boat ramps immediately above and below Shady Camp barrage.

The saltwater ramp is tide-affected, drying at low tide, with a short window of launching unless wet season floodwater is present.

Landbased fishing is popular at the barrage despite the ever-present big crocodiles, and it is something of a miracle that fishermen are not taken.

The wet season and shortly after is the best time to fish Shady Camp.

Spots accessed by boat from Shady Camp include Sampan Creek, Tommycut Creek, Marsh Creek, Love Creek, Carmor Creek, Thrings Creek, Point Stuart, Wildman River and Shady Jew Reef.

All the creeks are fished for barramundi during the wet season when the flow is running from feeder creeks into the bigger creeks, or directly into the sea from coastal creeks.

There is some scope to chase Build-up barramundi in warm, calm weather during neap tides, when the water clears enough for lure fishing.

This area falls under the Mary River Management Zone and special fishing rules apply.

Every year, tagged barramundi worth $10k are released in this region for the Million Dollar Fish annual promotion. Some of these fish are eligible to collect the $1m prize.

Detailed fishing maps and marks for this area, including fishable rockbars and exclusive charts of the coastal reefs, are in the North Australian FISH FINDER book.

How to fish Shady Camp

The barrage itself fishes best at the top of big tides, and 120cm fish are a chance.

Night fishing works well but crocodile attack is a real possibility, as big crocodiles are always in the vicinity.

During the dry season there is good fishing in the freshwater section for barramundi and saratoga, with at least two trollable rockbars.

Large tides breech the barrage and can produce bursts of good fishing at this time.

Wet season floodwater turns the area into an inland sea when barramundi spread out far and wide.

The fishing improves as the river falls after flooding.

Barramundi congregate at floodplain creeks along the river channel, and at coastal floodplain creek mouths.

Colour changes between turbid tidal water and clear run-off are always worth a cast but the real secret is to find where bait is located.

During flooding it is best to fish far downstream where Sampan and Tommycut Creeks drop below the banks, or at creeks along along the coast.

Once floods subside there is a period of greenwater flow which provides good fishing, and tides will then usually decide when the fish come on.

The small coastal creeks tend to fish best from the top of the tide down, on the biggest tides, and when floodwater is still present. Fish over 1m are regularly caught.

The small coastal creek mouths dry as the tide falls, so be sure to leave in time, but Tommycut and Sampan channels usually remain navigable.

Small earth barrages on the various wetland creeks can fish when they breech from ongoing monsoonal rain.

Trolling works at the Sampan and Tommycut Creek mouths, with casting the usual method at small creek mouths.

Use at least 15kg braided line and well-made Australian lures such as Reidys and Classics. Soft plastics and vibes such as Vibelicious work well.

Some imported lures are not strong enough for barramundi.

Leaders of around 40kg are needed.

Thanks to netting closures big threadfin salmon are super-abundant along this coastline and become almost a nuisance when targeting trophy barramundi.

The coastal waterways here are mostly free of rockbars. At sea, there is a substantial area of rocks extending seaward from around Point Stuart, and there are drying rock patches in front of Carmor Creek.

Shady Camp is busy at the best fishing times, with week days are a quieter time to fish.

Because this area has many saltwater crocodiles and bull sharks, take particular care when landing or releasing fish.

A productive jewfish and snapper reef lies just offshore, which is mapped out in the North Australian FISH FINDER book, which also contains maps of the two trollable rockbars in the Shady Camp freshwater section.

You can also search for Shady Camp topics on the https://www.fishingterritory.com forums by going here.

Accommodation central to these great fishing locations is at Corroboree Park Tavern. Book early if visiting in the popular dry season.

Darwin has a range of charter and accommodation options, book early to avoid disappointment.

Booking.com

Chambers Bay (below Shady Camp) tides
Recent NT rainfall – important for run-off fishing
NT tidal variations
NT fishing regulations
Latest Kakadu access report
Kakadu fishing rules
NT Million Dollar Fish promotion
North Australian FISH FINDER fishing map book

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The Northern Territory’s Daly River is Australia’s premier wild barramundi fishing river, hosting the Top End’s two most prestigious fishing competitions each year.

There are many rivers that offer great barramundi fishing, but the Daly’s combination of wilderness (with accessibility), large floodplains, feeder creeks, shaded banks, riverside accommodation and good fish stocks are not matched elsewhere.

The Daly and Katherine Rivers may be considered as one, forming the NT’s longest waterway.

The Daly flows through the north-western Northern Territory, with the the King, Flora and Edith Rivers being major tributaries, finally entering the sea at Anson Bay, where the Ferguson River also flows into the Daly.

The river drains a 59,000sqkm catchment. It is navigable for about 115km above its mouth. The river marks the eastern boundary of Aboriginal Reserve that extends to the Fitzmaurice River.

Most fishing takes place below the Daly road crossing and bridge located near the Daly River community. The crossing marks the tidal water barrier.

There is fine sport to be had in the upstream freshwater sections, but most fishing is done in tidal waters well below the crossing.

The tidal river changes each year, depending on the wet season. A poor wet season will see sediment build up, with more sandbars and shallows to negotiate, with a strong wet season usually having the opposite effect.

Each wet season produces a new range of submerged logs that can catch propellers.

During the dry season the tourist parks below the Daly crossing cater for fishermen. Most of these parks have their own launch sites. There is also a public ramp that can be used on most tides, depending on the annual sediment load in the river.

Detailed fishing maps of the river, including exclusively maps of important fishing rockbars, are in the North Australian FISH FINDER book.

Also, there is plenty of historic Daly discussion on the North Australian FISH FINDER forums, go here to search the forum’s Daly topics.

How to fish the Daly

The river fishes best after a long, strong wet season.

The monsoon usually hits from December to April, and the subsequent flooding fires up the bait cycle, which draws barramundi in from the coast and lower river to the upper reaches.

A big Wet also releases barramundi from landlocked waterholes upstream.

Most years bring enough rain for good fishing. A supercharged wet season can create superb fishing.

The connection between big Wets and fishing quality is well demonstrated in local competition results.

Timing is important, as the river fishes poorly when floodwater is rising.

When the river drops, the fishing starts as the water clears and barramundi congregate at floodplain creek mouths where bait is located.

When the river is flooded, it is usually best to fish far downstream where it drops below the banks.

Once floods subside there is a period of greenwater flow which provides good fishing.

Trolling and casting works. Most fishos use around 15kg braided lines and strong Australian lures such as Reidys and Classics.

Nylon leaders of around 40kg are needed because of the barramundi’s sharp gill plates and dorsal spines.

Barramundi are in the river all year but many fish will leave for the coast once the greenwater flow stops and bait levels drop.

Sonar is invaluable for finding fish, but also look for bait. Birds often loiter near bait congregations.

The Daly produces occasional mangrove jacks and small river jewfish but not enough to warrant targeting them.

Around the mouth, threadfin salmon are abundant.

Giant freshwater prawns are common in the Daly freshwater and special regulations apply to catching them. They work well as bait, as do live mullet.

When the river is low there are rockbars and tree stumps that catch unwary boaters. Most of the tidal water rockbars and best fishing spots are shown in the North Australian FISH FINDER book.

There is a sandbar at Browns Creek that can be an obstruction at low tide, although there is usually a small channel around it.

The river can be busy at the best fishing times after the wet season, and also through the tourist season (winter), so week days are always a good time to fish.

However there is plenty of space to fish.

The Daly has many crocodiles and sharks, so take care when landing or releasing fish.

The long trip down the Daly leads to Anson Bay, a fishing hotspot in itself. Anson Bay hotspots are also shown in the North Australian FISH FINDER book.

Every year, tagged barramundi worth $10k are released in this region for the Million Dollar Fish annual promotion. Some of these fish are eligible to collect the $1m prize.

Accommodation can be had by the river at Woolianna, Banyan Farm and Daly River Barra Resort.

Daly River mouth (Anson Bay) tides
Daly River and tributary water levels
NT Million Dollar Fish promotion
NT fishing regulations
North Australian FISH FINDER fishing map book
Million Dollar Fish annual promotion
Daly River topics at www.fishingterritory.com.

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Kinchant is one of three stocked dams in the Mackay region.

Though a relatively small dam, it is famous for the huge barramundi it produces, and is the first Queensland dam to have artificial reefs installed, in June 2019.

The dam was built on the Pioneer River in 1977, 30km west of Mackay.

The impoundment covers 920ha and has an average depth of just 7m.

It holds big barramundi, sleepy cod, sooty grunter, eel-tail catfish, fork-tail catfish, spangled perch and mouth almighty.

Barramundi were introduced in 2000 and have done exceptionally well, with huge, fat fish caught.

Stocking of barra and sooty grunter is by the Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association.

In 2017/18, 4660 barramundi were stocked. A total of 146,000 barramundi have been stocked.

There are no restrictions on vessel types.

Watersports are popular on Kinchant Dam so it pays to avoid weekends for serious fishing trips.

Accommodation is at Kinchant Waters campground, with self-contained cabins, van and tent sites.

There are toilets, barbecues, picnic tables, shelters, lookout, cafe, licensed bar and restaurant and a pool table.

There are also trails for walking and mountain-biking.

How to fish Kinchant Dam

Until the artificial reefs were installed (GPS marks pictured above), Kinchant had famously little structure.

There are fishable weedbeds, shoreline and a long rock wall.

Use sonar to find and fish the new reefs, which can be jigged or trolled.

Also fish weedy points and weedbeds, baitfish balls, and barramundi.

Look for feeding birds.

Barra fishing can be had all year at Kinchant, but warmer weather is best.

Kinchant fish are educated and smaller lures tend to work best. Night fishing can be effective.

Always position yourself quietly with an electric motor or oars in this shallow waterway.

As there is little snaggable structure, lighter tackle may be used, but some barra hooked will be huge, and may be lost anyway.

Mackay’s two other major stocked dams, Teemburra and Eungella, are perhaps more scenic, but Kinchant produces some of the biggest fish.

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QLD dam water levels
Qld stocked dam permits
QLD fishing regulations
Return to QLD fishing map

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