Kakadu National Park lies at the end of the Top End’s Arnhem Highway, which lead to some of Australia’s best wild barramundi fishing hotspots.

Driving in, fishermen pass turn-offs to famous NT locations such as Shady Camp, Corroboree Billabong and Hardies Lagoon before finally entering Kakadu National Park.

Kakadu’s great barramundi fishing is associated with the vast wetlands around three big rivers.

The massive wetland catchment extend westward outside the park through to the Adelaide River.

Every year these wetlands fill with monsoonal floodwaters and fish life becomes supercharged in abundance through the bait cycle.

The wet season and shortly after is the best time to fish the tidal waters, concentrating efforts where bait has collected, especially where clear or green floodwater is flowing into the turbid tidal water.

Kakadu’s freshwater locations are fishable in the dry season when tracks have dried out.

Wet season fishing requires a boat, although there is a good chance of catching barramundi by casting around flooded culverts.

The main waterways are the Wildman River and South Alligator and East Alligator Rivers.

Kakadu’s West Alligator River is closed to fishing.

The Wildman River’s tidal water is reach by boat from Shady Camp or Stuart Tree on the coast, a long journey.

The South Alligator River has a boat ramp near the highway into tidal water. Fishermen go upstream or downstream to chase barramundi during the dry season, depending on conditions.

In the dry season “the South” forms waterholes in the upper section, many of which can be reached by track and have camping areas.

Yellow Water is one of the better known freshwater locations.

The East Alligator River is accessed from Cahills Crossing, which marks the limit of most tidal movement into the freshwater section.

There are boat ramps immediately above and below the crossing, and a campground.

The East Alligator River can not easily be reached during flooding, as Magela Creek cuts the road, and even then the road after the creek will be flooded.

Fishermen tend to drive in with boats in as soon as the water level drops enough to allow safe access.

The freshwater section of the East Alligator is pleasant and scenic but shallow and sandy.

The Wildman River has freshwater holes accessible from the highway, they are the Two Mile and Four Mile Holes, with a foreshore campground accessible further along the same road at West Alligator Head.

Beach launching can be done at Kakadu’s West Alligator Head, which is the only beachfront campground. Expect sandflies, mozzies and crocodiles, and great fishing.

Fishing in Kakadu’s rivers can be very exciting and also frustrating, but a good wet season usually brings on great barramundi fishing.

Boaters must contend with big tides, floodwaters and mudbanks.

There are also abundant large crocodiles, and these are often seen on the highway, so don’t take risks.

Reef fishing outside the rivers can be very good for jewfish, cod and snapper, but it is a long run from the boat ramps.

Travel the rivers on a rising tide so you don’t get stuck on a mudbank.

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 charts of fishable river rockbars, are in the North Australian FISH FINDER book.

There is good fishing in the freshwater holes for grunter and saratoga.

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

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

The fishing improves as the rivers fall after flooding.

Barramundi congregate at floodplain creeks along the river channels, 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.

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.

Trolling the river rockbars can work well, especially when the tide turns.

Use at least 15kg braided line and well-made Australian lures such as Reidys and Classics.

Leaders of around 40kg are needed.

Big threadfin salmon are super-abundant along the Kakadu coastline and become almost a nuisance when targeting trophy barramundi.

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

Darwin has a range of accommodation options.

Booking.com

South Alligator River mouth tides
East Alligator River mouth tides
Note that the river mouth high tides occur almost three hours earlier than at the upstream ramps
East Alligator Cahills Crossing tides
NT tidal variations
Latest Kakadu access report
Kakadu fishing rules
Recent NT rainfall – important for run-off fishing
NT Million Dollar Fish promotion
NT fishing regulations
North Australian FISH FINDER fishing map book

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Burrinjuck Dam is just less than a two-hour drive from Canberra and four hours from Sydney, on the Murrumbidgee River.

Burrinjuck is best known as a murray cod fishery, with trophy fish taken, but it also has golden and silver perch, brown and rainbow trout, carp, redfin and yabbies.

The dam level goes up and down quite quickly.

Burrinjuck water is used for crops and pastures in the the 660,000ha of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area around Griffith and Leeton.

The dam also supplies domestic water, environmental flows and hydroelectricity power.

A rising level may see fish such as trout feeding along the edges.

Burrinjuck is known for its winter cod fishing.

Cod chase redfin, trout and carp in the shallows in the cold months and that’s when to target big cod with lures.

Try casting soft plastics to 200mm or hard lures.

Ideal spots at this time are shallow flats.

At other times rocky points and the edges of former river and creek channels are worth fishing.

Moor your boat and cast towards the bank, or troll the 4m to 8m range.

June, July and August are the best months for this technique, but many cod are caught at other times.

Murray cod peak fishing time is usually April to August.

Golden perch (yellowbelly) are stocked in the dam and there are some big fish.

They are caught all year, with the best fishing from September to December.

To catch golden perch, cast small soft plastics and hard lures around trees, newly flooded banks and rocky areas.

Many fishos use bait such as yabbies and grubs, and fishing from the bank at night can work well.

Troll lures to 150mm along rock banks and submerged timber.

if you are not chasing cod, it is best to err on the side of using the smallest lures, as golden perch, trout and redfin will take these, as will small cod.

The dam is also stocked with silver perch.

If you wish to target silvers use the smallest lures or flies on fine tackle.

Silvers take baits including worms, mudeyes, shrimp, yabbies and domestic baits such as bread, much the same as carp will do.

Burrinjuck is stocked with rainbow and brown trout.

Trout fish best in cool weather.

Use small lures or flies or baits such as worms or mudeyes on a tiny sinker or float rig.

Redfin are often about in numbers and have no bag limit.

They respond to small lures and the same baits as trout.

Redfin are legally pests but they are good to eat, and an attractive fish that fight well.

Hoop or lift nets and shrimp traps are permitted in the dam but not yabby traps.

Nets and traps used must be within NSW specifications.

One of the drawcards of the dam are the available accommodation and the plentiful local wildlife.

Here is a list of recommended tackle for freshwater fishing, including within stocked dams.

Book your fishing stay early at Booking.com

NSW dam levels
NSW stocking histories
Sydney dam levels
NSW fishing regulations
Blowering Dam NSW Govt website

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Blowering Dam is in the lower Snowy Mountains and Kosciusko NP, between Talbingo and Tumut.

The impoundment holds a great combo of native fish such as golden perch (yellowbelly), murray cod and cold water trout thanks to its location.

The water is usually clear, which makes for great sight fishing, but also requries good presentation of lures and baits.

The dam contains trophy murray cod that are usually well fed, strong fish.

While murray cod have been considered a summer fishery in years past, winter fishing has boomed in recent times, possibly because cod chase trout at this time.

Casting soft plastic lures to 200mm long over shallow areas will get the cod. The proven spots are grassy banks where trout feed.

Moor your boat and cast towards the bank.

Spring, autumn and winter are the prime times for murray cod.

Bait fishing from the bank with with yabbies or grubs works well.

Boaters should troll deep lures to 150mm long around rocks and logs.

Blowering is open to fishing all year, as there is no need for an annual closure as the dam relies on stocking for fish recruitment.

Millions of native fish and trout have been stocked into Blowering over the years.

There is great trout fishing to be had from the shore, and redfin and carp are also caught.

The dam is in a large valley with mountain country and forests making a superb backdrop to the camping areas.

There are five reserves along the Snowy Mountains Highway, which runs past the lake.

Fishos can also try the western side, reached through Batlow.

Golden perch are in the dam and fish best from September to December.

Use soft plastic and hard lures and cast at trees and rocky points.

Trolling at 4m to 8m depth also works well.

Trout are best in the cooler months.

There are rainbow and brown trout in Blowering. They both respond to small lures presented on light tackle, as well as fly gear.

Worms and mudeyes are the ideal baits for trout, either under a float or cast with a tiny sinker.

Weightless bait fishing from a boat works well in suitable conditions.

Redfin are great sport and respond to trout tactics.

There is no bag limit on redfin and they are great to eat.

Silver perch have also stocked in the dam, most notably in 2019 and 2022.

Silvers are notoriously hard to catch and make a new challenge for Blowering fishos.

Blowering conditions can change quickly, always be equipped with suitable clothing.

Here is a list of recommended tackle for freshwater fishing, including within stocked dams.

Book your fishing stay early at Booking.com

NSW dam levels
NSW stocking histories
Sydney dam levels
NSW fishing regulations
Blowering Dam NSW Govt website

Email corrections, additions, pictures or video here.