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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