Dundee Beach is the entry to Fog Bay, southwest of Darwin, Northern Territory, and immediately south of Bynoe Harbour.

Fog Bay provides many fishing opportunities, with numerous rock patches, shallow reefs, a FAD, and an engineered artificial reef, all sustained by the vast floodplains of the Finniss and “Little Finniss” Rivers.

This compact area offers diverse fishing.

With a well-planned approach, anglers can catch sailfish, reef fish, mud crabs, and barramundi in a single day, though it’s often best to dedicate a day or two to each.

Fog Bay is less affected by tidal currents than Darwin’s waters, allowing fishing on larger tides.

Approximately 70km from the boat ramp, you’ll find grounds with red emperor, large mangrove jacks, and nannygai. Pelagic species like Spanish mackerel and longtail tuna are common during the dry season.

South of Fog Bay lies the Finniss River and Peron Islands, while Bynoe Harbour lies to the north.

For shore-based anglers, the coastal rocks provide opportunities to catch large barramundi, blue salmon, goldspot cod, golden snapper, mangrove jacks, trevally, and queenfish.

Sailfish are abundant in the bay, with multiple hookups often possible, though availability varies with the local bait cycle.

Fog Bay produces micro marlin, suggesting that a spawning area is nearby.

A local lodge offers cabins, camping, and supplies.

The arms of Bynoe Harbour and the freshwater stretch of the Finniss River run behind Fog Bay, with public boat ramps at Mackenzie and Milne Inlet arms and one at the freshwater Finniss on Hardcastle Rd.

With the tidal range reaching over 7m, the bay has numerous drying reefs and flats, requiring careful boating plans.

Each year, tagged barramundi valued at $10,000 are released in the area as part of the Million Dollar Fish promotion, with a chance to win a $1 million prize fish.

Detailed fishing maps of the area, including key fishing marks and rockbar locations, are available in the North Australian FISH FINDER book.

Dundee Beach Accommodation

To secure accommodations at Dundee Beach, book early.

Nearby in Bynoe Harbour, Sandpalms Roadhouse and Crab Claw Island Resort are also available.

How to Fish Dundee Beach

Sailfish can be caught year-round, with peak seasons following the wet season and leading into the buildup, both offering calmer weather compared to the mid-year dry season’s persistent southeast winds.

Standard techniques work for sailfish, but rigging for smaller fish is advisable, as the sails here are typically smaller. Black marlin up to 150kg can also be encountered.

Throughout the bay, Spanish, grey, and spotted mackerel are common, along with longtail and mackerel tuna. Look for seabirds to locate these fish.

For land-based fishing, high tide is best for barramundi, especially on calm mornings. Trolling the three coastal rock outcrops from north of the ramp toward Bynoe Harbour is also effective, especially at high tide.

During the wet season and afterward, the Finniss River provides productive barramundi fishing, and mud crabs are abundant.

Note that the upper tidal areas of the Finniss and “Little Finniss” Rivers are closed to boaters due to Aboriginal Land restrictions.

The dry season offers pleasant temperatures but is often accompanied by steady southeast winds. During these conditions, small boats can fish the shorelines, shallow reefs, and headlands.

Larger tides are generally more favorable for fishing in Fog Bay, though clearer water conditions on neap tides make the Finniss River particularly suitable for lure fishing at these times.

For larger fish, big jewfish can be caught on the shallow reefs near the boat ramp, though many anglers prefer to target the shoals and artificial reefs further offshore for coral trout, tricky snapper, and golden snapper.

For reef fishing on wider grounds, flat rubble areas are ideal—use a sounder to locate productive spots. The gas pipeline is a proven deep-sea fishing location.

More detailed maps, including rockbar and jewfish reef locations, are in the North Australian FISH FINDER book.

Native Point (Dundee Beach) tides |
Recent NT rainfall |
NT fishing accommodation |
Million Dollar Fish promotion |
NT fishing regulations |
North Australian FISH FINDER book.

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