These jewfish were caught out from Shoal Bay Boat Hire, near Darwin, NT Matt
Flynn's Northern Territory Fishing was poor across the board, from the rivers to the harbour. Few boats ventured offshore. Why January fishes poorly is anyone's guess - the wind and rain doesn't help - but tonnes of prawns in the rivers and estuaries at this time probably keep fish full and off the feed. King Kontis Fishing Tours' Tom Kontis noted that golden snapper caught in Darwin Harbour last week were full of what appeared to be baby mud crabs. If young mud crabs are migrating in thousands at this time (female mud crabs lay eggs offshore) then that's another food source for already well-fed harbour fish. Tonnes of other newborn fish and crustacea are about in January/February - including young barramundi - and these provide further feed for predators. So it's no surprise that lures and packet baits get a frosty reception from fish in January/February. The rivers were dropping fast last week under blue skies, but reports of good run-off fishing as the floodplains drained were scattered. The satellite image remained almost clear of cloud on Friday. Fishing and Outdoor World's Mark Ost said he fished Darwin Harbour's East Arm on Wednesday and he and others he spoke to at the ramp caught very few fish. "I fished the creeks opposite East Arm boat ramp and nearly for the full length of the creeks were masses of small prawns,'' he said. "We only caught a small salmon, a flathead and a catfish - Roger Sinclair did about the same. "Matt West drove 600km on Wednesday to fish the road culverts for barra and he found most of the culverts low or full of weed - he said Magela Creek was only 300mm over the road and the crossing at the East Alligator was fairly low - he saw heaps of cane toads, but no barra." Top End Fishing Supplies' Mulga said rivers were dropping fast, including the Daly, Adelaide and South Alligator. "If the blue skies shine this week it is a perfect interlude between the serious rain that is probably coming in February - and if it doesn't rain again then this is it for run-off, so make the most of it,'' he said. "Stock up on soft plastics - there is such a huge range of soft plastic lures now because the fish really go for them in run-off conditions. "It will be worth trying the Shady Camp barrage when it opens from the closed season on Monday night - people can start fishing from 12 midnight. "There have been good reports from the rivers that are dropping - even the Adelaide, including some fish caught at the mouth of the Adelaide. "But the harbour should fish well on the big tides this weekend. "It's still too rough and ugly offshore for the charter boat." Shoal Bay Boat Hire's Locky said Bob Morris caught an 88cm barra at Spot 6 on a live bait last week. "There have been a few more jewfish caught at The Rock but it's hard to get the right day without the wind,'' he said. "There were prawns about for a while but there have been none around lately. "Crabs are being caught out the front because the fresh water has pushed them out of the creeks. "But the big freshwater flow has stopped again - we need a bit more rain on the floodplain to get water flowing over the Howard rockbar." Woolianna on the Daly's Ian Harvey said there was the odd boat on the Daly River last week but not many fish were being caught. "There is some run-off because there has not been much rain here,'' he said. "The river was about 5m and falling on Friday, although there was a lot of recent rain on the catchment and that can change things quickly. "My partner flew over the lagoons in the area and said they were all full - if there is any more rain it will have to flow straight into the river. "The road in is good but you still can't get across at the crossing." Katherine Rod and Rifle's Warren de With said it was well worth having a cast or two now, but more rain was needed. "The Katherine River is just reaching a level where people will start catching fish and some have already been caught at the Donkey Camp wall,'' he said. "The Roper River fished well last week as the level at the crossing is right down. "And a 110cm barra was caught at the Victoria River last week. "It's definitely worth a look a around - the Daly River has produced a few good fish. "The fish now mostly be at rockbars and rapids or anywhere where the water flow has been constricted. "But the majority of people are now waiting for a better time to fish - fuel costs so much now it is not affordable to go fishing whenever you feel like it."
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