Where to in Northern territory?

MerlinC · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 8:10 pm Post subject: Where to in Northern territory?

I am looking at heading up to the NT in the next few weeks with my father and looking for recommendations on lodges or guides. I have had a go at the search engine but while Meville/Bathhurst island would be great we would want to do a couple of days guided and then have the ability to hire a boat and take ourselves around the rivers and inlets, unfortunately not on offer there.
Dundee Beach looks possible if any one has any thoughts on that?
Shady camp looks the goods but as we are going outside of the peak run off period is there anything else to target other than Barra?

Any thoughts would be appreciated as we need to make a decision in the next couple of days.

Thanks in advance.

MerlinC · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:18 pm Post subject:

Forget to mention the old man gets seasick so we are looking at lodge/camp options rather than motherships.
Any experience with Dundee beach would be appreciated.

ole codge · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 10:23 pm Post subject:

Merlin, this time of the year sees little in the way of Barra action. Corroboree Billabong may be a chance but don't forget theres some great surface action fishing for Saratoga there as well.

Find the smaller tides and head out for Jewfish in Darwin Harbour.

MerlinC · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:53 am Post subject:

Thanks for the reply.
Looks like we will wait until next march. Any recommendations for a lodge or camp based option in saltwater rather than fresh during the run off. We want to get a Barra but all other species that the NT has to offer would also be good. Preferably with a boat hire ability after a couple of days guided.
Cheers

nickscerri · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:56 pm Post subject:

Hi Merlin, I was a guide at seven spirit bay on the coubourg peninsula for a while and fished mainly the bay from there to black point and we used to get alot of different species at this time of year from jewies, macks, gts,coral trout, golden snapper and the list goes on. There was also alot of different places to suit most anglers from flats for lures/flies. reef edges for poppers and gts reefs for bait fishing.
The resort i worked on was pricey but you can fish the same waters from black point but need to oargnise permits to drive in. along the way in there is a few rivers that hold barra allthough not as many as the wet season.
hope this helps
not too sure if there is still guides at black point but would assume so

MerlinC · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks nick, the place looks great, they have worked out a good package for to tempt us but might see if I can speak to the current guide before going up. They mention the trips will be to tepang creek.
What is the fishing like along the beaches at the resort, we will mainly have to do tours with them and they won't hire any boats for self drive but I like the idea of tossing lures while walking the beach after a day on the boat.
Thanks again for the great advice

Jon · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:15 pm Post subject:

Make sure you spend a day on Mandorah wharf. It is my favourite land based fishing location. I have caught GT's, Queenies, shark, Golden Trevelly and many other. Catch the ferry from Cullen Bay to Mandorah wharf on the other side of the bay. The trip takes about 20 minutes and a return ticket costs about $24. Catch live bait from the wharf using a net or a jig. Make sure you hang onto to your rod tightly or tie it to the rail on the wharf otherwise you could loose it when a GT strikes. Lures work well including surface poppers, chrome lures etc. crocs have been known to appear on the lower level of the wharf, so keep an eye out for that. When a school of Queenies turns up it is pretty exciting because you can see them from the wharf. Meter long Mackerel are not uncommon. Good luck.

nickscerri · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 8:24 pm Post subject:

Did you look at black point or just seven spirit bay, cape don is just around the corner as well but not sure what its like havnt been there.
As for the beaches at ssb you need to be careful as there is quite a few lizards there waiting for a snack but there is queenies and gt around which are easy to tempt with maribu jigs.
the floating pontoon has plenty of fish that you can see but are good at spotting a bait with a hook we jsed to feed the sharks there with a rope tied through a fish frame and you could pull them onto the pontoon before they let go there is some massive jacks there as well but good luck catching one
ill try to post a coupple of pics for you