Shady Camp Fishing
I'm deep in the Northern Territory, on a part of the Mary River known as Shady Camp.It's one of the most famous barramundi hangouts in the country.
And the water's like velvet.
Alex Julius, from NAFA magazine, has fished these parts for years, and he reckons this is the perfect place to bust some top end barra.
The Lowrance sounder's telling us there's a few fish about…. and sure enough, we don't have to wait long for a strike….
Today, I'm wielding a shimano millenium baitcaster, with a Croner reel, and a Dominic Fry sea lure. It's been a handy combo over the years.
According to Alex, the secret to fishing in a place like Shady Camp is to use shallow-diving lures, and get them right out behind the boat. And it's good advice !
At one stage, I troll my lure over what - on the sounder - looks like a large snag. Then the snag moves…This part of the river is teeming with saltwater crocodiles. There are dozens of them. In fact, they have to cull them during the wet season.
Gee, I'd think twice before camping round here…
No wonder we're not catching too many big fish. Looks like the crocs have got to them first.
Barramundi aren't the only species dodging the crocs up here. The Mary is also famous for its saratoga…and tarpon.
To ensure the future of fishing in this part of the world, they've set a two barra bag-limit. All ours are going straight back….
We're burling along part of the Mary River known as Shady Camp, a Northern Territory fishing hotspot east of Darwin.
It's also a croc hotspot. The banks are lined with monsters…
We've been hauling in a few barramundi, but my guide Alex says the numbers are a little down this year.
So we're gonna try a different tack. This is jig trolling. Alex reckons this method works if the fish are feeling a bit lazy.
Basically, you bounce your lure around in front of their noses….
And it looks like the jig's up for another barra…
When trolling, you'll get better results if you have a quiet four-stroke motor like Alex's Yamaha.
Getting a lure over near those lilly pads has paid dividends.
Another tarpon. Gee, they put up a great fight !
A stunning top end sunset, but we're not going home yet. Alex has lined up another adventure….undercover of darkness.
I remember playing spotlight when I was a kid, but it wasn't anything like this…. amongst hundreds of crocs !
What a night! The next morning we have one last try for a mighty barramundi…but it looks like someone's stolen our thunder - the camera man has landed the first and only Barra of the trip !
For information on all the different barra and sportfishing safaris available in the Northern Territory, visit HotSpot Fishing Tours on their website.
We stayed at Point Stuart Wilderness Camp.
They have accommodation to suit all budgets, from dormitories and camping grounds to air-conditioned family rooms at $154 per night.
Give them a
a call to find out more.
