Alex's Column 28 February 2025

Last week I wrote that the lack of serious monsoonal activity across the Top End did not stop many locations from achieved average or better rainfall.

This continued last week with noteworthy evidence of good rain from the Adelaide River where the water had flowed inti the carpark off the Arnhem Highway.

It was a similar event at the Mary River which I understand was lapping under the bridge.

Down the Daly, all that water came down from Katherine and mid-week the river was more than 10m over the crossing.

In Kakadu, there’s been nice clear water flowing down off the floodplains,

While the East Alligator is will have plenty of floodwater flow but can’t be accessed with Magela Creek crossing sitting at 1.6m and the S-bends further along the Oenpelli Road sitting at 1.7m.

So what of the fishing?

Starting down the Daly River, there’s been plenty of action in the lower tidal section.

One report described incredible action with one boat landing well over 100 barra in a couple of days.

Once the Daly starts dropping again, it should fire up nicely.

Across at the Adelaide River, reports from upriver have been scarce and from downriver hardly inspiring.

For the first time since last wet season, Shady Camp is flowing strongly with launching available 27/7.

Last weekend on the neaps there were some terrific barra caught at Shady.

Fishing and Outdoor World’s Ron Voukolos told me he heard of barra up 108cm caught.

“The main barrage has been fishing well too,” Ron said.

This was proven by Ryan Christophers and his dad who landed a bunch of fish from the barrage, including quite a few legal fish.

As always, Shaun Stringer got amongst them at Shady, fishing both Sampan and Tommycut Creeks.

“There were a lot of barra on the sounder but getting them to bite wasn’t easy,” Shaun said.

He fished with his girlfriend Abbey Pope and they managed to catch a dozen barra over 90cm.

Colin Burdon from Reidy’s lures fished up the South Alligator River with Micky from Spring Tide Safaris.

Colin was testing a prototype of a new lure: a smaller version of the Reidy’s Judge lure.

The pair landed 32 barra up to 81cm.

“They were mostly rats up on the floodplain,” Colin said.

“The majority of fish were caught on the new prototype, but I did end up going back to my favourite lure at the moment, the Akame Guppy 120mm.

“A few more tweaks to the lure and then into production but overall very happy with the results.

“The guys from NQ Fishing Show are running a comp to name this lure, so go to their page and podcast the show if you can't listen live.

“Obviously, Schneider braid and leader are always used on the Reidy’s boat,” Colin said.

With the improved weather of late, the offshore scene has been very productive.

Goldies have been on the chew at Number 6 Buoy, and it may well be worthwhile hitting offshore reefs, including the artificial variety, for both goldies and black jew.

There may not be any monsoonal activity as the moment, but it’s still the wet season.

Breaks in the weather as we experienced this week can often lead to glass-out offshore conditions.

Sometimes when that happens, there is an unseasonal run of Spanish mackerel.

Don’t forget that Million Dollar Fish Season 10 has a bit more than a month to go.

You can register on the MDF website, and also be in the running for fabulous monthly draw prizes.

Abbey Pope caught this ripper barra fishing with her boyfriend Shaun Stringer in the tidal Mary River.

Shaun Stringer with one of a dozen barra over 90cm he and Abbey caught at Shady Camp… note the Bite Me lure on the floor behind him.