Fishing the NT Run Off Rivers

By Warren ‘Wazza’ Smith

In this article I’m going to try and cover the rivers that are within a few hours’ drive of Darwin, that produce what is known as ‘run off’ fishing. Normally this time occurs around March, April, May, however, depending on how good a wet we get, it can start as early as January and go through until May. Timing can be crucial, especially in low rainfall years when you hear the old, “You should have been here last week, it was going off”, being bandied about. In above average rainfall years though, you can expect to get three good months at the fish.

Adelaide River

The first river that you come to, heading east from Darwin, has two public boat ramps. One ramp is located where the Arnhem Highway crosses the river and the other towards the mouth, at what is known as Saltwater Arm. Gunn Point Road, which leads you to Saltwater Arm, is sealed these days, with only the last few kilometres still dirt. It’s a short run to the mouth of the Adelaide from the boat ramp.

The fishing can be very good from the mouth, all the way upstream, to as far as your game to push your boat (lots of rock bars towards the upper end). I have had many great days catching barramundi on the Adelaide River, around the Wiltshire Creeks located towards the mouth, and from around Beatrice Creek area, which is located upstream of the Arnhem Hwy crossing.

The eastern side of the river borders the massive floodplains that stretch all the way to the Mary River, so you’ll find plenty of fresh water running into the main river. Some side creeks are navigable a long way up and a quick check on Google will show you some likely looking junctions. Also look for spots where you can get your boat right up to the open floodplains. Run out tide seems to fish the best for us and if you start at the mouth, you can chase the outgoing tide upstream for hours, fishing any of the likely looking colour changes.

Mary River (Shady Camp)

This place would have to be one of, if not THE most fished river in the NT during the runoff, and for good reason. Around a 3-hour drive from Darwin will get you to what is locally known as Shady Camp. There is a barrage across the river, that has a boat ramp both sides, however during the early part of the year everyone will be launching on the downstream side. It’s a good hour run to the mouth and when the fresh water from the wet season pushes all the way down the river and out into the ocean, this is one of the very best spots to get yourself hooked up to a metre plus barramundi.

I’ll include Tommycut Creek in this area as it fishes the same as the mouth of Shady. You won’t have the place to yourself, however big crowds make it easy to see what’s going on around you and where the fish are being caught. Trolling is the preferred method, however casting to the shallow edges, on either side of the mouth around high tide, also produces good fish.

If bait starts to move up the river, with the incoming tide, you can follow the fish. Good sounder skills play a big part in fishing this area. One of the very best spots for chasing big barra in this area happens along the coast either side of the mouth. Spots that are named Marsh Creek, Swim Creek, Love Creek and Carmor Creek, are small creeks that feed water off the huge floodplains behind them. They can really produce quality barra fishing.

You must time it right and the bigger spring tides are the best as you get more time to fish. Time your run to these spots on an incoming tide, around half tide in (too shallow at low tide to get near them) and fish right up to the first of the outgoing tide. Don’t leave it too long before getting out as it’s a long wait for the water to come back.

Big shallow running lures (6” to 10”) are the go at these spots. There are some good barrages up near the ramp and they produce some great fishing at times as well. As you run down the river, you’ll also see plenty of small creeks and gutters with colour changes coming out of them and these can produce. As well as barramundi, the area also produces some great threadfin salmon fishing.

South Alligator River

The public boat ramp is on the lefthand side of the Arnhem Hwy, before you cross over the river, around a 3-hour drive from Darwin. Good fishing can be found both upstream and downstream of the ramp. If heading downstream it’s best to travel around high tide as it’s very shallow and tricky to navigate, with numerous sandbars and mudbanks to run aground on. In really big wets, when the upstream side has too much water on it, running down toward the mouth can be a better option.

Spots known as Brook Creek and The Rookery have produced some great barra fishing for us over the years and there are plenty of other creeks and drains that have colour changes coming out of them and are worth a flick going past. Heading upstream you encounter plenty of run off creeks. Nourlangie Creek is a well-known spot on the way upstream and there is a rock bar a short way up it.

On high tide you can travel right up to the flood plains and fish some of the small feeder creeks. Keep heading up the South until you get to the flood plains proper. You can only go as far as the signs allow these days, however being there at the top of the tide and waiting for the water to start flowing off the flood plains, back into the main channel, brings back some good memories. Fish a cast for a couple hours, makes for a great day out. Not all big ones, but still great fun. Dark coloured ZMan 3” MinnowZ plastics are the go in this country.

East Alligator River

East Alligator is about a 4-hour drive from Darwin, with two public boat ramps, one either side of Cahills Crossing. Most people looking for run off fishing on the East launch at the downstream side and travel towards the mouth. There is a rock bar located a short distance downstream (1.8km) that can only be crossed near high tide. You need to work your trip around getting over it. We used to drift over it at low tide, using paddles to push off the larger rocks. Magela Creek, especially around the upstream junction, can be a real barramundi hotspot, as can further downstream, with Second Magela producing some great days. Once again, outgoing tides seem to be the best. There are also plenty of runoff creeks if you keep heading towards the mouth. You can also fish Cooper Creek, which flows into the East not far in from the mouth.

Daly River

About a 4-hour drive west of Darwin gets you to the Daly River, a very well-known river that most of the major fishing comps are held on. The public boat ramp is found at the end of Woolianna Road, and you can also launch at the old crossing when the river is still running high. There are plenty of famous spots along the river, including Elizabeth Creek, No Fish Creek and The S Bends, just to name a few. We normally bypass these spots and opt for the long run (100km+) to the mouth as this is the area my mates and I look forward to fishing every year.

We travel downstream, without stopping, until we have passed Clear Creek and we then start looking for barra. This ploy also gets you away from most of the other fishos. Around the mouth of the Daly and Anson Bay there are numerous creeks that pump fresh water into the river and ocean, during a good wet season. This is where we spend our time looking for barramundi. There are some good threadfin down this way as well.

We overnight in the boat, sometimes for a few nights. Once you get near Clear Creek, travelling towards the mouth, navigation is best done around high tide as there are plenty of shallow sand and mud bars to catch you out. Even if upstream is running eight metres plus over the crossing. We have found some spots fish better on big spring tides as soon as the tide starts to run out, while other spots fish better on smaller neap tides on the incoming tide. If you spend time in the area, you soon work out a pattern.

Cheers, Wazza

Gearing Up:

Okuma Komodo Baitcast Reel – KDS-273 size loaded with 30lb
Okuma & TT Rods rated around the 6-10kg mark
Platypus Bionic Braid X9 – 30lb
Platypus Pulse X8 Braid – 30lb
Platypus Hard Armour FC Fluorocarbon Leader - 40lb & 50lb
ZMan 10X Tough soft plastics to match the hatch -
ZMan 3” MinnowZ
ZMan 4” DieZel MinnowZ
ZMan 5” DieZel MinnowZ
ZMan 7” DieZel MinnowZ

Some 6” to 8” shallow running hard body lures
Poppers and Fizzers and some 10+ diving lures