In the creeks and estuaries, with each succeeding tide, more water will have crept up over the mudflats and into the mangroves.

As that water recedes, it will take with it debris from the mangroves, the bacteria and decomposing vegetation.

For small aquatic organisms, that’s food, so they get in position on the falling tide at the gutters and run-offs to eat.

We’re talking about prawns and small fish like mullet.

They’re hungry and so are the predators that in turn will be feeding on them – barramundi, of course, salmon, both threadfin and blue, queenfish, trevally, goldies and so on.

A fortnight ago on tides similar to this, there was good fishing in Darwin Harbour , Bynoe Harbour , Shoal Bay and also places like Leeders Creek, Saltwater Arm and the estuaries along the east coast of Melville Island .

Barra, salmon, GTs, mangrove jack, golden snapper, queenfish and even saltwater tarpon figured in the reports I received.

The only difference this weekend is that these tides are just before the dark of the moon, whereas before they were right on the full moon.

Probably the best estuary close to Darwin to fish is Shoal Bay .

Both Saturday and Sunday are perfect tides for a barra, and a big one at that, but Sunday’s 1.94 m low around midday is a ripper.

The Rock in Shoal Bay is definitely worth a visit, and there are plenty of low tide holes up the Howard and Tree Point Inlet to get lost in and mix it with some fish.

If you want to hedge your bets, then take a few crab pots along.

Sunday’s low tide is also best for Darwin Harbour barra fishing in either of the three arms or Woods Inlet, and Monday is a pearler if you can get the day off.

On the bluewater, given calm seas, and the fact the reef fish are on the bite and the mackerel are still about, the same can be expected of the quality of fishing.

For game fishermen, it’s time to go looking for a billfish.

Half way between Fenton Patches and North Gutter is the shot, out on Fenton Wide.

Look for tuna schools or baitfish, and troll rigged garfish and mullet baits around them.

Inland, the quality of barra fishing will depend on local rainfall.

The lagoons are hot prospects (was that a pun?), especially at night at this time of year, but a good shower of rain will make the barra lethargic for a day or two.

We’ve had the odd bit of rain of late, and that should only increase as we further into the Build-up.

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If the tidal area of Shady Camp or the lower Daly River is your planned destination this weekend, then make the most of it because, come Saturday, those places will be closed to recreational fishing until February 1 next year.

The validity of that management regime has been questioned seriously every year, and the issue is still on the agenda for the Amateur Fishermen’s Association NT.

In an era when we have both minimum size limits and maximum bag limits for barramundi, when it is stated Government policy to increase access to waters, and when we have an immensely important fishing guide industry that relies on this better time of year to put clients onto fish, it is an anomaly to keep these waters closed at all to recreational fishing.

Last year there was talk of imposing a reduced bag limit on barra over a certain size, and that would be a far smarter regime for the lower Mary and Daly Rivers .

I’ve said it before that no one would argue with a new regulation which permitted only one barra over, say, 85 cm to be taken from those waters.

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Dates for the Darwin Trailer Boat Club’s Blue Water Classic have been changed to the weekend of 15 and 16 October, based on feedback from prospective entrants.

“While we received a lot of interest, many people said they were too busy to compete during the week, so we have moved the Blue Water Classic to the weekend, cut back the number of days, and reduced the entry fees,” said Club President Brant Butterworth.

The competition will be held in the rich fishing area between the Vernon Islands in the East, the South Peron Island in the West and Cape Fourcroy to the North.

Prizes will be awarded in the categories of:

Champion angler

• Senior angler
• Junior angler (under 16)
• Most species weighed in
• Champion Boat (less than 6 metres)
• Champion boat (more than 6 metres)
• Champion team

Competition fees are now:

• $50 per person
• Juniors is $10 per person
• $100 per family

Entry forms are available from the Darwin Trailer Boat Club or online at http://www.dtbc.com.au.