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ARNHEMLAND BARRAMUNDI NATURE LODGE

There’s more good jewie fishing to be had by boating down the Mary River from Shady Camp and heading offshore a few kilometres to the shallow jew grounds.

Expect to catch salmon there too and, believe it or not, the only carnivorous painted crays that I’ve ever encountered.

Cape Hotham and round the corner to Ruby Island is a nice day trip heading out from Leeder’s Creek.

Wide of Cape Hotham , there are good snapper grounds, and jew are also available.

Around Ruby Island , you can target queenfish, trevally species and, if you’re particularly cunning, hefty saltwater barra to boot.

There is excellent security for a small price at Leeder’s Creek, and that is also one option for accessing the Vernon Islands and the famous Blue Hole at Gunn Point.

Last week, there were small mackerel busting out along the reefs, with longtails reeking havoc amongst the whitebait schools between North West Vernon and Melville Islands .

Jew on the change of tide are a special in the channel between South West Vernon and Gunn Point.

According to Craig Grosvenor of Got One, this deeper water between the Vernons and the mainland has been alive with queenfish.

In recent months, deep-water jigging has become a popular and successful technique inside the Vernons. Jigging the River2Sea 160mm and 200mm Live Squid Rigs in deep water right at the bottom of the tide has accounted for enough jewfish to label this technique as most effective; and often as not, pelagic species slam the jig on the way down!

Closer to Darwin, it’s not bluewater until high tide, but you’d have to consider a day trip from Shoal Bay Boat Hire’s landing in the Howard River if a feed of succulent muddies is what you’re after.

Lee Point is where you go if it’s blowing and mackerel action is your goal.

Fish early and late, or on the change of the tide.

Discreet schools of longtail tuna having been busting out from Lee Point to the harbour; and, the further offshore you go, the more schools you will encounter.

Mal Strong and family chased macks and tuna around East and Lee Points on the weekend, landing half a dozen tuna on pink slugs, grey and spotted mackerel on Classic 120s in the bleeding-roses colour and a 10 kg cobia trolling the Classic 120 in the deadly green-rainbow colour.

Since nailing a 132 cm barra at Shady Camp earlier this year, I’m told Mal is finding it hard to put anything else on.

Basically, from Darwin to the Peron Islands, Spanish mackerel are easy targets at the following locations: Lorna Shoal, Loee Patches, Bass Reef, Roche Reef corner, Blaze Reef and off North Peron.

Fish all of the above on the bottom for goldies and assorted reef fish, concentrating efforts on the turn of the tide.

I had a great report from Scott Day who, with his partner Stephanie Quinn, has been braining big, after-dark goldies at South Gutter on mega-sized prawn baits.

The pair have been bagging out, with nothing smaller than 4 kg, and actually having to change locations to get away from the ravenous schools.

If you intend to target jewfish on the neaps, begin with the Bus Stop Reef off Lee Point , the harbour wrecks and artificial reefs, the Fenton Patches artificial Reefs, Charles Point Patches, Dundee Jew Reef, Point Blaze and the Channel Point.

Charles Point itself is producing frenzied jewfish action, and you can expect reliable golden snapper fishing this weekend by working the ledges directly off the lighthouse.

It seems anglers of all ages are reaping the rewards of this year’s excellent bream run.

Land-based family action has been taking place from Stokes Hill Wharf , Fisherman’s Wharf, Nightcliff Jetty, Rapid Creek mouth and the Iron Ore Wharf rockwall.