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ARNHEMLAND BARRAMUNDI NATURE LODGE

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 like this, the fishing was excellent in Bynoe Harbour and not too bad up the harbour arms.

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

On that basis, the fishing could even be better than a fortnight ago.

Probably the best estuaries close to Darwin to fish are either of the three harbour arms or Woods Inlet.

Both Saturday and Sunday are fine for a barra.

With a hint of build-up occurring, I’d be checking out the creeks well inside Middle Arm and the small estuary between Middle Arm and West Arm.

On the bluewater, good fishing will depend on whether the seas stay calm.

If they do, get out there and boogy because the offshore scene from the Melville coast down to the Peron Islands is going gangbusters.

According to Craig Grosvenor of Got One, last weekend, both golden snapper and jewfish in numbers were ravenous in the deep channels adjacent to the Vernon Islands .

Tuna schools were evident all over Darwin Harbour , and the calm water made it easy to sight them from a distance.

Harbour wrecks fished well for jewfish, in particular, the sunken barge close to East Arm wharf, the Mauna Loa and the Shipping Containers.

Apparently, one crew experienced chaotic jewie fishing at Anglers Reef off Lee Point .

Fenton Patches artificial reefs also contributed to the weekend’s fish tally, with moonfish and giant trevally comprising the bulk of catches.

The moonies were taking baits two at a time, while the GTs climbed all over large chrome slugs, 200 gm knife jigs and River2Sea live squid rigs worked next to structure.

Judging by the catches made during the Berrimah Research Farm social fishing competition on the weekend, i t seems the best mackerel fishing was down Dundee .

Alex Beatty caught the biggest fish for the weekend - a 13 kg Spanish mackerel. Sam Errity won the junior section with an 8 kg mackerel and many good reef fish were weighed in, including red emperor and coral trout.

Right on cue, there were reports of sailfish sightings in the area also.

For game fishermen, from now until Christmas is the time to go looking for a billfish.

Half way between Fenton Patches and North Gutter is the shot, out on Fenton Wide, is the shot for an easy day trip.

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

Inland, the quality of barra fishing is definitely on the improve.

The lagoons are hot prospects, especially at night at this time of year.

The Finniss was the pick of the rivers, the best lures being Classic 120s in both Guns ‘n Roses and Green Rainbow colour schemes.

The little Classic 65s, trolled slowly near the top of the river, also nailed barra to 80 cm.