Darwin Fishing
Billabong Boat Etiquette

Some Darwin Fishing Billabong Boating etiquette to help ensure you have a smooth fishing trip without causing irritation to other anglers in Top End fishing hot spots.

Three boats from Darwins Barra Base

WAYS TO AVOID A FIGHT AT THE RAMP

Good billabongs like Corroborree are busy at times and tempers heat up, so if you want to get home without a confrontation at the ramp or flat tyres, there are a few rules both written and unwritten that make life easy for all. Just because the Northern Territory does not have a boat licence yet, does not mean the rules do not apply.

1. Troll with the bank on your right hand side. By law, when two boats meet head-on, they must both alter course to their right (starboard.) If you have the bank or weeds on your right, you cannot turn, so you have right of way. The person approaching you then must get out of your way as open water is to their right.
2. When you hook up, move away. Staying where you are when you hook a big fish can mean disaster. Moving out away from the bank makes it harder for the fish to bury you and also allows others to continue their trolling run.
3. Don't hog a spot. If you are fishing a small area, don't turn around until you're well off the spot. Turning too early will spook the fish and cut others off.
4. Don't cut others off. Cutting in front or blocking others that are following simple etiquette is a sure-fire way to upset others.
5. Keep your distance. Others have just as much right as you to be there, so keep well back. The law requires you to keep your distance from and give way to all boats you are following. You'd hate it too if someone was sitting their boat right on top of your lure spread. If the person in front of you does hookup or a lure comes to the top you'll be picking braid out of your prop shaft for quite a while.

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