Peak Barramundi Fishing

The peak Barramundi Fishing period (Feb-Apr, known as the Run-Off), fishing for Barra at the Coastal Feeder Creeks to Shady Camp; all fish a lot better on Spring Tides.

140cm Barramundi

This is 7m + tides and the bigger the better. During these larger spring tides the bigger Barramundi are moving around more and move into the mouths of these creeks and ambush pods of skitter fish, pope eye mullet and small crabs. These big female Barramundi are what Darwin's Barra Base experienced guides have perfected over the years that Allan has fished Shady Camp. Specifically what creeks are going to fire and when.

We try very hard to ensure our Barramundi Fishermen (the clients) arrive as earliest as possible at the mouth of these creeks to ensure the best boat position possible is secured in these narrow coastal creeks. Sometimes arriving just after dawn in line with the incoming tide to start casting and retrieval techniques to land early boofing Barra and Threadfin Salmon.

Why people love to fish for Barramundi.
131cm 60+ Lb Barra

During these bigger tides the freshwater pumping out of these coastal creeks are backed up by the big tides. Large amounts of ocean saltwater (usually dirtier water) is pushed up into the creeks and out over the floodplains.

Some great fishing is had on the push up and usually some very nice Threadfin Salmon and Blue Salmon are landed as well as hungry Barramundi cruising in with hundreds of mullet and other bait fish.

Now you Barramundi Fishermen that have experienced this type of fishing before will be waiting and looking for the outgoing tide change. This is when the larger female Barra move into the holes and ledges of the creeks and often complete easy feeds by completing voracious attacks as they boof mullet and blue salmon on or near the surface. Some of these boof attack sounds are like shotguns going off and when they occur in repetitious boofs you are amazed at the size of the Barra mouths and their backs as they and Salmon rise just after the boof and chase the bait.

Look for a fishing schedule that will give you the best chance of landing one of these magnificent fish>

3,4,5 & 6 Day PEAK Barra Run Off Safaris 2011 Safari Start Dates and Availability as at 12th June 2010; Green blocks indicate Neap Tides,  Blue blocks Spring Tides ( Mouseover the start dates if you can't see the colours) February Shady Camp Avl March Shady Camp Avl April Shady Camp Avl May/June Finnis River Barra to Sailfish Avl 5 Day Start: 11th Neap--Shady 12 4-5 Day Start: 5th Spring--Shady 16 5 Day Start: 4th Mothership 6 4 Day Start: 3rd Spring--Shady 12 3 Day Start: 12th Neap-Shady 12 3-5 Day Start: 12th Neap--Shady 16 5 Day Start: 4th Spring Shady 8 4 Day Barra to Sailfish Start: 9th May Neap--Finniss /Dundee 12 5 Day Start: 19th Spring--Shady 16 3 Day Start: 15th Neap--Shady 8 3-4 Day Start: 11th Shady or Finnisss 16 3 Day Barra to Sailfish Start: 13th May Neap--Finniss /Dundee 12 3 Day Start: 26th Neap--Shady 16 5 Day Start: 19th Mothership 8 6 Day Start: 17th Mothership 4 4 Day Barra Run Off Start 18th Spring--Shady 12 5 Day Start: 26th Neap--Shady 16 5 Day Start: 20th Spring--Shady 8 5 Day Start:18th Spring--Shady 8 4 Day Barra to Sailfish Start: 24th May Neap--Finniss /Dundee 12 5 Day Start: 27th Neap--Shady 16 3-5 Day Start: 25th Neap--Finniss 16 5 Day Barra safari Start 26th Neap--Finniss 8 3 Day Start: 28th Spring--Shady 16 4-5 Day Barra to Sailfish Start: 28th May Neap--Finniss /Dundee 12 2010 seats still available for Barra Safaris at Finniss River from 19th April to end of June 2010 Click here for Finniss Safari Itinerary Barra to Sailfish Bluewater Safaris at Dundee also available from May 1st to November 2010 Click here for Barra to Sailfish & Pelagics Bluewater Itinerary Green numeral (12) indicates seats available. Orange ( 2 ) indicates limited seats on existing safaris. Red Zero (0)indicates fully booked Can cater up to 12 Person Fishing Safari Group anytime if needed. (4 per boat)

mail : 2 Todd Crescent Malak NT 0812
phone: +61 8 8945 0376
fax : +61 8 8945 0379
email: Click here to email Darwin's Barra Base.