Sailfish Bonanza

Reports of a sailfish bonanza from Sail City just north of the Peron Islands are raising expectations of great catches.

Allan Beale's guides Nathan Litjens (right) and Jason Bettles from Darwin's Barra Base with a big sailfish from Sail City. The sail was spotted on the surface by Shane Spice and was taken by Nathan on a live fusliier pitch-baited ahead of the fish from the front of the boat on spin gear. The lovely fish measured up at 2.72m.

The sails have been happy to take cast and trolled baits and muliple pods of fish have been the norm.

By most accounts the sailfish have been there on the bigger tides during the week but it has been rough since the wind came back up.

As the tides go to neap again, expect a sailfish bonanza!

There's now talk that Sai city is turningon better fishing than Broome.

Sailfish do tend to turn up in unexpected congregations from year to year - Groote Eylandt had a spectacular season some years ago, but the Groote fish have been more sporadic since then.

There's also been reports of a congregation of baby sailfish off Bathurst Island.

The question is, will these Dundee sails move towards Darwin? Could we have a bonanza later in the year at the Fenton Wide grounds?

It's fascinating stuff.

Click here to return to www.DarwinsBarraBase.com.au from Sailfish Bonanza