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Bottom of this article we have provided for this region:
Monthly fishing guide tables, maps and GPS coordinates
It was early October and the yearly, dark monsoon clouds would soon be leaving the sub-continent of India, Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia to cross the Timor Sea to drench the thirsty coast and inland of the Top End of Australia. Once the Big Wet is in full swing with its onslaught of heavy, dark storm clouds, deafening thunderclaps and explosive lightning displays, the parched Top End becomes rejuvenated; there invariably is high water everywhere. The expansive billabongs and lagoons soon fill and become connected to one another once again to form rivers, which spill over the floodplain and flow strongly to the sea. The large volumes of water rushing down the Top End rivers flush out the unnecessary ?flotsam? built up during the Dry giving life to barramundi, saratoga, mangrove jack, catfish and other fish species.
Our 25-km long, landlocked, freshwater billabong, Corroboree, had been progressively falling in height due to evaporation after many months of hot, dry weather, and good barramundi fishing would soon come to an end with the commencement of the Big Wet.
It was 5a.m. when Dave Ashfield of Word Of Mouth Barra Tours turned up at the Mirambeena Resort, Darwin to take Diana and myself barramundi fishing to the picturesque Corroboree Billabong, that?s part of the Mary River system, some 130km from Darwin. When we arrived at the houseboat and ramp area, a light mist shrouded the still water just as the bright orange sunrise made its dazzling entry. Corroboree Billabong smelt fishy!
After a few important fishing instructions from Dave like how to ?jig? or ?jerk? the lures to imitate the erratic movements of the billabong prawns, or how to run the lures close to the weed beds without losing a rod we where ready to face the barramundi.
Dave told us, ?As an angling fish, the barramundi provides great sport. So hang onto the rods as the hit is from 0 to 100!?
Naturally we where looking forward to this challenge.
The game plan that Dave drew up was to use the lures exclusively to troll and jig near the edge of the weed beds and submerged structures. This would give us two to three runs past each strike zone.
Before the sun hit the water and with the lures nicely trolling behind the boat as it moved slowly along Diana?s lure was smashed by a hard-hitting barra.
The thrill for Diana was full on as she raised the tip of her rod and wound in the line as furiously as she could. The barra tried desperately to shake the Blue Budgie treble from its mouth, performing great aerobatics and body twists in the process. It was something to see for people who hadn?t fought barra before.
At last, Di had the line wound in and we got a chance to see the large-scaled, shiny fish close up. Looking at him in the boat we couldn?t help but admire this handsome looking specimen that had also proven to be such a tenacious fighter.
We couldn?t help but notice the difference between this fish and the Murray cod and golden perches we normally catch back home on the Murrumbidgee River of NSW.
Not long after landing the 4.5kg [10lb] barra, Di?s Blue Budgie was slammed again which sent the Shimano reel screaming off a heap of line.
This time there was more aerobatics display as the barra went berserk and took to the air like a marlin. There were also plenty of huffs and puffs from Di till eventually, after tiring from expending a whole lot of energy during the fight, the barra gave up and was in Dave?s reach to land. This turned out to be an 85cm silver beauty, which we quickly dispatched to the boat?s specially built holding tank.
As it eventuated, the Blue Budgie that Di was using turned out to be a deadly piece of artillery racking up several more victims by the end of the day. Dragging it through the edge of the lotus lilies and the weed beds enticed the barras to dinner from their submerged timber lairs.
Air to Sea Missile:
Finally, after waiting in anticipation for some time for my Elton John to get whacked, it happened. My adrenalin rush was on and my heart rate went up at a rate of knots! The barra smashed through the surface of the water like a sea-to-air missile, gills flared and shaking its head vigorously to rid itself of the treble. It repeated its performance several times, till eventually, worn out from hard fighting, the 4kg barra succumbed to capture in the landing net to meet up with the other two barra that were in the holding tank.
Round mid-morning the fish went lure shy even though Dave motored patiently and tirelessly past the weed bed and drop off areas at numerous locations along the billabong channels, as well as going through some 15 lure changes (that were connected up with the Bowline knot), but to no avail.
Just before lunch we had a few solid strikes, but the lucky barra managed to get themselves tangled in the lotus lilies and free themselves of the trebles. Dave called it ?long range catch-and-release.?
But a few barra weren?t so lucky as to free themselves in the weeds, though they did gain their freedom because they were less than 55cm in length, the legal length for barramundi in the Northern Territory.
After lunch we sort relief from the hot sun by heading for the shelter of some pandanus palms. It would have been a fairly peaceful scene except for the nearby crocodiles lazily sunning themselves on the bank.
However, the crocs were soon disturbed from whatever vision they were contemplating by the sound of our motor. Upon hearing it, they hastily scattered into the brownish-green depths of the billabong to resurface many metres away.
Whilst eating lunch, Dave impressed upon us the need to continue taking fluids to avoid headache and the possibility of dehydration.
Particularly for first-time visitors the heat of the sun can be quite tiring and that?s why you?ve got to pay attention to sun protection and avoiding dehydration.
Though not connected to this subject, Dave also told us a fisher should never clean a fish or leave offal beside the water?s edge as this can attract crocodiles.
Straight after lunch we went barra hunting again, but whilst waiting for one to eat your lure you couldn?t help but appreciate the teeming wildlife and the captivating scenery that is the Corroboree Billabong.
Rich Scenery:
There is no doubt the Top End is a spectacular place/. For example the lotus lilies with their pretty pink flowers look spectacular and seem to be everywhere. The aborigines eat their tasty seeds so we tried some ourselves ? they where delicious!
The aborigines also used the large leaves as hats to protect them from the scorching sun. There were other lilies as well, like the one with a blue flower and another that?s white with a yellow centre.
Pandanas, Asian bamboo, freshwater mangroves and the melaleuca paper bark trees fringed the billabong and are favourite places of rest for a host of wildlife. In the time I was there I saw birds, the green tree frogs, snakes, the black flying foxes and the ever-present and feared crocodiles. On top of that there was feral water buffalo grazing along the edge of the billabong.
The birdlife was colourful, noisy and no doubt a bird watcher?s paradise. We saw black kites, whistling kites, white-bellied sea eagles, brown whistling ducks, pink-eared ducks, Rajah shell ducks, Lotus [Jesus] birds, Rufus night wrens, long-necked cormorants [snake birds], and pelicans. We also saw green pygmy geese, plumed egrets, pied herons, black-necked storks, blue-winged kookaburras and magpie geese. Dave called the later No.18 bush chooks!
I know most fishermen come up for the fishing, but the prolific bird and wildlife really adds a lot of enjoyment to being on the river.
Dave?s extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna of Corroboree Billabong helped to teach us heaps and to widen our appreciation of this unique wetland area of the Top End.
At around 3.15pm and with the humidity rather juicy, we decided it was time to pack up when whack, there was another barra on my Reidy?s Aqua Rat.
This time the barra jumped high into the air a couple of times during the fight. I was hoping Dave?s 25lb breaking strain fluro Berkley line was up to the task as the fish made a few solid runs before its strength was near zapped. Then it happened! The heavyweight headed straight for the drop off and tangling the line in the weed bed. A hook on the treble was straightened.
It would have been a fitting climax to end our barra excursion with a big one to brag about, but alas not this time.
And there are no prizes for guessing what was on the menu that night at our motel. Yes, that?s a right tasty, delicious, barramundi fillet. What a great table fish!
Verdict:
Most anglers visiting the Top End are keen to catch barramundi, the premier sport fish. And for them, employing the services of a knowledgeable and experienced guide like Dave Ashfield is the way to go.
It sure was a thrill to see those barramundi explode into the air from the tranquil waters of the scenic Corroboree Billabong, together with experiencing the prolific and amazing birdlife, animal life and vegetation of this pristine environment.
We both thought the visual experience of Corroboree Billabong a real thrill and bringing in barramundi was great fun. It is a real challenge to land these fish when they?re trying their hardest to throw your lure with a head-rattling displays.
The Barra Facts:
Giant Palmer perch alias Barramundi Lates calcarifer is a member of the giant perch family. It has been known to reach a maximum weight of 60kg and grow to a length of 1.5m.
The aborigines were the first fishers of barramundi in Australia, who wrapped their food in the leaves of the wild ginger plant then baked it in hot ashes.
Their diet consists mainly of shrimps [prawns], crabs, crayfish, fish [mullet], insects and the occasional small freshwater crocodile.
Mature barramundi migrate downstream during the wet season [about late November] to spawn in estuaries, coastal swamps or coastal shallows where suitable salinity levels occur. All barramundi are born males and when mature fertilise the eggs of the larger females. A surprising fact about barramundi males is that they can turn into females at about 5 years of age when they reach the 8 to 9 kg mark.
Barramundi is a predator in both estuarine and freshwater. The species inhabits our northern river systems and deep billabongs where overhanging vegetation and underwater snags occur.
The decline in barramundi numbers in the NT is due to siltation, pollution and over fishing.
Barramundi is mainly taken on large artificial lures and on live baits such as mullet and prawn.
Apart from frequenting the salt, brackish and freshwater areas of coastal WA, NT and Queensland, barramundi can be found throughout the East Indies to India, Japan and China.
Barramundi flesh is white, tender yet firm with good flavour.
Barramundi forms the basis of a major commercial fishery and is the principal target by amateur anglers at the Top End and elsewhere.
Estuarine specimens are silvery in colour; billabong fish are darker. Barramundi have large, red eyes, which gives these night predators excellent vision for night hunting. Crocodiles are their natural predators.
Barramundi are not equipped with teeth but with a razor-sharp serrated cutter on each gill cheek that can cut through heavy line as well as fingers and hands. Handling a live barra through the gills is therefore not advisable.
Night fishing with surface popping lures like the Hula Popper and the Rebel Popper can be very successful though crocodile danger is a worry.
Barramundi can be caught all the year round, however, the best times to catch them is during the Dry in March, April and May as well as October, November and early December from late evening through to early morning when they are at their most active. Barramundi respond to baitfishing, lure casting, fly-fishing and trolling techniques.
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