Take your boat to the top end

Talk about trailer boating to the Northern Territory and the mind conjures up images of dusty bush 4WD tracks and remote rivers almost out of reach. Well nothing could be farther from the truth.

While it is a long way from any other city on this continent, the travel to and from is civilized and trailerboat friendly with good quality bitumen roads to many of the popular fishing areas.

The highway up through Central Australia is excellent with fuel stations and overnight accommodation in abundance. Travel from the East Coast is equally as easy.

The fishing rivers start at Katherine although Roper River to the east and Timber Creek on the Victoria River to the southwest are worth a look.

DALY RIVER
Arriving at Adelaide River township, 120km south of Darwin, turn left to the Daly River, home of two big annual tournaments, the NT Barramundi Classic and the Palmerston Game Fishing Club's BT Barra Nationals.

These tournaments are run out of the Banyan Farm which is perched on the banks of the Daly River, about 8km south of the Daly River Crossing.

A large contingent of campers occupies the verges of the Crossing and public amenities are light on with ablution blocks some distance away.

Boat launching here is a drama due to the sand and the public boat ramp is downstream from another camp resort called Wooliana.

For the trailer boater looking for tent area or good cabins, they are best to check in at The Banyan Farm which has its own ramp, dining area and room for tent accommodation.

This area is often inundated during wet season floods and it is not unusual to have 18 metres of water over the Daly River Crossing. This equates to about one metre over the camp grounds down stream which abates around April.

As with all rivers in the NT, once the waters start to drop, the flood plains pump their warm fish and bait rich waters into the main streams, and it is barra madness for a number of weeks until the drains stop pumping and the fish spread out along the tidal river.

This and other rivers in the NT are strewn with stumps, some floaters and others anchored in mud and sand.

As well, rock bars abound and lay waiting for careless boaters who fail to read the water correctly.

If in doubt, slow down as even experienced boaters who know the river well can fall foul of these obstacles when they drop their guard.

These obstacles are the perfect place to target barramundi, and while lures are common tools, these fish will take fly, and dead and live baits such as cherabin which are large fresh-water crustaceans caught in Opera House style pots along the bank. Placing them in reeds or next to pandanus tree roots will work best.

As with other tidal rivers in the NT, once the fresh stops flowing, tidal water takes over and the lower reaches can be the colour and consistency of iced coffee!

The neap or slack tides will see clearer water in the lower reaches and as the tides become larger, the dirty water pushes its way upstream. Fishing the clear water right to its boundary is best.

Crossing the bridge at Adelaide River township, a small trickle of water is running below. It goes into the larger watercourse accessed via the Arnhem Highway where a boat ramp is built into the bank next to another bridge. The Adelaide River runs dirty most of the year.

Fishing upstream is best from February to April and perhaps May if there is still fresh water coming off the plains. There are many freshwater drains on both sides of the river to access fish and many are paths to the upper reaches of the flood plains where barra will be found feeding in the shallows.

Downstream the river widens considerably and a tributary called Saltwater Arm is a great place for barra. Fish the last two hours of the runout tide and the first hour or so incoming.

On the neap tides, travel upstream to 'The Narrows'. It is a noticeable restriction in the width of the river and the western side is strewn with bommies. This is a good spot to catch golden snapper and big jewfish on baits. Exercise caution on king tides as the water is extremely turbulent passing through this choke. Access to the lower reaches is via a boat ramp at Gunn Point.

CORROBOREE
Just east of the Adelaide River Bridge, on the Arnhem Highway, you will pass Corroboree Park Tavern, a good place to stock up on supplies such as ice and fuel.

A little farther on is a turn off to Corroboree Billabong which is on a par with Kakadu and Litchfield Park as far as scenic beauty is concerned. This billabong is made up of a series of arms which total 33 odd kilometres in length.

Some seasons see many of these arms choked with lilies but, as I write, it has had a thorough cleanout and the fish are hot to trot. You can troll, cast lures or fly here for barramundi, saratoga, tarpon, fork tail catfish and the odd sleepy cod.

Mary River House Boats is here and booking floating accommodation makes

life easy and cuts the road miles. Early morning and dusk sessions produce good results, while the middle of the day can settle into the doldrums on occasions.

SOUTH ALLIGATOR RIVER
Still on the bitumen, the next stop is the Aurora Resort situated 2km from the South Alligator River and has a good ramp and fish cleaning facilities plus ample bitumen car and trailer parking.

This river is tidal and has many shifting sand and rock bars, and mud banks. It flows dirty on the big tides and one needs to continually read the water.

Make an initial investigation on a low tide that is rising and plot the deeper channel either way.

The mouth of the South is about 70km downstream but a run to the islands and reefs around them is worthwhile for targeting jewfish, threadfin salmon, snapper and other reef dwellers. You are a long way from home and might well be on your own there so satellite phones or auxiliary motors are well advised.

The upper reaches fire well for big barramundi at the end of the wet season. A good way to ascertain which direction the barramundi might be in when at the ramp is to take note of the silt on the concrete. If present, it means the big tides have pushed against the freshwater and would have carried fish inland to the

floodplain drains. If no silt is present go downstream and work the drains.

The trick here is to look for tannin coloured water entering the main stream and work the runout tides. At low tide the drains are filthy with fast rushing water but an incoming tide will push it back across the plain and the initial runout from full should produce cleaner water and nice fish.

EAST ALLIGATOR RIVER
About 40km farther east, a turnoff heads north to the East Alligator River. There is a boat ramp and downstream you access a famous creek called Mageela where many big barra are caught.

Down from the ramp is a rockbar from hell named 'Turkey Dreaming'. It should be called 'Broken Gear Box Reality'!

If the rapids are pouring over the rocks it is too shallow and you can only access it on high tides. Be aware that you may be marooned on the other side and have to wait for the tide to lift you across it.

Upstream of Cahill's Crossing, which takes permitted traffic into Arnhem Land, is some of the most beautiful country in the world. It fishes well for barramundi along the ravines and gorges.

DARWIN REEF FISHING
Perhaps barra are not your main interest but reef fish are?

Well, Darwin Harbour is full of WWII wrecks and its arms are strewn with rockbars that hold good reef fish.

Offshore is a huge artificial reef system called Marchant's Reef at Fenton Patches, and down the coast lots of fishing can be done around the islands that dot the coastline.

Dundee Beach has a ramp, with a tractor to launch your boat if need be, and accommodation and fuel to make this a good base for the coastal boater.

As with any strange place, local knowledge is vital and if you can't get it from the guy next to you at the pub there are a number of publications that will act as a bible.

One is the NT Fish Finder by Matt Flynn. It has GPS marks, aerial photos and lots of hints on fishing the Top End. There is also a NT Fishing Map offering a lot of good information.

Like any place in the north, repairs to boats and trailers can be a long drive away so maintenance before you leave home is vital. Take spares such as two trailer tyres and wheel bearings, and a spring and shackle set.

And all the hype about crocodiles is not be ignored. Drop your guard and you will be killed and eaten - simple as that. Don't turn your back on the water and despite the heat, don't get into it!

There are many more places to fish and with tides up to eight metres there is a different technique required than in waters down south.

Consider picking up a guide on a day charter. Many of them are happy to part with their knowledge to make your stay more successful. A couple of operators I use are listed below.

For: Mary River House Boats, phone (08) 8978 8925; Darren's NT Barra Safaris, phone (08) 8983 3722; Darwin's North Australia Barra Fishing, phone (08) 8941 7547; Arafura Blue Water Charters, phone (08) 8932 3006.