Darwin Fishing Tours: Everything You Need To Know

Whether you’re a beginner fisherman or a veteran at the sport, Darwin is the perfect place for either type. A coastal city located in the vast and breathtaking Top End of the Northern Territory, Darwin is home to some of the best fishing spots in Australia where locals, and tourists, can marvel at the fish feeding in their natural habitat. It’s also a place to experience the most breath-taking Heli-fish tours. You can even take part in barramundi fishing in Darwin and get a chance to capture this prized catch.

The capital offers lots of Darwin fishing tours for fishing enthusiasts to enjoy to their heart’s content, and we’ve prepared a guide so you can take part in all of these, too!

What are the best fishing spots in Darwin?

Surrounded by the sea on three sides and with several rivers and estuaries to boot, it’s no wonder that Darwin is home to some of the best fishing spotsin the country.
Want to know where to fish in Darwin? Some popular places to fish in the area include the following:

  • Tiwi Islands
  • Dundee Coast
  • Bynoe Harbor
  • Adelaide River (Litchfield National Park)
  • Mary River (Kakadu National Park)
  • …and more!

There are also an array of Darwin fishing tours to fill the time while visiting the area, including our bluewater and estuary tours which will take anglers to great spots for catching fish as well as crabs. There’s lots of blue waters to see and so many fish to catch in this fisherman’s paradise, so don’t miss out on any of these activities while in Darwin!

What fish can you catch in Darwin?

Fishing enthusiasts may want to ask, “What fish can you catch in Darwin?” Well, the short answer is: too many to mention, and it’s absolutely worth the journey. There are loads of different fish species to catch in Darwin and the Northern Territory, all of which are sure to make fine catches of the day for both beginner and expert anglers. Some of these include the following:

  • Barramundi
  • Coral trout
  • Snapper (Golden snapper and saddle-tail snapper)
  • Trevally (giant trevally and golden trevally)
  • Blue salmon
  • Longtail tuna
  • Pikey bream
  • Mud crabs
  • …and more!

For barramundi fishing in Darwin particular, the Northern Territory is quite famous for being a prime location to catch one of these beauties. There’s even a Million Dollar Fish Competition specifically dedicated to catching a wild barramundi. Anglers can try their hand at catching one of these in exchange for some cool prizes. But make sure to register as soon as possible, as the current season ends on March 31st!

What tides are best for fishing Darwin?

In general, the best tides to fish in Darwin are when the tide is moving – simply known as a moving tide. Spring tides are also more favourable when fishing compared to neap tides as they have stronger currents and motions on the sea bed. This means an increase in fish activity and more chances of reeling in a catch of the day, or two!

For real-time updates on the status of the tides and the best times to fish in Darwin, anglers can refer to websites such as Fishingreminder. Using these guides can be quite helpful if one is planning their fishing trip, and it also helps anglers ensure they’re going at a time where the chances of reeling in a catch are high.

Heli-fish tours in Darwin

Beyond the typical fishing activities and charters in the area, anglers can also experience fishing in a different way with exciting Heli-fish tours in Darwin! As part of our Heli-fish tour, tourists are treated to a flight over the stunning coastlines and beaches of the Northern Territory. This is followed by some fishing in exclusive locations, only accessible by helicopter from Darwin, where the fish are feeding, ready to be caught. Fishing enthusiasts are also given high-quality equipment so they can real in even the biggest of catches.

Beginners don’t need to worry or be intimidated by these activities either. Our Darwin fishing tours come with a local guide and pilot who can impart you with the knowledge needed for the perfect catch.

Booking a Heli-fish tour also saves a lot of time and effort for anglers, as they can just focus on increasing their catch of the day while they’re transported to the best fishing spots in Darwin. It’s definitely an adventure like no other, and one that’s much more exciting than going to overpopulated fishing locations in the city centre.

Now that you know where to fish in Darwin and what fishing activities to experience, you’ll know that Darwin is the best place to be for expert and beginner anglers alike. Book a fishing tour in Darwin with us to take part in these opportunities and achieve the perfect catch amid the region’s beautiful waters!

We acknowledge and pay respect to the past, present, and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation; we are proud to work closely with the traditional owners of the Northern Territory and to honour their land and culture in everything we do.

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Matt Wright

Matt Wright's unique outback lifestyle and knowledge of helicopters, boats and airboats has led him to develop some of the most unique tourism experiences in the world, in Matt’s Wild Territory series

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