I was recently on Long Service Leave and I was very keen to get a significant fishing trip in. After a few false starts on local trips, and the wind being the wind in WA ... I decided to search Australia for a fishing location with good weather and a chance to fish a different way. I had done Exmouth and Montes before, so went to choose between Broome, Darwin and north Queensland. I decided to go with Darwin as the wind was low, the fish on offer were different and there were all inclusive packages of food, accomodation, transfers and fishing at a place called Dundee Beach, 150 km south east of Darwin.

Sadly I was short a fishing buddy willing to spend $$$ and not working ... and that was a real negative. There are two versions of this report - the instagram highlights version which makes it the best fishing trip ever, and the version where not too many of the better fish were on my rod and I was the 8th in a group of 7 +1 and the most drank a lot of beer (and I just have a couple) ... but the reality it was a superb experience with reasonable fishing. Great fish were caught by the group of 8, and that is all a guide/ skipper can do. The group also caught their barra and Black jews and a sailfish the two days fishing before I got there (I was there 3 days, they were 5 days), so that changed the focus. 4 days is the amount of time I would recommend, 5 better to account for weather. The wind was low and the swell non-existent, but even a little wind reduced conditions, and tides are a big deal too!

So what was awesome was I booked this less than a week out, so knew the forecast was solid. I have probably 75% of my trips from Perth/ Exmouth cancelled due to the wind, and it actually breaks my heart a little each time. Dundee Beach has at least 3 lodge type fishing experiences with reasonable charters of groups of 4 that do bluewater (reef/ surface) fishing and creek barra fishing close to a great fishing ramp. The accomodation is good, and the food is out of this world. The lodge style of fishing hard, grabbing a shower and having a chef cook your breakfast, 3 course dinner and provide daily snacks is spectacular. Finished off with a breathtaking location and air conditioned comfortable rooms, they even do your laundry... I got picked up at the airport and driven 90 minutes straight to the accomodation, and the same on the way back. The service is really spectacular - and not to be underated. The cost is $3000 - $4000 or so for 3 to 5 days. Groups of 4 are perfect so you fish together. I went with Anglers Choice. My understanding is they are the best, best boats, definitely best accomodation and food, but a bit more expensive than the others at Dundee Beach. I would recommend them for sure.

So now about the fishing ... Day 1 and 2 morning rest of group barra and black jews all round in rough conditions. Amazing fish, hard work. Day 2 afternoon Sailfishing - 1 between 7 , great fish landed, another dropped.

I turn up day 3 and unfortunately I was with a great young guide, but he was learning the ropes and didn't have the routes to get through the tidal flats in his GPS so we didn't do the barra fishing as expected, and this was not great (he is learning, he will be great, we all learn some time, but this limited my fishing). We went out to troll with heaps of bust ups and insane looking bottom. I was maybe a bit ambitious and worked the bottom on jigs for no luck, but on the troll we got solid mack tuna, a GT and even a coral trout. A few smaller northern snapper and sharks, back to the ramp.

Day 3 night was watching the State of Origin - which was plenty of fun with Queenslanders and NSW fanatics. The lodge hade 16 or so people when I was there, and groups had fun integrating and keeping seperate. There was a 92 year old who held his own and two wives who all had a great time. 

Day 4 we went in the 'big boat' capable of fishing 12 I think, but fished as a group of 8 (usual is groups of 4 in 7m + boats that are made for getting into shallows, with great stability all round for casting and bottom bouncing too. We went 100km (not kidding) to a micro reefy spot known to hold large mouth nannygai, and we caught a fair few, some of excellent size. Sharks were an issue for sure, but not every time. Also a good cod landed and a few red emperor, and a variety of northern species. This was a good day, long way but great conditions. Again, several got not much, some got quite a few, but some great catches.

Day 4 night was a feast of a lifetime including fresh mudcrabs (again something we did), delicious prawns done two ways, calamari, oysters and scollops.. and other stuff. Insane!

Day 5 my group went barra fishing and we caught 10 in 4 hours - which I imagine is pretty great... but none were on my line. Was special to see the local crocs and mudskippers everywhere (scary place for everything that moves in the creek) Got a few salmon too. The rest of my group caught some spanish mackeral and some solid queenfish and a reasonable GT. Then back to Darwin.

I had a spare day so went fishing in Darwin too with a charter called Offshore Boats. Again great weather. Dropped some crabnets, travelled an hour to mangroves (went past plenty of barra ground on the way) and this was much cleaner water and beautiful. The water was crystal and sight casting at barra in roots and rocks was challenging (land on their head you spook them, short no interest, long its a snag). Also 90cm threadfin snapper chased my lure to the boat. I hooked a barra that did a great head shake... and spat the lure. This boat was a tank and only 4 fishing with a  guide was great. Again everyone caught a barra, and I was yet to come up tight! However lunch time I hooked up and landed after some spectacular leaps my first barra on a plastic worm. Elated and relieved.

We then went bluewater fishing and caught a lot of reef fish closer to Darwin in 20m or so, nothing special and a few sharks. Checked the pots, lots of swimmer crabs, no muddies.

Jumped on a plane and came home. Met some good people. Ate amazing food. Fishing was good, but individually just okay. The experience spectacular. The photos show a sample, but I really want to share the service and experience really was special. Emma from Anglers Choice Dundee Beach really goes out of her way to run a great show with a good team.

Next major tiip I need a fishing buddy or group to go with to make it even better, but the crew I was with were good fellas and included me which was great too.

Image Upload: