The wet season in the Northern Territory is shaping up to be a bumper barra year. The Bureau of Met have advised that to date the Territory is above average with rainfall and the rivers are already well flooded with more rain expected during February.

The extended wet season and heavy flooding in the major rivers means the barramundi will have a picnic. A picnic? Tadpoles, small fish and insects are all tasty treats for migrating barra. The large barra looking to escape the freshwater billabongs will have an easy ride across the floodplains into the tidal reaches of the rivers munching merrily all the way.

Anglers are already enjoying some early run off barra action. My partner Mick and I have done a few reconnaissance trips to the South Alligator and have been pleasantly surprised to find great looking run offs, which produced some good fish. Our best fish was 89cm and we scored 4 other barra over 70cm.

We did a quick day trip to the Adelaide River to find the creeks both up and down stream from the bridge looking good but not yet firing. We managed only one barra at the Adelaide but the best is yet to come from this River. We will keep you posted.

Shady Camp on the Mary River System is due to open on 1 February 2004. Prior to Christmas, and still now, the river level is well over the barrage and surrounding floodplains. Again, this promises excellent run off fishing for February - April.