Daly River fishing spots
One of the Top End's great barra rivers, running through Malak Malak country to Anson Bay south-west of Darwin. The middle river around the crossing fishes year-round for barra on rock bars and creek mouths; the lower river and Anson Bay are closed every 1 October to 31 January for barra spawning, then fire in the run-off. Channel Point offers remote coastal and reef fishing.
Updated
5 spots here: 2 fished from land and 3 reached only by boat, plus 1 public boat ramp. Seasons follow our Top End (Darwin-Kakadu) species list for the Northern Territory. Positions are a guide only, not for navigation.
Under each spot, "Forecast for this spot" opens the app's forecast worked out for that spot: Go, Marginal or No-go for each day of the week ahead, with the best times, wind, waves and tide. Open the forecast.
Spots at a glance
| Spot | Type | Fished from | Water | Marine park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Daly River below the crossing | River | Land-based and boat | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 2. Browns Creek | River | Boat | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 3. Lower Daly (Moon Billabong outlet to the mouth) | River | Boat | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 4. Daly River mouth & Anson Bay | Estuary | Boat | Bay, estuary or river | – |
| 5. Channel Point | Headland | Land-based and boat | Ocean coast | Channel Point Coastal Reserve; no-take zone nearby |
1. Daly River below the crossing
- Type
- River · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Land-based and boat. Daly River Road to the township. NT Government public ramp off Wooliana Road downstream of the crossing; private ramps at the river camps.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: barramundi. Also in season: king threadfin.
- Best tide
- Run-out tide and the wet-season run-off (about February to April). The tide fades out toward the crossing and there is none above it.
- Best wind
- Sheltered on the river.
- Note
- Barra on rock bars, snags and creek mouths; troll or cast. Shifting sandbars and rock bars cover much of the river: keep to the channel. Pin is the gazetted Mango Farm, on the river below the crossing.
- Safety
- Saltwater and freshwater crocodiles: never swim or wade. Rock bars and logs just under the surface. Do not land without a permit; ceremonies can close areas.
- Zone
- Daly River Fish Management Zone rules apply. This reach is above the seasonal closure, which starts at the old Moon Billabong outlet downstream. Guide only, not for navigation: check nt.gov.au.
- Map
- -13.73890, 130.68350 · Open in Google Maps (position: Mango Farm, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
2. Browns Creek
- Type
- River · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Boat. By boat downstream from the Daly River ramps.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: barramundi. Also in season: king threadfin.
- Best tide
- Run-out tide, and the run-off when the creek pushes tannin-stained water into the river.
- Best wind
- Sheltered.
- Note
- Side creek downstream of the crossing; the official guide notes tides here run roughly opposite to Darwin's. Fish the colour change and eddies at its mouth with vibes and soft plastics.
- Safety
- Crocodiles. Submerged rock bars and shifting sandbars.
- Zone
- Daly River Fish Management Zone rules apply; above the seasonal closure. Guide only, not for navigation: check nt.gov.au.
- Map
- -13.67930, 130.60960 · Open in Google Maps (position: Browns Creek, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
3. Lower Daly (Moon Billabong outlet to the mouth)
- Type
- River · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Boat. Long run downstream by boat; no road access to most of this reach.
- What's good here
- In season in October: mud crab. Closed season now: barramundi (1 October to 31 January); king threadfin (1 October to 31 January).
- Best tide
- Run-out tide at creek mouths in the run-off; the reach reopens on 1 February.
- Best wind
- Sheltered on the river.
- Note
- Closed every 1 Oct to 31 Jan: no fishing line rigged and no barra in possession from the old Moon Billabong outlet down to Anson Bay. From February, creek mouths fire in the run-off.
- Safety
- Crocodiles. Fast tidal flows and shallow bars near the mouth. Remote: carry fuel and a way to call for help.
- Zone
- Seasonal closure 1 October to 31 January, from the old Moon Billabong outlet (about 3 km west of the pin, the gazetted Moon Billabong) down to Anson Bay. Open February to September under the Daly River Fish Management Zone rules. Guide only, not for navigation: check nt.gov.au.
- Map
- -13.46780, 130.46670 · Open in Google Maps (position: Moon Billabong, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
4. Daly River mouth & Anson Bay
- Type
- Estuary · bay, estuary or river
- Access
- Boat. By boat from Channel Point or a long run down the Daly.
- What's good here
- In season in October: mud crab. Closed season now: barramundi (1 October to 31 January); king threadfin (1 October to 31 January); blue threadfin (1 October to 31 January); black jewfish (1 October to 31 January).
- Best tide
- Run-out at coastal creek mouths in the run-off; neap tides give cleaner water.
- Best wind
- Light winds; dry-season south-easterlies make Anson Bay rough.
- Note
- Big tidal mouth and small run-off creeks flowing into Anson Bay. Inside the seasonal closure (1 Oct to 31 Jan); best just after it reopens in February.
- Safety
- Crocodiles. Huge tides, shallow banks and rough water in the bay. Box jellyfish and Irukandji, most likely 1 Oct to 1 Jun but possible all year: stay out of the water.
- Zone
- Inside the Daly seasonal closure area (1 October to 31 January). No permit is needed for the Anson Bay and lower Daly waters (NLC Zone 24). Guide only, not for navigation: check irp.cdn-website.com map (PDF).
- Map
- -13.31560, 130.25160 · Open in Google Maps (position: Daly River, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
5. Channel Point
- Type
- Headland · ocean coast (beach or rocks)
- Access
- Land-based and boat. Channel Point Coastal Reserve: booked permit required (10 vehicles), usually May to November, via 67 km of 4WD track from Litchfield; or by boat.
- What's good here
- Peak in October: barramundi and golden snapper. Also in season: queenfish, trevally, Spanish mackerel and blue threadfin.
- Best tide
- The ramp needs about 3.5 m or more; local tides run 20 to 30 minutes earlier than Darwin.
- Best wind
- Calm mornings; strong dry-season south-easterlies make launching rough. Faces WSW.
- Note
- Remote coastal reserve with reefs, rocky points and creek mouths. Black jewfish catches here fell over 90% in five years; NT Fisheries asked anglers to leave them alone (Nov 2025-Feb 2026): check for new rules.
- Safety
- Remote: emergency call device at the ramp car park only. Crocodiles. Rough launching in south-easterlies.
- Zone
- No-take zone nearby. Outside closed waters, but NLC Zone 3 (no recreational fishing) covers the intertidal waters of the Peron Islands, about 4 km west, and the coast from about 7 km north. Bulgul community land and waters need an NLC permit. Guide only, not for navigation: check irp.cdn-website.com map (PDF).
- Map
- -13.16670, 130.11670 · Open in Google Maps (position: Channel Point, Composite Gazetteer of Australia)
- Forecast
- Forecast for this spot
Boat ramps
1 public boat ramp is listed for Daly River, with positions from Composite Gazetteer of Australia. Lanes, parking and tide access are as the data says: check them on the day.
| Ramp | Notes | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Point boat ramp | Inside Channel Point Coastal Reserve (booked permit needed); usable above about 3.5 m and rough in south-easterlies. Local tides run 20-30 minutes ahead of Darwin. | -13.17420, 130.13660 Google Maps |
What's biting here in October?
In peak season at Daly River in October: barramundi, golden snapper, black jewfish, mangrove jack and 7 more. Of the 24 species our Top End (Darwin-Kakadu) list has for this part of the coast, 11 peak in October 2026 and 12 more are in season.
Peak in October: barramundi, golden snapper, black jewfish, mangrove jack, coral trout, red emperor, saddletail snapper, crimson snapper, grass emperor, Moses perch and tuskfish.
Also in season: king threadfin, blue threadfin, mud crab, queenfish, trevally, Spanish mackerel, estuary cod, pikey bream, grey mackerel, longtail tuna, mackerel tuna and cobia.
Closed now in part of the area: barramundi, king threadfin, blue threadfin and black jewfish in Daly River seasonally closed area (old Moon Billabong outlet downstream to the Cliff Head-Reynolds River line in Anson Bay, incl. coastal creeks and tributaries): no line fishing, no line rigged with a hook, lure or bait, and no barramundi in possession (1 October to 31 January).
Out of season in October: banana prawns (best Jan–Apr).
Seasons are closure-aware: a species is never listed as in season, for the area or at a spot, while it is closed there; a closure for part of the area says where. Species links go to our South East Queensland species guides, with Queensland's limits: Northern Territory's own size and bag limits are on the official rules page.
Can you fish here? Rules and safety
No recreational fishing licence or fee for anyone in NT waters (checked 9 Oct 2026). Separate permits may be needed to enter Aboriginal land or intertidal waters over it. Licence details. Size and bag limits and closed seasons apply: Northern Territory's limits (checked 9 Oct 2026).
Rules at Daly River
- Seasonal closure 1 October to 31 January: from the old Moon Billabong outlet downstream to the Cliff Head-Reynolds River line in Anson Bay (including coastal creeks and tributaries) you may not have a rigged fishing line or any barramundi; only legal pots or dillies may be used.
- Daly River Fish Management Zone: barra 55-90 cm and 3 per person (1 over 90 cm per boat); king threadfin 3 per person (1 over 90 cm per boat); 30 freshwater crustaceans per person including no more than 10 cherabin; 3 freshwater pots per person, 6 per boat.
- Malak Malak country: no permit is needed to fish the Daly River waters, but do not land without an NLC permit and respect ceremony closures.
- Channel Point Coastal Reserve: booking permit required even for day visits; NLC permit needed for Aboriginal land and waters, including the Peron Islands.
- No recreational fishing licence is needed in the NT.
Marine parks and no-take zones
The zone notes here name Channel Point Coastal Reserve. A no-take zone starts close to Channel Point: its zone note says where. Zones are a guide only, not for navigation: check the official maps before you fish.
Safety at Daly River
- Saltwater and freshwater crocodiles throughout the Daly and its creeks: never swim, wade or clean fish at the edge.
- The river is studded with rock bars, sandbars and submerged logs that move between seasons: keep to the channel and slow down.
- Remote country: tell someone your plans and carry water, fuel and a satellite phone or EPIRB.
- Box jellyfish and Irukandji in coastal waters from about October to June.
- Crocodile country: saltwater crocodiles live in rivers, estuaries, beaches and around islands here. Stay well back from the water's edge, never clean fish at the water, and don't stand on logs or overhanging banks. More.
- Marine stingers (box jellyfish and irukandji) can be in these waters, mostly in the warmer months: cover up if you wade or swim, and carry vinegar. More.
Northern Territory: official links
Read the official forecast and warnings in the Bureau of Meteorology's own words: NT coastal and local waters forecast map and current warnings.
Boating: Northern Territory boating safety and lifejacket rules. Lifejackets: Carry one approved PFD for each person on board in all waters. The NT minimum safety equipment table sets no general wear rule; wearing one is strongly advised.
Heading out on the water? Log on and off with Coast Radio Darwin (VKD 999).
Marine parks and closed areas: NT fishing rules for specific areas (aquatic life reserves, Kakadu), Reef fish protection areas, Fishing on Aboriginal land (intertidal waters, permits), Garig Gunak Barlu National Park / Cobourg Marine Park, Kakadu National Park (Parks Australia) and Australian Marine Parks (North network).
Northern Territory's official rules: size and bag limits and closed seasons and areas (checked 9 Oct 2026).
Emergency: 000 (112 from mobiles) · VHF channel 16 for distress.
Nearby fishing areas
- Bynoe Harbour and Dundee (about 89 km north)
- Darwin Harbour and the city (about 123 km north-east)
- Shoal Bay and Buffalo Creek (about 148 km north-east)
- Mary River and Shady Camp (about 179 km north-east)
Distances are between the middle of each area. Every area in the Northern Territory · all fishing spot guides.
Sources and checked dates
- Spot and ramp positions: Composite Gazetteer of Australia (Geoscience Australia and the state and territory naming authorities), CC BY 4.0 and ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 (2021) (Australian Bureau of Statistics), CC BY 4.0; gazetteer and ABS positions through our place index. Guide only, not for navigation.
- Spot research checked 9 Oct 2026 and fact-checked 9 Oct 2026; species seasons and rules checked 9 Oct 2026; safety links checked 9 Oct 2026. Text in our own words.
- Research sources: nt.gov.au (No permit for Daly River waters; seasonal closure from Moon Billabong outlet to Anson Bay); nt.gov.au (Daly River fishing guide: FMZ limits, closure map, crossing (end of tidal influence), ramps, Browns Creek tides, hazards); nt.gov.au (Daly River FMZ and seasonal closure rules); nt.gov.au (Channel Point Coastal Reserve: access, ramp tides, NLC permits); nt.gov.au (Channel Point booking permit and season); daf.nt.gov.au (Channel Point black jewfish decline and 2025-26 exclusion period); irp.cdn-website.com (NLC Zone 24: Anson Bay and lower Daly, no permit required); fishandboat.com.au (Daly run-off fishing and the mouth reopening in February (Fish & Boat)); irp.cdn-website.com (NLC fishing access zone 3 (Peron Islands and Finniss coast closed to recreational fishing)); legislation.nt.gov.au (Barramundi Fishery Management Plan 1998, cl 28 and Schedule 2 (Daly seasonally closed area; amateur pots allowed)).
- Every source and licence: Sources and disclaimers.