Billy's Blog: Billy's Camp No.22, Shady Camp, Mary River Nat Park

31/07/2012

Hi All,
I left Jabiru on 22/07/12 and traveled the Arnhem Hwy and Point Stuart Rd to Shady Camp in the Mary River National Park. The camp is located next to the Mary River and the Mary River Barrage. The barrage is man made and replaces eroded natural sand bank barrages. The barrage is a popular land based barra fishing spot and several 800 + fish were caught. One side of the barrage is fresh water and the other salt, the anglers cast soft plastics repeatedly to the salt side on a high tide, the fish come up to the flowing fresh water to feed. Single hook only and no trebles. A possession limit of two barra applies to the river. I fished by boat on the tidal side twice without luck, but fished the fresh side one day and caught several, with one keeper of 600. The taste is different for the fresh water barra, less firmness and a slight muddiness, but acceptable. The locals throw them back, if they were caught in Lake Burley Griffen, they would be eaten with glee. The crocs are again everywhere, on one bank I counted 15 in 200 meters, all at a stones throw to the boat.
All the camp sites are becoming dry and dusty and I'm contemplating skipping some areas and getting to the coast of WA quicker. I can see them next trip up here :)
I stayed at Shady Camp for 4 nights and am now near Darwin in Humpty Doo.