Mary River cheat sheet
Every fish, the no-licence rules and the zone limits, the rigs and the box of tackle, and the crocodile safety. One page to take to the water.
Mary River
The run-off (February to May) and the build-up (September to November) are the prime windows. Avoid the wet, when the plain floods and access shuts.
Licence
No NT fishing licence required. There is no fee and nothing to buy, but the rules still bind. Confirm with NT Fisheries before you travel.
The rules
Mary River zone: barra 3 per person, 55 cm to 90 cm slot, only 1 fish over 90 cm per boat. Single-hook only within 100 m of the Shady Camp barrage. King threadfin: the same shape of rule. Check NT Fisheries before you travel; the rules are revised from time to time.
Crocodile safety
Every waterway holds saltwater crocodiles. Stay at least 5 m back from the edge, never wade, swim or clean fish at the edge, never stand on overhanging logs, be extra careful at night and at the ramp, and follow your guide.
Bank vs boat · season · time → rig
| Fish | Where | Best time | Rig |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barramundi | Tidal drains, creek mouths, snags, the barrage; billabongs in the dry | Run-out tide, dawn and dusk, the run-off | Barramundi lure rig; inshore running-sinker rig for live bait |
| Barramundi (surface, low light) | Tidal flats and edges, billabong margins | First and last light | Popper and stickbait rig |
| Saratoga | Freshwater billabongs, lily and timber edges | Dry season, dawn and dusk | Barramundi lure rig scaled down; surface lures |
| Tarpon | Billabongs and tidal creeks | Dry season and run-off, low light | Barramundi lure rig, light leader |
| Threadfin salmon | Tidal river, drain mouths, over mud and sand | Moving tide, run-off and dry | Barramundi lure rig (vibes); inshore running-sinker rig |
| Mangrove jack | Tidal snags, rock, structure | Warmer months, moving tide | Barramundi lure rig |
| Trevally | Tidal flats, creek mouths | Moving tide, low light | Popper and stickbait rig |
This is a boat fishery. Fish the run-out tide and the change of light at dawn and dusk; in the dry, swap to the billabongs for surface fish in the cool of the day.
The rigs
PE braid 20–30 lb → 30–60 lb mono/fluoro leader (70–80 lb for trophies) → weedless soft plastic, hardbody diver, vibe or surface walker
FG knot (braid to leader) · non-slip loop or Palomar at the lureRunning ball sinker → bead → swivel → heavy trace → bait hook with live mullet or fresh bait, near a snag or drain mouth on the tide
FG knot (braid to leader) · PalomarHeavy spin → PE braid → heavy leader → a popper or stickbait worked across the tidal flats and edges in low light
FG knot (braid to leader)What you need
One heavy estuary outfit, PE braid, a spool of 30–60 lb leader and a box of barra lures covers the trip. Carry single hooks for the barrage rule; add a surface outfit for trevally and a light outfit for the billabongs.
The knots
| Knot | Ties | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| FG knot | The slim, strong braid-to-leader join. | Every rig, braid to leader |
| Non-slip loop | A fixed loop at a lure for the freest action. | Lures and soft plastics |
| Palomar | A strong fixed tie at the lure or swivel. | Weedless plastics, the bait rig |
Learn the FG knot first and practise it at home; it is the one join the trip leans on. Wet every knot before you pull it tight. Each rig page links the knots it needs.
This one page is the printable I take to the water.
Give me an email and I will show it to you, ready to print. A one-page reference: what's on by month, the licence and rules, a rig for every fish, the shared tackle box and the knots.
I'll send you the cheat sheet, and email you when I add a new place to fish. Nothing else.