2026 Darwin FLyrodders SALT competition write up.

 Prefish outings

So, I had a good prefish on the Wednesday just me fishing as my team mate would arrive that evening – with a late start by 8am I was at the eastern side of Knife island here I found a heap of Macks and Queenfish pushing bait against the sandbar that extends towards Milne Inlet where I had launched. Nothing in size but a species or two ticked at least .

Once several of each was caught on candies, I tried a few other flies to see if size, shape or colour might be a current trigger for the fish but the old silicone surf candy was the go – particularly in the #1 size, they did take the larger versions but swarmed the #1 which is about 5-6cm long

Leaving the pelagics biting and as the weather was pristinely calm, so I thought I would work the edges of the mangroves on this eastern side.

Unexpectedly, I had two takes in the open water between two trees by small barramundi (my usual nemesis fish!!), had one on for a few minutes of mayhem before it threw the hook on a spectacular leap into the air.

Nice to know they were keen for the flies I had tied. In this case a snook fly from the US, an Everglades Minnow – well my version of it. An olive colouration shown below.

I then chased fish on some flats at the back of Kiara rocks but the water was too dirty. And given heat, my age, my lack of skill called it a day.

Thursday Prefish

Thursday was to be a pre-trial of all the spots we hoped to get our species, but the tide was always dropping and had little movement. We used Peter’s boat as he wanted to use up the fuel in his tank that had sat there for quite a awhile

We did get a heap of tarpon and salmon in a back creek hole in just a few minutes (this is significant for during the comp). Then we chased some pelagics around Simms reef for a few of each, snapper eluded us for the day which is weird as nearly every rock bar in the past has had even 16cm snapper on it of some species – fingermark, golden, stripies etc

So, 5 species for the prefish – barra and snapper avoiding capture and release.

But our confidence was high to get our seven species during the comp days - with the right wind and tide of course

Competition Day 1

Started well in Peter’s boat but the then the electric died at 9am making the rest of the day very hard. A seal had broken in the housing and the motor got fried!  We did manage 5 species each, even some better fish amongst the captures

It is amazing how reliant fisherman have become on our electric motors; peter and I reflected on the smaller first electric motors we had used and how far they have develop since then – I just love spot lock and the ability to follow a line on the maps – fantastic technology!

With me struggling to get my five and Peter getting his easily, we go to a spot we fished regularly years ago, and Peter keeps me casting, while he driving the motor along the edge of the rocks - while I cast and cast. I eventually get my fourth species – with Peter’s keener eyes - a flock of birds is spotted, and we go over and get the final few species we needed for five species each.

So, as a team we are again in the middle – like aways. But most teams got five species which I haven’t seen before. I believe this is due to the club members sharing tactics and locations with others which is good in the long run. I told one newish team to the comp about the bottom of Knife action I had seen during prefish and they had found them that day – one of that team also got that barra I hard troubled (well it might have been the same one in the same location from my prefish!~), I also told them of an out of the wind location in which they got a few other species as well as a very nice Mangrove Jack.

Day1 tides were not perfect and the wind atrocious in the afternoon, so it could have been better conditions.

Competition Day 2                                                                                     

We are now using my boat with its slow leak but at least the electric works

Again, we miss the tarpon and barra. But we certainly did cover some ground – you see we get to ramp early and drive 20 minutes to our first location. And here Peter asks where is the remote for the electric – bugger@!!! I had left it on the bed in the room back at the motel we were staying in.

So, we pass a few competitors as they head out as we head back in. Peter drops me off at ramp, and I drive “carefully” back to pub motel and get the remote. I get back to the ramp and had to wait 17minutes before Peter got back to ramp after trying to catch a few while I was gone (no phone reception)

We finally get to our first location and 4 boats already there. We struggle to get fish, while everyone else is getting them regularly =- eventually we get salmon but no tarpon. This isn’t good. Later Peter gets his five species but I am lagging behind as usually and sinking into fly fishing despair as the lack of fish.

We did try for barra our one of our favoured locations but the water too deep and dirty. We persevere but no luck on the barra, even though we saw (too late) 8 or so barra scooting away from us. I catch several larger species we needed that are long enough to get bonus points so I have shifted up to 6^th from 9^th individually. Peter also moves up from 11^th to 9^th. As team we jump one position in the team standings with the numbers and size of our catch for the day.

 

Day 3

Half day today – tough to get the seven species give shorter time frame on this last day of the comp. We head straight to back creek hole but 3 boats already here. I get a blue salmon 3rd cast then an hour of nothing. Til Peter managed two tarpon in two cast but those around got Salmon and it was telling on Peter’s mood.

After too long at this location, we worked the side creek entrances on way out of Creek and peter finally and luckily gets a blue salmon but definitely too long in the hole however eventually 2 species for Peter, 1 for me so not a great start for me.

And now we will be late for the action and right tide flow at our next location. So straight to Simms at highest revs but action was over according to those leaving when we arrived. Peter manages again with persistent casting gets a good Mack, I get several wolf herring which while good points due to their average length are not the species that we need for max points. I get bitten off by several Macks which is frustrating

With limited time and Peter with 3 species we head to a further rock bar fishing years ago and on Day 1 where we got a heap of queens and snapper on but today it was as dead as a cemetery. After a half hour regretting the long drive to this spot - Peter up high on front deck spots a solo queenfish, a big one! His cast is almost over it with the fly line but it didn’t spook thankfully.

It quickly snatched at fly, hooks up, then rapidly peels off. But then the fish keeps cavorting about in the one spot and we know a shark is after it. I take over the electric control and I tell Peter to let it run and soon 150m of backing has ripped off the reel and better still it has left the shark which has lost track of his meal. We move toward the fish at an angle getting line back, Peter focused on the fish, me steering the electric eventually we get it into the net and Peter is whooping it up as this is the classic sight fishing saltwater scenario we do this for. This one went 78cm which might even be the biggest queenfish for the competition.

We also get a few more queens and then snapper we needed. I get one striped snapper bit in half by a reef shark.

 

We still need a trevally each. Me with not enough species, I also still missing mackerel, tarpon and barra, while Peter needed a Trev for 6 species and catching a barra for the seven species for the grand slam - in the time left, with this tide – it might be ‘a bridge too far’.

We head back to Simms where we got some trevs the day before, I need a Mack too  

I get a few chances of Macks but no luck, instead only catch 50-55cm wolf herring. We move back to the edge we got trevs Day2 and we spotted a huge shark, and I mean huge 12-15feet in length moving along the northern flat off Simms reef. As it comes our way we hope it has a few trevally that will be hanging off it as happens sometimes, thankfully it had 8 or more handing off it.

I am in no man’s land having just broken off my fly on the reef and trying to tie on a fly while it moves closer. Thus missed the opportunity - but ever ready Peter cast past the shark and four or so trevally peel off an attack his fly. He is instantly tight to a large brassie trevally - as it runs we hope the shark isn’t hungry. After a long and strong fight, it is in the net at 65cm

 

And now Peter has 6 species for the first time that we have been fishing the comp, 14 years and more, so I abandon all thoughts of catching more fish for my species count. As Peter needs a barrà - and it’s not a regular catch for us with only 15minutes spare to target them before we need to get back to boat ramp to hand in our scoresheets – and late score sheets don’t get counted!

We head to a bank that is along the way back to the boat ramp, one we have never fished much but we know the tactics to use - bottom of tide with last bit of water draining out of little side screeks. The wind was holding back, the tide just right – would there be a chance, maybe but we only had time for a few casts.

I guide the boat on the electric for the best casting option, Peter places the flies in the dirty water just as the bank drops away from the mudflat. Sadly, he was not ready when the first cast gets hammered in the milky light chocolate coloured water. The fish has instantly launched skywards and in that one action flipped the fly out of its mouth before Peter could react.

The mood in boat is not a good one he was so focused on the actual possibility of a seventh species but lost the first chance he had to get seven species. I encourage him by saying “come on 5 min left let’s target another creek-let”

He is using one of my Snook Everglades Minnows, this in pinkish colours - see below

On the very next creek 50m down current, on the first cast Peter is on tight to another barra. I get the net ready and Peter with extreme care guides it to the net. Plus, it is his first Barra on fly during the DFR SALT comp, this one at 68cms.

Talk about whooping it up, he was so loud and should be extreme given his persistence all day, all comp on the water - he truly deserves the result.

I do too but maybe me next year??

So, Peter in the individual team standings goes from 9^th on Day2 to 2^nd with his bonus points for seven species. Sadly only missing out of first place by 9 points, considering he lost a several fish to reef sharks earlier in the day. I am so stoked for Peter and his milestone of catching 7 species, especially within the half day timeframe on the last day. He is always seeking to improve, always casting and casting (and also encouraging me to keep doing the same!). Team wise we got fourth, but if I had got more species on this last day, as I had the chances – maybe higher up the teams’ results – maybe! But it’s a lot of water and a lot of fish - and a lot of maybes!

So that’s it for another year – we shall increase our confidence by finishing in the top teams at the Fresh May2026, then prep for the 2026 salt with much more confidence!

Fly choices and tactics for the Darwin 2025 Saltwater Competition October 3rd,4th&5th

The 26th Territory Saltwater Fly Fishing Challenge is being held on the 3^rd, 4^th and 5th October 2025.

This is a challenging fly fishing contest held in the fish rich waters of Bynoe Harbour, 1.5 hours drive south west of Darwin city. This vast natural harbour, with its myriad of fishing options, is a fly fishing haven. There are ample mud flats that provide outstanding run-off sight fishing opportunities. The usual rocky outcrops, islands, creeks and tidal estuaries provide numerous surface and deep water fly fishing challenges. the waters hold a vast array of species.

This is a catch and release tournament that focuses on seven specified target species : 

1. Barramundi, 
2. Salmon, 
3. Tarpon, 
4. Queenfish, 
5. Trevally, 
6. Mackerel and 
7. Snapper. 

The Challenge is to land all of the 7 species in one day. You can submit scores for 20 fish per specified species, and you can also get points for every thing else you can convince to take your flies.

Tides for the 2025 competition will be rising neaps with not much tidal movement, chosen for the best flats fly fishing opportunities, but this choice in turns limits the mackerel and other pelagic type species who like more water working through the harbour system and its ‘choke’ points or current confluences.

Day 1 tides

Each day's success is about choice of species to target and the location you will target them - and then adjusting your plan if you are hanging too long in one location without catching a target species.

My initial plan is probably start with targeting mackerel and queenfish first up where some water is flowing with candies, poppers and craft fur baitfish fly patterns.

We (my team up with Peter) feel confident to get these two species based on previous comps but we want to get them quick so we can move onto other species to give us more time if possible on the flats. these are species with which you can rack up lots of points if they are about, but last few comps the mackerel have been scarce - so again the dilemma of the choice of comp points based on catching lots of fish or focusing on species based points comp  - comes in to the planning and choices to be made throughout each day of fishing.

Next it will be a quick move to a few rock bars for snapper, trevally, with some shrimpy patterns. for the flies in image below the top right is a redfish crack type with large shrimp eyes, going clockwise we have another redfish crack type fly, then a shrimp pattern on a jig hook and main ingredient of a brush with micro legs, then a great fly I have used in past for bonefish on Xmas island but upsized for Darwin rockbar applications - based on a fly called a Ghost Sprimp, lastly the iconic 'Squimp' which at times can be very effective in all sorts of situations. (others in the past have used the most simple plain white clousers all day and done well points wise but where is the fun in all the possible tying prep prior to the comp in that idea!)

Then depending on timing of tide we will be on our way to the flats for barramundi and hopefully a threadfin salmon = these hopefully caught on 'redfish crack' type flies above and on the best flats fly in the 2024 Salt comp for us – based on the US Snook type fly – the Estuary Minnow, this as tide drops out of the mangroves and barra move onto the flats to target baitfish etc emerging out of mangroves – we will have an hour either side of the low being the best timing for these two species,

Below is a barra caught on an Estuary Minnow (olive) in last year's comp. Ended up being largest caught for the 2024 comp at 62cm. Hoping for bigger this year (dont we always hope and dream!)

Lastly (or maybe earlier on Day3 due to tides progressing), some back creek holes for a tarpon, also a chance of a beach salmon if we did not get a blue or a threadfin salmon on the flats. These locations up the creeks are better at top of tide but best to target the other harder species so its a dilemma of choice when to move on or arrive at next location.

I have in past comps managed several good sized tarpon at first light, but at other end of the harbour - but travel times are reduced is we stay in the region we fishing in last years comp. 

The tactics on these back creeks bores me to tears, cast tiny flies on sinking lines, wait ages for it to sink to bottom of hole (20-30feet), fast retrieve, repeat until you get a tiny one (most are) but it does help you get the last of the 7 species if no other option works and time is limited.

And you do want to target the seven species in a day from a competition result perspective as the points for seven species is considerable. Only 9 or so anglers have done it before in the competition’s history  so it aint as easy as simply planning to catch the seven. Though one angler did it on each of the 3 days in a previous comp.

So that’s the plan – pending weather conditions, prevailing or changing winds, it is also the start of the wet season so early and large amounts of rain can greatly affect the fish species and numbers caught!

But at least the flies are tied!  

Now I just have to catch the fish!

(I do have another 8 boxes of assorted flies in a giant big box that i might need 

           - just in case !! - hahaha)