Through our exclusive lease with traditional Melville Island land owners, we provide our clients sport-fishing access to five magnificent and barely touched river systems; Snake Bay, Shark Bay, the Johnson and JessIe Rivers, and famous Goose Creek. Add to this a wide variety of smaller coastal creeks and inlets, plus a virtually untouched range of coastal and off-shore fishing options, and it's easy to understand why the waters in and around Melville Island truly are an anglers paradise.

The mighty barramundi is the most famous and keenly sought after fish in our waters, its reputation as being the premium sporting fish in the Northern Territory well earned and thoroughly deserved. Everybody enjoys catching barra. They are aggressive lure takers, strong fighters and look and taste great. Barramundi are prolific throughout the Melville system and are caught in good, often large, and sometimes very large numbers around fallen trees, gutters, creek mouths, rock bars and sand flats. Barramundi are caught all year at Melville Island, and are traditionally most active during the warmer periods of March-May and September--December. Many trophy sized barra in excess of one meter and 20kgs are caught (and released) by our clients each year. The thrill and excitement of hooking and successfully landing a rampaging one meter barra is, without exception, the ultimate tropical sport-fishing experience.

But, there's a lot more to fishing at Melville Island Lodge than barramundi. Other species prolific in our river systems include mangrove jacks, threadfin and blue salmon, saratoga, fingermark, tarpon and estuary cod. Plus, off-shore we have spanish mackerel, black jewfish, golden snapper, queenfish, giant trevally, coral trout, long tail tuna and many other species. All-in-all we've so far counted 30 species of quality fish in our waters and we regularly encounter them all in good numbers and sizes. And you don't have to travel far to catch them either, as some of the areas most productive fishing grounds are a mere 10 minutes traveling time from our lodge.

Fishing Guides
Our full time and very hard working fishing guides are the most experienced and knowledgeable in the business. All of our guides are licensed fishing tour operators with open coxswain tickets and current first aid certificates. Our guides live and breathe tropical sport-fishing and enjoy nothing more than putting their clients onto the fish. Being professionals, our guide's have a policy of not fishing alongside their clients unless they are specifically invited by you to do so.

Technique & equipment
At Melville Island Lodge, we exclusively focus on lure fishing in our rivers and creek systems, which mostly involves lure casting, occasionally trolling, a combination of fallen trees, creek mouths, rock bars, sand flats and submerged gutters. Standard tackle for this style of fishing comprises of a light-medium action graphite fishing rod of around 1.7m in length with a light weight single-hand ‘bait-caster' style fishing reel spooled with 10-15kg breaking strain braided fishing line. Types of lures used include shallow and deep diving minnows and soft plastics. Off-shore and coastal fishing involves a combination of lure, “soft plastic” and bait fishing with standard tackle comprising of a medium to heavy action rod of 1.5m in length with an ‘overhead' style fishing reel spooled with 25-30kg braided fishing line.

We cater for all levels of fishing experience, from absolute beginners, right through to the seasoned sport- fisherman. Our highly experienced and very patient fishing guides are here to provide you with expert personal tuition and will have you confidently lure casting and catching fish in no time at all. Lure casting is tremendous fun and we're yet to meet anyone who hasn't thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  

Melville Island Lodge supplies all fishing equipment (except fly fishing gear) on a replace - if lost or damaged - basis. Our rods, reels and other equipment are the highest standard with reels available in both left and right hand wind. Naturally, if you would prefer to bring your own fishing tackle with you (as many of our regular clients do), then please feel free to do so.

Catch and Release
Being a ‘sport-fishing' destination Melville Island Lodge actively promotes ‘Catch and Release' fishing. This means that all fish caught, that are surplus to the immediate requirements of the Lodge, are released. Naturally, if you'd like to take a few fresh fillets home with you as a memento of your trip, you are most welcome to do so. Otherwise, and apart from a few select fish we take for evening meals, all fish are freed unharmed to fight another day and to be caught again on your next trip.

Boats & Motors
The Melville Island Lodge fleet consists of six custom-built 6.6 metre aluminium boats, fitted with 150hp four stroke motors. Our young and regularly updated fleet is maintained and routinely serviced by our own on-site outboard motor mechanic to ensure optimum performance at all times. All boats have colour sounders, GPS, satellite phone, 2 way radio, first aid kit and full safety equipment.

All boats also have carpeted floors and a spacious forward casting platform and are fitted with rod storage racks, gear lockers and comfortable padded swivel seats. Other standard on board equipment includes a large ice box, cold water dispenser and, of course, an expansive range of fishing tackle and equipment. Our boats are large, high-sided and purpose-built to provide the safest and most comfortable platform possible in the waters you will be fishing. In order to maximise client fishing comfort and safety, our policy is to fish with a maximum of 3 anglers per boat – per fishing guide.