Sampan Creek is a major tidal estuary system in the Top End of the Northern Territory, forming the primary outlet for the Mary River into the Van Diemen Gulf. This expansive mangrove-lined waterway is world-renowned for its exceptional barramundi fishing, particularly during the annual tropical wet season runoff. The system comprises a network of creeks, channels, and floodplains, with water clarity often influenced by tidal movement and pluff mud. Its lower reaches flow into Chambers Bay, providing both inshore and nearshore fishing opportunities. The area is remote, ecologically rich, and supports a working cattle station, with access largely dependent on tidal conditions and specific infrastructure like the Shady Camp barrage.