Fishing in Judbarra / Gregory National Park

Judbarra / Gregory National Park sits roughly halfway between Katherine and the Western Australian border, straddling the Victoria Highway across two separate sections. At 13,000 square kilometres, it is the second-largest park in the Northern Territory.

The country here sits at the transition between tropical and semi-arid landscapes — gorge country, sandstone escarpments, limestone formations — and the rivers that cut through it carry the fish that draw anglers out this way.

The Victoria River is the main water in the park's eastern section, carving through the escarpment near the Victoria River Roadhouse. It is one of three sites in the park known for barramundi fishing.

Big Horse Creek, which has a campground with a nearby boat ramp on the Victoria Highway, is another access point worth knowing.

The Wickham River runs through the park as well, but motorised watercraft are not permitted on it — fishing there means working the banks or wading in. Across the park, one rule applies to all fishing: lures only, no bait.

The restriction exists specifically to avoid the accidental capture of freshwater turtles. It shapes how you fish here — soft plastics and hard-bodies rather than live or cut bait — so plan your kit accordingly before you arrive.

A permit is required to fish in the park. Check with NT Parks and Wildlife for current requirements before you go; the Timber Creek office can be reached on (08) 8975 0888 and the Bullita office on (08) 8975 0833.

Access to most of the park demands a capable 4WD, particularly into the larger Bullita section. The Bullita Road involves creek crossings and rough going, and all roads — including the Victoria Highway — can become impassable in the wet season.

Road conditions are worth confirming before any trip into the back country. The fishing here is not easy or casual. The country is remote, the access is demanding, and the lure-only rule asks something of you. That is also what keeps it worth doing.