About Watty & The Rig — Barefoot Fishing Safaris

Meet Watty

Everyone fishes with Watty

At Barefoot, you know you're in good hands — everyone fishes with me. There are no blow-in guides who don't know the area, just a passionate fisho who's been guiding the Top End since 2011.

I'm an IGFA captain & guide and a PFIGA-certified fishing instructor, and one of only three operators permitted to fish inside Kakadu National Park. Welcome to Barefoot Fishing Safaris — where we make your NT fishing adventure unforgettable: fun, adventure and quality fishing.

Watty in his straw hat grinning behind a big golden barramundi — Watty — guiding the Top End since 2011.

Where it all began

A farm, a dad, and some nice reddies

It started on the farm in western Victoria with Dad and some nice reddies, around 1983 — and it never wore off. A few decades and a few thousand river miles later, the redfin became metre barra, and the farm dam became Kakadu.

The bit that hasn't changed: fishing should be fun. Snag, tangle or missed cast, you're covered — whether it's your first barra or your thousandth.

Faded family photo of a bearded dad holding a toddler and a pair of redfin on the farm — The farm, Dad, and the reddies that started it all — 1983.

The Rig

The ultimate tropical sport-fishing platform

Purpose-built for Top End water: a 7.5-metre platform that floats shallow enough to sight-cast the flats and carries enough fuel to get properly remote.

7.5m

of casting deck, bow & stern

26cm

draft — skinny enough for the flats

560km

fuel range on the 175hp Yamaha

16"

Lowrance HDS Live, bow and stern

Fitted out to fish, not to show off

Lowrance Active Target front and back, an 80lb MinnKota Terrova on the bow, Muir electric anchor, Zipwake trim tabs, a jack plate for the skinny stuff, and LED lights for the early runs. A 60-litre fridge, 60-litre esky and 25 litres of ice water keep the drinks and the catch cold.

The gear is top-shelf and there are no sponsorships — Shimano spin and baitcast reels, Jabbers rods, Thomas & Thomas fly rods with Shilton reels and Cortland lines, Mako sunglasses for spotting fish, and hand-tied flies. It's what works up here, because it's what I fish myself.

The Barefoot boat in its barra-scale wrap nosed onto a Top End beach — The 7.5m rig in its barra-scale wrap.

Rugged, reliable comfort on land

Between the water and the lodge you'll ride in the Land Cruiser 200 GXL — ARB bull bar, Old Man Emu lift, LED driving lights, a 4G booster for the remote stretches, and a 60-litre Engel keeping things cold. Up to four anglers, neoprene seats, no dramas.