Bag a Barra — 3 July 2026

Now, corroborate Billabong, if you haven't been there, you go to YouTube or to 9 now and have a look at Oz Off Road TV and we film there with our great mate, Watty, and he is on corroborate Billabong right now. He's obviously got the Starlink turned on because I'm not sure whether there's any phone service out there, but let me just explain what this place looks like. It is the real deal, Top End. This is nature at its best.

Watty? How is it on corroborate this morning, mate? Yeah, good morning, duck. It's absolutely crack a day here today.

We had a bit of rain in the territory yesterday, which was a bit weird. But yeah, beautiful day out on the billabong today, and yeah, clear sky, sunshine, and we've seen a heap of buffalo this morning, some big crocodiles, and a couple of fish, but we've, I don't know whether it might be your bad juju, uh, spill and nova from last time you were here, but we, all we've been able to manage so far is a couple of tarpons. So, we're really aiming for a Saratoga for me, mate, Mark, who's come over from the US, the fish in Australia, who's been here for 6 weeks, and this is the end of it, so we've got to turn it on for him next couple of days. Well, you've left the you've left the best to last.

I mean, corroborate will long. Now, just explain it to people who haven't been there. It's not just a billabong of water. This is just a massive waterway through all the lily pads, as you say, buffalo on the bank, crocodiles everywhere. There is no better place to see the sun come up than on corroborate.

It is an incredible place. It is the real definition of the Top End, isn't it? It's, it's, if you watch Crocodile Nundee, even though they didn't film there, you would, you would swear you were on that show, on that movie set, it is the real deal Top End. Yeah, it absolutely is, mate.

And I can see 2 buffaloes just past the fishing boat that we're driving past right now, and only 50 metres off the bank, but yeah, it's um, robbery bill belongs to one section of the Mary River, which is a couple of 100 K's long, and flows out to sea at a pretty famous barra fishing spot people know called Shady Camp. Um, but corroborate, um, is, is the next billabong sort of inland, I suppose, and it's 40 or 50 kilometres of water, and, and that's one sort of misconception people have of, a billabong is that it might be a small little puddle that is swag, he sits beside. Um, but yeah, this is a big, big area, mate, and um, there's a lot of different spots for us to be able to fish and do different styles of fishing, which, um, you know, today we're doing fly fishing, but you can cast lures and troll and all of that sort of stuff all through here as well, so, um, plus you get that amazing nature experience. Um, you know, there's just 1000s of birds and yeah, buffaloes.

I haven't seen any pigs this morning. Not that you really want to see them, but there's heaps of buffaloes around for some reason right now. So, there we go. The crocodiles are big to differ about the pigs.

I love that little feet of pork when they go down for a drink. Yeah, exactly. They love a pig. There's a few out on the bank that I saw.

We just drove past, but the water team's up. We're up to about 29 degrees water team. So nice and warm and we're going to have probably a 31 or 2 degree day today. So everything's pretty hunky-dory out here, mate.

If we can get a couple of togers to buy for Mark, we'll be all sweet. Mate, you must have taken him to that that spot of mine, did you? I've been chasing me tail a bit. I've been talking it up for the last few days or for the last 6 months since he booked a trip and um yeah, it's um, we've got a bit of work to do yet to, to get it to live up to its reputation this joint, but it can all happen pretty quickly, as you know, that, that, um, 1st trip you did out here and you end up jamming that nice big 70 odd centimetre barra.

We've just left that spot actually exactly where you got that fish. So, yeah, that's um, it can all happen pretty quickly when you're out on the water. You might have said back there. Oh, mate, from America, is it his 1st trip out or is he a regular?

Oh, no, 1st trip out? He's done the Murray cod thing in New England, out of Armadale, as well as remote mothership up to Armland at the Wessels. And yeah, this is the end of a 6 week trip for Mark. So he's been away for a long time.

He'll probably have a fair few jobs written on the fridge when he gets home, I reckon. I reckon so. What's his thoughts on the Top End, mate? because you've taken him to somewhere that's fairly special.

What does he think of that? I mean, that would have been what he was probably expecting, wouldn't it? I mean, picturing in his mind, he may have watched Crocodile Dundee and saw that beautiful Australian Top End. What are his thoughts as he like it?

Yeah, that's right. And I think anyone who sort of grew up through that period when the crocodile Dundee movies were really big around Australia and around the world sort of does have this image and we spent a few days in Bynoe Harbour as well, chasing those barrels around on the flats there, which is an entirely different ball game. But yeah, this is, um, of course, uh, like I've said, a 1000 times, this is where if you're going to go to one spot for a quick fish out of Darwin, um, when you're up here on holidays, this is where you come, you can see it all. Yeah, absolutely.

It's, it's, as you say, it's more than just fishing there. You've got that beautiful scenery. It's nature at its best. It really is.

I love it there. And I've been there a couple of times now with you, obviously. And it's just one of those spots where it is. It's all there in the one spot. You've got your fishing. Yes, you've got buffalo on the bank, you've got bird life everywhere, you've got big crocodiles in the water and on the banks, and it is just untouched.

It is unbelievable place and certainly on the way out towards Kakadu from Darwin. not quite in Kakadu, but it's out that way. Certainly an affair way from Kakaloo still, but it's up there. It's a great spot, mate.

And does he get the full experience? Does he get the, you know, stopping off for one over the timber at the corroborate tavern, then another little quick off at the Humpty-Doo? Does he get all that as well? Oh, yeah, all of that.

We had a couple of nights at Crabclaw Island Resort. last few nights and then Mark's actually staying at a corroborate camp. So he gets to rub shoulders with the locals there last night and tonight and yeah, have a bit of fun out there. I mean, that's one of the best places to stop for a beer on the way in or out of fishing, of course, and you got the big crocodile, you can watch them feed and a big buffaloes out there.

you can give him a pat and of course all those cool souvenirs that come from those outback road houses as well. So, yeah, we love dropping into the robbery tape. Absolutely. It's a great part of the world.

I mean how good is it there? Mate, what else is, have you got any mail about what else is happening around? Is there what's happening with the tourist numbers? Are you seeing a few more now?

Is there a few caravans in town? What's going on there? Yeah, the roads are busy and I mean, Crabclaw was booked out. When we were there, I know Dundee's booked out. That's probably normally the case for them.

Uh, it's the, oh, well, actually, they had Mindle Markets on for the Kraken night the other night, and that was a huge night too, of course. So, yeah, it's probably recovered a lot from the sort of dire expectations that we all had, you know, um a few months ago. But there's, there's probably always room for more, and mate, it's a pretty big space out here on robbery. There's a few boats out today, but there's always room for more.

So, yeah, everyone can come up and enjoy the territory. We've got a lot of cool stuff coming up in the next couple of months up here, of course, whereas we get further into the dry season. It just doesn't stop, mate. As you know, mate, there's going to be a couple more up there in August.

So we look forward to doing all of that. Just let them know. Let them know that the big end of town is on the way, will you? Yeah, yeah, that's right. We'll get the tickets out parade ready for you. Oh, yeah, I'm not sure about the big end of town, mate.

Maybe the inbos of town. But anyway, oh, mate, and yeah, well, we might have to get, well, if I knew the exact date, I'd better get on to your mate, Papi, or whoever runs that campground at Dundee, because we want to definitely get out there for, we want to get out there for a couple of nights, which would be fantastic. Um, so I need to get onto that. But yeah, I mean, you've got a bit of sway there.

I mean, they'd have us somewhere. my name, mate, and see what happens. Well, that well, that could be a bit of a problem. I mean, like we...

We mentioned your name. We could end up getting the royal shunt and flick back to out, you know, in a big hurry, mate. All right, well, corroborate Billabong. Like you say, I just think it's a great spot, mate.

It's great that we can get you on the boat tonight. Anyone, as I mentioned earlier, anybody who, um, hasn't seen it, doesn't know what we're talking about, you need to jump onto, I was afraid TV, you can have a look. It's on YouTube that episode as well. Just look Oz off-road TV, and I think it's season one, season two, uh, season one, I think, episode, that's the final episode.

And we're up on corroborate with you. And so I think it's episode eight, I think, on season one. We're doing eight, eight, and then we're doing 8 episodes then. and you can see us up there. He's a fantastic spot and it doesn't get much better than that, mate. And what's on the plan?

So you've got him there, old mate, from the state. Do you get many people from overseas coming to? I mean, I know you get a lot of fishermen from down south. here in Australia, but do you get many from overseas popping over to have a fish with you there?

Oh, once in a while, yeah, and it usually comes through other connections rather than just through Google search or whatever, you know, it's someone who knows someone or there's quite often be guys over here doing some buffalo hunting or something and um got a few mates that do that and then they'll end up out fishing with me for a few days. So, that's really nice, but I've got some connections back in the States from when I used to live there and that sort of thing. So, a lot of the time it comes through that sort of network as well, and particularly the fly fish and stuff, everyone sort of talks to everyone and gets to know what the go is. So, yeah, it's really nice to get some international clients every now and then.

Yeah, well, mate, he's getting the real deal experience right there, mate. And, uh, you know, it doesn't get more Aussie than being up in the northern territory, and it certainly doesn't get more fair income than being on corroborate billable on a boat. I mean, man, he's living the dream. Good on him, old mate.

Yeah, they're living the dream. right. He'll be back there going back to all his mates over there and is he a Trump man? You're a Trump man, are you? Mark, I don't think.

No, no. There's one rule. There's a couple of rules on the boat, mate, and that's it. You don't talk about politics. Well, no, well, no, well, I don't think we've ever talked about politics on that boat, have we?

Generally, it generally gets, you know, you're supposed to be in a good mood and trying to forget all that sort of bad stuff that's happening in the world. We're busy looking at We got some brawlers out here. We got a cone crested jakana in front of us.

We got a heap of whistling ducks and those couple of buffaloes over our shoulder there, so we got better things to think about than world politics, that's for sure. Yeah, no, you are right. we try to, we try to stay political free here. Politic free.

Yeah, but no, all right, mate. Well, well done. Mate, you enjoy trying, mate, at least get him. Yeah, he's got a jag a barrer up there, hasn't he?

Come on. Oh yeah, we've got a couple of barrers. Yeah, we got the barr ticked off the 1st day, so that was really nice. One, one nice big one off the surface and another one, 1st one, side casted, so that was good.

And no bar of hookups or toga hookups here yet today. And toga's the big one that we've got to tick off the list for Mark before he goes home. So yeah, we go. Then lastly, last question, mate. Have you got Mark on the VB or the Northern?

He's been on the Stone and Woods. actually, he bought a box of stone and wood, so... Oh, he's been on the Great Northerns last night at the Crabbery tab. There you go.

No, I tried to get him onto the VB, but he looked down his nose at me just like everyone else. All right. Well, make sure he buys Nakuba on his way out of town. He'll be the king when he gets home, but he gets back home, mate.

Maybe with the king. I go, mate, where'd you get that hat? So mate, my mate, Watty, in Australia, organises a Cubra for me. All right.

Oh, you're a good man, mate. Well, mate, get into them, see if you can catch a few. And we'll have you armed with you next week, but it's pretty special, I reckon, having a chat with you. I know we've spoken on the boat a few times, but to get you on corrobory. I think it's a 1st for us, isn't it?

Yeah, I think so. yeah. Yeah, I don't get out of here as much as I used to and as much as I'd like to. But, you know, I keep saying I'm going to make the effort to bring myself out a bit more efficient and I don't really have an excuse.

only half hour from home, but you know, other things seem to get in the way, unfortunately. Yeah, we've all got to work on spending more time on the water. No, mate, where do we working on something more than just work? How good would that be?

All right. All right, mate. let you get back to it. Say g'day to Mark.

Tell him, I hope he's enjoying that he's Australian experience, mate. I'm sure he's, let me tell you something, mate. He's with a fair income bloke there. Listen, just Mark, no, too, that not everyone's like you, Watty, okay?

There are some normal people around. Yeah, okay. Righto, mate. cabin and crab claw lately, mate.

Oh, yeah, he's right. He's met some locals then, didn't he? Oh, how good is it? All right, mate. Well well done, mate.

And we'll have a yarn to you next week, eh? Okey-day, good on you. Good on you, mate. There he is.

That's our man. Glenn, what do you, what? Bearfoot fishing safaris up there right now on the boat in corroborate billabong. How good is it?

It doesn't get any more real than corroborate, as I've said a couple of times. Go and have a look at it for yourself. It's on YouTube. Oz Afraid TV, season one, episode 8, we filmed on corroborate with Boddy.

He's taken me there a couple of times and it's as fed income as it gets when it comes to the Top End. It's the real deal. I love it there and it is fair dinkum. It is what?

It is the definition of the northern territory Top End. It's a great spot. Buffalo on the bank birds everywhere. Crocodiles everywhere, and of course, a few barramundi, Saratagas, a bit of fish there.

It's a beautiful part of Australia, and everybody should go and experience corroborate Billabong, and you should do it with my man, Watty. Glenn Watty Watt from Barefoot Fishing Safaris.