ET’s Escape Sportfishing Lodge

Groote Eylandt is the largest island in Australia that you don’t know about. Okay okay maybe you do know about it but next time you’re having a conversation with people

FishingEarth Quick Facts

The Location

Groote Eylandt is the largest island in Australia that you don’t know about. Okay okay maybe you do know about it but next time you’re having a conversation with people at work ask them if they know where it is. It is the fourth largest island in Australia behind Tasmania, Melville Island and Kangaroo Island down in South Australia. The traditional owners are proud of their land and apart from the unfortunate population of wildcats, there are no other destructive introduced animals roaming the place. You can see why E.T. fell in love with the area and you can also see what ET’s dream was for the area to become a sport fishing mecca of the world. With the airport being maintained by the mining interest it is an all year round strip that can land most private aircraft and of course the commercial aircraft that fly their daily. It’s not quite long enough to land a 737 business jet..  ET’s Escape Sportfishing Lodge

THE FISHING

FishingEarth also understands that it’s not just about catching fish… yes, the fishing opportunities have to be world class, as do the guides and the equipment. The team at FishingEarth would like to welcome you to your Fishing Adventure with Groote Eylandt Sports Fishing with FishingEarth

On a typical three-day safari, you’ll experience reef, bluewater and estuary fishing and tangle with hard-hitting tropical species from marlin and sailfish on day one to the iconic barramundi on day three. ET’s Escape Sportfishing Lodge

Imagine:

–> jigging deepwater lures for golden snapper, nannygai and red emperor

–> trolling and casting for Spanish mackerel, giant barracuda and longtail tuna

–> trolling and switch-baiting for marlin and sailfish

–> popper fishing for enormous queenfish and GTs

–> casting and trolling for barramundi and mangrove Jack in virtually unfished waters

–> mouthwatering food, beers and great company

Groote Eylandt’s fishing areas are vast, so five days (or longer) is recommended as the optimum time-frame to maximise your Groote fishing experience.

Surrounding the lodge is some 300 square kilometres of prime, virtually unfished water. Four main areas cater for every angling experience: reef, bluewater sportfishing, estuary and fly fishing.

And if the weather is unfriendly and we can’t get out to these main areas, there’s plenty of sheltered water within a kilometre of the shore where anglers can ‘bottom bounce’ for reef species like the red emperor, large mouth nannygai and the prized golden snapper.

Groote Eylandt’s northern archipelago stretches north and east of the island and encompasses some of the archipelago’s main islands, including Chasm and Winchelsea islands. Its shallow fringing reefs and scattering of islands make it a hot spot for pelagic fishing. In this area, we do deep-water jigging, cast to shallow bommies, and trawl lures through underwater canyons and sea mouths.

This offshore area in the southern-most part of the Gulf of Carpentaria is world-renowned for its large numbers of marlin and sailfish—collectively known as the prized ‘billfish’. These rich billfish grounds lure anglers from all over the globe. The waters around the coastal islands to the west of Groote Eylandt are boiling with pelagic and reef species. ET’s Escape Sportfishing Lodge

MEALS

In fact, one of the highlights at Melville Island Lodge is the exceptional meals. Each morning you’ll enjoy a range of hearty breakfast choices that includes bacon and eggs, cereal, toast, juice and fresh coffee and tea. During the day, your guide will park your boat in a shaded area of the river and prepare your onboard lunch. When you return in the late afternoon after an exhausting day of fishing, there’s nothing better than taking a nice shower and then sit back, beer in hand, to enjoy the cool breezes across the lodge veranda. Dinner is usually served at about 7.30pm and as you’d expect, the sumptuous meals such as beer battered Barramundi and chilled Mangrove Jack are always well received by guests!

Lodge

Their recently refurbished fishing village comprises 12 air-conditioned elevated cabins right at the water’s edge. Each cabin is very well appointed, with ensuite, equipped with quality linen, television, tea and coffee making facilities, and private balcony for unspoilt Gulf views. The cabins are connected by suspended timber walkways around a central lounge with a large deck and comfortable seating for recreational activities, group events and private dinners. Conference facilities are also available in the fishing lodge.

HOW TO GET THERE

The team at FishingEarth will work with you to put together the most cost-effective and time-efficient travel plans for you. You will remain comfortable and stress-free as you journey to this fabulous location and back home again.

Heli fishing Groote Eylandt style

More heli fishing Groote style

Will it or wont it… it did!

FishingEarth Quick Facts

Everything you need to know.

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Target Species

Barramundi, Fingermark  Jew Fish, Tarpon, Queenfish , Saratoga, Coral Trout,  Tarpon,  Spanish Mackerel , Cobia,  Red Emperor, Giant Trevally, Golden Trevally,  Mac Tuna, Northern Bluefin Tuna, Estuary Cod, Barracuda, Permit, Blue Bastards, Sailfish, Marlin

Charter Operation Dates

First week in March through to the 20th of December. Typically the charters are five days and six nights or six days and seven nights.

Packages

Depending on numbers and the type of fishing you are looking to do we develop the package around what you want

How to get there

We work closely with you to get you in and out as quickly as possible. We understand that there are two places that you don’t mind hanging around at and that’s home or at your fishing destination… Hotel rooms and long airport layovers are avoided wherever possible.

F.A.Q.S

Q. I want to target game fish on fly?

A.  This is one of those unique locations that has a juvenile fishery of both sailfish and marlin that can be targeted on fly.

Q. Is the water drinkable up there?

A. Yep, the boat has plenty of good drinking water

Q. Can washing be done?

A. Yep, each day the staff will wash anything you need washed.

Q. Is there hot water?

A. Yep.

Q. Is there mobile phone reception?

A. Yes and no! Depending on where you are you may have better phone reception then you get it home… But other days you may not see a signal on your phone at all.

Number 1 FishingEarth tip for this location.

It is worth a visit only because we know that you will be back year after year.