North Queensland
Vernon Islands
Within relatively easy reach of Darwin, accessed via Leaders Creek, you will discover the spectacular Vernon Islands, which are part of the Tiwi Islands. .
These islands offer some great top end fishing action with the illusive giant trevally being an exceptional catch. Reef fishing is also available around the island rocks and the deeper channels are renowned for their big jewfish. The Vernon Islands offer a wealth of countless other species including Barracuda, barramundi, billfish, black jewfish, blue salmon, cobia, cod, groper, coral trout, golden snapper, mangrove jack, moonfish, queenfish, red emperor, tarpon, threadfin salmon, tuna and mud crab, just to name a few.
You don’t need a permit to fish intertidal waters around the southern and eastern regions of Melville and Bathurst islands, Vernon Islands or Aspley Strait, including rivers or creeks. You can fish and access these waters above but you must have a permit to go ashore and access camp sites.
Territory Guided Fishing operate fishing expeditions to the Vernon Islands. Owned and operated by Peter and Terri Barnes, Territory Guided Fishing aim to provide an informative Northern Territory fishing experience for enthusiasts of all levels. They provide our clients with a professionally operated, high quality and personal adventure in the spectacular Top End wilderness.
A little known feature of the Vernon Islands are its blue holes. The Vernon’s blue holes aren’t the usual marine sinkholes that open to the surface and are ringed by limestone or coral. These blue holes are surrounded by sandy banks and are only exposed at low tide, creating a massive network of lagoons surrounded by tessellated reef and horizontal waterfalls. From the surface of the holes colourful coral tables are visible, with staghorn forests descending and disappearing into the depths.
There are schools of yellowtail fusiliers, golden trevally and trout close to the surface, and further down into the cooler water there are angel fish, cardinals, parrotfish and batfish. To top it all off, there are turtles, manta’s and reef sharks that call the holes their home.
SeaDarwin operates tours to the Vernon Islands which include a Blue Holes Dive. The big day out to the Vernon Islands and the Blue Holes includes a fast boat ride in balmy conditions along the NT coastline to and from the Vernons, 2 scheduled dives, lunch and some pretty impressive marine coastal habitat. Duration: 8 hours (approx.)
The Vernon Islands were named on 21 May 1818 by Phillip Parker King at the King Expedition of 1817, honouring Edward Venables-Vernon-Harcourt. East Vernon Light is an active lighthouse located on the water’s edge at the south side of East Vernon Island. It guards the northeastern approach to Darwin.
