We’re HeliFish – proudly local and privately owned, and the Top End’s true blue heli fishing and flying pub crawl crew.
We’re all about making your day legendary, with genuine service and premium Territory experiences, teaming up with classic NT pubs.
Too right! We’re fierce about looking after the land and waterways – integrating pollution prevention and resource conservation into our operations.
It’s catch and release on all our trips, and we take you into spots that others can’t get to, keeping the impact down and the adventure up.
Up in Darwin, our arsenal includes two Robinson R44s – world’s best-selling heli for years – and a Bell 206L4 Long Ranger aircraft, which fits up to five with comfort and face-to-face chats.
The views? Next level – massive windows give you a cracking look at the action, especially when we whip the doors off for photos you’ll want to show off.
HeliFishing is the ultimate NT adventure for you and your mates – chasing wild barramundi from a heli across landscapes you’ve only dreamt of.
Instead of slogging it out in a boat, you fly straight to permit-only, remote fishing spots, spend less time travelling, and more time flicking lures in primo Territory water.
You get unbeatable value – fishing hard in spectacular scenery, feeling the buzz of flying, and tangling with the iconic NT barra.
While barras are our bread and butter, you’ll also have a go at threadfin salmon, golden snapper, queenfish and giant trevally. And yes, it’s a ripper experience for everyone – even the kids, as long as there’s an adult to keep an eye on them.
On a Half-Day HeliFish, we hit fishing hotspots northwest of Darwin – isolated coastline, snaking rivers and estuaries loaded with barra.
Full-Day HeliFish heads out to the mighty Daly River floodplains and the coastal creeks, estuaries and stunning red cliffs of Anson Bay.
The scenic flying here is something else: endless river systems, sprawling wetlands, billabongs and long, untouched beaches – and we get a crack at fishing all of them.
Barramundi Facts
Barra can stretch to 150cm long and tip the scales over 45kg.
They can live 20 years or more; the oldest recorded was 35.
Big female barra lay over 32 million eggs a season.
Barra action ramps up with warmer water—catch rates skyrocket in the wet and build-up.
Their eyesight isn’t crash hot in murky stuff, but they’ve got a lateral line – a sensory organ running down their flanks that picks up vibrations, so they can hunt prey and dodge trouble. Whether they smash a lure for its colour or movement… probably a bit of both!
Age is worked out by counting growth rings on scales or ear bones – like trees Grow rates depend on food and conditions, here is a rough guide:
1 year: 30–40cm
2 years: 50–60cm
3 years: 60–80cm
8 years: 1m
Most barra start as blokes, then swap teams around 8 years (and 95cm+) – so big ones are almost always females.
Barra are gutsy predators, smashing whatever’s in reach – insects, spiders, baby crocs, prawns, fish and even other barra!
Big barra eat mainly fish (60%) and prawns (40%); smallies pig out mostly on prawns.
Females produce eggs from September to March, but October–December is peak time Hatching happens in salty bays or river mouths, and the youngsters ride in with the tides to safe mangroves and wetlands As the floodplains dry, juveniles head upriver to freshwater billabongs.
If there’s no access to freshwater, they chill in the coastal areas After three to five years, most freshwater barra head back to the ocean to spawn and keep the cycle going.
The NT has Australia’s biggest barra population
Indigenous Territorians have fished barra for centuries – they matter for culture, economy and food
Barramundi are the Holy Grail up here – top eating, fight like champions, and grow monster big. Anglers from everywhere want to tick a “metery” (barra over a metre) off the bucket list, and showing off the photo is pure bragging rights.
Plus, the NT runs the Million Dollar Fish comp every year – catch a tagged barra and you could be laughing all the way to the bank.
Booking & Cancellation
Book online, give us a bell at 1800 88 FISH (3473), or shoot a message to [email protected]
Flight cancellations and/or amendments require a minimum notification of 48 hours prior to departure.
A cancellation notice of 48hours is required for a full refund claim and 24-48 hours, for a 50% refund claim.
Any flight amendments made within 48 hours incur a 50% penalty.
No amendments accepted inside 24 hours prior to departure. No refund applies if booking is cancelled within 24 hours.
In the event of passenger illness, with a medical certificate, HeliFish will reschedule the flight. When payment is made via credit card, the processing fee from the original transaction will not be returned in the case of a refund.
On the Day
Be at Darwin Airport (15–22 Lancaster Rd, Eaton) 30 minutes before take-off (unless told otherwise).
Don’t leave it late or you could miss out – no refunds for no-shows.
You bet – pick up a HeliFish hat, fishing shorts, or a stubby cooler at the airport before you take off!
We don’t do pick-ups – sort your own lift out to the airport.
Cash or card – Visa/MasterCard (1.2% fee). Sorry, no AMEX. Paid by card and need a refund? Card fees aren’t returned
We give it everything – targeting special, hard-to-access spots only a heli can reach.
If the barra aren’t biting, we’ll scoot to the next spot in minutes.
Best months for barra are March through April (the run-off), and October to December (build-up).
Dry season’s cooler and great for wildlife, but barra go a bit quieter then. Remember: some days it’s barra after barra, other days they play hard to get!
You could land giants – or just a handful. That’s fishing, mate.
Safety
HeliFish carries insurance for all operations undertaken including passenger liability insurance, as required by Australian aviation law.
In accordance with Australian aviation law, HeliFish reserves the right to refuse any passenger who, in the opinion of the pilot in command, may provide a hazard to the flight or to the safety and comfort of other passengers.
Passengers may be refused for reasons including, but not limited to erratic, offensive or threatening behaviour; perceived intoxication; or implied risk to the safety of the flight. Should the situation arise where any passenger is deemed to pose a safety risk to the flight at any point of the tour, the pilot in command reserves the right to refuse travel to that passenger.
In the event of this occurring no refund will be issued, and the passenger shall be responsible for making their own arrangements to return to Darwin. HeliFish supports the decision of its pilots and staff members who decide to refuse a passenger.
Pregnant passengers are welcome to enjoy all flights at their own discretion.
We advise passengers to consult their doctor prior to making a reservation and that seatbelts must be worn at all times during the flight.
No way – anywhere near the heli, on or off the ground.
Check our drone usage guidelines in the Terms & Conditions link —no flying anywhere near the helis!
We need your full name, accurate weight, and bag details for each trip. That’s the rules (Civil Aviation Safety Authority CAAP 235-1 (para.11)).
Every time, mate. Have a listen – it’s for your well-being as much as ours.
Weather
Flights are subject to management or pilot discretion, weather, air-traffic control and availability.
The decision of the pilot in command is final with regards to cancelling a flight due to inclement weather and/or the refusal of the passenger/s if the passenger/s are deemed unfit for flight.
HeliFish strives to ensure your flight takes off as planned. However, unexpected circumstances like bad weather, staffing issues, or unscheduled maintenance may arise.
In these instances, we will:
Book you on another flight: If possible, we’ll happily reschedule your trip for a different date that works for you. Flight rebooking is subject to availability; or
Offer a full refund: If rebooking isn’t an option, you’ll receive a full refund for your cancelled flight. Please note the refund will be no greater than the flight amount.
Your Chopper Flight
You get 15kg per person.
Helicopters have a limited capacity for the carrying of luggage. Small bags worn around the neck or waist are not permitted as these interfere with the life jackets you are required to wear.
Permissions to carry additional luggage for infants is subject to the combined weight (passengers and luggage) being under aircraft specifications on the day of travel.
Full size prams do not fit in luggage compartments and capsules/child seats cannot be fitted in the helicopter.
Due to the size and dimensions of helicopter cargo compartments, luggage is required to be packed into 1x carry on size case or soft duffle bag per person.
Have more? We can mind your extras at our office.
Kids 3 and up fly in their own seat (and need a ticket). One under-3 per flight rides free on a parent’s lap (as per CASA regulations).
Unless you charter the heli, you might be mixed with other keen fishos or pub crawlers.
We love a solo legend, but yeah, it’s a minimum 2 passengers needed to fly.
Chuck through your booking and if you’re the only one, we’ll pair you up or give you a bell quick smart.
Want instant confirmation? Ring us on 1800 88 FISH (3474).
Yep—all helis have payload rules.
Let us know everyone’s weight when you book. We operate a fleet of helicopters with individual specifications.
The maximum single seat payload is 130kg. For passengers exceeding 130kg, aircraft seating four or more (4+) passengers are required for private charters and for listed tours and packages, an additional seat at 50% of ticket price may need to be purchased for passenger comfort and aircraft weight and balance.
All trips launch out of Darwin Airport, 15–22 Lancaster Rd, Eaton.
Window seats are not guaranteed and are subject to the pilot’s discretion. The pilot makes seating assignments based on the helicopter’s weight and balance.
