Angry clients claim their NT fishing guide abused them, crapped off the front of the boat, and hit catfish on the head with a baseball bat

The guide called one group of clients “moaning poms†on the popular travel advice website TripAdvisor, and suggested they stay in Perth.

TripAdvisor user Robrobbo from Brisbane described his group’s fishing safari with Allan Beale from Darwin’s Barra Base last year as “so bad it was goodâ€.

“Once we hit the water with Allan I think we were all looking around for the hidden cameras,†he wrote.

“Abused at the boat ramp whilst attempting to help him launch the boat, abused when we hooked a fish, abused when we lost a fish, witnesses to the man himself defecating off the front of the boat …â€

All in all, Robrobbo was philosophical about the adventure.

“Sure we spotted up over $3k each for the abuse but the accommodation on safari was good (Stuart Point), the wildlife was extraordinary and the conversations that we had over the three days on the water catching nothing bar (f**king) catfish were pretty excellent (minus the hollow cracking noise that Allan’s baseball bat made on the Catfish’s heads – aaaah the serenity …),†the post said. “One thing I will say though is you CANNOT question Allan’s passion for the ‘metrey’.â€

But Mr Beale, the owner and operator of Darwin’s Barra Base, wasn’t going to take gibes from southerners lying down.

“Yes, I swear at times, sorry that you have taken this as abuse to yourself,†he responded. “I believe your group did not land a metrey but hooked and lost plenty; I remember one guy actually just gave up the fight, and the barra flicked him off.

“This is frustrating when guides work all day to get you on to the big fish and clients cannot handle them.

“Yes, I assist to minimise the population of catfish, they are a pest and sometimes come into Shady Camp in droves.â€

And as for him “defecating†off the front of the boat, well … “if a man has to go, like you all did, then we have to goâ€.

Mr Beale pointed out that Darwin’s Barra Base lands more than 30 metreys (metre-long barramundi) a year.

TripAdvisor user Les N from Perth complained that his group “needed counselling†due to the moaning from their guide.

“Alan was the skipper the 1st day, what a miserable moany guy, all he did all day was tell us how much he was struggling to keep skippers and that his secretary was on stress leave because of something he said to her, sorry mate we needed counselling after ­listening to your moaning all day,†he wrote.

Mr Beale hit back, suggesting the review was “distortedâ€.

“During the day clients ask questions whilst fishing about work, fishing, staff and family and their business,†he ­responded. “This comment about me moaning about staff issues just shows how little he had to go to, to complain. Talk about moaning poms, stay in Perth, fellows.â€