WEATHER GODS STILL A BIT FICKLE
WHEN will the run of strong wind and rough seas finally break for small-boat fishermen is the million dollar question?
Reef fishing is red hot but several weeks of continuous blustery wind have really tested fishermen’s patience.
The weather eased slightly Wednesday to below 15 knots, and several boats hit the blue water but unfortunately those hoping to fish this weekend will see it blown out again.
Large-mouth nannygai, red emperor and gold spot cod have been in good numbers on the rubble bottom off Oyster and Arlington reefs.
Spanish mackerel have also been caught on the shoals and pinnacles of various local reefs, inshore wrecks and islands on floated pilchards, trolled garfish and lures.
Queenfish are still providing adrenalin-pumping action on surface lures and stick baits cast in the mouth of the Russell River and the adjacent wrecks outside the river.
Meat jigs and live baits are also accounting for big fish.
Spotty mackerel are being caught from the Clump Point Jetty at Mission Beach on pilchards along with a few quality barramundi on live baits that have been jigged onsite.
The islands off Tully have also seen a variety of mackerel species caught.
The Cairns Inlet is still fishing tough with small fingermark, grunter, trevally and blue salmon being caught if the time is put in on the water.
Big barra have been hooked off the local Cairns Sailfish Quay Jetty on soft plastics with one fish reportedly caught and released measuring 1.25m.
Whiting have been running in the mouths of the Barron, Hull, & Murray with fresh pumped yabbies best.
Blue salmon are also running around the mouth of the Hull and the adjacent beaches.
Hinchinbrook Channel has fished well on grunter and some thumping rusty buck mud crabs are being caught in the creeks. Fresh fish and chicken frames changed regularly have been working best.
Lakefield National Park has seen the barramundi fire up on lures again after being quiet.
Only the bigger boats will fish the reef again this weekend with 15-20 knot SE.
Estuary fishing should improve on the building tides and first quarter moon phase from Saturday. Good numbers of quality mud crabs are being caught and as the tides build they should be on the move.
A few grunter should also be on the flats as the tides build during the week, the first two hours of the run-out high tide is the peak fishing period.