WEATHER UNHELPFUL FOR FISHERS
FISHERMEN visiting Far North Queensland have seen inconsistent and unpredictable weather that has made fishing difficult at times.
When the conditions have been favourable reef fishing has remained steady but patchy with certain locations firing and others very difficult to raise a bite.
Coral trout have been far more consistent on the bommies in the mid-depth range around the 40m with good current hitting them and bait present.
Off Cooktown and to the south some bigger mackerel have also still been around with fish to 20kg caught on floated pilchards while bottom fishing for trout.
The nannygai have been very inconsistent inshore with plenty of fish marking but difficult at times to induce a sustained bite.
Some bigger fish have been caught around the wrecks but seem to only have a decent bite on the tide changes.
Fishing has been best on the outer reef edges and offshore paddocks for both nannygai and red emperor.
Surprisingly, off Cooktown the inshore wonky holes are still producing some nice nannygai.
The Cairns Inlet has also been a little patchy but putting in the time on the water with live prawns is still producing fish.
There has been a run on big threadfin salmon both in the inlet and along Machan’s Beach which has been triggered by a run of prawns that has the fish feeding and being caught.
Mangrove jacks continue to dominate catches on lures in the southern coastal creeks and Hinchinbrook Channel.
The Tully River despite several heavy showers of rain is still producing sooty grunter and jungle perch on lures with small poppers particularly successful.
Tinaroo Dam has fired up over the recent full moon period with multiple metre-plus fish being caught casting soft plastics and hard-bodied lures.
Trolling is also popular with many big fish caught using this method along the old river bed drop-offs and points.
Unfortunately, the unpredictable northerly winds are due to start blowing from today, reaching up around the 20 knot mark. That will definitely rule out any blue water trips in small boats. Best options will be to fish the shelter estuaries and rivers.
With the quarter moon today the tides will start to build and fishing should fire up. The inlet will be worth a shot chasing the salmon that have been present recently.
The upper freshwater reaches of the rivers and creeks will also be worth a fish targeting jungle perch and sooty grunter.
Let’s hope for a touch of rain and light winds for the barramundi opening.