Return of the mack
FISHERMEN will be smiling with the winds moderating to 10-15 knots for Saturday and calmer conditions into Sunday and early next week.
With neap tides the deep water will fish best for the reef fishermen chasing nannygai and deep water trout.
Spanish mackerel can be targeted from Sunday when the first spawning closure ceases but the tides won’t be ideal.
Popular methods will include trolling the reef edges with rigged garfish and lures like Halco Laser Pros, floating pilchards, garfish or live bait while bottom fishing and jigging metal lures around wrecks and structure.
The deep estuary holes should fish well on fingermark and trevally on live baits. Lure fishermen will again be targeting mangrove jacks in the estuaries and rivers.
Light winds and small tides will see clean river mouths with queenfish and trevally target species casting poppers and stick baits in the Russell, Johnstone and Tully Rivers.
Most fishermen have been restricted to fishing the rivers, estuaries and impoundments due to the strong south east winds and rough seas.
The exception has been the heavy tackle game fishing boats chasing giant black marlin along the outer reef edge.
With the strong current running south into the opposing south east winds the conditions have been far from ideal.
With the barramundi spawning closure also in force until February 1, mangrove jacks have been the focus target species in the estuaries and rivers with a few decent fish being caught in the Cairns Inlet, Mourilyan Harbour and the southern river systems including the Russell/Mulgrave and Johnstone Rivers.
Soft plastic paddle tails and prawn imitations like the Gulp Shrimp have been most successful along with live mullet and herring for the bait fishermen. Several incidental barramundi have been caught while targeting jacks in the same systems and must be released immediately. Remember, to handle barramundi being released with care, and if possible, while still in the water to ensure future health.
Those who wish to target barramundi must fish the stocked impoundments like Tinaroo Dam as these fish can be targeted all year round and now is the prime time to land a monster metre plus fish.
Grunter were in numbers on the flats of the major estuaries including the Cairns Inlet and Hinchinbrook Channel with fresh strip baits of mullet, garfish and herring producing best on the run out tides.
Mud crabs were caught over the big tides in the Cairns Inlet and Hinchinbrook Channel with pots baited with fresh fish or chicken frames.