A magnet for mackerel
THE fishing roundup this week has been one of mixed results – some telling of fantastic mackerel catches taken wide of Magnetic Island and Cape Cleveland, small marlin and sailfish on the same grounds and giant trevally and queenfish at inshore hot spots.
Meanwhile others tell of dismal results while bottom fishing for table fish.
Heath Kerr, from the Fishing Warehouse, said customer reports coming their way during the week were, at the very least, encouraging.
He said spanish mackerel were being found by anglers when they drifted baits and trolled lures within the outer limits of the shipping channel.
Pilchard baits proved the undoing of several large fish while doggie or Queensland school mackerel also proved plentiful.
“A few anglers divided their time between the shipping channel and the Alligator Creek weed beds,” Kerr said.
“They brought some of the fish they caught in for identification, thinking they were spotted macs, and they were very fat doggies about 70cm each.
“Yeah, pilchards were the go,” Kerr replied when I asked how they were caught, “but when the bite slowed they threw metal slugs around to catch a few more.”
Jewfish were lurking
LOCAL tiler Errol Marks teamed up with Kerr to fish Morrissey’s Creek on Monday.
Studying their hi- tech sounder, the long- time mates detected what might have been barramundi sitting close to the bottom in a prominent creek hole.
Live prawn baits – often the preferred diet of a winter barra – were allowed to settle nearby and bites were immediately forthcoming.
The pair caught a mixed bag of bream, grunter and cod and figured the larger fish spotted on the sounder were not barra but black jewfish when Marks pulled in a fine 75cm specimen.
SIP needed for weirs
ANGLERS are reminded that it now a requirement to possess a SIP or Stocked Impoundment Permit if they are to fish within any of the Ross River’s three weirs.
I was nearly caught short a couple of weeks ago while filming an intro for my Townsville Bully fishing online feature.
As I framed the camera for a bankside piece near Aplin’s Weir, I noticed a red devil dart out from beneath a blanket of lily pads.
A mate of mine recently told me he was looking for such an aquarium fish and for a moment I considered returning with a light line, fine hook and small bait to catch the introduced but not noxious declared species for his tank.
It was then I remembered that I would need a SIP to do so and dismissed such an idea before going about my business filming.
Later it occurred to me the permit requirement might be just one reason why I don’t see many anglers doing their thing in the weirs anymore.
Zac’s bonza barra
A MIGHTY 101cm barramundi is certainly a worthy entrant in this month’s Townsville Bulletin/ Old Dog Lures Fish of the Month competition.
Zack Pilcher shows off his fish, which he says, was taken while trolling alongside one of the harbour breakwalls – in particular, the “Ross River rock wall.”
That’s a great fish Zack and one that many experienced anglers aspire to.
A metre- long saltwater sponsored by barramundi is something of a standard that many anglers might not achieve in their lifetime.
Well done!
Snap your catch
THE Fish of the Month competition is open to all anglers and those that photograph their catch have an obvious advantage.
Send your “fishy” photos to eddie@ fishcity. com. au for inclusion in this column and my “Bully Fishing Online” series and be sure to include a few words about your catch.
Keep the file size original for best reproduction and remember, the most pleasing pics include a smiling angler, clean fish, few shadows ( try and keep sun over photographer’s shoulder and hat tilted back).
Winners will be awarded a selection of Dave Killaleas’s timber lures at the end of each month, the winner receives three, first runnerup two lures and second runner- up one lure. In addition, should any of the winning photographs feature an Old Dog Lure, a bonus autographed lure – signed and dated by master craftsman and ol’ dog himself, Dave Killalea – will be awarded the entrant.
Old Dog Lures are regarded as one of the finest of the Aussie cottage lure industry, made locally and simply irresistible to fish.
Good luck.