Kids catch on quickly
SEVERAL weather forecast models suggest that winds are set to drop significantly by Sunday and it’s my guess that organisers of the 2017 Children’s Fishing Classic couldn’t be happier.
Stiff winds have buffeted the Townsville coastline for much of the week, however conditions are expected to be near perfect at Pallarenda Beach on Sunday morning when up to 500 children and parents are set to gather for the annual competition.
The free event is as much about angling education and conservation as it is about weighing fish for prizes, the competitors ( 15 and under) guided by volunteer supervisors, including experienced members of the Townsville Sportfishing Club.
Fishing starts at 6.30am and is followed by a 9.30am weigh- in, prize ceremony and free sausage sizzle.
Nomination forms are still available online at www. childrensfishingclassic. com. au
Organiser and event spokesman Ron Poole thanked sponsors, including the Townsville City Council and the Townsville Bulletin before admitting that more marshals may be needed to help with proceedings.
Mr Poole can be contacted on 0417 787360.
While quality frozen baits are likely to be supplied by Children’s Fishing Classic sponsors, young competitors can earn themselves a large advantage if they can convince mum or dad to help them gather a supply of fresh or live baits ahead of Sunday’s event.
Species most likely encountered while fishing Pallarenda shallows include grunter or javelin fish, bream, flathead, whiting and gar while predators higher up the food chain including barramundi, queenfish and trevally are never out of the question.
Live yabby baits pumped from beds like those found at the mouth of the Ross River would surely entice the mentioned bread and butter species – as would live or fresh prawn baits, while live herring, mullet, garfish and prawn ( two or three pinned to the one hook) could entice the larger predators.
The live fish baits might be found along Pallarenda Beach or just as easily netted within nearby Three Mile Creek.
Bowen offers two boats
TWO boats worth a combined $ 37,300 are set to reward senior and junior Lucky Angler entries in this year’s Bowen Family Fishing Classic.
One, a 4.6m Stessl of centre console configuration and pushed along by a Honda outboard, the other a 3.4m vessel of the same heritage but tiller steer, are certain to draw large crowds from across the North when they contest the popular event, part of the Coral Coast town’s Wet Weekend celebrations on September 16 and 17.
Casting their lines in waters between the O’Connell River to the south and Molongle Creek in the North, anglers will attempt to fool everything from barramundi to red emperor – even mud crab – to take home prizes in heaviest and secret weight divisions covering no less than 15 species categories.
The Fishing Classic and Wet Weekend celebrations are notching up 26 years and few will be more important to the local community than this year’s event following the ravages of Cyclone Debbie.
Entries are deemed great value at $ 25 for seniors ( 16 and over) and only $ 15 for junior anglers 15 and under, each entry securing a ticket in respective boat lucky draw prizes.
Online nominations are at www. bowenfamilyfishingclassic. com while Townsville agents include the Fishing Warehouse and Tackle World.
Fingermark the quarry
WITH local boating conditions steadily improving ahead of Wednesday’s peaking full moon, local boat ramps could be a hive of sponsored by activity during the first days of the new week.
Fingermark or golden snapper remain hungry and will be a prime target for many, early spring well recognised as a seasonal bookend period for the species.
Daytime anglers will use a plethora of lures and baits to entice savage strikes while those doing the twilight thing will look to scoop live squid baits in fine mesh nets before returning them to fingermark territory pinned to a sharp hook and sturdy line.
And spanish mackerel are not off the radar with tides regarded as superb for the tasty pelagic species.
Large specimens will still be found inshore while school- size mackerel of about a metre or so ( 6- 8kg) should remain in good numbers at shoal spots, including those a few miles beyond Magnetic Island.
Wolf herring continue to fool the largest mackerel while garfish and pilchard baits, drifted and trolled, are accounting for the majority of smaller fish.
Anglers are reminded that spanish mackerel are governed by a minimum legal size of 75cm and an “in possession” bag limit of three fish each.