Le bursting with bites
hicle – no boat in tow – prompting y inquiry as to where the two had en. Tully let Hodge eat and confessed to ekking waters found on Google arth. He said both enjoyed at least me satisfaction, landing a bunch of mall barras to about 75cm and Hodge ulling the hooks free of a fish timated a good deal larger. It was new water the pair were hing and using Google Earth to find ch, a tactic that many good and per- keen anglers are using. In the old days ( pre- Google Earth 001), many of us used topographical aps in much the same way, but thout zoom- in capabilities we often ad no idea whether the watercourse deed held consistent pockets of water nd the surrounding terrain was nerally unknown. I vividly remember, as a younger an, several trips where hours of iving and hiking revealed dry river ds and sometimes inviting but nfishable waters surrounded by mpenetrable jungle or the densest ickets of chinee apple infested bush. But those expeditions were nsidered nothing more than nance, for when we did find good aters, the fishing was more often than ot simply incredible.
ark side of the moon
HE first of two coral reef fin fish osures for 2018 will ensure most orth Queensland deep- water access oat ramps very lonely places this eekend. Kicking off at midnight tonight, a ve- day ban on the taking of all escribed reef species including coral out, sweetlips, emperors and tropical appers like red emperor will remain force until midnight on Wednesday. The closure protects breeding opulations of many reef species, hich do their thing surrounding the ew or dark moon periods during the ring and early summer. Popular inshore reef and shoal ecies including fingermark or golden apper, estuary cod and grassy weetlip are not prescribed coral reef n fish species and, therefore, remain a able and legal catch during the osure. The closure also does not affect any lagic species that also frequent reef aters, leaving spanish mackerel and bia fair game for the keenest anglers. The coral reef fin fish species list is n extensive one and can be found at af. qld. gov. au/ fisheries/ recreational. Boundaries for the closure extend om the northern tip of Cape York to most Bundaberg in the south – the uthern boundary latitude 24 º 50’ S – hile the eastern boundary of the osure is similar to the eastern oundary of the Great Barrier Reef arine Park. A second and final coral reef fin fish osure is scheduled to start at midnight on November 5 before winding up at midnight on November 9.
Taking a spawning break
AND barra anglers are reminded that the Gulf of Carpentaria season closes from noon on Sunday, the popular sport and table species remaining totally protected until noon on February 1.
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Tony Loader said the annual closure was in place to protect barramundi stocks during their vulnerable spawning season.
“Closed seasons allow fish species to replenish, which ensures the sustainability of stocks for current and future generations of Queenslanders to enjoy,” Mr Loader said. “Barramundi typically aggregate in one area to spawn, making them more vulnerable to predators and fishing pressure.
“It’s important that barramundi are not targeted for catch and release during the closed season as the stress of capture may actually prevent the fish from spawning.”
Mr Loader said fisheries officers would be out patrolling Gulf of Carpentaria waters during the closed season.
“Fishers caught doing the wrong thing during the barramundi closure risk on- the- spot fines of $ 522 and a maximum penalty of $ 130,000,” he said.
East coast anglers have until noon, November 1, to get their final wild barramundi fix, the species also off limits until noon, February 1, next year.
Anglers doing their barra thing within Queensland’s stocked impoundments can do so year round, providing they possess a SIP or Stocked Impoundment Permit.
These impoundments include the barra- rich waters within the Ross River weirs.
These are available online or at your local bait and tackle outlet.
Baitfish bonanza
TEDLA Morgan from the Fishing Warehouse says the next few weeks are primed for anglers to take advantage of warming waters and schooling baitfish species in their final pursuit of wild- run barramundi for 2018.
Morgan said the harbour breakwalls were giving up fish, as were waters surrounding marina pontoons and local bridges. And while barramundi are obvious targets for anglers looking for season last fish, Morgan said few would be disappointed with a mangrove jack bycatch.
“There are plenty of jacks around at the moment, especially in the creeks where we have an overlap of herring species, mullet … and there’s still some good prawn around too,” Morgan said.
“With all the bait in one place at the one time, it seems to make the jacks hungry.”
Morgan said the jacks had been particularly active during the last week or so, with the best catches taken during late night tides and early morning hours.
Kirwan’s Mick and Andrea Van Rynswoud backed up Morgan’s report with some quality jacks caught near Lucinda last weekend.
The husband and wife fishing team celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary, catching a handful of tasty red fish and an occasional grunter on fresh prawn bait.
They said the fish were washed down with a fine red wine.
Looking good out there
WEEKEND boating conditions look inviting with seas below a metre and breezes forecast no stronger than 15 knots.
Near 3m morning high tides could encourage early season grey mackerel into shallow waters – particularly at hot spots like West Point and Halifax Bay’s Burdekin Rock, while north- easterly breezes might encourage grunter or javelin fish enthusiasts to set baits near Middle Reef and Virago Shoals.
Doggie mackerel are likely to be found in Cleveland Bay waters and a little berley or chum will go a long way to ensuring favourable results.
Recent reports suggest the best mackerel are being found close to weed beds within about 4m of water at near enough to high tide.
And despite evening high tides being those preceding Monday’s new or dark moon, gentle conditions might bode well for those wanting to troll the harbour breakwalls under the cover of darkness for barra.
Experienced barra anglers mostly prefer to do the harbour troll thing during the spring full moon periods.
Nonetheless, large shallow running lures like the Old Dog brand Mutt towed close to rocks could entice some of the largest barras to bite this weekend.