BUSY WEEKEND LOOMING

THE Fishing Warehouse co- owner Pat Dass expects this weekend to be busy for local anglers.

ANSA ( Australian National Sportfishing Association) members will contest the Townsville Sportfishing Challenge, a light line class tournament fiercely contested by local and district sportfishing clubs.

“These guys use light lines to catch large and high pointscoring fish,” Dass said. “Some might even chase some of the larger grey mackerel that are around the island ( Maggie) at the moment,” he said. Dass was referring to reports of grey or broad barred mackerel being taken by old- school anglers doing their thing with spoon- style lures.

Quality fish are falling to anglers towing Huntington Drone brand lures, size 3, close to island headlands and bays.

“The smaller drones seems to be working best whereas spanish and doggie mackerel don’t care much what size lure they eat, sometimes the larger the better for spanish,” Dass said. “The greys are fussy and the smaller lures do the trick.”

Dass also pointed to land- based anglers taking advantage of morning high tides that give way to lunchtime lows of around a metre and clean waters lapping the city’s foreshore.

Dass said this weekend was a perfect opportunity for those without access to a boat to catch a barramundi from marina and harbour breakwalls, bridges and jetties.

“Lures will work but live baits will be the key to snagging larger fish, barras,” Dass said.

Local angler Bradley Mikic ( pictured) backs up Dass’ advice, the Strand Jetty regular recently catching a whopping 105cm barramundi while fishing from the popular land- based possie.