Fantastic w

A PREDICTED weekend heatwave is doing nothing to excite local anglers. The searing conditions expected to ramp up Sunday and peak Monday at a sweltering high of 37C.

Stiff winds might offer anglers some respite while fishing within creeks and rivers during the latter part of the weekend while the same breezes combined with sloppy seas are likely convince anglers to reconsider plans to fish reef and bluewater hotspots.

Fingermark specialist Ronnie Neill says the heat doesn’t bother him or his equally enthusiastic sons so much when they undertake their fishing expeditions during the evening hours of the tropical warmer months.

Neill says it’s a win- win situation when night time temperatures are often significantly cooler and the dark hours encourage squid, a favoured fingermark bait, to congregate around light sources – such as those of a boat.

“We’ll throw a squid light over the side and it usually doesn’t take long for them to come in close enough to scoop them up,” Neill said.

He described his dedicated squid light as a home brewed device comprising of a car taillight, a glass jar, a slab of polystyrene, 12- volt electrical cable and marine sealant.

“I’ve had it for about 12 years now and that light is responsible for a lot of fingermark hitting the deck of my boat,” Neill said.

“I use a net with a small mesh to scoop them up, put a hook in them and send then straight back to the bottom. If there’s a fingermark around they’ll get eaten pretty quickly.”

When asked about best local spots for fingermark ( aka golden snapper), Neill said he divided his time between Cape Cleveland waters and those around Magnetic Island, in particular West and Liver Point.

“I’ll catch them in the creeks too, but I prefer fishing inshore headlands where they are usually much bigger,” he said.

Anglers are reminded that fingermark or golden snapper are protected by a minimum legal size of 35cm and an “in possession” bag limit of five fish per person.

Noon, February 1, 2019, is the next time Queensland anglers will be able to intentionally target wild run barramundi – whether for keeps or catch and release.

I remind local anglers of the current barramundi season closure following a pair o emails this week showing off their very recen barra catches – both anglers finding fish in th Haughton River. Each angler said they released their catches with one admitting he and his mate went on to catch another coupl from the same school before searching for more within another tributary of the river.

I replied to the emails pointing out Fisher Queensland takes a dim view of barra catche throughout the closed season – even if intended for release.

I deleted the emails – pictures and all.

Have your permits ready

MEANWHILE, anglers might still cast lures and baits for barramundi year- round when they do so within designated stocked impoundments such as the Ross River Weirs Peter Faust Dam near Proserpine or Lake Tinaroo on the Atherton Tablelands.

The only requirement is that anglers 18 years and over must possess a SIP or Stocked Impoundment Permit, whenever fishing wit these waters. Even fishing for species other than barramundi, such as sooty grunter or redclaw crayfish, requires a SIP.

These permits are available online or at most specialist bait, tackle and boating outle

Charter vessels reel them in

A BIT of a breeze, such as those 15- 20 knots winds forecast for Sunday, won’t deter larger craft from finding their way to reef and deep water hotspots. It’ll be a comfy trip on either Northern Conquest Charters’ larger vessels one that promises plenty of fish.

Coral trout, red throat emperor, nannyga cobia and mackerel are all reasonably comm and expected catches when on board a NCC charter, the local operator certain to be busy with the festive season close at hand.

Proud mum Peta Rushton flicked me som pics of her son Jack who recently fished on a NCC trip with dad Rick Rushton, the young showing off a catch including spanish