Found on dry ground
He told how both lures and baits accounted for fish, but fewer than expected metrelong specimens, although some quality fish between 80 and 90cm.
When asked of his plans throughout the 3-month barramundi season closure, Moody glowed like he had a newborn when he spoke of his new offshore charter vessel that is currently under construction.
“It’s built by Steve Menso from Stoney Creek Boatworks, 7.6 metres long and hopefully completed during the barra closure and ready for next season,” Moody said.
“It’s an awesome comfortable ride and then some… in full 2C survey and when my coxswains ticket gets its upgrade it will open up (fishing) areas a little further afield,” Moody anticipated.
STRICTLY OFF LIMITS
THE Queensland East Coast Barramundi Season closed on Tuesday November 1, the taking of barra by both recreation and commercial anglers prohibited until February 1, 2023.
Catch and release practices during the closure are frowned upon by fisheries authorities, the act of deliberately hooking a barramundi deemed as ‘take’ and accidentally caught barramundi must be returned to the water as quickly as possible.
Anglers are reminded that Spanish mackerel remain a no-take species until midnight November 12, recreational and commercial fishers to enjoy just 8-days of mackerel fishing before it closes again on November 21 and reopening on December 12.
BUILT FOR POWER
THEY’VE been described by anglers as looking like a barramundi that’s run into a brick wall at high speed.
Tripletail or jumping cod do own slight physical similarities to a barra and like many predators, barra included, not built for sustained speed and feed best when they ambush their prey.
They do sometimes jump when hooked, just like a barra,
and the fight is a spirited if not a safe one once the fish is pried from snag or structure.
Tripletail are also regarded as a bit enigmatic and that’s
probably a lot to do with their, at times, nomadic and unpredictable travels and migrations.
But they’re the perfect spe
cies to amuse and occupy the keenest of anglers throughout the barramundi season closure.
Locally, tripletail are most often stumbled upon accidentally while anglers go about other fishy business, the species very much associated with drifting debris and manmade structures like jetties, pylons, channel markers and beyond marine park waters, FAD’S or fish aggregation devices.
It’s at these locations a tripletail might be found hunting small baitfish while larger specimens can occasionally be seen to be floating like a mat of weed under which baitfish might shelter.
The tactic is obvious and genius when the tripletail suddenly turns and devours those that might seek refuge in its shadow.
Try your luck in waters near the shipping channel Middle Reef and eastern Halifax Bay, floating coconuts something to look out for.
My youngest lad Finn pulled his very first tripletail from the shipping channel last weekend and in spite of fine table qualities, chose to release his catch.
He reckons they’re way to good to be caught just once.