COBIA AND FINGERMARK IN THE MIX
THIS week saw a mixed bag weather wise, including a few days of calm conditions allowing many boats to fish the reef, islands and wrecks.
Reef bottom fishing off Cairns has been steady, with the staple coral trout and large mouth nannygai dominating most captures.
A few spangled and red emperor have also been caught among the nannygai on the rubble in the deep water.
Grafton Passage and Moore Reef have both produced fish, with the tide change period most productive.
The local wrecks are fishing well on big cobia, which are taking metal jigs and soft plastics, along with baits.
The southern outer reefs off Tully have surprisingly still seen a few dolphin fish caught on trolled skirted lures and rigged baits.
The shipping channel rubble has also produced numbers of large-mouth nannygai on the bottom and a few spanish mackerel and tuna.
Inshore, some nice fingermark have been caught on live squid in the Lucinda region.
Estuary fishing has been a little slower in the Cairns Inlet, but some quality fingermark are still being caught in the deep holes on live baits and soft plastic vibes. A few nice mangrove jacks are also being taken on live prawns, sardines and mullet in the structure.
The Mulgrave/Russell River system has produced some big barramundi action trolling the deep structure on the smaller tides. Small barramundi, jungle perch and tarpon have been active in upper freshwater regions.
The southern rivers are producing a few barra and mangrove jacks on lures.
Several big barramundi have been hooked from the Cardwell foreshore. There has been a run of prawns along the beach and some nice barras have been feeding along the beach foreshore.
An early run of silver bream have been taking fresh local prawns and yabbies around the mouth of the Tully River.
With a forecast for moderate conditions of about 10-15 knots for the weekend several boats will still head for the blue water chasing reef bottom fish and pelagic species.
The big tides will suit targeting coral trout on the shallow to mid-depth bommies around the tide changes. Cobia and trevally have been prolific on the local wrecks, and worth dropping a few metal jigs.
Estuary-wise, over the big weekend tides the flats should see a few big grunter moving as the high tide drops, with a fresh strip bait of mullet or garfish ideal. Big barramundi have also been moving on the flats, another target for live baits.
The Cairns Inlet and Hinchinbrook Channel are prime locations for this style of fishing. An added bonus for the shore-based fishermen is big barras have been working the beach foreshore of Cardwell as they feed on prawns.