A SILVER LINING TO THE DELUGE
WITH over 500mm of rain in Cairns this week fishing conditions have been far from ideal with rivers, creeks and estuaries in flood and running red.
Most systems in Tropical Far North Qld are heavily impacted with the massive influx of freshwater from a late wet season trough hanging on the coast. While, inshore conditions are certainly almost impossible for fishing at present the long term benefits will reward fishermen into the year as river levels will be sustained longer and systems receive another life boosting flush and rejuvenation. One exception will be fishing the coastal headlands that fish well on barramundi with the dirty water.
Before, the big flush, river and estuary fishing was steady with several barramundi, fingermark and trevally coming out of the Cairns Inlet on live baits. The northern beaches were also seeing several barramundi caught casting lures along the rock walls and structure.
Queenfish up to and over the metre mark were in good numbers in the Russell/Mulgrave River system with some excellent catches being enjoyed by anglers casting surface poppers and stick baits.
These aerobatic sports fish are great fast running and jumping fighters that pumps up an angler’s adrenalin with the surface strike and hectic fight. As we come into the cooler months these fish will increase in numbers along with the hard fighting giant trevally. Hinchinbrook Channel has been least affected by the heavy rain and has continued to fish reasonably well on barramundi, mangrove jacks and grunter. Both the Cardwell and Lucinda jetties have also fired for the bait fishermen on the same species. Barramundi are also being hooked by anglers casting lures and soft plastics off the rocky entrance of the Cardwell Marina/Boat Ramp with some quality fish amongst them.
As we saw a slight break in the rain and wind late in the week a few boats fished the reef and reported good catches of coral trout on the local inshore reef bommies along with small and large mouth nannygai, spangled emperor and trevally in the deeper water. Spanish mackerel have also been increasing in numbers and readily taking floated pilchards while bottom fishing with areas to the north like Pixie Reef producing fish. Spanish mackerel have also been in good numbers around the southern Islands like Dunk and the Family Group.
Unfortunately, it looks like rough weather and rain for the weekend which will see little action on the reef. The big tides and freshwater influence will see the best fishing on the estuary flats and headlands chasing barramundi and grunter. With the rivers flooded the feeder creeks and drains will see barramundi, mangrove jacks, tarpon and sooty grunter taken on lures and soft plastics.