10 July 2000 - Volume 4 Issue 6

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - FISHING CAIRNS

Can you believe that our web site was launched to the world twelve months ago! The time has flown, the site has grown and my reader base extends to all four rounded edges of cyber space.

A very big thank-you to everyone who has helped in our success - and that means you guys in e-mail land too.

This past month has seen some pretty ordinary weather patterns develop across Oz, pushing strong southeast winds up the coast and forcing a good proportion of the fishing fleet to seek shelter in calmer areas. This is normal during the "winter" period but this year has been worse than most. During the fine breaks however, the fishing has been red hot.

The Rivers

On the last set of neap tides monster queenfish, averaging a metre in length, invaded the estuary sand flats and some spectacular fishing was had. Imagine casting poppers and surface lures, cranking as hard as you can and watch the explosions take place as these silver streaks crash the fleeing quarry. And then all the action takes place out of the water as they jump repeatedly in a valiant effort to throw the hooks. One guide lost over thirty fish on two separate daily sessions and came home with battered and paint stripped lures.

At the same time the prime sardine baits, drifting enticingly in the current, did not even get a look in. Fishing is like that.

Although the cool water is not conducive to good barramundi fishing, I do know of one guide who appears to have the wood on these prime targets, landing five from one secret snag.

Trinity Inlet

Things have been a bit quiet here, the cold conditions not conducive to hectic fish action but once again some memorable captures were reported. Monster queenies again showed up along the flats and on light tackle offer a spectacular fight. The winter run of bream is a bit slow this year but enough have been caught from the usual structure to make their pursuit worthwhile. School trevally, flathead, grunter and sicklefish making up most captures.

Blue Water / Reef Fishing

On the few occasions per week that the skippers have ventured out to the reef the fishing has just been fantastic. The cooler waters certainly bring the coral trout, big and small mouth nannygai and emperor on the chew. Bag limits have been the norm not the exception.

Anyone targeting spanish mackerel has not been disappointed. One guide reported landing over twenty macks in one hectic session. A mixed bag of spotties and narrow barred, using locally made Bumpa-bar chrome lures. Four of the spaniard's well over 20 kg. At one stage they hand fed a 30 kg black kingfish (with small doggie mackerel) right at the boat side. Unbelievable action and a nature experience to be savoured.

Game Fishing

As predicted the Light Tackle stuff is right on cue but weather conditions have been a bit on the lumpy side. Some skippers are having up to three shots a day on small black marlin to 10 kg and the odd sailfish to 30 kg. This is just superb stuff and on the right gear (6 - 20 kg custom tackle) these fish offer great sport. Trolling hard-bodied lures has produced plenty of spanish mackerel; reports of 30 fish a day are quite common with some fish around the 20 kg mark. This quality fishing should continue for a few months. On very calm days a quick visit to the bommies and reef edges has produced some hard fighting G.T.'s to 20 kg - these fish are rated very highly if sport fishing is your bag.

The Light Tackle season is now in full swing and extends until the big black marlin start to arrive around mid September. Charters are already very heavily booked for the Heavy Tackle season, some of the better known boats only having a few days here and there left available. The increased exposure and general awareness of Australia as a tourist destination gained as a result of the Sydney Olympics in September is also expected to contribute to peak demand this year. This has led to the relocation of a few relatively new boats to our waters for the upcoming marlin season.

Should this style be your go, please do not hesitate to drop us a line, we will endeavour to put you onto the big one. Live aboard, extended charter is the very best way to target these monsters as your opportunities to tangle with a grander are greatly enhanced by time spent out wide on the known grounds. Day charter options are still available however.

The Cape

It's just amazing how good a fishery we have only a few hundred kms north of Cairns. Many anglers ventured to the lagoon systems adjacent to Lakefield National Park / Princess Charlotte Bay over the preceding few weeks and by all reports there are heaps of juvenile barra about, obviously as a result of the huge wet season spawning undertaken earlier in the year. One report of over sixty fish a day being landed. There have been enough quality fish amongst the babies though to keep most anglers fired up with both lures and bait producing fish to 85 cm.

And as for Weipa, well how often do we hear about how good this place is. Whether it be queenfish around the headlands / river mouths, tuna in the blue water or trevally, barra and jacks up the creeks. This place is truly one of the worlds best kept angling "secrets" but were going to help get the story out. Now is the time to get up there before the next "wet" due to start around late November. Weipa is just under an hour away on modern jet aircraft, with one of our recent clients reporting to be into barramundi within two minutes of commencing fishing. It only gets better from here.

Check out the packaged options on the Fishing Cairns Charters page for a trip to fishing heaven.

Note: Ee have had a few minor computer hick ups this past two weeks. We sincerely apologise if we have not replied to any specific information or charter requests as the problems were confined to our e-mail program. Please re-submit any message if we have failed to reply.

See you on the water,
Les Marsh