May 16, 2004 - Volume 8 Issue 2

Where did the last four months go!!! Summer and the wet have been and gone and we are now very much into "autumn" mode here in Tropical North Queensland.

We have just come through the best "wet season" for years and the countryside is looking magnificent. The tropical rivers all had a decent flush at last and the bigger rivers like the Daintree actually flooded four times this past three months.

River & Estuary:

While the rivers were flowing high and dirty the fishing was an absolute yawn……..but after waiting a few days for the waters to clear the action was red hot. The best guides were averaging almost 20 barras a day, I actually had a day out with Terry from Fish Hunter, and we landed 31 barra to 71cm. That did not include the jungle perch, sooty grunter, mangrove jacks and tarpon!………..I just love fishing during the summer months.

Cape York:

I have just returned from a fortnight up at Cape York (Late April 04)..........guiding with Kim Andersen on the Mantaray. We fished the flats near the Wenlock, the fresh way up Tent Pole Creek, the gutters in the Ducie and the mouth of the Jackson as well as Kerr Reef about eight k's out, the Pine and the Embley & Hey systems that make up Weipa Harbour proper.

We had an absolute ball, caught heaps of barra (and although not monsters), most were in the 60-70 cm range. One morning on the "flats" we fished the last of the incoming tide. Literally hundred of thousands of mullet were being "boofed" all around us in about half a metre of water along a 2 km stretch of mangroves. I have never seen a system so alive.

The three dories had two clients plus guide and each boat landed on average 20 - 40 barras per session. We left them biting on several occasions, so we wouldn't get stranded on the flats, and headed back to the mothership for a few cold beers (comfort!)

We fished the small gutters draining the mangroves and caught heaps more.

One day we travelled approx. 30ks right up into pure fresh water (rainforest and palm lined banks) and found more barra, saratoga, tarpon, monster jacks and as many pesky archerfish as you could handle.

We travelled up small side creeks on the bottom of the tide and cast to any remaining structure and landed 20 odd barras in a few hours.

The cook was dropped off on a sand bar with his #8 fly rod and landed 23 giant herring in a few hours one morning, the previous day over 20 queenies.

We set crab pots one afternoon and caught 32 prime bucks. Sat on a sand spit near the top of OZ and watched prime barra slowly cook on the coals along with big muddies, cooked, thrown into salt water and scoffed down with some cold beers.

We landed monster cuda, spaniards and a few tuna from Kerr Reef.

In all we landed over 30 species - all on lures and light spinning and baitcasting reels. Possibly over 800 barra landed in 14 days.

And each evening we slept in air-conditioned comfort onboard the Mantaray. Now that was a fishing / working holiday.

I am back to reality with a real thud I must say; guiding back in Cairns has not been the same since, however my last trip out had a moment to savour. Tossing lures up the top of Trinity Inlet a 75cm permit smashed my lure right at the boat. It tore off in the right direction, out into the open channel, and the only real worry was the rapidly diminishing line peeling form my baitcaster. Shigaeto, the Japanese guide, was quick off the mark and started the main engine and headed the boat in the right direction. After a prolonged and dogged fight the beautiful permit was gently brought on board, photographed and slipped back in the calm water.

Anglers from around the globe generally rate permit as the No 1 light tackle sportfish in the world, I have caught quite a few on peeled prawn baits but this was my first on lure.

Just goes to show that after such a rewarding journey to the tip of OZ, fishing in your own back yard can still produce wonderful fish - a real buzz, a fighting capture that will last in the memory banks for ever.

Extended Charters & Packages:

The MV Boomerang will again be running charters out of Princess Charlotte Bay this season. The mothership has just undergone another re fit and has commenced operating in the northern waters. After such a good wet the promise of great fishing is sure to be realised as the year unfolds. Anglers please note that a series of nine-day reef closures have been introduced by the GBRMPA this year, which will effectively cut the season short by a few weeks. Anglers punting on the quality reef / blue water fishing previously available during October & November will not be able to fish these waters in the future.

Coral Sea Adventures: Doreen Too is a magnificent purpose built timber charter vessel based in Port Douglas. At 55ft she is a classic, weighs 75 tons and underwent a major refit in 2003 / 2004. She is registered to carry a maximum of 12 passengers for charters of up to two weeks duration. Travel to the remote Cape York waters where the fishing is simply 'awesome'. Little fished reefs including the famous 10 Ribbon Reefs on the continental shelf, Princess Charlotte Bay, the productive grounds near Lizard Island and the Bathurst Islands are just some of the options you can choose to visit.

So if you’re into fishing remote Cape York, either land based or on an extended live aboard charter, we have just the trip to cater to all tastes, angling desires and budgets. Drop us a line and we’ll put you into the fishing of your dreams.

See you on the water,
Les Marsh