26 August 2000 - Volume 4 Issue 7

Spring! Has it arrived in the tropics already - after such a shocking start to the year, and a few hiccups during the middle of the month, the weather for the past 7-10 days has been the stuff of fisherman's dreams. Cool nights; warm balmy day and a gentle southeast to northeast breeze caressing the coats. It is most unusual to experience the northerly influence so early and only time will tell if it is to herald a major wet season.

Will the billies turn up early, will the barra invade our tidal estuaries in preparation for a big spawning, and will the mangrove jacks chew their heads off - come on summer.

We are about to enter the best fishing time of the year.

The Rivers

The better the weather, the better the fishing in our rivers and the past week or so has seen the majestic queenfish strutting their stuff. Up to 30 fish have been hooked during some very hectic sessions chucking surface poppers and shallow running lures along the sand bar edges and gutters at low tide. These silver acrobats are a true pleasure to catch but not being too good on the chew most are released to fight another day.

Fly fishing the upper reaches of the Daintree is producing good numbers of juvenile barramundi amongst the weed beds, with one well known guide reporting having an absolute blinder on barra, jacks, trevally, tarpon and even sooty grunter right upstream. The larger barra are traditionally further down stream, in the inter-tidal zone, and as the waters warm with the season, anticipate landing more of these beauties over the coming months.

Trinity Inlet

Fishing here to is on the improve. Justin Gibbins of Fishing the Tropics had client's land prime salt-water barra of over 40 lb last week, and they lost even bigger specimens to the old submarine boom out from the flats. One guide even had metre long barra circling his anchored boat! Now that created some excitement I can tell you. Maybe the banning of professional nets fishing in Trinity Inlet will start to pay dividends with increased captures of Australia's No 1 light tackle sportfish. Get ready for the jack attack as well, warm water means active fish and the mangrove jacks are prime summer targets.

Blue Water / Reef Fishing

The numbers of spaniards and doggie mackerel have thinned out a little this past few weeks, but mind you they have copped a hammering this year with one of the best seasons for a long time. But still specimens to 40 lb are coming from the entrance leads, just a bit more patience is required and the fishing is definitely better with fewer boats cruising around. Try and find a spot by your self and the fishing should improve dramatically.

Reef fishing has also been a bit slow but the big tides this week will crank the system up again. As the waters warm, this process is enhanced by the very still conditions; prime targets like coral trout will seek comfort in deeper reefs.

Game Fishing

Kim Andersen of New Moon III has recently returned from an extended charter where he took his clients way north past Lizard Island. Although the choppy conditions they encountered were not conducive to comfortable fly-fishing, they none the less experienced some wonderful action on the long wand. During one mid morning session Kim reported hundreds of spanish mackerel, together with dogtooth tuna circling the boat, but with the conditions almost un-fishable on fly, had to settle for a magic session trolling hard-bodied lures. It pays to be flexible in the tropics and not to become too narrow focussed.

This trip also included morning sessions fishing off the rocks for some memorable barramundi on fly, dozens of fish were landed but some hectic foot work was required on the oyster covered rocks. The feed of huge black lipped oysters, washed down with an ice-cold beer wasn't too bad either.

There is never a dull moment on these extended charters, early morning sessions off the rocks, a mid morning swim, a troll for mackerel, various tunas, jigging for Volkswagen sized G.T.'s and the occasional beakie as well. And in the late afternoon a sheltered anchorage to let the client have a go at some reef dwellers, coral trout for tea perhaps.

The Cape

When the guide and clients decide to move the boat AWAY from the spot because you have had enough, that's when you know you are really fishing. John Charleton, from Cape York Adventures, Seisia, has been doing just this lately. Every bait was monstered by a metre long queenfish - and you just get sick and tired of the same colour fish don't you! Fingermark captures in the thirties a session, trevally too numerous to count, queenies making you move on and the barra are just starting to really come on.

And as for Weipa a bit further down the Gulf, it's just as magical. Sight casting to schools of barra, king and blue salmon, various trevally species, tuna, macks, crocks - hold on your not suppose to catch these.

We are about to enter the very best fishing time for the whole year on the tropical sportfishing scene. Its time to clean your gear, re load that reel, sharpen the hooks and get ready for the rush. Barras and jacks up the creeks, queenies from the flats, salmon in the gutters and billie's out wide. The big female black marlin should start to show up over the next few weeks and once the word is out that 1,000 lb marlin are back in town its going to be a hard task just securing a vessel for the charter.

Its also the time thoughts should wonder to world record barra from Lake Tinaroo. There are fish of 100 lb in this lake and very soon one will be landed on conventional tackle.

Ah! Spring, what a wonderful time for fishing.

See you on the water,
Les Marsh