01 November 1999 - Volume 3 Issue 13

Heavy Tackle

This season is shaping up as one of the best for years. Most boats however are currently involved with the Lizard Island Heavy Tackle Tournament and full reports are not available yet. I believe some memorable captures have been had.

Good sized Black Marlin from 250 - 800 lb have been caught out wide. One memorable, and quite unexpected capture last week, was of a 250 lb Blue Marlin. These fish have shown up in increasing numbers but usually not until the new year, January to March period proving the best. The skipper was most excited about this relatively new target for this time of year.

Reef Fishing

The balmy post summer weather has been excellent of late. The North Easterlies are blowing in most afternoons and although conditions are starting to warm up its a great time to be on the water. Coral trout are swarming over most reefs but anglers should note that they are in spawning mode and only take enough of these prized eating fish for a decent feed. The Macks are starting to thin out a little but there are plenty of big loners cruising around. The usual species have been coming aboard, sweetlips, tricky's, reds and cod all sucummbing to well presented fresh fish baits.

Estuary

Certainly turning the corner, last weeks neap tides producing very good results from the deep structured areas. Captures included big barra to one metre, 20lb fingermark and plenty of Mangrove Jacks from the snags. Monster trevally are still about harassing any hooked fish as are good sized queenfish and the ever reliable grunter. One real surprise though, has been the high quality lure fishing coming from the upper reaches of Trinity Inlet (Cairns Harbour). Good sized school trevally to three kilo's are moving right up with the tides as are queenfish and plenty of barracuda.

Tip:With the advent of summer just around the corner, switch to the bigger gold bomber lures which are turning them on.

Rivers

Wow! What a fantastic run of prime fish happening at the moment. The warmer, calmer and humid conditions certainly turning the fish on. We live in the Tropics and the better the conditions, the better the fishing. The tidal reaches of most of our local rivers producing excellent silver salt water barra on both lures and live sardine baits. I know of one guide who landed fifteen legal sized barra in two days bait fishing. Many other monsters were lost to the snags however, just too big and strong for the 20lb tackle being used. Other prime pre summer captures included big fingermark reds, mangrove jacks, school trevally and cod.

Surface poppers are starting to turn on the monster G.T.'s near the mouth. One guide reportingonly landing two fish for the day, BUT what fish. They were a 20 and a 40 lb G.T. The visiting angler was stoked, and fairly buggered after landing these very powerful light tackle targets. Metre long queenfish are occasionally coming from the same area. Luring the mangrove Islands at the mouth of the Daintree River last week saw another unusual capture, a 75 cm Spaniard coming off a mangrove point. This fish must have been surely lost, but that's fishing, you never really know what will turn up. The same day saw plenty of Jacks, a queenfish, several G.T.'s, a couple of lazy barra and even three Long Tom's (Alligator gar).

Just another reminder that the closed season for the taking of barramundi commences tomorrow. Any hooked fish must be released unharmed. There is one option though, Lake Tiaro is open all year round but certain conditions apply. Fish must be of legal size and taken to an approved station to be tagged.

November is a great month to be in the Tropical North. The seas are usually calm, great for any water based activity from fishing, sailing and of course diving. The water visibility is superb at this time of year and many international enthusiasts take advantage of these conditions.

See you on the water,
Les Marsh