January options for Capricorn Coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by John Boon

This is what school holiday fun looks like. Stuart Lewis and his son got stuck into some quality red emperor.

I do love the smell of a good new year.

So many opportunities and trips to plan for an entire 12 months.

Now is a good time to sit down and work out what you want to achieve for the year.

I think it’s very important to set goals, so you have some direction and something to work towards.

This year I want to focus on new species or species I haven’t caught or targeted in many years.

The craving for something ‘new’ is real.

So, what are our options here on the Capricorn Coast for the month of January?

I guess the bigger question is what the Fitzroy River will look like.

At the time of writing, the Fitzroy reassembled something similar to a chocolate milkshake.

Is that a complaint?

Of course not.

What we haven’t seen since 2011 is a decent wet season with the river in flood at the right time of the year… until now.

I spoke with Bill Sawynok 12 months ago and we chatted about barramundi recruitment.

The past couple of years, we’ve had the river in flood but very late in the season – around March April.

This year we got an early wet as predicted and the first of our floodwater pushed through the barrage during November.

Let’s hope we’ve had enough water to get the lagoons running so the barramundi can do their transition.

The last time these events lined up we had an explosion of barra all through the area, so let’s hope that happens again – exciting times ahead.

Depending on the levels of the Fitzroy River and local rain, Port Alma will still be worth a look, particularly around the Connors Rocks area on a smaller tide.

The fresh seems to bypass this area occassionally.

Connors Rocks is one of the most reliable places for fingermark, if you know how to fish it.

The best way I find to fish this area is to use the sounder and locate bommies throughout the rocks that are holding either masses of bait or good fish activity.

If you’re a bait fisho then a live prawn, mullet or herring setup on a paternoster is a sure-fire way of getting some action.

If you’re a lure fisher then I would be looking at grabbing a few of your favourite soft vibes.

I personally like the Zerek Fish Trap lures in the 95mm size.

res I can tie on and confidently know I will catch a fish with.

If the rivers and creeks are flowing fresh, then it may be a good time to head out the front for a look.

Depending on what sort of run-off there is will determine how far away from the mainland you will need to go.

When we are in full flood, I have seen the distinct fresh to salt soup line out as far as 40km from the harbour.

My advice is no matter where that soup line is situated, always try and push past it if you want some red emperor action.

Speaking of red action and rain events, have you ever looked into ‘wonky holes’?

There are still many anglers around who have never heard the term.

If they’re mad reef fishos then there is every chance they may have stumbled across these little gold mines and not even known it.

If you’ve been fishing isolated structure in the middle of nowhere with not much showing on the bottom, then there is every chance that it is in fact a wonky hole.

There’s another cool feature that can help distinguish a wonky hole if you have in fact found one.

Some of them will have freshwater pouring out of them, which you can see either on your sounder screen or rippling on the ocean’s surface.

These little spots can produce some amazing sessions at times, and I would rate them as the number one place to drop slow pitch jigs.

There’s not much structure you can get bricked on and every chance you could pull a trophy sized nannygai or red.

If you’re like me and absolutely gagging for a barra fix, then your options are to hit the impoundments.

Your options around central Queensland are Awoonga, Callide and Fairbairn dams.

I’d be very surprised if I haven’t been to at least one of these impoundments by the time this fine publication hits the stands.

Impoundment barra is something I haven’t put much time into but I’m as keen as mustard to get in and start figuring it out.

Though the countdown has started and it’s only one more month until we can target the wild salty barra again.

It’s been an extremely long wait – I hope you’re holding up better than I am.

I can’t wait for a saltie fix.

Until next month, tight lines and stay safe, and make sure to get the kids out for a fish over the school holiday period.

Patrick Egan with a quality giant trevally on a slow pitch jig.