Reef fishing northeast Cape York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by ‘Billabong’ Bazz Lyon

Eligh and Drew Polderman with a nice large-mouth nannygai, caught near Restoration Island, Lockhart River area.

Drew Polderman with a goldspotted cod, great eating at this size, and common on both east and west coast reefs off Cape York.

Reef fishing northeast Cape York

WELL, as of November 1, wild barramundi are off the take list in Queensland until next February.

However, the current weather patterns open up other fabulous fishing options on Cape York, while we leave barra to go do their spawning thing.

November is slap bang in the middle of the ‘build up’ season here – with rising heat and humidity and increasingly calm wind spells as the lively southeast trade wind loses its tenacity.

These spells allow anglers to get out to the reefs and along coastlines to fish for a wealth of tropical species in some truly magnificent country.

The general Cooktown area is the closest and prime reef fishing destination for travellers coming from the south – a four-hour drive from Cairns.

On a ‘glass out’, it will take only half an hour to boat to Egrett or Boulder reefs.

Another 15 minutes or so eastward lies Big Uncharted Reef, while further south the enticing and sizeable Cairns and Osterland reefs, and many smaller reefs, promise many days perhaps weeks of fishing for succulent coral trout, red emperor, maori seaperch, jobfish and sweetlip of different types.

Small and largemouth nannygai tend to favour rubble areas and small rises in the open water away from the main reefs.

And of course, pelagics such as spanish mackerel, cobia and longtail tuna in particular are always around and worth targeting.

Plus, the Outer Reef is quite reachable in good weather from Cooktown in any seaworthy boat.

Passionfruit and coronation trout, along with green jobfish abound in these waters and some of the great trevally that patrol the reef edges are of epic proportions!

Never disregard fishing along the coastline too, for spaniards and fingermark in particular.

The next prime, more easily reached destination on the east coast is the Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) area.

Most years, November is the month our family and friends gather to camp at Chilli Beach * continued P61

Cape York by ‘BILLABONG’ BAZZ LYON