Creeks draining into tropical bays almost invariably hold barramundi, such as this lean salty caught by Kevin Clark at Cardwell.
Safe summer surface fishing W E are only weeks away from the Christmas holiday period, when families dust off boats to hit the coast. When fishing with kids, safety is of course paramount, so less confident boaties tend to shy away from blue water, however the estuaries
Fishing for Sport
by NEIL SCHULTZ
aren’t your only options. Those of you who’d like to try bending a rod on some ‘fast fish’ but would rather not tackle a bar crossing, there are numerous options.
Much of Moreton Bay is classified as ‘partially smooth’ and can easily be accessed in most reasonable weather conditions. My sons and I spent
Fingermark fever on Cap Coast * from P58
If you’re a hardbody lure fan, then I’ve got good news… Fingermark have been crunching them too. I prefer to go for something a bit noisier, such as Classic Lures or Halco RMG Poltergeist Crazy Deeps even. These are a great option if you’re keen to troll instead of cast. www.bnbfishing.com.au
There’s nothing like flicking a lure out the back and searching your favourite rock bar. Just a few final words on another great estuary species that has come on with fingermark – mangrove jack. It’s no surprise that with the current water temperature and humidity they’re chewing because fingers and jacks are from
the same family. Though jacks have a bit more mongrel in them! At the time of writing this article, I hadn’t done a jack trip, but the time is nearing. In fact, I’m going to put the keyboard down and go get the jack gear sorted. Until next month, stay safe and make sure to get out on the water.
many days spanning a couple of decades on the bay during summer holidays. In the years prior to and after those holiday trips with the youngsters, my wife and I would regularly venture further afield to other smooth water venues, including Hervey Bay – a favourite – Gladstone Harbour, Hinchinbrook Channel, Victor Island and Edgecombe Bay. All of these locations offer a comfortable alternative to true blue water fishing, while still providing seasonal pelagic action. Tuna are among the favourite surface feeders to chase in the bays, with mackerel tuna being the most cooperative and frigates often being the toughest to tempt onto a lure. Being visual feeders helps keep kids – young and old – excited during the pursuit of tuna, even when results are
not up to expectations. Seeing the target fish leaping clear of the water keeps youngsters focused on the task at hand and they don’t miss their screens at all. Though various tuna species can be taken using a variety of methods, spinning for them with metal baitfish profile lures is the most active and hands-on tactic. This is the realm of fast-spinning reels, used to make long casts and then retrieve the lure as quickly as physically possible. Once the boat is within casting range – and positioned upwind of the breaking fish – the motor should be kicked into neutral but not turned off. The sudden cessation of background noise when the motor is shut down can be enough to make spooky schools of tuna stop feeding. Longtail tuna are a * continued P60
Bush ’n Beach Fishing, December 2022 – Page 59
