Fresh kick-starts fishing frenzy.

G’DAY crew, just as the waterways were starting to look good and the water was cleaning up… boom! Down came the rain and did we cop it! Falls of 300mm, 350mm, 380mm, 450mm and some local rain gauges having even 480mm and 500mm in them – that’s a lot of water for 24 hours.

Four hours from high tide, it was 1m away from the front door of our shop, and with high tide at 6.30pm, I was a little worried it was going to come through the front door. Marquis and I moved as much stock off the floor as possible and then prayed the water wasn’t going to get much higher, and that the rain would let up.

Ian Apps got a few snapper on a Great Sandy Straits Sport Fishing charter.

With the whole of Emperor St looking like a river, we left the shop at about 4.30pm. I went back right on high tide and the water had receded to the gutter, thank goodness!

Let’s hope the chocolate brown water pushes out of the system quickly this time and that we don’t have too much rain in coming weeks.

So, what was getting caught before, during and after the rain? Crabs were on the move after the rain, but reports were mixed.

Lindsay Campbell with his first queenfish.

A few days after the big rain we had at the end of the month, the flats and lower reaches seemed to be where the action was. Prior to that, the crabs had been a little hard to come by but, as always, those who persisted managed to scratch up a feed, with fresh bait and a long soak always proving to be a winner.

Reports of good catches of whiting were filtering in at the start of the month and it appeared the rain didn’t turn them off. The lead up to the bigger tide on the new moon saw some quality fish caught in good numbers.

Fresh yabbies and our locally caught and cured beachworms both got the runs on the board. Flathead have been around in good quantities and fishing the last of a run-out with a 4-5’’ soft plastic has worked well, along with live yabbies and the humble pillie tail.

Ian Apps captured a decent nannygai on a charter with Great Sandy Straits Sport Fishing.

Mangrove jack are still warming up, as is the water, and there’ve been some nice catches of this species. Strips of mullet and small live bait fished hard against the snags or in the deeper holes on the making tide have been working well.

As usual, the old ‘estuary trout – cod – have been out in force too. On my last two trips, both resulted in cod beating jacks to the lures on offer.

But on a slow day, catching a few cod in between jack bites keeps you entertained, especially when they are over 50cm. Speaking of water temperature, mid month the Garmin was reading 22.6C up the creek and five days later, it read 25.5C at the top of the tide and 26.3C on the bottom of the run-out. Bring on the jacks!

Brook Carnellor took a nice-sized blackspotted cod from a night fish for mangrove jack.

Don’t forget crew, anyone chasing a saltwater barramundi on the east coast of Queensland, they are now on lockdown until February 1, 2023. If you do happen to catch one, you are required to release them as quickly as possible, and unharmed.

You can still get up to one of the dams and target them, but don’t forget your Stocked Impoundment Permit. From all reports, if the dams don’t go over for the rest of this year and into 2023, Monduran and Awoonga dams are going to be crackers.

The author’s son Howard Rippon braved the rain, insistent on going for a fish with dad to catch a flathead.

I can feel a few trips coming up in the near future. Up around Inskip and the Wide Bay Bar, catches of pelagics have still been strong. Giant trevally, queenfish, tuna and mackerel are all out there and all willing to take a trolled lure or live bait.

If you want to chase a few school mackerel, try using a planning board and a 2-3’’ barra spoon. If you want to learn how to rig them up, pop into the shop – we’ll be happy to show you how.

Lindsay Campbell scored a solid Tin Can Bay giant trevally.

Well, that’s a wrap from me. Until next time, tight lines, take care and get out and enjoy our beautiful water ways! The Chandlery Bait and Tackle, for all your fishing and boating needs.

by CHRIS RIPPON