Lucinda

Magic March marvels

LUCINDA Jeff Wilton

jeffwilton83@hotmail.com It’s March already and you can bet it will be pretty damp here in North Qld. The fishing can prove slightly difficult with potentially plenty channel will be dictated by the amount of freshwater pushing out of the Herbert and Seymour rivers. Both these rivers have the ability to pump out loads of dirty freshwater making the channel resemble a brown un-fishy looking area. If this is the case then it is a great idea to head north towards predators and the perfect spot to ambush baitfish. Small creek mouths are perfect examples of this and also double as fish highways where they will move around with the tides.

The hot humid days are perfect for chasing barra and jacks, and Hinchinbrook is re-known for dishing up some great action on both. The jack fishing here can be first class with plenty of fish sitting up the creeks waiting for a well-presented lure or soft plastic. Jacks are also easy to target with baits, and tying up or anchoring whilst drifting some baits into the snags can be a very enjoyable way to land a few fish. It has been many years since I chased jacks on bait as I am now 100% into soft plastic fishing but drifting unweighted half pilchards into big snags was really good fun and also a deadly technique.

The summer run means warm water and also the chance to tangle with some big grunter as they are one species that does not mind the influx of fresh water. Fishing the smaller tide changes on dark with fresh baits should see rods getting bent. Grunter can be found up the creeks and in the channel itself, look for bottom that is rubbly and if your anchor is bringing up shell grit then you’re in a good area. Also, if you are catching catfish, which although annoying, also means there should be grunter around as well.

Fresh squid, prawns or sardine baits are deadly and use smaller hooks as grunter have smaller mouths. Also, when they are biting they tend to pick the bait up and move away with it whilst swallowing so giving them a little slack line before setting the hook should see better hook-up rates. JETTY,

ISLANDS AND REEF

The jetty will have plenty of boats anchored up, especially over night as anglers chase the run of grunter that will move with the tide. Getting comfortable setting a few baits and waiting for a rod to buckle is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours and bring home some tasty fish for dinner.

The odd fingermark bream will also make its way into the esky, especially if you’re using live sardines or squid for bait. For the fishos that enjoy chasing popular for escaping the heat and going for a swim, keep in mind it is well into stinger season and these guys can be found out there. Stinger suits are a must and every boat should have a few litres of vinegar on board at all times.

Summer months can mean the longtail tuna or northern blues can show up and if you’re lucky enough to get a small lure in front of feeding fish then hold on. These fish rip plenty of drag and will do circle work around the boat for hours if you don’t have gear that can turn their heads towards the boat. They also make great sashimi if dealt with properly, bled well and put straight onto ice they are a real treat.

Hitting the reef shouldn’t be problem as normally the winds are pretty good. No matter the forecast the northerly sea breeze will blow up around lunchtime everyday and can be pretty uncomfortable. The chance of very nasty storms building up overnight and charging out towards the reef can turn a perfect night into chaos very quickly. It is always a good idea to have a safe anchorage planned inside a reef or in the lee of a reef in case something nasty

Vinnie locked up in the deep.

of freshwater pumping through the channel as the mighty Herbert River does its thing. It is still worth throwing some rods in the boat and getting out there though, as the unstable weather can do wonderful things in terms of fish wanting to feed.

HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL

The fishing in the

From page 46

actually hold plenty of food for foraging fish. Some piece of structure in the vicinity, regardless of how small it is, will often concentrate schools of fish. Getting them to bite is sometimes a different story.

On the east coast as you head out towards the outer reef, contours, depressions, deep gutters and shoals will concentrate a lot of fish, usually in that 20-40m zone. This is prime area for coral trout, red emperor, Chinaman fish, red bass and a range of trevally and cod species. Fishing areas of concentrated fish then moving around from spot to spot will help keep fish feeding actively when they are in the mood. A switch up to bait might be needed if you are staying put.

Some of the shallower reef country might be a little challenging throughout March. Warm water temperatures up on top and in the shallows often drives fish a little deeper off the edges. Some of the inshore pelagic fishing might also be a little quiet. But as things settle down into dry season patterns, expect this activity to really pick up.

The barra fishing throughout March is usually excellent, but a lot will depend on the status of the wet season. Late heavy rains can often spoil the party this time of year and a cyclone is also very much on the cards. Generally, however, the creeks and rivers along the west coast of the Cape will be charged with freshwater and typically the barra fishing will be very good. Pay particular attention to drains and colour changes in the rivers where side branches enter main systems.

Make use of March to reach and fish some of the places that will become more challenging throughout the dry season. Quite soon, you will be lamenting missed opportunities when those sou’easters and southerly winds start their inevitable engines for the next six months. fish on lures then targeting the resident trevally and queenfish is hard to beat. Use your sounder to locate bait schools and put some

the Cardwell end in search of clearer waters. Normally you can find okay looking areas in the middle of Benjamin flats so pack some extra fuel and explore a little. Be on the look out for areas that have distinct colour lines, where clear water meets dirty water pushing off mud banks and drains. This is the type of water fish feel comfortable in as it gives them cover from Toni always seems to find solid jacks.

Molly-Rose with a classic Hinchy barra, only small but lots of fun.

Nannygai are suckers for a well-presented plastic.

time into working that area as the predators won’t be far away. Make sure you’re prepared as big fast fish and hundreds of pylons is a recipe for plenty of bust-offs. The islands will be most decides to rear up. The reef fishing is always good up here obviously some days are better then others but in most cases it’s not too hard to find a few fish willing to eat a bait.

Fishing alters with the changing season

TOOWOOMBA Jason Ehrlich

fishability1@bigpond.com We will soon start to see some changes in fish behaviour across the lakes. It may be the change of season this month but the weather will dictate how soon the shorter days and environmental influence takes effect on our watery friends.

Fish, like barra and cod, will spend more time venturing up into the shallow cooler waters. Bass tend to change their feeding habits from the past few months and golden perch will slowly taper off and be less willing to chase faster presentations.

This can make fishing a bit harder but there are will be some lakes where the fishing is slower to change and they just keep chewing.

Until next month, buckled rods from The Colonel.

Pressure has been placed on the council to update their out-dated levels to be in line with other water controlling bodies. We are hoping to see some progress this month.

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND

CRESSBROOK

CLOSEST TOWN:

CROWS NEST

Cressbrook has fished well and it was the best summer period for many years. Don’t be fooled into thinking catching them is easy as the fish can still be tough. They have their preferred bite times, which are often shortened when they are under angling pressure. The better than average action should fish taking more interest in bigger profiled spoons and slow jigs. You’ll need to pack the whole tackle box full of different presentations this month and play around until you find what they prefer. Around the edges of the lake, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and lipless crankbaits will still produce but mix it up and try hopping blades and rolling soft plastics as well. I find a good inbetween lure is a 3” caught by anglers rolling and hopping the Rator Jig. The 30g Slow Blatt would also do the trick if these bass are liking the bigger baits. Again, it’s that tricky time of year so mix it up and try smaller 20g offerings to see if a reduction in size helps. • Fish’n’Bits in Toowoomba has all the gear and tips on how to chase the Cressy fish. They are an excellent store specialising in all freshwater lures and tackle. If you want an early or late session, don’t forget the longer open hours

It will be worth a look for suspended bass this month at Somerset. As it cools they should move back onto flats and hard structure. You’ll need to fish each location differently to maximise your catch.

continue but with the change of season, they will change their mood and different techniques may come into play.

Lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits and vibration jigs were dominating catches but there were already signs of things starting to change with paddle-tail soft plastic rigged on 3/8oz jighead and a beetle spin. It offers the fish a little of both lure styles but is still more subtle than your standard sized spinnerbait or chatterbait.

Out deeper on the points, schooling fish should be keen on spoons and metal jigs. Some good numbers were are to 6am to 8pm. SOMERSET

CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY

Somerset bass made a move last month and suspended in deep water. Sometimes these fish are happy to stay out there and feed up while other times their stay in the deep is brief

Gary’s Marine Centre

3201 6232

and they will return to the flats and drop offs near the old riverbed. This means the start of a Somerset session could involve an hour or two of sounding to find where the fish are. Looking around The Spit and Pelican Point should locate either suspended fish out deep or close to the bottom in 8-9m of water on the flats and drop offs. Where you find them will help dictate lure selection but we should soon start to see a mix of techniques working again. Trial and error can certainly pay off as the fish transition between seasons.

When the bass are found closer to the bottom in under 10m of water, try casting and trolling chatterbaits. The Spectre Vibration Jig in the 5/8 size and darker colours is a favourite of many anglers. Spinnerbaits can also work well on these schooling fish. At times they’ll be a bit tricky to find but if you tails around the 3” size are perfect. Spoon fishers can’t go past the 18g Nories wasabi or 20g Hot Bite Gang Banger. There’s a range of good tail spinner options but I’d opt for the Nories or Hot Bite ones again in the 18g weights as they seem ideal for reaching the fish and staying in the zone.

Regardless of lure choice, the critical element is lure presentation and placing it at the correct depth. Suspended bass can be very particular about where they sit in relation to the thermocline. If you are too shallow, too deep or only passing through the productive zone briefly you will be greatly reducing your chances of catching fish. Once their holding depth is established, learn how to count down your chosen lure and keep it in the zone. This could mean driving away from the fish to find some bottom the same boat speed or alter the amount of line you have out to alter the depth of the presentation until you get it spot on.

Hardbody trolling is usually still good at time of year. If the bass are focused on smaller baitfish, the action will be a lot slower and you may need to switch to plastics or tail spinners. When choosing hard bodies, try to match the lure depth to that of the fish.

Up around Kirkleigh end the golden perch numbers will be higher. Trolling hardbodies along the drop-offs to the main river to the north of Kirkleigh should produce a mix of goldens and smaller bass. You can even venture up into the standing timber and work similar drop off edges. Golden perch numbers should be pretty good for

It’s not a bad month to target Murray cod in the Queensland lakes. The shorter days will see them spending more time in shallower water.

look in the usual spots and focus on any form of timber or rocky structure, the fish could be there. They seem to like feeding up on crays at this time of year.

The fact the fish had moved out wide and suspended could be due to a fresh hatch of smaller baitfish after the continuing rain events. If this food source can keep up to them the fish could just stay out there where they will suspend at the most comfortable level around the thermocline. These deep water suspending fish like a different approach and will be keen on presentations like soft plastics, spoons and tail spinners. When using plastics, rig them on 1/2 or 5/8oz jigheads. Paddledepth as they are holding and counting down and working lures across it to learn how to maintain the same depth out in the open water.

Trolling soft plastics and tail spinners is another option, especially when the fish are scattered through the deep areas. Working them at around 2km/h will give them a good action and get you close to the zone. You can either play around with the next couple of months before they start to taper off. • Somerset Fishing has their store based at the area above the day use boat ramp. The store is open over holidays and otherwise from Thursday to Sunday. Orders can also be made online via the website www. somersetfishing.com.au . They have an excellent range of gear suited to fishing for bass and golden perch.

DARLING DOWNS AND GRANITE BELT

COOBY

CLOSEST TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS,

TOOWOOMBA

The lake was closed last month by Toowoomba Regional Council due to high algae readings.

AWOONGA

CLOSEST TOWNS: BENARABY, GLADSTONE

The barra have been a bit harder to tempt over the last few months. The taller weed bed strands are difficult to fish and chances are big numbers of barra are hiding in them. There have been less fish just outside the weed beds with a most being found out suspended in deeper water. As the days cool off a bit and get shorter, the fish should start to push back into the shallower areas of the lake. Points and bays will again come back into play.

This transition may take some time. The deeper water areas should produce well until the fish are ready to move. Try to find points or bay entrances very close to the main river channel. These are far more obvious where the water is shallower up past Dingo Island in the Boyne River arm. Look for similar areas around the mouth of the Iveragh Creek system.

Casting soft plastics and swimbaits will get the bites when the fish are located. The best action is likely to be early morning or late in the afternoon.

Trolling hardbodies and soft plastics to deeper fish should also do the trick. Out from the dam wall and in the mouth of Iveragh Creek is a good place to start. You will need to cover a lot of water in this vast area to locate the fish. If you manage to find good numbers, expect some good sessions. Midmorning

Awoonga barra should start to move in a bit shallower at night this month. The points close to the riverbeds will be worth a look.

Maryann Bonello had the best day on the water when she caught her first ever Spanish mackerel on lure at Karumba.

through to afternoon is a good time to try your luck. Start with hard bodies like the Predatek Viper, 5m RMG Scorpion and 10ft Barra Classic. These can be trolled at 6km/h to cover heaps of water while studying your sounder. Side image is the best tool for locating fish at this speed. You’ll need to scan wider to see the fish than you would in the shallower areas. I like to run my Simrad at 50m either side.

If good numbers of barra are found in a particular area, try slow trolling soft plastics. You can opt to rig your own or just choose a swimbait like the Zerek Live Mullet 5.5” or Molix Shad in the 140 or 180 sizes. The Molix can work at slow speeds but you’ll need to be doing at least 2.5km/h with a Zerek Live Mullet. If you find them in really good numbers, give casting a go. • Justin Nye from Gladstone Fly and Sportfishing runs fishing charters on the lake. He caters to the needs of the angler and can do fly or conventional tackle trips to target the lake’s barramundi. He successfully guides clients onto fish right through the year and has a good understanding of fish movements. It is hard to beat time on the water and this is a great way to learn more about this lake and its fish. You can contact him on 0429 Blake Ehrlich hooked this 113cm Callide Dam barra trolling. The hit was unreal, it snapped the rod and rod holder on the strike. He was lucky enough to grab it before it went overboard.

223 550 or visit the website gladstoneflyandsportfishing .com.au. • Mark from Awoonga Gateway Lodge always has a few productive secret spots to share. The Gateway lodge is on the way in to the dam after turning off at Benaraby. The accommodation is great with plenty of boat parking space right beside the comfortable air conditioned, self-contained cabins each with its own veranda. To book in a stay give Mark or Lyn a call on (07) 49750033. CALLIDE CLOSEST

TOWN: BILOELA

The Callide Dam barra are well spread out through the dam. While this can make it a bit harder to bang big numbers of fish, it suits the average angler who just wants to catch a fish. If a big barra is your dream fish, head to Callide and give it a go. Trolling anywhere from the dam wall buoy line up into the start of the treetops will put you in with a very good chance. You don’t even need a big boat. If the winds are light, you’ll get away with a kayak provided you feel comfortable battling big fish in open water.

The Molix Shads and Zerek Live Mullets have been doing the damage on the open water fish. The barra are very mobile and can be found just about anywhere due to their nomadic nature so covering heaps of water is the secret. The mornings seem to be more productive for this style of fishing so aim to fish from first light to 10am. With plenty of big fish to 120cm on offer you could secure yourself a trophy specimen.

Lure casters can try tossing into the deeper treetops lining the old creek channel. It is a hit and miss affair as the barra are nearly always there but not always in the mood. Suspending jerkbaits like the Jackall Squirrel 79 and Super Squirrel are very popular. On our last trip, we had several bites on the Samiki Redic as well. You’ll need to be on your game to extract these fish when they eat tight to the trees. Unlike other timbered lakes, the majority of the trees are lighter and very spindly; the type that just love to tangle up and eat fishing line when fish run through it. Use 50lb braid and at least 60lb leader to give yourself a fighting chance. The bites in the trees seem best during daylight hours and seem to taper off in the dark as the fish move out of them.

You can stay close to the dam at Lake Callide Retreat. The park has basic camping, powered sites for camping and vans and also selfcontained cabins. There is a well-equipped camp kitchen and toilets and showers up in the main part of the park near the office. Make sure you bring all of your fishing tackle. The kiosk has a limited amount of fishing gear but it is well suited to the lake.

AWOONGA GATEWAY LODGE

“Right on Awoonga’s doorstep. All set up for fishos, with tranquil surroundings.“