Cooktown

COOKTOWN Justin Coventry

The weather has been crazy, with rain and near cyclonic winds becoming common. The winds are standard at this time of year, but the rain is unusual. It is meant to clear this month, though. I can’t remember the last time I went reef fishing – it seems like a decade normally at this time of the year, which might have something to do with it. The water levels have allowed fish to move around a little more, and having hungry fish moving through a system betters the chances of encountering these awesome sportfish.

Lure fishing the snags and deep edges of the creeks has seen explosion after explosion of hungry barramundi, followed by but they can also go the wrong way and continue wrapping your line up as it tries to get free.

One fish recently managed to wrap itself around a branch so tightly that the braid then snapped, but the fish was left tied to the snag. This is a problem with land-based fishing, as if I was in a boat I could have netted it. I wasn’t going to risk swimming out from the

Col Jackson landed this lovely 89cm barra fishing land-based in the scrub.

ago! With little chance of heading to the reef, the lure fishing in the rivers has been firing up. I don’t know if it’s the run-off from the constant rain or what, but the barramundi fishing has been next level. I don’t think it has been this good for a while.

The water levels are higher than they are their usual leaping into the air trying to flick the lure from their massive mouths. The biggest obstacle to landing your fish is the snag you’re fishing. I have had a few wrap me around the snags and once the braid is cutting into the timber, it’s hard to get it free. The fish can help sometimes by swimming the right way, land. I felt bad to see it stuck there, but hopefully the hooks straightened and it got away.

The local wharf has not seen much action, but the mackerel aren’t far away, and if bait schools start showing up in numbers, it’s a good sign for the toothy critters. The mackerel are usually very active in This 75cm specimen from the author is nothing to be sniffed at. Always make sure you exercise croc safety when fishing landbased in these areas, and if possible fish with locals.

September and October, so checking out the wharf is a good idea. Once activity increases in this area, space on the wharf will be limited. October is also the best for barramundi fishing off the wharf, but it will be interesting to see how it goes this year, as the coral trout, red emperor and large mouth nannygai can commence. The reef fishing should be great, as the fish have had a long break due to the windy weather over the last few months. I can’t wait to check some of my hot spots and see what’s waiting below.

Tidal run can be intense around full moon, and the outgoing out tides can produce great current lines where bait schools get hammered. If you’re after speedsters, it pays to watch the current lines and activity to determine the best places to berley up some pelagics.

The author believes the unseasonal rain is to blame for the heightened barramundi activity early on in spring.

unusual rain and weather conditions may have an effect on things.

The first day of November marks the start of the closed season for barramundi, which reopens on 1 February. It will be interesting to see how the lead up goes. It has probably been one of the best winter fishing seasons for barramundi that I have seen, so hopefully this continues in the lead up to summer.

The best thing to hope for this month is for the winds to drop off so that reef fishing opens up and the bountiful catches of

Night time red emperor fishing should also be firing, and certainly beats standing out in the sun. I have found, though, that fishing on the full moon is a waste of time. The fish will still be there, and the full moon is great for lighting up the night, but every time I’ve done it the sharks are always in a frenzy. Most of your fish don’t make it to the boat and you spend a lot of time re-rigging. I’ve learned to avoid this situation, and it’s better to stay home or use the night to travel to an outer island or reef and fish the morning run. Throwing a popper or two at the bait schools can also be productive, but also arm-wrenching.

Shallow trout fishing is also at its best with the strong runs, as bait and berley spread quickly and hungry fish will travel.

There’s lots of options, and as they say, “no run no fun”. Generally though, the best fishing comes either side of the new and full moons, which usually see average run in the tide. Hopefully some reef fish photos come in next month, but who can complain when the barramundi fishing has been so good!

“I love fishing for the places and the destinations we get to explore, not to mention the thrill of the unknown catch at the end of line. On the water and at the beach is where I’m most happy,” Nicole said. Nicole is a proud leader of the Women in Recreational Fishing Leadership Program and a member of the Women in Recreational Fishing Network Qld Facebook group. “Fishing challenges me to learn new things continually. I’m keen to help develop a community of women that makes other women comfortable asking any fishing questions they want.” I also want to encourage more junior anglers and encourage everyone to only take what they need and to fish sustainably.” The Women in Recreational Fishing Network Qld Facebook group has been established as a place for women to pick up handy fishing tips, share and trawl through impressive catch pics, and hook into leadership opportunities and events for women in fishing. While the group is primarily for women living in Queensland, you are welcome to join the discussion if you’re from another part of the world too.

Search Facebook for ‘Women in Recreational Fishing Network Qld’ to find out more.

Kyle is a member of our stock assessment team. Originally from Bundaberg, Kyle has worked with us for the last five years while completing his PhD thesis at James Cook University in Townsville. During his thesis, Kyle investigated age-based variations in the growth, reproduction, and mortality of saddletail snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus) and red emperor (Lutjanus sebae) along the Queensland coast. This research had direct relevance to fishery management. Our fishery monitoring team and recreational anglers across Queensland helped by providing fish samples for Kyle’s research.

Towards the end of his thesis, Kyle was also a project team member and co-author for the stock assessments of saddletail snapper, crimson snapper and red emperor. Kyle brings significant biological and fishery knowledge to his role on the stock assessment modelling team and is excited to help deliver the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy: 2017–2027.