OLD
Autumn adventures abound COOKTOWN
Justin Coventry
The weather has been fining up, but you can never fully expect the wet weather to be gone for long.
from the wet so being there for the first lure to make its nervous run around a deep snag will more than likely produce that boofing sound that gets the heart racing. I still can’t find a better adrenaline rush than when a large barramundi
Shame, as it’s usually the best time to go fishing and by the time the parks open it’s in May and the weather starts to cool and the winter weather starts to kick in. Fishing is still good but not as ballistic as it would have been a month earlier.
Bill and Col with some nice nannygai. The Easter weekend up this way is almost guaranteed to see storms and rain descend from above and make it a wet weekend. However, the pull to go out and make the most of this month’s fishing makes it too irresistible to pass up. The creeks are starting to clear and the roads are not impassable so the temptation gets the better of most, but don’t be surprised that conditions can change quickly. This month the weather, although unpredictable, will be warm and the rivers will be stocked with barramundi. The snags will be home to new arrivals
slams my lure and retreats to its home then feel the line tighten. The pressure then produces the eruption as the barrra launches its head and sometimes its body out of the water to try flick that lure from its mouth. It’s so addictive and something that keeps me going back year after year to experience. It’s worth the risk to try and get into your secret spots as soon as possible but be aware rivers can rise before your eyes at this time of the year. The national parks have learnt over the years that opening early is dangerous and roads get messed up easily, so they err on the side of caution.
but sometimes it’s worth it to push out and get into some reef fish. The winter does produce some nice night red fishing when opportunity arises. Having everything ready to go is key, so make sure you don’t miss it when it comes. The wharf has been producing some nice fish but the bait has been hard to find. Nevertheless, it should improve this month as the river starts to clear. The wharf and rock wall are good spots to cast some lures for trevally and queenfish as they come through the mouth of the river to feed on bait. The barramundi fishing should also be the best this month after the floods as the water starts to clear. Best times will be around the low tide. Moving water along the rock wall around low tide is the best with pockets of backwater to throw a lure in as this is where they wait to feed on
Anyway, that’s the world we live in! The reef has been producing some nice large mouth nannies and red emperor and the coral trout have still been biting well. This month will probably be the last month for calm days out on the water so make the most of the opportunities as it won’t be long until there are months of constant strong SE winds battering the coast. The calm windows will only be when there is a break, in between one high pressure system moves off the coast and the other one follows. Although it usually only drops a fraction and only for a day
Col Jackson did well on the reds this season. fleeing bait. Smaller lures and plastics work the best. April is a great month with opportunities to catch some nice fish. Just access to areas is still a problem but worth the effort if
you can get there. There should be some fantastic hot fishing sessions on barramundi this month, so looking forward to it! Stay safe but venture out there and get amongst them.
Rebecca Rathie with her first barramundi capture.
FISHING NEWS
Crabs are under the spotlight Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers have been investigating crab pot interference in the Logan River and surrounds. Officers use a range of surveillance techniques to check interference, and found multiple persons lifting crab pots that didn’t belong to them. In some instances, the person stole the crab pots and was referred to the Queensland Police Service. Recent investigations found seven individuals interfering with crab pots that didn’t belong to them, with most interfering on more than one occasion. Fisheries Infringement Notices (FINs) totalling more than $22,000 were
42 APRIL 2023
issued for 16 individual interference offences. It’s a serious offence to interfere with someone else’s equipment. You can report suspected illegal fishing activity to the Fishwatch
Hotline on 1800 017 116. TAGGED JENNIES Fishers who support research by reporting tagged female mud crabs in QLD can get their claws on free escape vents. The reports
These crab thieves didn’t know they were being watched.
will help researchers track the spawning migration of female mud crabs and learn more about the species. Department of Fisheries principal scientist Dr Julie Robins said the research would help ensure mud crab fisheries remained sustainable. “There is a lot of folklore about female mud crabs and where they go to spawn,” Dr Robins said. “Reports of tag recaptures will help us understand where females move to and how long they live for.” If you find a mud crab with a yellow tag on its carapace, text a photo of the crab—along with the date and capture location—to the phone number printed on the tag.
Anglers who report a tagged jenny will receive a free escape vent. Dr Robins said those who reported a tagged mud crab would be offered a free escape vent. “The vents enable sub-legal sized mud crabs and fish to escape, making it easier to sort your catch and reducing the risk of overcrowded crabs injuring one another,” she said.
Researchers have tagged about 500 female mud crabs in Moreton Bay, Hinchinbrook Channel, rivers in Weipa and Mapoon and Broadsound/ Stanage. They plan to tag another 1,500 mud crabs in other areas of Queensland. – QLD DPI
