Hungry autumn barra are not fooling around

HINCHINBROOK

Ian

Moody

info@ianmoodyfishing.com

While we have had some consistent wet weather periods so far this year, it has made getting a lot of charters out successfully very difficult indeed. It’s not because of any big flooding events, but more the consistent wet weather that seems to hang around just enough to keep the Hinchinbrook channel water quality very brackish. Since the deluge of freshwater in the channel back in February, I noticed a lot of the resident barra schools had moved out the front in the short term. Some good numbers have started to return and, with the likelihood of wet conditions starting to ease in April leading into May, we should get some better periods of stability. This is a month we could see some really great barra captures. With the earlier months of heavy rain, it’s a case of short-term pain for long term gain.

We have just been picking away at fish travelling the dirty water fringes of Missionary Bay and also along the mainland from the Marina mouth to Meunga Creek. Schools of mullet have been pushed around a bit with the fresh with most sitting out the front of river systems in large numbers. Often too, that’s where the best barra captures have been from. Although hopefully through April we should see better numbers of barra being caught as weather starts to dry up so to speak. So far success rates have been fairly 50/50 with lures compared to live baiting.

Fingermark are still better off fished in areas a little further away from the coastline, like near Gould Island, Cape Richards or any areas with remnants of flood waters. By the end of April and into May they should return in great numbers back into the Hinchinbrook channel when salinity returns to normal levels. Greenback herring schools should be thick at this time of year and are often my go-to live bait for them.

April is the last month for warmer water so I’ll be continuing on making the most of the bigger tides for barra while they are travelling a lot more. They can also up the ante in feeding habits to fatten themselves up for winter. Usually around the first week of May we will get our first cold weather influences, which initially can shut the barra down as they become exposed to the cooler water. When those cooler temps plateau, they usually go back to their normal feeding patterns but only during periods of stable weather. Night tide changes can become more productive as well. They will still respond to surface lures once they have settled into the new temperature. Hopefully my new reef vessel will be up and operating by then as the cooler months are better for offshore red’s fishing as well as Spanish mackerel.

I’d expect the threadfin salmon to continue in the shallows during April and also some good fingermark catches should start to increase. I’ll also be starting to head more often to the wonky holes once water temps drop at the end of April. Large mouth nannygai should be in better numbers much closer to the coastline, especially after a good wet season.

For those visiting Cardwell, a reminder you will need at least 1.4m of tide to launch or retrieve most vessels up to about 6m in length. Bigger vessels will need a slightly bigger tide.

• If you’re looking to do a barra charter with us for this year’s barra season. Bookings are filling up quick so now is a good time to get in and get your name down on some good dates. For bookings please email us at info@ ianmoodysportfishing.com or phone myself directly on 0402 339 459.