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Hot bites for Xmas HINCHINBROOK
Ian Moody info@ianmoodyfishing.com
There’s definitely been a big change in seasons this year compared to previous ones. Much more early
can be caught even out in areas on mudflats adjacent to areas of timber being left high and dry at low tide. They are generally the last ones to leave the snags on an outgoing tide and first ones to push up onto the flats on an incoming tide.
charters finished and put into operation for the 2023 year. A few friends of mine have been doing quite well out on the reef with some quality coral trout and sweetlip, particularly around the Otter Reef area. Fishing in the shallower patches
Jacks love the soaring water temperatures in December.
Beware of sharks when fishing deep for species like fingermark. wet weather is sometimes associated after colder and longer winters. Soaring hot days have been hammering us when that wind drops out, even a mobile phone of mine died because it got fried in the heat. With the incredible heatwaves in between rain periods this time of year, it sends our water temps soaring and one species loves that, which is the mangrove jack. Close encounters in timber can be interesting upon hook-up. Whether it be from a retrieved hardbody or weedless plastic to a live bait, it can be a real challenge to turn them if there is structure nearby. However, in saying that they
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DECEMBER 2022
Been extra wary lately of the presence of sharks, they are just everywhere, and it can be quite difficult if your fishing deeper water for species like fingermark. I find it’s best once you lose a fish or two to sharks, to move on somewhere else. In recent weeks I’ve experienced a lot of fish captures that have shown bite mark injuries from sharks. Makes me wonder if now they are more pack hunting/harassing schooling fish as well as chasing injured fish that are being fought on a fishing line. I have been off the water more so this month, as I am focusing on getting my new boat for offshore
around bommies has been doing the job and helping prevent losses to sharks. There has been the occasional threadfin salmon kicking around, but they haven’t been anywhere near as thick as years gone by. My
Aubrey with a pretty coral trout.
theory is there have been quite a few years of poor wet seasons, which they seem to thrive on. Areas like near the Bluff down the southern end of the channel used to be riddled with them, but these days
hardly see many if at all. The flats out the front of Meunga Creek across to Dallarchy are the better areas to try at the moment. I hope you all have an awesome Christmas and Happy New Year and indulge on plenty of fine seafood we have to offer here on our doorstep. I hope Santa brings you that much wanted baitcaster or spin rod under the tree! See you in the New Year. • If you’re looking to do an inshore charter with us during January or the start of the 2023 open barra season in February, bookings are filling up quick so now is a good time to get in and get your name down on some good dates. Offshore Reef charters will be available soon so please enquire for those if you’re interested as well. For bookings please email us at info@ianmoodysportfishing. com or phone myself directly on 0402 339 459.
