OLD
Winning in the wet CAPE YORK
Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com
So many locals of Cape York proclaim that ‘The Wet’ is their favourite time. The beginning of
levels are to be maintained. Generally, the good wet season corresponds with good fishing later. F is h in g o p tio n s available for local residents in January consist mostly of offshore jaunts. Calm windless mornings on the
stacked below down in around 25-45m is a great way to put a feed on the table. Using metal jigs which flutter down the water column, attracting fish both on the drop and the way back up again. A little strip bait or squid
This queenie took a trolled popper. red emperor. A host of other species can sit mid water including giant trevally, golden trevally, chinaman
fish, red bass, diamond trevally and others. The sounder should reveal what depth predators are
stationed and baits can be wound back up off the bottom to match. Productive trolling can
GTs caught on a jig will fight hard! tentacles on the assist hook can dramatically increase your success rate. Some of the heavier vibes and soft plastics rigged with large jigheads can fish this deeper water and in the right hands are very affective. Working out sink rates and understanding the lures contact with the bottom is crucial in catching fish and preventing snags. Winding back in with a bit of speed will dramatically increase your hook ups on pelagic fish and speedsters. Dropping down baits and live bait slowly through the water column can produce anything from nannygai to coral trout and
A common sized trout taken off the surface.
Double chinaman fish trouble for these anglers. the year is the beginning of new life along the vast coastline of Cape York. Thunder rolls and the lightning strikes. The next two months likely the wettest of the year barring cyclone activity. The creeks are beginning their annual flow and the huge expanse of Cape York wetlands are starting to sponge up. January and February are crucial months if ground water and surface water 44
JANUARY 2023
water with the constant threat of rain. On the Barrier Reef side of the Cape, the offshore reefs represent a sparkling jewel in an endless sea. Water quality this time of year can be spectacular. The water is warm and clear without the constants trade winds mid-year. Some of the deeper patches, shoals and rocks will fish very well this time of year. Finding bait schools with predators
A great shoal trio of fish on jigs.
be found on some of the wide ground, especially around high points, shoals, pinnacles, fringing reefs and bommies. It can be a lottery of different species that might hit lures trolled at a range of depths. From skirted lures through to stick baits and suspending minnows, bibbed divers and trolled baits round out the options for trolling. Right out in the deeper sections off the reef edge, a few salty sea dogs will be out deep dropping depths from around 80m down to 200m. A range of staggeringly large fish can be pulled from the depths, usually not surviving the barotrauma. Luckily most of them taste great and fill an esky pretty quick. Only take what you need for a feed then give them a rest.
