Mackay

Onset of cooler fishing

MACKAY Cameron Christian

May brings the onset of our short and mild winter and this change in conditions brings different species to the forefront of Mackay fishing.

Before the conditions get too cold (for North QLD that is), summer species like barra, jacks and fingermark will still be available. These summer species may be found in warmer areas like flats, rock bars and rocky headlands, particularly at the warmer times of day. Fishing these areas on the incoming tide after they have been baking in the sun on the low tide may lead to better success. Barra will become increasingly hard to find with lures however, and live baits will typically be the best option for a cool barra.

Toward the end of May these summer species usually become harder to fish and targeting winter species like flathead, mackerel, barracuda, snapper and queenfish may produce better results. Flathead should become prominent during May as the cooler weather is typically their breeding time. Large numbers can be caught around the flats in the Pioneer River and around Seaforth, but anglers should be cautious with what they keep as many can be found full of roe when filleting.

When anglers aren’t fishing the flats, efforts may be focused on rocky headlands and inshore islands for species like mackerel, queenfish, barracuda and the beginning of the snapper run. Mackerel are often found in strong numbers around the Harbour, Slade Rock, and Round Top and Flat Top Island. As usual, anglers should be on the lookout for bird or people activity, both of which can be dead giveaways for feeding mackerel. If mackerel can be seen feeding on the surface, tried and true surface lures or metal slugs and spoons should be flogged at the schools for good results. Stealth can be key, as engine or boat noise can spook schools and drive them deeper in the water column. Anglers should plan their approach, keeping the wind to their back, cutting the engine well away from the school and casting lures as far as possible.

When mackerel aren’t seen feeding on the surface they can be commonly found when trolling old, busted up barra lures like Tilsans, Halcos and Reidy’s around structure, such as pressure points, shallow areas, bommies and edges, anything the mackerel will be able to push bait schools up against. Bommies like those around Round Top can also be jigged with lures like slugs and large soft plastics for species like golden trevally, snapper and coral trout.

The onset of cool conditions usually sees queenfish catches increase and to take advantage, anglers should focus on prominent structure like the bridges and trainer walls in the Pioneer River and inshore islands and rocky headlands like those around Seaforth and Eimeo. When bashing structure anglers should see plenty of queenfish caught on live baits or surface lures like Bombers, X-Raps, Reidy’s Bloopas, and Skitter Pops worked fast and erratically. The deeper sections of this structure should also be targeted with slugs sunk to the bottom and burned back, or by trolling divers. If schooling queenfish are found, just about anything can be used including plastics slow rolled or hopped along the bottom.

Late in the month, snapper, golden trevally and queenfish will usually show up in our waters on their northern migration. June normally sees snapper out off Mackay, but they will be around in the more southerly waters by the end of May. Targeting them around the islands and deeper reefs south of Sarina initially, with fresh or live bait should lead to success. Big plastic jerk baits and paddletails as well as vibes will also catch plenty once schooling snapper or schools of bait are found on the sounder. Species like snapper, queenfish and goldens will often sit in and under the bait schools and baits and lures should be presented accordingly.

With the cooler water temps during May, crabbing becomes just that much harder to get a feed. High rainfall flushes the muddies out of the creeks and during May they gradually make their way back to the creek systems. They are not impossible this month but can be very patchy as the water temperature drops. Check the creek banks at low tide for recent crab activity and then set your pots nearby. It is a good idea to fish nearby so the pots can be regularly lifted and if not producing they can be shifted elsewhere. Fishing nearby also keeps the pot robbers away.

In the freshwater dams, barra will typically become hard work to catch, and as a result, the barra comps are put on hold. Persistent anglers can really enjoy the cooler times, but with the cooling weather affecting the rats more than the big fat barra leaving them with just enough effort to feed. Kinchant being the warmest dam will see slightly better conditions and most likely more catches. Whichever dam anglers are attempting elusive winter barra, searching for warmer waters, feeding barra and focusing on common bite times will increase results. Downsizing lures is also a good practice during the cooler times and increases the likelihood of sooty by-catch. Keeping barra sized line and leader is important when distracted by football-sized sooties in Teemburra or Kinchant, as monster barra love to inhale sooty sized lures.

Sooties don’t worry about the cold conditions and will remain a staple for freshwater fishers both in the dams and freshwater systems. In the Dams, weed points, coves and edges can be successfully fished with small divers, soft plastics and hardbody vibes. Working these lures as slow as possible and pausing suspending lures where possible can really aggravate sooties. When the weeds die back and become hard to fish, the same techniques may be applied to the lily pad edges with great results. Sooties are also readily found in the timber with the treetops in the top water section typically producing the best results during sun rise and set. Always keep an eye out for roosting shags as sooties are almost always found lurking underneath waiting for an easy feed. When sooties can’t be found on the surface, deeper sections should be fished with divers and sinking lures, focusing on the dense structure provided by the treetops. Remembering the depth at which fish take or hit lures can allow anglers to capitalise on the feeding pattern for that particular day or weather condition.

Matt Richardson loves to work the flats for flathead on his 6wt fly rod but instead scored this beaut bream on a KD Flashy baitfish pattern. Mark Gifford with a nice Eungulla sooty caught by slow rolling a Berkley Hollowbelly through the treetops.