Fishcairns
19-02-2002, 10:48 AM
:oCairns Fishing Update
General:
At time of penning this report (10/2/02) the “wet” season has not yet materialized – a very bold statement given my track record at weather prediction / commenting but we just have not had any serious rainfall for a few months. This is great for the tourists; the clear skies and calm winds enticing many a visitor onto water based activities. The swimming, snorkelling and SCUBA out on the Great Barrier Reef has been mind blowing.
I wish I could say the same about the fishing. The average daily temperature has been quite a few degrees above normal and the subsequent increase in water temps, combined with the clarity of the water is just not conducive to normal fish activity.
We really need some decent rain and a few days of windy weather to literally stir things into action.
River & Estuary
These systems certainly need a good flush; the water clarity is not good for our normal predator fish like barramundi, jacks and fingermark that are more comfortable with lower visibility levels. There has been plenty of baitfish about but the targets have been a bit on the slow side. Sure some anglers and clients have reported excellent fishing on good days but they are few and far between at present.
The Reef
Our good friend Peter Todd of Aqua-Cat reports that fishing is on the improve this last week. There has been a south easterly blowing out wide during this period that has cooled the water considerably enabling good catches of small mouth nannygai and deep water coral trout. Bag limits have led them to an early return to port most days. There are some big spanish mackerel about also. Prior to this blow the fishing was very ordinary.
Light Tackle / Blue water
Once again very patchy reports, one skipper had a ball on GT’s popper fishing the bommies and a mixed bag of reds to keep the clients happy. Reel Sport also reported landing a 500lb black and a 150lb blue marlin out wide a few weeks ago. It just goes to show how unpredictable angling can be – the black should have gone weeks ago.
Cape York
Gary Wright from Seisia also reports on the strange weather. Strong North West winds have made fishing the East coast the preferred option with the Jacky Jacky estuary system producing good grunter, plenty of jacks and the occasional black jew. There are small queenfish and GT’s following the bait schools along with the occasional salmon in the surf. Some big Spanish Mackerel have been captured off the Seisia Wharf this week. Most of these fish have been in the 10 to 15Kg range and have been captured on handlines and live Sardines.
There hasn’t been a lot of rain in the past fortnight and consequently the estuaries have been producing good catches of Mangrove Jack and Fingermark on both lures and bait.
Search Facility
An exciting and functional new facility has been added to our web site – an internal Search Facility. This new inclusion allows the user to type in any word, text, phrase or angling subject on any page and the in built “Atomz” search facility will list all the results for you. Finding that fish species, charter info or knot tying reference could never be easier.
Good Fishing,
Regards Les.
www.fishingcairns.com.au
General:
At time of penning this report (10/2/02) the “wet” season has not yet materialized – a very bold statement given my track record at weather prediction / commenting but we just have not had any serious rainfall for a few months. This is great for the tourists; the clear skies and calm winds enticing many a visitor onto water based activities. The swimming, snorkelling and SCUBA out on the Great Barrier Reef has been mind blowing.
I wish I could say the same about the fishing. The average daily temperature has been quite a few degrees above normal and the subsequent increase in water temps, combined with the clarity of the water is just not conducive to normal fish activity.
We really need some decent rain and a few days of windy weather to literally stir things into action.
River & Estuary
These systems certainly need a good flush; the water clarity is not good for our normal predator fish like barramundi, jacks and fingermark that are more comfortable with lower visibility levels. There has been plenty of baitfish about but the targets have been a bit on the slow side. Sure some anglers and clients have reported excellent fishing on good days but they are few and far between at present.
The Reef
Our good friend Peter Todd of Aqua-Cat reports that fishing is on the improve this last week. There has been a south easterly blowing out wide during this period that has cooled the water considerably enabling good catches of small mouth nannygai and deep water coral trout. Bag limits have led them to an early return to port most days. There are some big spanish mackerel about also. Prior to this blow the fishing was very ordinary.
Light Tackle / Blue water
Once again very patchy reports, one skipper had a ball on GT’s popper fishing the bommies and a mixed bag of reds to keep the clients happy. Reel Sport also reported landing a 500lb black and a 150lb blue marlin out wide a few weeks ago. It just goes to show how unpredictable angling can be – the black should have gone weeks ago.
Cape York
Gary Wright from Seisia also reports on the strange weather. Strong North West winds have made fishing the East coast the preferred option with the Jacky Jacky estuary system producing good grunter, plenty of jacks and the occasional black jew. There are small queenfish and GT’s following the bait schools along with the occasional salmon in the surf. Some big Spanish Mackerel have been captured off the Seisia Wharf this week. Most of these fish have been in the 10 to 15Kg range and have been captured on handlines and live Sardines.
There hasn’t been a lot of rain in the past fortnight and consequently the estuaries have been producing good catches of Mangrove Jack and Fingermark on both lures and bait.
Search Facility
An exciting and functional new facility has been added to our web site – an internal Search Facility. This new inclusion allows the user to type in any word, text, phrase or angling subject on any page and the in built “Atomz” search facility will list all the results for you. Finding that fish species, charter info or knot tying reference could never be easier.
Good Fishing,
Regards Les.
www.fishingcairns.com.au