This is my first post here although I've been fishing and guiding through the Russell/Mulgrave, Daintree and Cairns Trinity Inlet systems for many years.

River & Estuary:

As you will already know, this region has been copping a pounding from old Mother Nature. First it was a bit of a softening up job by some late season rains. Then came the worst tropical cyclone in living memory to hit the Queensland coast. The category 5 “Larry” roared in from the Coral Sea and slammed into the coastal communities of Kurrimine & Mission beaches before reaping destruction on Innisfail. She was not content with this as she split in two and headed up the ranges to the Tablelands where her strong winds did more damage to crops, livestock and farming communities.

In all over two billion (yes, billion) dollars worth of destruction to cropping, farms, housing and townships have been recorded………some communities will take years to recover. The farming sector, the lifeblood of these regions will struggle for months, until crops mature in 8 months time, and then the fear of a glut of produce flooding the market may further dampen their recovery. Who would want to be a farmer……….they are indeed very resilient people and our thoughts go out to them.

Since then the rains have not stopped, with our region recording the highest April rainfall on record – and we still have another 10 days to go. The Daintree tea House for instance had over 1.7 metres at last count. Can you imagine what effect this is having on our rivers?

And only a few days ago another cyclone called “Monica”, a smaller less destructive system thankfully, crossed northern Cape York and brought heavy moisture laden clouds streaming in from the northern equatorial region. This moist air collided with colder south-easterly winds and the result…….rain, rain and more rain. Hell I think I need web feet just to pick up the kids from school.

All the river systems from the Tully in the south, the Johnstone’s, the Russell & Mulgrave, the Barron and the mighty Daintree were metres above normal level. And we still don’t know how the wild rivers of the remote Cape York region have fared. The Barron peaked at over 7m yesterday.

Blue water scene:

With all this lousy weather were having at the moment…..a strong wind warning and even a gale warning a few days ago, well just forget it. But Billfish has reported good fishing with light tackle gear just prior to the blow. Quality spaniards to 30 + lb were about along with various tuna.

Cape York:

This is usually the start of the dry up north but we are having a prolonged big “wet”. The Archer River was 12 metres over the causeway last week, most gulf town are flood bound and the rivers are spewing out huge volumes of fresh…….but when it all starts to settle down those barra, jacks and salmon will be queuing up at the gutter mouths to gorge themselves on the easy pickings.

This big wet is fabulous. Although it is a real pain in the you know what right now, this is what makes our fishery so vibrant for years to come. The bigger the wet, the more recruitment to our fish stocks occurs. We will see much improved catch rates right across the Top End for years as a result.

So, let it rain BUT I’d like it to stop - like tomorrow!

See you on the water
Les Marsh

Fishing Cairns - www.fishingcairns.com.au