Reef Fishing
May’s month of fishing is off to a reasonable start. Reef fishing has been quite good for those that got out on the water particularly around Cairns and Port Douglas. Conditions offshore for the start of May have been fairly windy but a few days so far have allowed anglers to target deeper water off the shelf drop offs, isolated rubble patches, and reef edges.
- Coral trout: Fishing the top of the reef flats and shallows around the reef edges proved effective, landing some solid trout on poppers and slides. As well as fresh squid and pilchards on dropper rigs.
- Large & small mouth nannygai: Consistent in 50-80m depth ranges, fished with squid, pilchards and fresh cut baits doing best. A mixed bag of fish such as trevally, spangled emperor and reef mangrove jacks were also on the bite.
- Spanish mackerel: Are on the chew with better run in the tides and were caught trolling lures and floating pilchards, particularly around the tide changes.
The offshore scene should only improve with water temps and air temps starting to cool down making the days for fishing a little breezier but bring on the bite for pelagic and bottom species as they prefer cooler water temps.
Reef mangrove fishing the bottom with fresh squid on dragon lady charters.
Red throat and spangled emperor were abundant along the reef edges
Rivers & Estuaries.
The northern rivers and estuaries produced some excellent sessions for local anglers. Targeting barramundi, mangrove jacks and some nice grunter casting lures over snags and mud drains, and live baits on the edges of the mudflats.
Heading north, the Daintree River has fished well with some solid barramundi being caught casting paddle tail soft plastics and imitation prawn lures fished in the snags and eddies. Also jungle perch have been great to target with poppers in the clear freshwater in the upper reaches.
The Cairns Trinity Inlet & Barron River are fishing well with good numbers of barra, during the bigger night time tides around deeper holes, submerged snags and mangrove edge. The best way to target them is with live prawns, mullet or herring, weedless rigged paddle tail plastics and prawns. Grunter & mangrove jacks are also active, particularly around structure and natural snags on the edges of the mud flats.
- Dickson’s Inlet: A real hot spot for mangrove jacks recently, especially on live baits during the run-out tide.
- Mourilyan Harbour is fishing well up the smaller side creeks producing some quality jacks and barra for anglers using live baits.
- Hinchinbrook’s channel has fished well for anglers chasing barramundi and jacks along with cod and trevally. Fishing up around the Benjamin flats with small soft plastic prawn replicating the jelly prawns emptying out of the mud drains.
Live baiting the mudflats with sardines worked a treat for this lucky angler aboard fish tales
Coastal Headlands & Beach Foreshores!
The coastal headlands have fished well early mornings before the wind increases allowing for land-based anglers and small boats to get out before it gets choppy. Along the Cairns northern beaches big barramundi and threadfin salmon have been biting well for those finding them with live scanning sonar to locate fish and casting large paddle tails, vibes and soft plastic prawns.
Hinchinbrook Headlands & Islands
Finger mark have fished well with live baits right in close to the rocks. Trolling shallow and hard body lures along the rocky outcrops has produced quality barra and jacks also.
Weekend Outlook!
With tides being bigger in the morning the fishing will be better for those that fish the morning run in, the top, turn and run out periods. Windy conditions forecast will restrict most anglers heading out the front or hoping for a bottom session on the reef. Although it may allow for bigger reef boats to head out weather depending.
Top Targets!
- Reefies: Fishing behind the sheltered reefs like Arlington & Sudbury to avoid the chop may be possible if winds allow. Spanish mackerel are always hanging around pressure points and pinnacles or wrecks around this time of the year floating a pillie or trolling a deep diver is always a great way to target them.
- Barra & Jacks: Especially around structure in estuaries and coastal creeks during the run-out tide. The mangrove flats will fish best on the big morning high tides & creek structure on the low.
- Mud Crabs: Will be on the move with good run in the morning tides and clean water running out of the smaller mangrove creeks.
Tight lines & Have a great long-weekend from the team!
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