Ribbons angler Wendy Wall landed this lit up dolphin fish during the comp.
As the wind picked up over the weekend, most anglers stayed in the creeks and rivers, with some quality fish being caught. Offshore fishing was limited, with winds up to 20 knots only allowing the bigger boats and game fishos to brave the conditions and chase marlin, sailfish and drop a few baits for reef fish.
REEF FISHING
A reasonable start to the week for weather, with a couple of windows that allowed anglers to get out on the water and fish the reef and inshore wonky holes. Many quality coral trout, nannygai, goldband snapper, ruby snapper and some solid giant trevallies have been caught. Dropping fresh squid using a paternoster rig is always a favourite for this type of fishing, as it allows the angler to fish their hook close to the bottom or reef structure without putting the hooks directly into it and snagging.
When using this style of rig, it is best to give it a lift every now and then and bounce it off the bottom to ensure the sinker is not stuck in a hole or on structure. This is why it is commonly referred to as bottom bouncing. Best results usually come from using 80 lb leader and hook sizes from 7/0 to 10/0, and varying the sinker from 4 oz right up to 2 kg depending on current or depth. Just vary the sinker size to keep your line vertical and minimise tangles.
Fishing off Innisfail, local angler Dean landed this stunning coronation trout.
Cairns local Bryce Chapman jigged an inshore wreck and had his arms pulled off by this stonker giant trevally.
GAME FISHING
Following on from last week, the Ladies Ribbons Game Fishing Tournament kicked off with the best dressed boat and crew. Like always, many smiles and laughs were shared as teams battled the conditions of the day. Winds were up around 20 knots, but that did not stop eager anglers from trying their luck. With a few game fish caught and a couple of marlin and sailfish tagged, the comp was a success. I am sure by the end of the day, after a few drinks and rough seas, crews were glad to get back to dry land and shake off the sea legs.
After presentations, several dolphin fish, Spanish mackerel, wahoo, sailfish and black marlin had been tagged during the comp, with the winners taking home some great prizes at the end of the night. Well done to all the ladies who stuck it out in the rough conditions and completed another fantastic Ladies Ribbons event.
Ladies senior champion went to Jayne Hinrichs with a tagged and released sailfish.
Another awesome catch and weigh in was Morgan Brown with this 9.7 kg wahoo.
Female angler Lilly Sims fished the Ribbons game comp, landing a nice dolphin fish.
RIVERS, ESTUARIES & BEACHES
Fishing in Trinity Inlet this week was very productive using live baits and fresh prawns in the creek mouths, with many solid mangrove jacks being caught. Fishing the mudflats and drain edges also produced quality grunter and fingermark, as well as the odd bycatch barramundi. With barramundi still in closed season, either a fast release at the side of the boat or a quick photo and release is needed to help protect these fish during their spawning time.
Another two great catches of fingermark fishing aboard Gone Fishing in Cairns using fresh prawns.
Fishing strip bait along the edges of the flats proved effective, landing this happy angler a big grunter.
FRESHWATER & DAMS
End of year and school holidays have seen many young keen anglers chasing the sweet water dream and fishing for monster jungle perch or sooties, with some solid fish being caught around the Tully, Innisfail and Babinda regions. Topwater poppers, small plastic frogs, small curl tail grubs and shallow diving hard bodies have all been very effective ways to catch these jungle gems.
Tinaroo Dam has been firing well, with some beautiful weather and some cracking barra caught this week, including a few over 1 metre on fly which is quite impressive and would be a fish of a lifetime to land on fly. It goes to show that barramundi will eat just about anything that fits in their mouth.
All the way from England, angler Robert fished aboard DBM Sportsfishing, landing this barra of a lifetime over 1 metre casting a fly in Tinnaroo Dam.
WEEKEND OUTLOOK
Fishing over the weekend may see some anglers heading offshore, as the winds and tides are looking ok for the larger reef boats to get out and try for nannygai, red emperor or trout. Winds are expected to ease to around the 10 knot mark on Saturday and Sunday, and lower into early next week.
Fishing Trinity Inlet, the Daintree River, Tully or even Hinchinbrook Channel should see good action casting topwater lures, frogs and plastics flicked right into the tight little pockets along mangrove edges. The warmer water has been firing up the jacks and should continue as the hot weather rolls on. Fishing live and fresh baits along the mangrove edges and flats is also an excellent way to target grunter and fingermark, both of which are predominant species during warm conditions this time of year.
Robert from England with another of his fly caught barramundi from Tinnaroo aboard DBM Sportsfishing. Well done.
Need gear, bait or just a bit of local advice?
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