A bright trout coming from the depths for young angler Clay Edward, jigged from a reef bombie.
A glass out start to the week saw many boats take advantage of the calm conditions to head out to the reef for some hot sessions bottom fishing, reeling in some awesome catches.
REEF FISHING
With some fantastic days over the weekend and start of the week, many anglers dropped the boat in, topped up the bait and fuel, and flew out to the reef, with Sunday and Monday mornings absolutely turning on the glass out conditions.
With another week of hot bites, coral trout have been caught on slow pitch jigs, with dropper rigs using fresh squid and pillies producing some other great catches of GTs, tea leaf trevally, nannygai, spangled emperor, and the odd purple cod.
Fishing the reef or inshore wrecks and wonky holes this time of year can be very productive, but not always an instant bite from schooled fish, as some anglers may have experienced. Even though the water is calm, sometimes the fish like a small bit of chop on top to get them to bite or frenzy. Often the bite window is around the turn of the tides, whether it’s high or low. As it starts to run, the fish will come on the bite. As we like to say, “no run no fun”.
Dad Lance Edward, not to be outdone by Clay, had to top the day with another solid coral trout.
Young angler aboard Dragon Lady had his arms stretched with this solid spangled emperor.
More hot action on coral trout fishing aboard Dragon Lady Charters out of Port Douglas.
Local angler Preston landed a double header with a large-mouth nannygai and purple cod.
Often, big tea leaf trevally patrol the edges of feeding bottom fish to pick up any scraps or fleeing bait.
Young Clay with a red emperor taking a fresh squid bait.
GAME FISHING
Game fishing has still been red hot around the northern reefs, with some great catches of marlin and sailfish still being caught aboard the game boat fleets. There have been some monster black marlin landed off the Linden Bank grounds, along with dogtooth tuna and schools of yellowfin tuna. Trolling inshore wrecks and around the pressure points of reef edges has produced some quality Spanish mackerel, using a rigged garfish on a wog head or hard body divers such as Halco Laser Pros and Nomad DTX Minnows.
With flat conditions offshore, there was no shortage of thumping Spanish mackerel.
RIVERS, ESTUARIES & BEACHES
The estuaries have had an awesome run this week, with Trinity Inlet firing well again, with some excellent catches of grunter and mangrove jacks being caught on live baits, and stripped garfish being the favourite, fished on a running sinker rig. Fishing the edges of flats out the front of the northern beaches has produced some cracking threadfin salmon, which have been taking live mullet and prawns, as well as soft plastic vibes and large paddle tail plastics.
Cairns local Brendan Reid snuck out the front for a flats session, landing this impressive 122cm threadfin salmon casting soft plastic paddle tails.
Also fishing the inlet with his brother Callym Johnson, he wasn’t to be out fished and had his arms pulled off by this 84cm threadfin salmon.
Fishing the flats of Trinity Inlet, young Brysen Johnson landed this solid 58cm grunter.
Brendan swapping the flat for the mangroves, his son Dusty landed this cracking 43cm mangrove jack. Well done, Dusty.
FRESHWATER & DAMS
Tinaroo Dam has been heating up and fishing well, with local anglers fishing late afternoon and early morning right on dusk and dawn. Casting from the bank using surface lures like fizzers and walk the dog lures have been very effective, landing some quality fish up to and over the metre mark. Barramundi have incredible night vision and sensors on their body, which make them extremely good hunters at night, and do most of their feeding between sunset and sunrise.
Fishing Tinaroo Dam early morning, Luke Donhardt had an explosive surface bite landing this chrome 95cm barra.
Ryan Kerlin fished the Tully, casting lures and nailed this solid 35cm jungle perch.
WEEKEND OUTLOOK
Conditions over the weekend are looking to improve, with winds coming down around 5 to 10 knots and early next week looking to improve even more. Although there may be some afternoon storms, it could see anglers get a few more reef or bottom fishing sessions in before Christmas. A nice nannygai or coral trout for Christmas lunch would go well with some chilled prawns and a cold beverage. For those chasing fish in the estuaries, mangrove jacks and grunter could be the choice species to target, with live or fresh baits getting the job done.
Making a run to Arlington Reef, casting a Nomad Mad Scad, this cracker GT smashed his lure the second it landed on the water.
Need gear, bait or just a bit of local advice?
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