Staff member Brayden found this quality Barramundi over the new moon cycle measuring 103cm.
Inshore coastal fishing has been the focus for most anglers this week, with windy, drizzly conditions keeping fishing and boating activity close to the shore and creeks. Barramundi have been a popular target on anglers' hit lists, caught right across Cairns and right up to the Gulf and Cape. On foot, mangrove jacks have been quite accessible for land-based anglers who have been plugging lures through the freshwater ponds or river systems. These fish are a welcome catch for many fishos thanks to their aggression, hunger to hit bigger lures hard, and the great fight they put up. Choppy waves crashing onto the beaches have dirtied up the water on the coast, seeing blue salmon schools moving along the beaches, while large queenfish have been moving from the coast and into the mouths of the freshwater rivers where the clearer water is cycling through. It has still been quite busy despite the miserable weather, but the fishing activity on the water has been going well, and those who have ventured out have been rewarded with some quality catches!
Local Beaches & Coastal
Off the sand, schools of blue salmon along with tarpon, wolf herring, various types of mackerel, and the odd queenfish are being captured through various river mouths along Cairns. Bigger models of queenfish are seeking the fresh water and pushing up into the larger river systems that consistently flow fresh water, such as the Daintree, Johnstone, and Mulgrave river systems. Small metal slugs and poppers are a fun and effective way of chasing these species, offering a great visual hit—especially on small poppers. Flicking soft plastics or soaking a bait in river mouths has also seen a few good-sized flathead, and even some nice barra hanging around the creek mouths are finding the lines.
Staff member Atti with his pre-crumbed salmon he caught off the beach in some unfavourable conditions.
Ryan, staff member from Tackle World Tully, found this ripper flatty on a large swimbait.
Estuaries, Rivers & Ponds
The classic mangrove jack has been a popular catch for many anglers, mostly caught through the mangrove-lined systems. They have been chewing on frogs and prawns, with anglers skip casting deep into the shadow lines of the mangrove trees. Early mornings or evenings are usually best for skip casting, but once the sun (which we haven't seen a whole lot of this week) eventually comes up, the jacks will generally push into deeper water. Deep-diving hardbodies have been fooling a few to chew through the Trinity Inlet and Thomatis Creek. Bycatch consisting of small goldspot cod, junior GTs, and various other species are keeping anglers on their toes in their pursuit of a jack or barra.
The main hot topic over the new moon period has been the holy grail for some: the Barramundi. Found across a huge area of nearly all of coastal Queensland and the rest of northern Australia, some anglers predominantly put their heart and soul into these incredible fish. Their resilience across various climates and conditions allows them to thrive everywhere from ponds and dams to fresh and saltwater rivers. These fish can be captured using an incredibly wide range of lures, techniques, and skills. From blind casting surface lures in ponds, to fishing Lake Tinaroo with forward-facing sonar, to working the mudflats with natural lures like big prawns or live baits, or even on foot in the freshwater streams—barra have been captured in many different ways this week. However, their bite windows over this new moon seemed to be inconsistent; with the unstable weather, the barra couldn't quite make up their minds whether they were hungry or not.
Frank with a nice mangrove jack from the Trinity Inlet on a deep diver.
Staff member Atti found this nice little jack out of a local pond.
Jonty with a ripper barra from the fresh on a Nomad Dozer Minnow.
A cracker jack Jonty convinced to chew the Nomad Shikari minnow.
Lakefield
Crocs have been busy at Lakefield, where anglers are having to be extra cautious around the water's edge. There have been reports of a few crocs lunging out at anglers and even taking their fish as they try to return them to the water. On the positive side of Lakefield, the barra have been off the tap for many anglers heading up, with groups of fishos all hooking up at the same time and getting stuck into some quality fish from the system. The good old 4-inch Gulp! Prawn has been dynamite for the barra; there is just something about it that they can't resist, making it the ultimate saving grace if all else fails up there.
Slade, Navarre & their mates all with some barras hooking up on a simultaneous bite.
The Gulf & Cape
Karumba has been a busy destination, with many anglers heading away from the drizzle in Cairns and finding some clear skies. Reports from some groups show they have cracked over 800 barra in a week's session, with large amounts of bycatch from large queenies and huge schools of king salmon showing interest in the barra lures. Up the coast and into the Cape, similar reports of barra are coming in with the same pearler weather that we are missing out on in Cairns. The prehistoric-looking Saratoga have also been keeping anglers busy throughout the Gulf and Cape region, where some fishos are even pulling out the fly rods to get themselves onto these stunning fish.
The crew onboard Far North Sport Fishing got stuck into this nice double on barramundi.
How's this for a saratoga? An incredible looking fish caught with FNSF.
Need gear, bait or just a bit of local advice?
Swing by Cairns Tackle World at 172 Aumuller Street, Bungalow to chat with your local independent fishing experts.