Cairns Fishing Report 24th July

Cairns Tackle World Manager Rob Erskine with mates Leon & Bodie with a triple hook up on barramundi fishing a remote Gulf location last week.

Reef Fishing

It’s been a solid week offshore with coral trout, nannygai (both large and small mouth), and red and spangled emperor forming the bulk of reef catches across the coast. Cobia and trevally species added to the mixed bags in deeper waters. Spanish mackerel have been prolific across all regions, especially over wrecks and reef edges. High-speed metal jigging, trolling lures like Strada Pro Tracka 160, and floating pilchards have all produced consistent results. Though sharks have made things difficult in some areas, they haven’t stopped the mackerel run.

Islands & Headlands

Fitzroy Island off Cairns has seen some big Spanish mackerel hooked but not many have been landed due to shark deprivation. The southern inshore grounds including Silver Sands and Forty Foot off Dunk Island and the Family Group Islands have seen solid mackerel action, with spotties, schoolies, and Spaniards all in the mix. The big schools of spotty mackerel are thick with both local and visiting anglers getting stuck into them jigging metal lures, trolling small spoons, live baiting sardines, and floating pilchards. Island edges have also delivered island trout, fingermark, and grass sweetlip. Headlands and beach foreshores near Cairns and Cooktown have seen some big barra prowling about on live scan. Targeting them with prawn imitations like the Irukandji Mega Prawns has been doing the damage.

Spanish mackerel have been thick around the islands and inshore locations.

Rivers & Estuaries

The Endeavour, Daintree, Cairns Inlet, and coastal creeks from Tully to Hinchinbrook have been on fire. Barramundi, mangrove jacks, and fingermark have all featured well, particularly on live bait and lures like soft prawn imitations and diving minnows. Grunter have also been common in the Daintree and estuary systems, and big queenfish are smashing surface lures in the major river mouths. The Cooktown Wharf is also holding school and Spanish mackerel feeding on bait balls, as are other structures along the Cassowary Coast.

Freshwater

Freshwater reaches across the region, especially up high in the major river systems, have continued to provide great sportfishing. Sooty grunter, jungle perch, tarpon, and even barra have been actively feeding, particularly on small surface lures and plastics including spinner blades. While Lakefield National Park was quieter, a few good barra were still landed in the lagoons and creeks.

Andy Marks with a Lakefield National Park barra caught last week in the fresh.

Weekend Outlook

The early forecast, as I’m producing this report, reads favourably for bluewater anglers looking to fish the reef and continue to target the great run of trout, nannygai, and mackerel. The Spanish mackerel are thick and reliable, trolling the reef edges or floating pilchards on the trout bommies while bottom fishing. Spotty mackerel schools will be inundated by multiple small boats over the weekend in hotspot locations including Silver Sands and Forty Foot, as the big schools have taken up residence and are feeding up. Sharks will be a major problem and heavy tackle for quick capture is essential. Barra and jacks have been active and will be highly sought again, casting at snags and draining gutters with diving minnows and soft plastic prawns. The bigger night tides should see plenty of grunter moving on the flats, with fresh strip baits of mullet and garfish ideal. Mud crabs will also be running on the night tides and are worth targeting with pots baited using fresh fish or chicken frames.

Casting surface lures in the river mouths should see some quality queenfish caught again this weekend.

Watch this Space

Hopefully, the weather holds and anglers are out in force this weekend. I’m off to the AFTA Fishing Tackle Trade Show on the Gold Coast and will report back on all the latest hot new tackle about to hit the market. Watch this space next week for the latest update on exciting new products of interest.