Epic Queenfish are being caught around the Island & Headland bait schools
It’s been a stellar week on the water with good weather windows turning on the action across the reef, islands, rivers and freshwater stretches. Here's what's been biting and where you should be casting next…
Reef Fishing
The reef has been absolutely firing! Coral trout and large-mouth nannygai have dominated catches from the mid reefs off Cooktown right down past Cairns to the Hinchinbrook Channel. Whether fishing shallow bommies or deeper patches, the results have been impressive when the weather has co-operated. Off Cairns & Port Douglas Batt, Michaelmas, Thetford & Sudbury Reefs are fishing well.
Spanish mackerel are back in serious numbers, smashing trolled lures like the trusty Tracka Strada Pro 160 and floating pilchards around reef edges and island drop-offs. If you find the bait schools, especially pilchards and fusiliers, you’ll likely find the macks in hot pursuit. School mackerel are also moving in thick, with solid reports from Cairns Harbour Leads and nearby headland locations where herring are present.
Coral Trout have been dominating bottom fishing captures for Dragon Lady Charters
Spanish mackerel have been thick and taking trolled lures and floated pilchards
River & Estuaries
Mangrove jacks are loving the run-out tides, with the Russell River and Mourilyan Harbour delivering red-hot action on soft plastic prawns and paddle-tail lures worked into the snags. The 95 Chase Bait Flick Prawns have been outstanding along with Zman Diesel Minnows.
Fingermarks are another highlight this week — live baits and soft plastic vibes worked best around deep holes holding bait. Barramundi have been consistent across multiple systems, with the Endeavour, Russell and Daintree Rivers fishing clean and clear. The upper and lower reaches of the Tully and Murray are also holding good fish. Target structure drains and shaded mangroves with prawn imitations for best results.
Cairns Tackle World Manager Rob enjoyed a hot day on mangrove jacks fishing the estuary & rivers.
Barramundi continue to take soft plastic prawns in most of FNQ river & estuary systems
Freshwater
Freshwater fishing is shining in the upper Tully and Daintree systems, with barra, sooty grunter, tarpon, and jungle perch all active and aggressive. Surface lures and small hardbodies are doing the trick, especially early in the day or late afternoon. These upper freshwater reaches are in peak condition right now & well worth the drift.
Dan with a popper caught sooty grunter in the upper section of the rainforest rivers
Weekend Outlook
Strong winds and rough seas are set to restrict offshore access this weekend, so focus efforts in the sheltered estuaries and river systems. Smaller morning tides should be ideal for soaking live baits in river & estuary deep holes chasing fingermark and trevally. Ensure quick retrieval as bull sharks are stealing many hooked fish in the estuaries and rivers.
For barra and jacks, work soft plastic prawns over submerged timber and cast close to structure while the tide's low or dredge the deep timber with weighted prawns. Early morning surface sessions could be electric around the Daintree, Russell and Tully Rivers, with queenfish and GTs likely to be feeding hard and smashing surface lures before the wind kicks up.
Fish Hunter Charters FNQ have been deep in big queenfish recently casting surface lures in the major rivers & they will be a target species this weekend
Brayden Erskine with a mangrove jack caught during the week on a Zman Diesel Minnow. Jacks will be a priority target this weekend