Spanish mackerel continue to be caught in big numbers on the inshore reefs when weather allows access.
Reef Fishing
Strong southeasters and messy seas have kept most boats tied up this week, limiting reef access across the region. However, Dragon Lady Charters managed to sneak out for a short window off Port Douglas, working the protected reef lagoon zones.
They were rewarded with a solid mixed haul of reefies, including large and small-mouth nannygai, coral trout, spangled emperor, and several hard-fighting trevally species. Gang-hooked floated pilchards proved deadly in these same spots, accounting for multiple Spanish mackerel, a thrilling bonus when working the bommies. As the cooler weather locks in, Spanish and school mackerel have begun schooling thick inshore, adding some serious silver-speed to the nearshore action.
Large-mouth nannygai caught on bait with Dragon Lady Charters off Port Douglas.
Coral trout continue in strong numbers for anglers working sheltered reef locations.
River & Estuaries
This week's small tides sparked some excellent estuary action, especially in the Cairns Inlet, where live baiting has fired up across the board. Local anglers and charter crews alike have been into fingermark, mangrove jacks, barra, blue salmon and trevally, all holding in the deeper holes packed with bait.
An exciting surprise has been the return of hairtail, a species that’s been scarce in recent years and a top bait for big Spaniards. Similar success stories are flowing in from the Daintree, Hinchinbrook, and southern river systems, with live bait anglers doing best.
Lure fishers have had to work harder on the recent tide phase, but there’s still been decent barra, jack and flathead action on prawn-style soft plastics cast around structure and drains, with the Cairns Inlet, Daintree, Johnstone and Murray Rivers all turning up fish. Surface action from queenfish and GTs has been spectacular in river mouths, where explosive strikes on stick baits and poppers continue to light up the sessions.
A solid fingermark landed in the Daintree River on live bait with Sublime Sport Fishing Adventures.
Blue salmon have been hitting live baits in the deep holes of the Cairns Inlet this week.
Freshwater
The brackish and upper fresh stretches of the major river systems continue to deliver solid fishing. Barramundi, mangrove jack, sooty grunter, tarpon and jungle perch have all been in the mix. Late afternoons, when the sun lifts water temps, have been best. Both surface lures and small prawn imitations are proving irresistible to the river predators, especially when worked around snags, undercut banks and back eddies.
Sooty grunter have been firing in the upper freshwater reaches of the region’s major river systems.
Islands & Headlands
With the wind up, most boats have only managed short early morning runs into the lee of local islands. Those who made the effort reported good catches of both Spanish and doggy (school) mackerel using trolled lures and floated baits, provided the sea allowed it.
Dunk Island and the Family Group have been standout spots for a pre-blow session before conditions turn nasty mid-morning. On the downside, many headlands remain washed out and churned up by swell and wind-driven chop.
Spanish mackerel are firing around the inshore islands for those sneaking out in the weather windows.
Weekend Outlook
Unfortunately, the wind isn’t letting up, with 20 to 25 knot southeasters forecast through the weekend, meaning offshore reef trips are likely off the cards. Instead, anglers should shift focus to sheltered rivers and estuaries, where the tides are building and the fish are on the chew.
Fingermarks have been red hot in deeper holes, with live prawns and herring fished during tide changes accounting for some top-quality fish. Early morning high tides will be prime for working mangrove flats with lures, while the lower tides will expose great structure for barra and jack. Lightly weighted live prawns fished near drains and flats are also likely to produce barra, jacks or a good flathead.
For those chasing early topwater thrills, queenfish and GTs are a good bet at the river mouths, especially around the Daintree, Russell, Johnstone and Tully. Land-based fishos should find good action on winter favourites like whiting, flathead and bream in sandy gutters using fresh yabbies and local prawns. Mud crab numbers remain strong, and they’ll be on the move with the building tides, worth dropping the pots.
Blue salmon should remain a strong option over the weekend around deep bait-filled holes.
Brayden Rodley (CTW) with a flathead caught casting soft plastics across the Cairns Inlet flats.
Tip of the Week
Live prawns are dynamite for nearly every estuary species, but if they're on the smaller side, try threading on two or three per hook to ramp up the flick factor and draw more bites. When targeting bottom structure, suspend your prawns just above the snag on a float and drift with the current. This increases coverage and keeps baits in the strike zone longer. Drop into the store for rigging tips and gear suggestions to get the most out of your session.