Cooktown

COOKTOWN Justin Coventry

The weather has been rather cool to say the least and water temperatures have dropped considerably. The only when fish are feeding and with fish shut down with cooler weather and interest fading in feeding then offering something smaller can produce a bite. I know if I’m not hungry then someone offering a dinner treat, especially a small chocolate is more likely to get me keen then someone offering a big hamburger. So drop your lure size and see how that goes – I bet you will get more bites doing this in the cooler months.

The wharf has been very quiet and only a few

Lakefield National Park is a prime spot for barramundi. Ricky Jerome was happy with his 80cm specimen. David Kamholtz with his waterside barra.

There are still good numbers of barra about, despite challenging conditions.

water levels have also been higher as the late rain we had in May topped up the systems. The conditions have been a challenge when chasing barramundi in the fresh, and it’s hard work enticing them to fall for your lures but numbers have been where the interest still out ways the disappointment.

With the winter periods as mentioned, prawn lures seem to work best and going down in your size of lure might bring on a bite. Everyone talks about big fish big bait but that’s fish caught this month, but August and September should see the mackerel start to show up and there won’t be much room at the wharf then. The grouper are looking forward to it, as many fishers will see their tired catch come close to the wharf to be ambushed by these massive fish. Try to tire you fish out in the open water and bring them in quickly, and be ready to lift

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them clear as soon as they are long side and you might just be fortunate to land a nice Spanish mackerel.

There are quiet large specimens that visit the inlet but many people aren’t equipped to handle them from the wharf. Have plenty of braid line available is the key, as mackerel over 15kg can do some bolting runs and easily strip line from your reel in no time so make sure your spool is full. I have seen a 20kg mackerel caught on a boat in front of the wharf, so they are there. The boat has the advantage, as it can chase the fish around so makes it easier to keep line on the reel.

The offshore fishing has been very limited. The SE winds batter Cooktown at this time of the year and fishing windows will be small with only a day in between highs that allow any chance of a comfortable visit to the reef. But with the less opportunities, when it does drop the fish will be there in numbers and keen to feed so it should be great to get out there soon.

The Cooktown and Cape area is looking to have its best tourism year to date with all the domestic travel increases due to Covid and campsites at almost full capacity, so book soon. The Lakefield National Park will be fully opened now and will see many people trying to catch barramundi. As I mentioned, in winter drop your lure size and give it a go.

The fishing will be intense this year and more than likely most spots will have had their fair share of lures cast through the area. However your lure might just be that dinner mint that that barramundi can’t refuse. Also would be great if lots of people return fish after capture as this allows more people the opportunity to catch them, and also ensures that they breed and help to have healthy numbers of fish for years to come.

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