Cooktown

COOKTOWN Justin Coventry

The cooler months are upon us and the fishing can get tough, but dedicated and persistent fishos are still out there getting results.

There wasn’t much of a wet season this year up north but we still had some good fish ignore the offering and slowly swimming away. There have been, however, a few caught at the right times with the tides running out and activity increasing to where some fall for a small lure placed in the right area. Night seems the best and some persistent young lads have had some success with watching for any activity such energy and put on quite a show. They are also not too bad eaten fresh, but are easily released if done quickly.

Mackerel may start running soon and the activity at the wharf will increase as they show up in numbers, which is more likely as we head into August and September. Live herring are the best and they are usually in large schools when they come. Mackerel are regularly feeding on them at the river entrance, so bait is readily available and can be easily caught on a bait jig. Kids love doing this and it keeps them occupied and having a good time.

With the bait schools hanging around the wharf you should cast the bait out in the current with no sinker and a little bit of trace and let the tide take it in the current. The lone bait drifting through

Kaiden Teece with a queenfish caught at sunset.

rains. The rivers are clear again and the water looks amazing but the temperature drop has shut things down a bit. The local wharf has seen some nice sized barramundi hanging around and with the clear water are sometimes easy to see, but getting them to bite is the hard part.

The boofs of feeding barramundi gets the blood pumping but what they are feeding on is so small and throwing anything of increased size sees the

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this trend to continue for the coming months with the added bonus that we’ll start to offer serious light tackle trips for the small black marlin, which are due for their annual parade. The only factor stopping us moving forward in a favourable manner is if the traditional trade winds from the southeast get aggressive. Currently though, the weather pattern has been very stable.

Inshore our fisheries have also been productive with a few subtle changes as the days get cooler. Proper estuary systems have been quite good for mangrove jack and river that may indicate a good bite window. Observing the activity around you can be a good way to notice the right times and better opportunities to entice a bite. The bait has also started to show up and some nice queenfish and trevally are starting to liven things up a bit. The rock walls have been a good spot to throw some lures out and see if they are patrolling the area. They are a great sport fish and jump madly around with

trevally. Mud crabbing has also flourished in the same systems. Our major rivers have been equally impressive with javelin fish exceeding 55cm across the flats with big queenfish and golden trevally dominating the deeper channels. Heavy snagged banks are still continuing to produce good results on the fingermark with the barra slowly tapering off with the colder weather.

Looking forward, the outer reef should see the action continue nicely with our major rivers, such as the Daintree, having some real highlights as well. Booking ahead is imperative as the region is already set for one of its biggest years in recent memory. Martin with a decent queenfish.

Roly with a nice barramundi caught from the rock wall. here will be still hopeful that a break in winds might appear to make the dash out to replenish their coral trout supplies possible. However, not much chance but you must be ready just in case a miracle occurs.

Heading out to some Cape rivers will hopefully be almost the first opportunity to fish some campsites in Lakefield National Park as the northern section should be open this month. Fishing will be a little quiet with winter temperatures in full swing but still should be some action and some great places to explore. Sometimes just getting away is worth it and what better place to be then enjoying our national parks and boating and fishing for the best sportfish there is in our river systems, the barramundi. Rescinding waterways and tidal runs can produce at times even in winter so get there and give it a go.

the open water unprotected by the school and structure is hard to resist by these hungry predators. There can be some big specimens and I have seen some big Spanish over the years, but some can just be too good for land-based fishing and can take considerable line on their first runs and there is lots of obstacles around to contend with at the wharf. Also, the ever-present danger of the resident gropers waiting to help themselves to a tired-out fish close to the wharf. Many good fish have been lost to these unfillable underwater giants.

The reef fishing is almost a dream now with the constant SE winds blowing and seas so choppy that it would be a brave, or should I say insane, fisher that heads out to the reef in such conditions. But everyone Sam Ryder with a nighttime barramundi fishing effort.