Escape to the Far North for 'Reel' Therapy
A more palatable winter pattern has been a common feature up in the Far North. It has allowed for better opportunity for anglers to explore the region and the fruits of that labour have been brilliant.
Having been forced dormant for many months due to inclement conditions, heading out to the reef especially for all manners craft is now more viable. Sure we are getting south easterly blows but they seem to be shorter lived and you simply avoid these days.
All varieties of reef species are on the chew with a southern current and wind direction providing the idyllic ingredients for this time of year. You name it, locals and charters are catching them including large mouth nannygai, red emperor, coral trout, golden trevally, spanish mackerel, spotted mackerel, gold spot trevally, cattle dog cod, cobia and spangled emperor to name just a few of the prominent species. It depends who you talk to but there's been various success on most moon phases and tides on the day. It depicts that the fish are generally in a very generous mood and can be suicidal at times. The ever growing pandemic of shark incidents taking many prized fish is still problematic at times leaving many to find an amicable solution. Simply the quality sized schools of fish you find will entail some toothy critter activity. To be frank, the shark population explosion can be a menace and a waste of a precious commodity which is our fish stocks.
Within our rivers and creeks the warm days still will offer up a barra with low tide being prime time. Our bigger systems such as the Daintree River have some ripping 1m queenfish active on the incoming tides in the main channels with fingermark fishing well right on the top of the tide. Golden trevally and javelin fish are also busy around the entrances on an incoming tide. There's also been a couple of surprises including blue salmon to 80cm and some cracking giant trevally to 30kg which go like the clappers if you are lucky to hook up to one of these behemoths. The photo featured took 45 minutes to boat before being released with a lot of hot shoe shuffling around the deck and 'reel' patience using relatively light gear.
As an industry we have our fingers crossed this trending stretch of weather can extend through the winter patch following a tough start to the year. Our local charter lads are primed to showcase what many consider to be the best fishery in the world. The weather temperature certainly will entice many to visit us in the tropics from down south.