April 30th, 2002

This weekend the Mossman Amateur Fishing Club is hosting it's biggest fishing competition of the year, the Daintree Challenge. The competition is open to the public and offers heaps of great prizes to the value of ten thousand dollars. For further enquiries phone Neville or Marie on 40981648.

Around Cairns this week the fishing has been 'testing' to say the least. With the constant south-easterlies blowing 20 knots combining with the big tides around the full moon, the water was freezing cold and filthy. Given the conditions, some excellent captures were still taken.

Trinity Inlet

There are sill plenty of Barramundi being caught in the Inlet, mostly fish just legal in size. During last week there were a run of bigger fish up to a metre caught just on dark when the incoming tide was flooding the mangroves using live mullet for bait.

In amongst the yachts, directly across from the Radisson has been producing a few Barra's on the start of the run up tide on live prawns.

Last weekend on the big tides, there were some decent sized Grunter caught on the hospital flats. There has been a lot of small Grunter at the mouth of Chinaman's and around the five ways.

Russell Heads

The last of the run-in tide was the best time to be down the heads last week, chasing small Queenfish, Trevally and Wolf Herring on poppers. The run-out tide was like mud and didn't look like clearing up until the last hour of the run in.

Upstream from the ramp in the fresh was popular last week because of the dirty water downstream in the salt. There is still a few small Barra's getting caught in the Mulgrave even after the really cold spell of weather we had recently. Heaps of Sooty Grunter, Jungle Perch, Tarpon and Mangrove Jacks are keeping lure fisho's happy in the Mulgrave.

This Weekend

Looking ahead to this long-weekend there are a few options worth considering. If the weather is calm enough, False Cape and Cape Grafton should produce a few Doggy Mackerel and will give protection from the south-easterly winds. The top of the tide is the go with the really clean water. Live sardines are worth considering also.

With the small neap tides, the water quality at Russell Heads should be crystal clean. Spend the day chasing Queenies and GT's around the sand bars. The run-in tide is preferable as it pushes the clean water up the system. Don't discount anchoring and getting a burly trail going. Take a block of pillies..it works!

Glenn Campbell
Northern Angler Tackle Shop