Dry Season Fishing

From around May the dry season is taking hold and the easterlies are starting to blow. Threadfin Salmon are the go; not only are they a great fighting fish, they taste bloomin’ marvellous. They can be caught on the incoming tide off Cable Beach and at the creek mouths on and after high tide. Try them on live bait or brightly coloured lures that are visible in the murky waters.

Before long the easterlies will well and truly establish and in the morning you’ll find it pretty rough going off shore. If you’re stuck on the beach, try for Queenfish or Trevally (cast slices or poppers). Alternatively you can try for Threadfin Salmon and Mangrove Jack in the creeks.

As the easterlies ease off in the afternoon try your luck at with a bit of reef fishing around Disaster Rock or Gantheume Point. If you’re after a plate fish, Blue Bone Groper, Northwest Snapper, Red Emperor and Spanish Flags will keep you happy. Edible wise, you might want to think twice about cobbler and catfish! Be warned, steer clear of the catfish’s spines on the back of the dorsel fin and at the base of the gills.

Offshore/pelagic species at this time of the year include, the very tasty, Spanish Mackerel and Long-tail Bluefin Tuna. Tuna are probably best spotted by keeping an eye on birds such as boobies and terns hovering in the skies above hoping to spot the small bait fish sought by the tuna. Boat up to the school and cast your lure in front. Mackrel will go for a floating bait such as a pilch.