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Cairns Reef Fishing Today I'm fishing with Tim Wegner from Cairns Eco Sportsfisher. Cairns has a reputation for big black marlin.. but Tim's going to show me a few secret spots for incredible inshore sportsfish. Conditions today are absolutely perfect- a milky sky.. and not a breath of wind. The water's over 20 metres deep - so Tim relies on a Lowrance sounder to spot his favourite reefs and structures. Sometimes this spot looks quiet on a sounder - it's a patch of coral in 75 ft of water.. Quite often it looks pretty barren, but you've only got to drop a bait and the whole stream comes to life ! We're using wolf herring rigged up to gang hooks. The herring have a great shine.. and move well in the water. Seconds later - we're on! He's a bludger trevally.. a brilliant silvery fish but not great eating, so we're more than happy to let this one go. Looks like we've also hit onto the spanish mackerel. These smaller mackerel often feed around the reefs in dense schools… and they're real speedsters. There's also a few queenfish amongst them. Double trouble - and that classic bump, bump on the line means the trevally are calling. These fellas are called bludger trevally because mackerel fishermen hate them stealing all the bait… But it's a bit of a bum wrap - because they're still sensational sport fish. Who says you need to go offshore for fantastic sportfishing in North Qld? We're trolling inshore near Cairns and the spanish mackerel are already on a roll. Our live yakkas are being chased by a few trevally…and Tim's trevally is being chased by something even bigger! A beautiful cobia cruising for a feed… but I can't tempt him in. Luckily the trevally are keeping us entertained. The reef also holds plenty of bottomdwellers.. like this small mouth nannygai. We decide to change our tactics… and switch to lures. Take a look at the choppers on this mackerel. We're using monotrace instead of wire.. but luckily Tim's rig has a tough leader. One more incision and would have lost this fellow. Speaking of big mouths… looks like this coral trout has also engulfed my lure in one quick strike. Tim ends the day with a beauty.. a golden trevally. These guys have no teeth and they're a very sweet tablefish… but not today. We're letting him back to fight another day. We fished for the mackerel and trevally near Double Island about 20 kms north of Cairns. Tim Wegner from Eco Sportfisher can help you chase the reef fish inshore, on a half or full day charter for one or two people. A full day will cost from $550 includinglunch and all your gear.Look under rocky headlands on the fishingcairns website.. or give Tim a call. And for more
information on fantastic escape packages to the Cairns region..
contact Qld Tourism on 13 88 33 or visit their website. |
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Cairns Reef Fishing Tim Wegner QLD Tourism
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