Written by Andrew Chorley
If there is one species that fisho’s just love, it’s barramundi.
Much to their delight, barramundi season opened on February 1 so it is safe to say that many local anglers will be getting out on the water in the early part of the season.
Here’s some hints and tips on what’s biting where this month.
Burrum River
Barramundi can be found around the mid and upper reaches in the snags of the Burrum River.
Snag bashing for barra generally finds the smaller fish but a few fish to 80cm have been reported.
Working deeper holes and deep snags has resulted in some bigger models.
Flathead can be found around the mouth of the Gregory and through to the mouth of the river.
Out the front, school mackerel, golden trevally and blackall have been reported on the Burrum 8-Mile.
Local Reefs
The local reefs have been firing of late with plenty of grass sweetlip taking cut and live baits.
Fishing shallower in five meters or less is great way to avoid the sharks.
Other species on the reefs have been coral trout, cod, blackall and squid.
Urangan Pier
Pencil squid have been about in the second channel with the evenings producing good numbers. Golden trevally, queenfish GT’s and longtail tuna have been reported over the past week.
Whiting in the first channels and adjacent beaches will be worth a look particularly at night with live yabbies.
Platypus Bay
The odd small school of spotted mackerel can be found in Platypus Bay.
Looking for the birds and throwing small slugs into the schools will see you hook up to a few spotties.
Tuna have been quite but, in a few weeks, we should see some good longtail schools begin to arrive. Queenfish have been about on some of the reefs in Platypus Bay taking soft plastics and metal slugs.
Wide Grounds
Coral trout, cod, hussar, parrot and a few snapper have been reported from the wide grounds in the central bay.
Spanish mackerel have also been about with trolled lures getting some results. Sharks are bad so be mindful once you land a few fish it’s time to move on.
Yellowfin tuna are also a possibility in the central bay this time of year.
Keep an eye out for birds while travelling as they may be worth a look for some tasty sashimi.
Sandy Strait
The ledges of the strait have been producing some great catches of late.
Sweetlip, scarlets to 60cm, cod, tuskfish and more have been reported.
Barra will be a great target in the coming months with the Mary River a great place to start looking. Targeting the rock bars, deep snags, drains and dirty water lines are zones that will produce fish at some point.
Trolling and casting lures can be highly effective with live baits also a great way to fish for them. Salmon will also be on the move as the bit of rain we have had will get a bit of jelly prawn moving. Grunter can be found in the turkey straits with a few diamond trevally also in with them.
Good whiting was reported over the past few days coming from the flats along Fraser Island south of Kingfisher, with live yabbies working best.