By Anthony Cass - Pelagic Hunter
Not much to report as the chances to get offshore this past month have been few and far between. The strong gusting northerlies have been unrelenting and those who did jump on the opportunities to get out have found the fishing tough. With the coral spawn beginning to turn up and the water temperature increasing, this is typically a slow time of year for offshore fishing as we transition to Summer and the exciting opportunities the warm water brings.
The first of the Summer pelagics to turn up are the kingies and already we've seen great numbers of Yellowtail Kingfish this year. Livebaits fished at mid-depth are the most effective way to target these “thugs” but they'll just as readily smash a topwater lure or large soft plastic. If keeping them for the table it's essential to bleed them and have them immediately submerged completely in an ice slurry. The flesh will deteriorate faster than other pelagic species so extra care must be taken to flatten the temperature curve quickly.
Over the coming months as the water temperature keeps rising we will see more and more pelagic activity and arguably one of the best and most accessible pelagic fisheries in the country. From Striped, Blue and Black Marlin to Wahoo, Dolphin Fish and MONSTER GTs - the list is extensive. Certainly from now on the FADs will be worth a look for schooling Dollies. The boats up in Hervey Bay are gearing up right now for the start of the baby Black Marlin run and it wont be long until it's our turn.
Many local anglers experienced with the tough conditions this time of year can bring, have been opting to hit the road and head north to places like 1770 and Yeppoon to get their fishing fix. Many who've made the trek north have been rewarded with some excellent fishing. Whether taking your own boat on the road or choosing to take advantage of one of the many world-class charter operations available to us in Queensland, we really are spoilt for choice when it comes to exotic fishing destinations.
With the current border restrictions the tourism industry has been hit hard and many charter operations are offering heavy discounts and incredible deals to Queenslanders. Personally, I've jumped on the opportunity to head back to the Coral Sea with Big Cat Reality Fishing Charters (www.bigcatreality.com) to chase monster Dogtooth Tuna, Coral Trout, GTs and Wahoo among others. I've been fortunate enough to experience a range of various charter operations over the years and in my opinion these guys are the best in the business and an experience every avid angler should have. There's something for everyone, from family trips to the Capricorn Bunker Group, “Kill and Grill” trips to the Swains and extreme sports fishing expeditions to exotic isolated sea mounts in the Coral Sea.
Tight lines folks,
Pelagic Hunter
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