Capitalise on bigger tides to hook some reefie action

When you think about it, so far this year there hasn’t been the ferocity of easterlies that we experience some years in the dry season.

Paige Watteau with a fair chunk of coral trout from the Cobourg trip

When you think about it, so far this year there hasn’t been the ferocity of easterlies that we experience some years in the dry season.

That’s why it was so noticeable early in the week when the winds got up and a coastal wind warning was issued.

The good news is that this weekend should be just dandy, with hardly 20km winds around Darwin on Saturday and even less on Sunday.

It means you’ll be able to travel some distance in your typical 5m-plus trailer boat and hopefully get stuck into some great fish.

Also good news is the tidal situation this weekend: the tides are coming off the neaps and increasing in movement as the spring tides get bigger.

There’s actually nearly 5m of movement on Sunday, but that should get the reef fish biting.

Paige Watteau poses with a fair chunk of coral trout from the Cobourg trip.

Actually, reefies have been going well for weeks now, and last weekend was no exception, particularly down Dundee way.

For mackerel and other pelagics, the further out you go, the better it should be simply because water clarity will be much better out wide.

With heaps of current offshore, drift fishing the bottom will be the key to success.

If you anchor, then make sure you time your efforts for the change of the tide when the current slows and stops.

Bluewater pelagic fishing locations to consider include North Gutter, Dundee Wide and way out past the Peron Islands.

If you intend to chase Spanish mackerel, give the new Classic Bluewater lures a shot; they’ve been braining the mackerel off Arnhem Land of late.

For barra fishermen, Corroboree Billabong is finally starting to show some form.

A couple of guides are putting clients on to good numbers using the little Killalure 2Deadly which I’ve raved about in this column before.

It’s that amazing lure that can be worked across the surface with a terrific “popping” sound or retrieved to swim just below the surface.

A couple of tidal rivers are still producing the odd big barra; namely, the Daly River and the Finniss River.

But for consistent barra fishing, the saltwater estuaries are where the real action has been this dry season. I’ve heard endless stories of great barra fishing in Darwin Harbour, Bynoe Harbour, Shoal Bay, Leaders Creek and the mouth of the Adelaide River.

Along the coast out from the mouth of the Daly River has also produced some wonderful barra fishing.

This all augurs well for this Sunday, in particular, because the big tides aren’t too bad for Darwin Harbour.

With a 2.3m low tide at midday, it’s a sweet barra scenario.

Only last weekend on tides that were just marginally lower, there were several reports of quality saltwater barra fishing in the harbour’s arms.

I’d suggest you get on the water and begin fishing your favourite arm or creek by 8am, then work through until a couple of hours after the turn.

With minimal winds, most of the flats will be clear and fishable. Work them with shallow runners and prawn imitation softies, and don’t be afraid to troll the outer edge of the flats, but slowly, preferably with an electric outboard and your lure a long way back.