P42 - FISH & BOAT, April 2019 Fishing Getting Back to Basics By Jason Masters importantly, take for granted a boat to get you to some better spots. In Well, it has been a start tothe year that I really didnot expect. A forced handsaying that, it means that without aboat, it does not mean that you can-not go fishing. You head back to the into what can go wrong when youbasics and go back and fish some own a boat or boats. No matter what of the spots you used to or still do. happens you still have the basics of Bridges, jetties, drains and beaches fishing to rely on, and to a lot of peo- are all areas you start to go back to. ple out there it is the only way to fish Does anything change when fish- and that is off the bank. It really does ing these areas? Not at all. A lot are make you appreciate what you have tide dependent, and when you time when you are without your boat. it right, the fishing can be pretty Just a quick run down – the first amazing. It was a going to be a land- problem was losing a wheel off the based start for the opening of the trailer after a quick trip after work barra season this year here in Cairns Not all barra are monsters. A rock wall rat. with a friend. Now, this is a 5.2 for me, and after the rain we had, I Quintrex on an Alloy trailer. Before was excited to see if I could land a you all say, you must not have tight- couple of fish off the bank. It was ened then wheel nuts up properly – like going back to my childhood. catch rates will increase. current shadow. Don’t be scared to create perfect backwaters and areas well I did – I think I did – you sec- The day had arrived and the hour As stated earlier, I was without a cast out onto the deeper flats area where the current breaks, and if you ond guess yourself on this, but after had ticked over, the 2019 Barra Sea- boat for the opening, so I had to go as any fish will hang on the outer are fishing these areas, then this is speaking to a couple of other fisher- son was here finally. It is one of those back to basics and look at a couple shadow. where you will start to look. men, they had mentioned that some things as a fisherman in Queensland, of land-based options. First port of It seemed I had timed it right, as, There are a couple of rock bars low life people had been loosening the opening day is a day we look for- call on the runout tide was the ramp on the second cast, I had a little as well in the lower section of the wheel nuts at the local ramp. ward to and the day the season closes at the sugar terminal in Cairns. They barra follow me all the way to mycreek that will also hold fish, and a They really do not have an idea of is a day we dread. The day could not have just installed a pontoon, and it feet. Next cast in the same area and scout of the creek at a low tide will what damage or potential loss of life have gone any slower. Working away is a great area to start. At the right the lure presented was too good to give you an idea as to where these could happen. Luckily for us, it was counting down the minutes until I time of the tide, there is a backwater refuse. I was on. It was not a big fish are. Saltwater Creek is worth a look 1am in the morning, and there was could get home and pick the gear up created where Smiths Creek meetsbut was one of the first for the sea-on either the run-out or run in part no traffic at the time. It took about and head to a couple of land-based the inlet, and it is a great area for bait son. The next couple of casts, I had of the tide. On the opening night, I 4 weeks to have it all come together spots that may produce a fish or two. to converge and in return for preda- another couple of bumps, and then decided to fish it on the run-out. I and finally by early February I had After the recent rain, a few of the tors to hunt. I was on again. They were all school had a look at two of the bridges and it back on the water and once again creeks had a good flush out, and I I did have a lonely barra followsized fish and were plenty of fun onbegan to cast in a couple of eddies out chasing fish in the boat. was hopeful that I could tangle with me all the way to my feet, but it did the light gear. and some overhanging trees. The next boat, our little 385 Ex- one or two of these silver beauties. not want to play after that. I fished It was time to move on, and I It did take a bit of exploring, but plorer was a joint venture that we Now, when I am looking at planning here for about another 10 minutes decided to move to another popu-eventually, I landed a barra, not big have done up as a family. My sons a trip like this, there are a couple of and then it was time for a quicklar area that I will target barra inin by any means, but it was another and myself, and we had it finished things to take into consideration, change. There are a couple of places Cairns, and that is Saltwater Creek. fish for the opening. The night was and ready to water test for Christ- tidal flow and the timing required to in Cairns that hold some school size It is a little creek that starts in the slowly ticking away, and it did not mas. Unfortunately, one of the boys be in the right spot at the right time. barra consistently, and it was time to hills at Whitfield and flows through take long before I called it quits. It had taken it and was using it one This makes no difference if you are head there in the hope of finding my the Northern suburbs of Cairns and had been a cracking night for me, day in the local river when they hit in a boat or not. It does come down first for the season. empties into the Inlet. It is a great four Barra landed, and all released to a submerged rock bar and damagedto timing. One of the better land-based spots little creek. What I will mention fight another day. the prop shaft and bearings. It could You can definitely sit in one spot, in Cairns is the Marlin Wharf and though is the fish habitat area that For me, it is always a reality check have happened to anyone. Anotherand the fish will swim past at somethe rocks that lead up to the wharf.is in the middle section of the creek.to get back to basics and fish from one out of action. That is the joy of stage of the tide, but if you work out Now the wharf is only fishable from This is a no fishing zone and is pa- the bank. That is where we all learnt owning boats – just keep openinga plan and work out what areas will6am in the morning to 9pm at night,trolled regularly by the local Fisher-the basics of fishing, and that is the wallet and maintaining……….. hold fish at certain parts of the tide, but the rocks are able to be fished ies officers. where we tend to go back to when You definitely rely on, or more then you will soon find that your at all hours. I would usually recom- Now, what could you catch? Barra, things are not going right. The ba- mend fishing this on the first couple jacks, cod, bream, salmon, trevally, all sics will always be there, and they of hours of the run out as the wharf this in a creek that flows through the will never change, and sometimes creates a backwater/eddy that runs middle of Cairns. we make it too complicated for our- One of the bridges over Saltwater back along the first part of the Es- Just a little secret, it is one of my selves. All I can say is keep it simple Creek produces again. planade and then the rocks. favoured creeks to catch my baitand get back to basics. Standing on a stable rock, it is in before a day or night of fishing. Until next time take care and enjoy easy to cast in any direction, against There are a number of bridges that our back yard. or with the current. I usually cast against the current as it allows me a slower retrieve and keeps the lure in the strike zone a lot longer. What you will notice when you get there The rock wall near the Marina is a light that is halfway along, well there are a couple, but there is one – plenty of ambush areas. particular light that shines back over the water. This is the main focal point as the bait gathers more around the light and any predators will work the edge of the light waiting for an easy meal to target. I will usually work the whole area around this light as there is a shadow created on either side. Starting on the up-current side, then move to the middle and cast to either shadow and then to the down current side and cast back to the up The Tanks Bridge over Saltwater Creek – Remem- ber to fish downstream only as the upstream side is a fish habitat.