The end of the barramundi season was a cracker with plenty of good fish being caught by most anglers.

I took my two brothers up the coast and we had an awesome time with multiple double hook ups and they both ended up with 87cm barra as their personal best.

We placed two crab pots supplied by Mark Grunske from Croc & Crab Tours with directions to put them up the system and not at the mouth. The result was 10 legal males in two days with the smallest being 17cm. Try putting a few pots in the Norman River at least 20km from the mouth.

As the wind will blow hard from now and disrupt fishing out the front, head up the river and chase black jew. You will find them in the deep holes and the prime time is from two hours before low tide until two hours after low tide. Dead baits will work fine; a ganged hook pilly on a running sinker rig is my favourite.

Live bait is a good option at creek mouths for king salmon with the same running sinker rig.

The heat will be a draining influence so drink water regularly and use shade of some description.

The Norman River at Normanton went off with some big barramundi caught just before the closure. Now is a great time to target king salmon off the old bridge after dark under lights. You need live bait for the best chance and around the change in tide works well.

It’s hard to believe that another great year is over! The northeasterly winds have started and we even had some rain right at the end of September. All in all, we’ve had a good season with plenty of fish caught, including some beautiful coral trout and fingermark, which have been the main features.

The biggest Spanish mackerel winner for the season, remains Greg Elwin of Townsville with his 24kg fish, ousting last year’s winner, Lindsay Wellings. Bad luck Lindsay, despite catching a couple of fantastic reds you’ll just have to try again next year.

Thanks to all of our guests this year, regulars and new comers, we hope to see you again soon!

Sweers Island is now closed and will re-open late March in 2013. Lyn, Tex, Lee, Mick, Charlie and Lilly wish you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous 2013.

See you next year.