WHAT a cracking start to our Summer holidays! There are huge schools of baitfish moving along the coast and this is really firing up the mouths of our estuaries. Trevally, queenfish and mackerel have been tearing into hardiheads and sards, and if you can get a small jig or slug into the feeding fest you should have some real fun.

The mouth of the Elliot River has produced some great action, with local soft plastic junky Scott Bromly having a great session on bream, bonito and small black kingfish on the flats. Further into the estuaries the water temps are climbing rapidly so, if the small creeks get too hot over January, head into the bigger systems and look for the deeper holes and shady bends. Their will be plenty of other boats on the water enjoying their holiday break, so keep this in mind if you’re planning a lure fishing session. Get on the water early, fish hard, and then go home and watch the Aussies kick the Poms’ butts.

Last month I mentioned that you can still target barra in Monduran Dam over the closed season as long as you return them. Well, after a chat with our local Fisheries officers, I was told that the law prohibits targeting any barra in the closed season.

But that recently changed when Barra Season opened at the Monduran on December 9. There’s no maximum size for Monduran barra, but there’s a bag limit of one per person per day.

I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from the Monduran article, so thanks guys. Feedback is great. If want to tell me something or ask me a question, feel free to use my email at the top of the page.

The last couple of months have been real rippers, with all but one charter getting a jack on a lure (that charter still produced bream, cod, flathead and trevally). The Baffle has been producing some exceptional fish and some sensational bust-ups, but the moon and tides play a major role in the quantity of fish caught. The Prawnstar Junior in the natural colour has been producing the goods lately, although the other colours have also produced fish.

The jacks seem to be fairly spread out throughout most of the rivers and creeks (upper and lower reaches), mainly because there has been little rain and the water is so clear. Prospecting with plenty of accurate casting is how my clients have been getting their fish.