General News
10 March, 2026
Great time to be on the water
LOCAL waterways have been full of action recently, especially for young angler’s keen on chasing sooty grunter and jungle perch.
Many are still finding success using surface lures, with small poppers, walk-the-dog stick baits, and the always reliable Drunken Mullet flying off the shelves at our store.
If you’re looking to get in on the fun, team member Ryan has put together an ideal starter pack, and our crew is always happy to share a few tips from our own backyard adventures, so swing by for a yarn and some expert advice.
Cane drains and floodgates have also been producing some cracking barramundi lately. Lures that mimic mud cod and tilapia have been standout choices, helping anglers tempt the bigger fish.
For those fishing in the grassy margins, weedless paddle tail plastics are a top pick - not only do they effectively imitate the local baitfish, but their weedless design means you can work them through the thick grass without constantly snagging up. Pay close attention to the watercolour in these spots. Too much rain and the drains run dirty, while not enough makes the water too clear, making barras wary and harder to tempt.
The recent wet and hot weather has done wonders for local fishing, with rivers teeming with baitfish, prawns and an abundance of predator species taking advantage of the conditions. It’s a great time to be out on the water.
Fishing around the snags and structures has been particularly productive. Many locals have had success using plastic prawn lures to imitate the natural prawns, while paddle-tail plastics mimic the mullet that are schooling up. If you’re targeting new season herring, a small hard-bodied lure does the trick nicely. Red bream are showing up in good numbers and are being caught on both lures and fresh mullet strips.
Salmon are currently present in the rivers, constantly on the move as they hunt down bait. They’re not shy about chasing a shiny hard-bodied lure, so keep one in your tackle box. Crabbing has been excellent, especially near river mouths. Using fresh fish frames as bait works best. Make sure your crab pot entrances are secure to prevent any escapes.
Around the islands there have been reports of coral trout, grassy sweet lip, finger-mark and grunter being landed. Spanish mackerel are still being caught, which is a pleasant surprise this late in the season. The new Reaper rig – a weighted garfish-style jig head – has proven effective for targeting mackerel.
Offshore, anglers are enjoying catches of Spanish mackerel, coral trout and big red-throat emperor, with nannygai also making an appearance in deeper waters. However, sharks remain an ever-present challenge, often making it hard to bring your fish back to the boat in one piece.
Looking ahead, March is likely to get more of the same wet weather that we are becoming used to with the monsoon trough very active. Lets hope by the end of March we start to get some cooler, calm weather.
Remember to always get an up-to-date forecast before planning your next trip.
– Tony Mossop, Tackle World Tully
Read More: Cassowary Coast