When fishing in Far North Queensland, you must correctly identify the differents fish species. Incorrectly identifying the species of the fish you catches can result in legal problem. When you go fishing, the waters of the Coral Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria contains many types of fish.
You need to be able to differentiate between a trophy fish and a fish that must be released to avoid fine. The waters of Far North Queensland contain many different ecosystem. Each of these ecosystems require different methods when fishing and different types of gear to catch the fish.
Fishing in Far North Queensland: fish types, places, rules and safety
The fishing environment in Queensland include tannin-stained estuaries, coral bombies on the Great Barrier Reef, and offshore pelagic zone. Barramundi live in the tannin-stained esturies. However, there are other type of fish living in the coral bombies and offshore pelagic zones.
If you go fishing in the mangroves, you will encounter ambush predators with heavy jaws. If you go near the edge of the reef, you will encounter fish that require speed and aggressive to catch. You can use the habitat chart provided to help you find fish before you begin to fish.
Many beginners to fishing use the same lure for every type of fish they encounter while fishing. Using the same lure for every fish is an ineffective strategy for fisherman. Fish of different species has different fish appetites to bait.
For instence, Giant Trevally like loud poppers to trigger their territorial response. However, Coral Trout are patient fish and will eat a slow jig. Fishmen need to understand that the tempo of the lure will determine whether they catch a fish or not.
If fishermen land a fish, they must determine if the species is legal to keep. Many fishermen make mistake when keeping fish because of a vague memory of the limits of how many fish they are allowed to keep. Use the reference guide to measure the length of your catch to ensure that you do not kill a juvenile fish.
Killing juvenile fish is detrimental to the fishery. Following the rules ensure that the fishery in your area stays healthy for the future. Fisherman must also consider safety when fishing.
The ocean contains many dangers that can cause injury to the fisherman. For instance, the Stonefish live on the sandy bottom of the sea and looks like rock. If a fisherman steps on one of these fish while standing on the beach, it can cause significant pain.
Moray Eels live in the reef crevices and fisherman who fish near the reef should not harm them. Fisherman must respect the environment and there safety when fishing. Safety is more important than taking a photo of the fish they catch.
The last factor to consider when fishing in Far North Queensland is the time of year. The weather in this region of Australia dictates where the fish go while they are fishing. During the wet season, there are flood in the region that move Barramundi into the creeks.
However, during the dry season, the water is good for trolling for fish offshore. During the wet and dry seasons, fisherman will not struggle with the wind or the tide. By knowing the best time of year to fish for each species of fish in the region, fisherman can use strategy instead of luck to catch fish.
