Jiggin' the Great Barrier Reef
Regular readers know that, in 2024, I was invited to join a boat owner syndicate. We bought a surveyed pro fishing tinnie at Forster. A syndicate member trailered it from Hervey Bay to Cooktown, back in November. Myself, friend Corey, and his son Kingi flew to Cairns at the start of last week. Rented a car, drove to Cooktown, launched 'Finquest' and tied up on the tiny marina arm, just upstream of the public wharf:
Busting to get out on the Reef and into some big ones but there was one problem – the weather:
Finally on Wednesday the wind dropped away and Cooktown mate Cody was available for a run offshore. Primary mission was popping giant trevally but we all took light jig rods too. We dropped jigs on good sounder marks as we drifted off the reef and that was a very successful way to go. First fish on the deck was this coral trout, which slammed one of our 100 gram jigs:
He made one fantastic dinner a night later. Kingi took the next strike, which was on the same jig: our 100 gram model. Fish was a small green jobfish:
Kingi then cast his jig into a passing school of mack tuna. Really surprised when one instantly hooked up! They usually want something way smaller. Note – tuna is suspended from a dehooking tool:
Yours truly? I grabbed my light outfit and tied on a 40 gram jig. Knew that lure worked well in the tropics because so many of the baitfish have a shad or herring profile. Deep super shiny sides, not the long thin jig that works well down south. First fish was (I think!) some type of mackerel? Let me know if I got that wrong:
Soon after I switched to our new Glow Jigs. These come with an internal chemical light, which you activate just before use. Very pleased to catch my first queenfish in years:
Here’s our 40 gram web page. Ten jigs with assist hooks for $62 including delivery to your door is pretty good value
fishing guide and friend Cody holding a keeper coral trout, which made a delicious dinner. Caught on the hundred gram jig:
What a great trip this was! Moving every engagement I can, in the hope of getting back there ASAP. Next week will send you how it all went on the bigger fish – giant trevally, mackerel, golden trevally and many more. Thanks for reading
Andrew Hestelow
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Target: Kingfish
Two Sydney offshore sessions targeting kingfish with live yellowtail and heavy knife jigs, including fish to one metre, sharks and an amberjack.
Mackerel, Kingfish and Sharks
TUESDAY! Wanted to downrig small live bonito around Long Reef for a stud kingfish. Our purple trolling lures accepted the challenge:
