Fishing The Cape Land-based

[Sippy Fella]

Hi all. Just found the site & joined up. What a ripper.

I will be travelling to the Cape in September. Alas - no boat. Whats the fishing like for the land-based ? Are the beaches worth trying ? Any particular rivers or creeks where I should throw a lure ?? How is Wiepa land-based ?

Ah - so many questions - so much to learn.

Cheers

[batesy]

Welcome Sippy,

Fishing in Weipa is good at the moment - tons of barra getting caught. My neighbour got 20 off the bank three days ago (Note to Ant: he threw the big ones back ... as well as the little ones!).

It seems like people are getting them about an hour or so either side of low tide.

[Nedly]

Had no luck with the Barra at Weipa, even after talking with Batesy's neighbour, had to wait 'till we got to Lakefield NP, then it was undersize.
Oh well, next time.

Caught a few Queenies off the beach at Punsand, that was fun.

Land based fishing is fine, talk to the locals for the 'best' spots and correct tides, they are generally willing to share their knowledge, if you ask the right questions.

[Sippy Fella]

Thanks Nedly. Only 9 days to go for me. I like the way you have posted in nearly every thread since you got back lol. Almost seems like you are excited about your trip lol.

[campdog]

I fished off the banks of the Archer river a few years ago and used a live chearabin on a 100 lb handline, heard the crac of the line breaking in the middle of the night but stayed in be until daylight before i was game to have a look, no hook as it was busted off, big things live in the waer on the Cape.

[Lushy]

What lures do I get for this time off year up there next August 07.
Lushy

[Lushy]

AR der locals are very secretive arnt they lol:confused:

[Nedly]

AR der locals are very secretive arnt they lol:confused:

Seems like all the locals have gone into a state hibernation, must be preparing for the wet.
IT'S NOT RAINING YET, YOU CAN COME OUT.

Apparently in Aug (or any time of the year) gold colour lures are the best, I was told by a local at Weipa to use gold coloured Bombers, had a couple of follows in Lakefield.
It has also been said that the end of Aug you should use poppers, presumably gold in colour, 30g HALCO Roosta's maybe off the shore, 45g jobbies offshore.
Bandits seemed to be popular in Weipa also.

[Lushy]

Thanks mate well that is a start to the tackle box, poppers are the go in the surf down this way too (Vic)

[batesy]

I think everyone is into the mackeral at the moment - can't say I've been getting any fish. Haven't had time. Plus the neighbour keeps bringing us over fillets, which is better all round, since he knows how to catch fish and I don't.

As for lures, Lushy --- well, Ant could help you out there, unfortunately Ant is on this site even less than I am lately.

[ant]

SURPRISE!!!!!! here I am.

Gold Bombers!!!!! I have a name for them but won't go into that here.The reason they are known to catch a lot of fish is that a lot of people fish with them. Sort of like why Toyotas are popular in the cape -Cause everyone else has one too. Don't worry I drive a Toyota too.
Did you know that most predatory fish are colourblind? Colour in a lure is there more for the angler than the fish. Most predatory/pelagic fish see in greyscale (white through to black) so buy/use lures with a contrast in colour. Either different colour head to body or lures with stripes, etc.
Far more important is how the lure swims (or how you make it swim) and where you fish it.

Hope that helps- now time to go back into hibernation...................

[Nedly]

Gold Bombers!!!!! I have a name for them but won't go into that here.The reason they are known to catch a lot of fish is that a lot of people fish with them. Sort of like why Toyotas are popular in the cape -Cause everyone else has one too. Don't worry I drive a Toyota too.
Did you know that most predatory fish are colourblind? Colour in a lure is there more for the angler than the fish. Most predatory/pelagic fish see in greyscale (white through to black) so buy/use lures with a contrast in colour. Either different colour head to body or lures with stripes, etc.
Far more important is how the lure swims (or how you make it swim) and where you fish it.

My gold bomber had contrasting colours, well black stripey bits anyway.
I made the lure swim with a gentle butterfly motion interspersed with a bit of back stroke, seemed to get some interest :)

The best place to fish the lures is in the water, you tend to catch more fish if you use them that way.

I'll go now.

But before I do, seriously, fish the lure around structure.
I got strikes and follows casting close to the bank, near overhanging trees and submerged logs etc.

OK, I'm going now

[campdog]

Give me a 100lb handline and a slab of tuna anyday.

[Sippy Fella]

Back in the big smoke now. Don't have any personal big fish stories to tell. But - people next to us at Old Faithful waterhole in Lakefield got a good barra on squid. I fished lures only. Got a couple archer fish on poppers. Only tiddlers.

At Wiepa I watched a bloke get a good barra on live herring near the 'less used' boat ramp. He fished the flats side out of the current at the top of the tide. We fished the jetty at night for a couple nice grunters on squid. Bloke hooked and lost a big shark.

At Seisia I walked the beach from Loyalty to Seisa late in the afternoon throwing plasics, popper and hard bodies. Not a touch. Had the jetty all sussed for an evening fish when the bloody freighters arrived and shut it down for two days.

[Lushy]

Sippy go to the start of the thread and you will be informed!