The fishing throughout the local Cooktown river systems has been pretty good over the last month considering the blustery conditions that often make large systems hard to fish.

Finding mangrove banks and rocks that are protected from the strong southerly winds has been a key to success and there have been some great jack, golden snapper and golden trevally being caught.

The clean water has ensured that plenty of barra and jack are following hardbodied lures right back to the boat however often failing to produce a strike.

I have found that the ever-reliable 70mm Squidgy fish is often too hard to refuse and anything with white, silver or gold and black will usually see even the most finicky of clear water fish boof the lure. There are countless brands of softies on the market but I honestly reckon the original Squidgy is hard to beat.

The lower reaches of the Endeavour have been producing some great grunter around the mouth of Leprosy creek as they can be found moseying around feeding of the acres of yabby banks there.

This area also holds monster flatties all year round and has good numbers of whiting, trevally, queenies, and even jacks and golden snapper that feed there in the incoming tide.

The headlands are still producing good fish with Indian Head having the odd barra being speared prior to closed season. All of these headlands hold good numbers of bar cheek trout, saddle tailed sea perch, and all of the usual mixed reefies. The slightly wider bumps off south Bedford are a really good option to chase oversized golden snapper. Live squid, fresh sardines and even whole pillies are worthy baits if you’re that way inclined and 7" Gulps are a great option for the softy anglers.

If the weather is kind and the doldrums kick in there can be world-class fishing to be had at night on these close in grounds.

With a bit if luck the coming months will bring some much needed rain to flush all of the systems out after the dud wet season most of the top half of Australia received last year.

Be sure to check out the range of hand made timber lures I make on Facebook. Just search Twin River Lures to see a great range of timber Barra lures

There are plenty of fishing options in the creeks surrounding Cooktown, and barramundi are always high on anglers’ hit list.