Inshore species targeted

With reasonably dry season like weather conditions over last weekend, many Broomies hit the water targeting inshore reef species and have been justly rewarded for their efforts.

Fantastic captures of snapper, blue bone, trevally, cod, queenies etc are being taken in close.

Reports the inshore areas between Coconut Wells and Barred Creek are holding large schools of bait fish is exciting, and while I haven’t heard of any billfish being boated yet, there are predictions from some well-known Broome billfish anglers that the season will start with a bang in close.

If anyone has caught a sailfish or marlin this season, we would love to know.

Schools of bait fish are also prevalent out a bit wider and are attracting larger predatory fish such as tuna and mackerel, which are great target sport fishing species.

The bay is also still fishing well with good numbers of salmon, mulloway and triple tail being boated and the Fitzroy River is worth a fish however can be a bit hit or miss at the moment.

I’m off to one of my favourite fishing competitions of the year this Anzac day long weekend, the Regal Transport Buccaneer Classic.

The Mary Island Fishing Club do an amazing job organising this event, fished in such a remote location at the Buccaneer Archipelago.

Boats leave and return at the Derby Wharf in convoy and there is a buddy system in place throughout the event for safety.

For many anglers in this competition, fishing is secondary to the raft ups, socialising and pure enjoyment of being in such an amazing environment which as you know is one of my favourite places to go.

Please keep your photos and fishing adventure stories coming in, I love to hear them, but more importantly the readers of this column enjoy them even more — even if it is a tragic story of fishing mishap.

■ Sara Hennessy is a Broome Fishing Club life member.