The months leading into winter provide a host sportfishing options for anglers.

While summer is generally the busiest time of year for boating and fishing, many experienced anglers prefer.

autumn for the variety of options the lead into winter can offer. With the busy summer holidays behind us, our waterways, and more importantly, our target fish species, are under less fishing pressure and often respond favourably to popular techniques.

While autumn also coincides with the annual Easter break it’s not generally over-run by anglers compared to the extended peak holiday periods, so you can often experience that “away from It all’ feeling at your favourite spots. Along much of our coastline, water temperatures are still at the higher end, and species that follow warm currents can stay on the chew throughout autumn and well into the start of winter. Autumn also often provides periods of pleasant mild calm weather that makes the experience of being on the water as good as it gets.

So, whether you’re a seasoned saltwater fish or someone who prefers the challenge of freshwater fishing, autumn offers options aplenty. Here are some of the fishing highlights available in the coming months from right around the country.

Northern options
At this time of year in the tropical regions, It’s prime time for the iconic barramundi.

Autumn coincides with the annual run-off period associated with the build-up to the wet season in the Northern Territory and North Queensland, and it’s a fantastic time for anglers to be fishing the likes of inundated floodplains, lagoons and creeks, where baitfish congregate before running the gauntlet of waiting for predators on outgoing tides. Casting shallow running minnow-style lures, surface fizzers, and soft plastic frogs are all proven and exciting techniques for run-off barra fishing, depending on the location. Renowned run-off waters In the Territory Include the Mary, Daly, Adelaide, Roper, South and East Alligator Rivers, amongst others. In Cape York, the small tributaries of large river systems on the East or West Coast accessed from Weipa or Bamaga can also provide memorable run-off fishing from March to June each year.

As well as lure casting near creek mouths and flooded plains, trolling is a proven technique for scoring big run-off barra in connecting river channels, as well as the likes of black jewfish and threadfin salmon.
With the La Niña system in full effect this year, hopes are high for a memorable run-off season in the far north. If you’re keen to get Involved and the time is right, you can be in for the barra fishing experience of your life!

Heading south along the South-Eastern

Queensland coast, autumn usually signals the end of the summer inshore run of Spanish and spotted mackerel as the water temperature slowly cools. At this time, snapper becomes the main focus for fishos on local reef systems along the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

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