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Hi Mate,
I have fished the Skardon and the close in reefs including Kerr, though I usually fish further south around Mapoon.
Skardon is a big river, but is very wide and shallow at the mouth, need some tide to get past. It is tricky finding a good line and can be painful getting in and out though is only sand so nothing really to hit aside from the odd branch.
I have never had much luck in the river, but I haven't really fished it for long enough to get to know it well enough either. There is a big mooring beacon in deep water upriver you can find some reasonable fish around, but you need to be careful as there is a massive grouper that lives under it that tends to take your fish
Relatively easy to travel the river, but there are some nasty rock bars, about a mile or so upriver from the camping area on the northern bank in particular, pretty nasty and I came very close to parking my boat on top. Comes up from 25 foot to nothing in a few metres and is a big hook so you can find yourself inside it very easily, only just breaks the surface at low so quite difficult to see.
Try some of the drains closer to high, you will find some OK Barra depending on the runoff/wet season, haven't found too many in the last few years with average rainfall.
For the reefs, just sound around looking for some bommies or rubble, drop a squid or Livie down and see how you go. The reefs are really very small and only in 25-40 foot so make sure you are right on top. If no fish in 10 ,minutes move on.
Allot of decent cod, fingermark and blueys around if you work hard enough. Odd cobia and trout around too though the latter mostly on plastics. Tuna and small Mack's everywhere if you chase the birds. The taxman is a regular visitor too, once he turns up move on.
You won't go without a feed but if it's your first trip you will need to work pretty hard, after a few years it gets allot easier. Top spot - but pretty remote so make sure you boat is in good nick. I haven't been to the Jackson but I would be going in company as you won't see anyone else up there. Top part of the world but like I said you need to be totally self sufficient. Weather can be difficult too - I have been on trips where it has blown 25-35 every day for 2 weeks so can be challenging, still fish able but can be hard work. Last time I was in the Skardon I counted 18 tinnys, so in the river you will be ok but once out the front company is fairly thin on the ground.
We usually fish in 4.5m ish tinnies, though I now take an 18 foot platey and one of the other boys is building a 16 foot platey too after too long dealing with rubbishy weather up there and wanting to fish wider and further up the cape. 4+ m tinnies will get you around most places though, especially in company.
Have fun
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Originally Posted by Kondo 1
