Fisho’s Weekly Fishing Report – 13th February, 2026

Groper bycatch has become quite common amongst barra fishos working oversized soft plastic shrimps in the snags.

Wet Valentine’s Day Weekend Ahead

After a few days of very pleasant weather, we are sweltering right now ahead of a major rain event potentially heading our way. The big news is all about the Great South East and the deluge headed for that corner of our state, but it looks as though we are in for a drenching of some sort too. We may not receive flooding rains, yet I have written the following guide based on the potential of heavy downpours reaching our catchment area.

Storms, showers and general rain are forecast for coming days. Everything BOM-related is conjecture these days it seems, so, just how much rain we and our river catchments receive is undiscernible as yet. If you checked the forecasts yesterday then you would be at home or work today, yet the rains haven’t arrived and the wind is light, so hopefully some of you are out there enjoying what is a much better morning than forecast.

The wind will tend more onshore and easterly tomorrow and lean more south-easterly late in the day. 15-20 knots is the call from BOM for Saturday, with more showery rain. You could sneak out early for a brief session before the wind and rain picks up, but most folks will be getting romantic with the other half for St Valentine’s instead. Come Sunday, it will be a case of rinse and repeat, as the same rain-bearing winds drag even more moisture onshore.

Windy and wet conditions will prevail into the start of the working week, and it will be much cooler. Monday looks particularly windy, with a south-easter to 25 knots. Slightly better conditions and a drying trend Tuesday onwards will be welcomed no doubt. As fishos and boaties, we are in for a frustrating time in coming days, but should always treat forecasts for the Fraser Coast with a degree of scepticism and be on the lookout for better conditions than what has been predicted. Let’s see what unfolds.

The moon is currently waning and our nights are getting darker. The new moon falls next Tuesday, so there is a spike in tide height and variation once again. Nothing nearly as dramatic as the full moon tides recently, just healthy run to trigger a good bite from many species. So, with the tides still ‘making’ but the weather turned foul, consider onshore or estuarine options this weekend if you must. Or, just spend extra quality time with your beloved and accumulate some serious brownie points for when the weather is more appealing.

Jacko suffered the attention of a few sharks, but still came home with a good feed of quality inshore sweeties.
Ryan with a sample of the sort of quality barramundi you can find in Fraser Coast waterways.

Pier Fishing Well as New Moon Approaches

Making tides have brought an influx of pelagics to the waters beneath Urangan Pier this week. There is minimal herring for the time being, but that hasn’t stopped a number of school and broad-barred mackerel from turning up for a feed. The schoolies are pretty much all legal fish, and the broadies are a better size than a week ago at 3-4kg on average.

As expected, the resurgence of mackerel triggered a predatory response from the bigger GTs lurking beneath the pier. Bust-ups and moments of sheer chaos have been part of the pier scene this week. More run in the tide will have these big bad brutes even more eager to feed, but will also give them additional home-ground advantage. Best you bring you’re A-game if you intend tackling Urangan Pier GTs this weekend!

The pier’ GT population get to see plenty of tackle and plenty of bait presentations – both good and bad. Given that they witness bust-offs from their point of view, they can be forgiven for being a bit gun-shy by this late in the summer season. All the more reason to fine-tune your presentations with smaller, yet extra-sturdy hooks, good hook placement and pertinent timing of your strike. You may not get too many cracks at wary GTs, so you need to make your next hook-up count.

Queenfish numbers spiked at the pier when the pencillies were at their thickest. There are still large queenies being caught randomly, but it is only the odd fish every other day of late. Smaller queenies have been turning up at night to add a little light-hearted excitement to those with the right lures or smaller livies. 

Pencil squid numbers didn’t rebound after the passing of the full moon. Squid returned in smaller numbers, so you can still catch some, but it looks like the best of the pier’s summer run is maybe a thing of the past. Having said that, the dark nights of the new moon might see a resurgence (even though few folks will be there to witness it). Squid won’t like the freshwater content of the surface waters if the heavens open up, so if it is pouring rain, then you might as well stay at home comfy and dry.

Major Deluges Mean Opportunities for Landlubbers

It has been a fairly lack-lustre week for beach fishos here in town. That may all change this weekend if serious rains fall however, so be ready to react and cash-in on a temporary abundance often created when overflowing waterways spew forth onto our beaches. As written about before, this can be something as simple as fishing the fringes of outflows from storm-water outlets, or being in position on nearby flats or at creek mouths when the creeks initially run fresh.

Head for the backwaters of these same creeks beforehand and you will likely find very aggressive mangrove jacks and plenty of little estuary cod keen to pounce on anything resembling tucker. This intense heat and humidity will have them already firing on both barrels, so add the hint of heavy rain and it will be game-on.

Post-flooding - should it eventuate and it probably won’t - can see the likes of grunter, blue salmon, barramundi and queenfish all capitalising on the temporary abundance. A fisho walking creek flats, local beaches and even the rocky foreshores of Pt Vernon could be in for some interesting encounters. Their efforts being all the more rewarding and exciting if they do so armed with topwater offerings at a time when the predators are more likely than ever to pounce on lures dancing across the surface.

Local housing estate lakes and pondages will be hotspots for those chasing barra and jacks this week. Big rains mean localised run-off, which virtually lines the fish up for you. Small diving lures or plastics, weedless frogs and walk-the-dog stickbaits are all great options for anyone keen to wander those banks looking for a thrill. Ensure you respect the nearby landowners and steer clear of private property in your travels. 

Inshore Reef Fishery Will Benefit from Major Rains

It hasn’t hit the ground as yet, but if the big rains do come, then our local inshore reefs and the fish that live there will benefit. That will be a topic for future reports if flooding eventuates, but we can consider the implications now. Expect the inshore trout to continue to bite well in deeper waters, along with even bigger numbers of even more aggressive estuary cod.

Few would dare to head beyond sheltered waters, if they even head out at all, this weekend. No doubt there will be a couple of die-hards fishing the Gatakers Bay reefs out of the prevailing wind. Those folks will be in for a rough time if the winds stay more east than south-east, but at least the tides are favourable for fishing those waters. Trolling for trout is an option, as is sitting on the pick soaking baits for trout, sweeties, cod and grunter.

Speaking of grunter, they are possibly the first and most notable new ‘fish on the block’ should the big rains come. Grunter flushed from our creeks and rivers will join their brethren moving closer inshore to feast on the future abundance. They might be found around pt Vernon, the Bay Islands or along Fraser’s western ledges. Right now, there are some already in situ, and their numbers are likely to be boosted big-time sometime soon.

Another highly sought after species that we typically enjoy an inshore run of post-wet is the mighty-tasty large-mouth nannygai. Their second-rate cousins, the small-mouths will move in a bit too, yet not as far inshore. Reef fishos soaking the likes of small live baitfish, squid and strip baits might chance a few nannies in the near future. The more it rains, the better your chances inshore. This statement is rather qualified of course; meaning assumptions about how extensive the flooding might be and just how far inshore they may migrate will be mitigating factors.

Of course, you cannot create an abundance of tucker and lesser predators without having the apex predators move in for their share as well. The already disastrous shark depredation issue inshore will only get worse when the rains come, and future wet events will play into the hands of the big female pup-bearing bulls preparing to give birth to their next generations in April.

New Reef Fishing Options Created off Elliott Heads

One location bound to get a boost from any future flooding events will be the exciting new artificial reef off Elliott Heads. It is a bit of a haul from Hervey Bay boat ramps, but not that far from Burrum Heads when you consider the distances we travel around here to catch fish. Easterly-tending winds will not favour locals heading up the west coast, but the southerlies that drop out during the morning or the south-westers of autumn are another matter.

The Elliott Heads arti was deployed a while ago (not long after the Pt Vernon reefs were installed). Seems we missed the press release – doh! Anyway, I have inserted an image from the internet of the artificial reef map hereabouts, which will give you an indication as to where the reefs are for future reference. Tracking them down will be no harder than it was to do so on the local Simpson or Hardy arti’s, particularly for those sporting new-age side-scan technology.

The Elliott Heads reef system will be a major drawcard for many species, both pelagic and demersal. It may even enjoy a visit from estuarine species such as maturing jacks and fingermark as they exit our estuary systems in autumn. Snapper, nannygai, sweetlip, cod, trout and grunter will all hopefully infiltrate those reefs and thrive beneath mackerel, trevally and queenfish. Exciting times for the locals up there and another much-needed option for the ever-growing population of hungry Hervey Bay fishos.

Steady Bite from Reef Fish Out Wide

Great weather early in the week opened a window of opportunity for offshore reef fishos and a few jumped at the chance. The neap tides meant the bite was a little lack lustre offshore, but the current was fairly minimal for this time of year. It was below 2 knots, so both the shoal country and the deep-dropping grounds over the shelf were manageable.

It was a matter of scratching together a feed of mixed reef fish from the shoals rather than a torrid bite. Fish such as red throat, tusk fish, wrasse and various cod turned up to contribute to the building haul, but no-one was doing any serious bragging that we heard from. Minimal surface activity was noted by crews that we talked to, and we have no idea if anyone went chasing marlin. The big beaky buggers were out there out wide – just ask staff member Logan about the fish that ate his pearlie on his deep drop gear!

Deep dropping in a light breeze was productive, with the usual suspects being hauled from the depths. Again, not huge numbers, but a good catch in good conditions that meant most came home happy. Pearlies, various jobfish and cod species were hauled from the depths this week, and no doubt plenty more of the same will be there for the next time the weather comes good.

Those that headed for the Gutters instead of offshore found the coral trout on the bite. Sadly, the sharks were even more ravenous, so not everyone got to enjoy the spoils of their efforts. Stories of constant depredation drop after drop, spot after spot, are devastating to hear, and all the more reason so few of the former Gutters fishos fail to bother with those grounds these days. All the same, some very solid trout and a mix of other reefies made it home for a lucky few. Most likely the crews that ventured beyond common grounds and found sneaky little lumps without attending noahs arks.

Tuna Time Hots Up in the Bay

One spin-off benefit of a few days of inclement weather and stiffer onshore winds will be the increased number of tuna that such a weather pattern should bring to the bay. We are already enjoying the first decent run of longtails of the season, and expect many more after this weather settles.

A lot of the LTT action is centred off Wathumba Creek. The 5 Mile grounds have been particularly productive, but when the tuna have been up and feeding, the horizon is awash with white water commotion and cart-wheeling birds. The tuna up that way are only school fish for the most part; averaging say 5-8 kilos or so. The sharks are already giving the tuna a flogging, but they are not attending every school. Move on when they find you and seek out another school and you might even go home with some of your lure collection intact. 

The longtails have been eating a range of lures, from small metal slugs to jighead-rigged jerkshads and small stickbaits. They have tended to favour one style over another, depending upon which school you pull up on, so perhaps it’s a good idea to carry an arsenal of various lures so you can constantly match that hatch.

Much bigger longtails have been observed crash-tackling the baitfish schools traversing the inshore shipping channels from the Bay Islands to Kingfisher. Very large longtails, in larger-than-usual schools apparently. Fish pushing the 20-kilo mark have been gathered in numbers that we would normally see in smaller packs or perhaps even solo later in the season. Making tides drag the bait into those channels and there is ample down Little Woody and Kingfisher way apparently, so the bigger tuna have been in hot pursuit.

Schoolies and Broadies Caught Whilst Spaniards Protected

Given that the first of our two annual 3-week spanish mackerel closures is still current, it has been quite timely for a number of school and broad-barred mackerel to turn up inshore. The Arch Cliffs 6 Mile has been hosting a number of mackerel lately, including the spaniards. Broadies have also dropped in on the Simpson arti apparently, so that has been a handy bonus for mackerel fans.

Beacon-bashing for mackerel was productive a week ago for some crews. This can be a hit and miss affair, based on state of tide and your timing, as well as how inclined the ‘resident’ baitfish are to linger. It is a very easy caper for those that don’t know where our reefs are, as they can zip from beacon to beacon and have a quick spin at each. If the mackerel are there and your spoon or slug is being retrieved fast enough, then they will respond with a blistering strike.

Goldies and queenies on the flats - plus more of the same working deeper inshore water - are possible over the dark of the moon. The weather might deny access to the usually productive grounds over Moon way, yet others can be accessed further down the straits that see even less traffic. Increasing tidal flow will have both species feeding more aggressively, so if you get the chance to chase them safely then do so.

Our big inshore GTs might may not get to collect any more mouth jewellery this weekend, but they are still out there. Try the shipwrecks of the Roy Rufus arti, the Simpson or the Hardy when you get the chance, or go popping for them around the bay islands if the weather is manageable. Again, the bigger new moon tides will have them stirred up and actively hunting.

River Fishos - Enjoy the Cleaner Water While It Lasts

Suspended silt from the massive full moon tides took seemingly forever to settle over the last set of neaps. The Mary ran dirty for much of its length for an extended period, yet remained very much fishable. Threadies and barra are the two main target species down there at present, and they will continue to occupy positions 1 and 2 on most fisho’s hitlist even if flooding eventuates.

Until then, those willing to cop a soaking will be able to find active fish spurred on by this incessant heat and the threat of inbound floodwaters. This week could see a protracted bite from extra-large fish in particular, so you might say the rewards are there for those putting in the extra hard yards. Building new moon tides will constrain your efforts to the lower reaches perhaps, but that is not a bad thing. Go for a look when the weather lets you. The bite may be extra special prior to the impact of the cooling winds and rain.

Quality grunter can be found some distance upstream in the Mary and Susan rivers. Not for long when the rains come, but until then, they are a great target species on lighter tackle. Suckers for prawn imitation plastics (or the real thing), they are scrappy fighters that taste better than most other estuary species (especially barra). Look for grunter moving upstream with the last of the making tides and target them along any gravelly runs or the verges of deeper holes on the bends in the river.

Those keen to wander the rocky shores of the River Heads peninsula might be in for a treat this week too. Casting and retrieving shallow-diving hardbodies, paddle-tailed plastics or the ever-realistic prawn imitations from the stones out there might see you hook barra, threadfin salmon, blue salmon or jewfish. You might catch bugger-all too, which is part of a steep learning curve for that fishery. Time and effort will reveal its secrets, and that isn’t likely to be during daylight hours or at high tide (hint hint!).

Burrum River fishos had a taste of what can be caught over the recent neaps. The barra population is big and healthy in that system, and they are well-dispersed throughout all four rivers. The jacks are absolutely on fire right now; going nuts over this extreme heat during favourable building tides. Dare to take them on with the storms approaching this weekend and you could bear witness to some of the best jack fishing that Qld has to offer. The numbers are sound up there, and the average size is very impressive. Others elsewhere might ‘ooh and ahh’ over 50cm mangrove jacks, but not the Burrum locals!

There is also a better-than-average population of threadies riding the tides up and down those rivers these days, so vibing and working smaller softies over fish spotted on your sounder has never been easier for Burrum fishos. Add the schools of grunter making their way upriver, the quality whiting in the mid-lower reaches and the absolute abundance of small-medium sized prawns, and the Burrum seems the best place to while away the wet this week.

And last, but by no means least, is the mud crab fishery that is about to go nuts when these rains hit. The straits is already giving up a feed of quality muddies, as are our rivers to some extent, but that could go gang-busters when and if a fresh flushes them out. It will be on for young and old, particularly with so many visiting pro crabbers in the area already, so get your pots in somewhere safe from excess flow and reap the rewards that the onset of heavy wet season rains so often bring.

Good luck out there y’all …… Jase