Margo Mills caught this lovely sickle fish from a surf gutter on Fraser last week. A great sports fish that she let swim away for someone else to catch.
Weather Improving for Snapper Season Opener
There was a mere 40mm or so in local Hervey Bay rain gauges after the ‘big rain event’ last weekend. Not enough to create any significant run-off and effectively little more than an unseasonal rain band to keep our grass green heading into spring. Sadly, the wind was up for much of the past week, so boaties mostly remained close inshore or hit the estuaries when it wasn’t cranking.
The forecast for the week ahead looks much better initially, before the wind returns later (potentially). This morning’s brisk southerly will ease to around 10 knots and tend south-easterly this afternoon. Saturday looks particularly good early, with a light south-wester early that will swing to the north-west for the afternoon. A stiffer 15 knot south-wester will greet those that head out early Sunday. Better conditions can be expected later in the day, so a Sunday morning sleep-in will be on the cards for some folks.
The working week kicks off cool and breezy, but that wind quickly abates to create an awesome day from mid-morning Monday. Options to head a little wider exist thereafter, before a southerly potentially cranks it up mid-week onwards. We won’t see any rain until the breeze swings back onshore later next week, and even then, it should be little more than fleeting showers.
The moon continues to wane as we roll through another set of neaps associated with the last quarter moon phase this Saturday. Minimal tidal flow will begin to strengthen gradually thereafter and set us up nicely for the better snapper tides around the new moon tides next weekend. Get out and enjoy the sunshine and lighter winds folks, and feel free to send in your happy snaps for bragging rights in next week’s fishing report.
Catching big cobia is a key component of a day out with Saltwater Playground charters.
Saltwater Playground's charter vessel makes catching cobia that do laps of the boat a breeze.
If you want to put yourself in this picture, then look up Saltwater Playground and book a charter.
Jewfish and Bream are the Highlights at the Pier
The prevailing lack of herring beneath Urangan Pier has meant estuary fish are more readily caught than pelagics for the time being. Catching pike has even been challenging at times, yet they remain the saviour for live bait fishos. Pike are a decidedly superior baitfish for the targeted estuary predators at the moment anyway, so learn how to catch them if you want in on the action.
That action is in the form of jewfish – and in numbers. Very few decent-sized fish, but scrappy, fun, undersized soapies to 70cm or so. It seems there are plenty of jewies calling pier waters home right now, so either forego a sleep-in for the pre-dawn ebb tide or plan a walk out to the deep end after dark. Make the effort to catch pike and results will come sure enough, or try some of the new Nomad Jerksquid, a large prawn imitation or a soft vibe, if the challenge of jewies on lures is more alluring.
Flathead remain a chance, mainly on live pike in the first channel or along the slope out towards the deep end. Bream numbers are reasonable at present, and they seem to biting okay. No-one has been overly excited about this winter’s bream season, due to a lack of herring and the resultant reduced number of larger bream. All the same, a handy feed of average bream can be secured with enough effort, and you will be on the spot if any tailor or mackerel return with the herring schools.
August is a month synonymous with Urangan Pier longtail tuna. Large longtails have been a somewhat reliable feature of select tides in August for eons, so only time will tell whether they show or not up this year. The consistent lack of herring right now does little to boost a tuna-chaser’s confidence, but you never know. Large fish have been caught nearby this week.
Noah Visentin caught this impressive longtail from the Urangan Harbour rock wall recently.
Noah releasing a goldie at the pier a couple of weeks ago.
Save the 27th September for the kids to join the fun in the annual whiting comp run by HBAFC.
Wander Local Creek Banks Over the Neaps
Minimal tidal flow will see a host of estuary predators wait out the slack tides within the confines of our local creeks. You could have some fun wandering local creek banks, flick rod in hand, catching anything from flathead and bream to blue salmon and barra. The cold conditions almost demand scaled-down lures, so don’t be surprised if larger-than-expected predators take a swipe at your little lure, and don’t panic. Surprisingly large barra can be tempted from a skinny creek on a sunny winter’s afternoon, so pack leader material up to the task in case you end up tossing lures at fish you see cruising.
You might find a few tailor off the rocks at Pt Vernon, as has been the case lately. River Heads is possibly a better bet at present, and also a good spot for blue salmon and jewfish. The jewies are mostly undersized, but the odd better one can be caught. It seems like a ratio of 10:1 against, for legal-sized jewies at present. So many small fish is a good sign for the future, and totally unsurprising given the past wet season and heightened effort on the jewie front in recent times.
Keep an eye on the weather closer to the new moon next weekend. Should the wind turn to the north-east, then this could be a trigger for the sand whiting to commence their annual run along our town beaches. There have been schools of whiting traversing the yabby banks of South Beach lately, and more down along the Booral Flats. Our in-town whiting fishery is about to hit its straps in coming weeks, and big things are anticipated this year given the lack of netting effort these days.
Jewies are prolific in so many locations in the bay and the straits. Fraser Guided Fishing clients catch and release a few like this one.
Jigging grunter on slow-pitch jigs is a specialty of Fraser Guided Fishing charters.
Platypus Bay will be lousy with a huge range of trevally species for the next couple of months. Fraser Guided Fishing will be into them.
Snapper & Pearl Perch Back on the Menu
Qld’s annual snapper and pearl perch closure concludes at midnight tonight, 15th August. Many keen snapper fans are eager to get back out onto the bay and find their beloved snapper this weekend no doubt, so our inshore reefs will be very busy, as will various snapper hotspots further up the bay.
The tides are certainly less than ideal; however, many folks will disregard that issue and chase them regardless. Better tides are coming, associated with the next new moon. More run will mean more fun as the darks descend upon us, followed by what a few old hands such as yours truly consider the best snapper tides immediately thereafter.
Most people did the right thing and avoided snapper altogether over the closure, and to them we extend our thanks and even congratulations. A few others weren’t so consciously-minded, so we are aware that there are serious sharks shadowing snapper schools in the southern bay. Tales of shark depredation on large snapper during the closure were hard to listen to, and no-one wants to hear of big numbers falling victim to the bities now that the season is open. Do your best to avoid the sharks and let others know they should move on if you deem it appropriate.
Whilst larger tides are more favourable regardless of location, these neap tides will favour those snapper fishos that try their luck in the central and northern bay and do so during the change of light periods. The 25 Fathom Hole is worth a visit, as are the random isolated gravelly outcrops scattered across the central bay. If there is an abundance of yakkas on site, then you can get excited. If not, then perhaps keep moving and looking.
Closer to the new moon, a better snapper bite can be expected from the waters of Platypus Bay. Tidal flow is so minimal up there that the bigger tides are all the more important. Dark nights with squealing baitrunners and protesting drags were commonplace over the late winter darks up there, and will be again, assuming the snapper keep returning.
Westerly winds will limit access to open waters somewhat, and make the waters of Platypus Bay less appealing this weekend, so a lot of effort is expected closer inshore. The reefs off the Burrum, the reefs across ‘the banks’ (including the Simpson arti), and other inshore snapper hotspots such as Moon Ledge and the Roy Rufus will all see plenty of traffic. Dawn and dusk prime times will be the time to be there for the best bite, and you can linger into the evening with renewed confidence if your midday efforts were unrewarded.
Trollers can tie on lighter leaders to 30lb and reacquaint the snapper with their collection of ultra-deep diving hardbodies. A slow troll wide of the reef systems the snapper are frequenting might be what keeps you in the game when the sun is high in the sky. Bycatch of cod, trout, trevally and mackerel could keep you busy too.
In case you have been avoiding the bay during the snapper closure (like many have), then don’t forget that there will be oodles of whales out there next visit. The humpbacks are prolific off Rooneys and throughout Platypus Bay, and there are quite a number right down into the southern bay. Indeed, there have been whales sighted a few times off Kingfisher Bay this week, so keep an extra keen eye out wherever you go.
Snapper will be hotly pursued from this weekend onwards, now that the season is re-opening at midnight tonight.
Nomad's Live Ops Jerksquid is a must-have for this snapper season opener. Tough and realistic - they won't stand a chance.
Fish to Catch Between Snapper Bites
Snapper fishos are bound to encounter the usual bycatch in coming weeks. Some might get lucky and score quality grunter or nannies up the island or out in the central southern bay. Others will probably be cursing the mackerel snipping off their favourite snapper softies as they try the waters off the Burrum or across the banks.
School mackerel have been less abundant than they often are at this time it seems, but that won’t last long. Expect bigger numbers in coming weeks and more widespread insurgence into any deeper waters anywhere hosting quantities of baitfish. Some small ones will turn up at River Heads and down the straits, but it is the big schools migrating down the west coast of the bay that are eagerly-awaited by keen mackerel fans.
Golden trevally schools are a handy distraction for snapper fishos waiting for a better time of day or tide. Look for them around shipwrecks and other prominent artificial structures inshore. You will find them on various bait-laden reef systems up in Platypus Bay too, and over the reefs off Rooneys as well. Goldies cover a lot of ground in their travels, so surprise catches thrill first-timers and sports fishos often enough. They can be hard to tempt when not in the mood, so be prepared to mix it up with the plastics you are presenting them, and try slow-pitch jigs or soft vibes if all else is ignored.
Bait fishos will likely hook a few solid grassy sweetlip whilst fishing dead baits for snapper inshore. The sweeties aren’t nearly as prolific as they were in warmer waters, but their average size is particularly good. Live baits suspended in the mid water column might be snavelled by anything from a big longtail tuna to a mackerel or a stray cobia. Should the same livies happen to find their way to the bottom upstream of a bit of gnarly reef, then a coral trout or estuary cod might be the next fish you hook.
Queenfish and various species of trevally are joined by mobile schools of tailor and a few random broad-barred mackerel around the bay islands. More run in the tide would excite them all more, but you can catch a few mid-tide over the neaps. Haven’t heard if any rat yellowtail kingfish have turned up as yet, but they are due. Kingfisher, the Picnics and Boges Hole might be on their migratory path if history is repeated this year.
Winter whiting fishos are in for a good week. Building tides when better weather arrives in a few days will offer the best conditions and action no doubt, but even over the neaps with a moderate westerly blow you can catch a feed. In fact, you can do so not far from the town beaches if you like. Quality winteries are mixed with some fairly average ones, yet, they are thick enough lately that you can throw back all the little ones and still head home with a bag limit for a morning’s effort.
Some days are diamonds. Double Island Point Fishing Charter clients have relished multi-red days recently.
Take the kids out on charter with Hot Reels. A safe and comfortable vessel on which they could catch a range of species in the bay.
There are huge numbers of bream to be caught at present. Shallow reefs, flats and rock bars are good places to start your search.
Increasing Variety on Offer in Our Rivers
Whilst others are out trying their luck with the snapper, you might enjoy a quiet session or two on a local river. Catching a genuine wintertime barra or thready is on the cards, but only for the next couple of weeks. It will be spring in no time, and hordes of eager fishos will flock to our estuaries to mix it with a host of fish.
Right now, the main targets remain flathead and blue salmon in the Mary system. Threadies are there in small numbers, and they remain scattered. More will turn up and they will school up soon and be easier, but for now, be prepared to toss lures at individuals or small groups of fish. Soft vibes and various prawn imitations remain your best bets for a wintertime thready, unless you are into trolling, in which case, you have ample options right now.
Both blues and threadies are easy targets for trollers. Barra can be caught by the same means, on the same artificials, but will likely favour those lures banging the bottom and interrupting their siesta somewhere deep and out of the current flow.
The Burrum system is as healthy as ever, and didn’t suffer any adverse effects of recent rains. There are still tailor terrorising baitfish near the heads and a few miles upstream. There have been mackerel in the river mouth too of late apparently. Bream can still be caught in numbers, either with lures, or old school with baits floated down a berley trail.
Quality whiting will feature in catches over the new moon period in a week’s time within the Burrum, and very likely sizeable fish too. Further upstream is where you might find a few decent grunter at present, and they too will bite better with more run in the tide. Barra, blue salmon, threadies and swags of flathead can be found if you wander enough, and perhaps the odd jewie might take a live bait or a lure in a deep hole in the mid reaches.
There have been some very impressive mud crabs caught lately. Josh Vella's family feasted well.
Bright shiny presentations such as this Rapala Crush City Imposter catch flatties. Mark with recent evidence.
Ollie Pearce made a 'shark' at Bunnings' craft shop and converted it into a lure. Persistence paid off with this fine flatty first use.
Ollie hauled this Wide Bay jewie over the rails of his dad's charter boat. A first of many to come no doubt, Ollie.
Banana Prawn & Mud Crab Feast Continues Unabated
Many folks continue to enjoy the sustained run of large banana prawns in the Gregory River. It must be getting near-on two months now that those prawns have lingered in select holes up there – a real bonus for the locals. Cast netting for prawn in winter may not appeal to everyone, but when the prawn is the quality of those in the Gregory, then at least the reward matches the effort.
Just recently, the Mary’s larger bananas have emerged and they are being caught in good numbers. Bucket limits are achievable in the right pockets of water, with the mid reaches being where you should start your search. Some of the Mary’s bananas are in 3-5 metres of water; some are in a lot more. Take extra rope and make sure every throw is a maximum circle if you intend on prawning the deep stuff. Few can, successfully every cast, whilst those that do get a work out retrieving kilos of prawn at a time from such depths.
Quality mud crabs continue to pot well throughout many local streams. Excellent numbers were found over the recent full moon and a trickle of quality crab has been on the menu since. Some of the rustiest old bucks have been laden in barnacles lately, offering that natural shellfish-infused marinade to the cooking process. Wintertime muddies are a bonus of a decent prior wet season and not something we get to enjoy every year. 2025 has been a memorable year for mud crabbers locally. Talk of an extra-wet spring could see the bonanza continue unabated through traditionally quieter times.
Running sand crab pots out in the bay when the whales are so thick has its risks. Not just to your apparatus, but to the big ocean-going mammals too. There are sandies to be caught if you are keen, but it would seem prudent to chase them over bigger tides in less water in the south-western bay if anywhere.
Diamonds are the coolest of our Trevors - no matter the size.
Kids always have fun when fishing on Hot Reels Charters.
Put the kids onto the bay's prolific trevally population and see how many species they can catch in a day.
Chopper Tailor Numbers Swelling on Fraser
After a couple of quiet weeks and a period of fairly heavy swell, it is good to hear that the chopper tailor are catchable and are starting to gather in better numbers along Fraser Island’s surf beaches. There are currently a lot of undersized tailor in the mix apparently, so taking steps to avoid damage to fish destined for release is a good idea. This could be as simple as flattening barbs on the trebles swinging from your lures, or even replacing trebles with singles.
Enough tailor in the mid-forties can be caught to ensure a fresh feed with enough effort at present. Things will improve dramatically in coming weeks as more tailor arrive and the average size improves with time. Dart, whiting, tarwhine and the odd flathead are the main fish to supplement your diet of tailor over there for now, though an occasional jewfish has been reported.
The island is in beautiful condition at present and the surf gutters are completely weed-free, which is great news. There are a few crews island-bound at present, so we should be able to bring you up-to-date reports of driving conditions, availability of bait such as worms and pippies, and the state of play on the fishing front in future reports.
Word from down Rainbow Beach way tells a similar story as Fraser, with generally the same mix of small tailor down there at present. Schools are expected to swim within range of casters at Inskip at times, whilst those waters are also renowned for some very impressive catches of large longtail tuna and even cobia from now into spring. Whiting and flathead are never far away at Inskip, and nor are a couple of sharks for anyone who really wants to get stretched.
Big green jobbies are a prize catch offshore. They take dead and live baits, trolled lures, jigs and softies. They pull hard and taste great too.
Lucky Double Island Point Fishing Charter clients have enjoyed fantastic fishing for reds lately.
What do gun charter operators do when snapper and pearlies are off limits - go chasing reds of course. Another victim of D.I. Point Fishing Charters.
Offshore Options Abound Post-Closure
With the snapper and pearl perch closure out of the way, offshore reef fishos can return to their usual deep dropping tactics without fear of interactions with fish that must be released. As you can imagine, releasing fish hauled up quickly from hundreds of metres down has minimal appeal or effectiveness. Pearlies and snapper will join the list of jobfish and cod species for future deep dropping missions. Go Saturday if you get the chance, as you may not see good enough weather for a while otherwise.
In the meantime, all we can tell you from the past week is that there have been spaniards on the Sandy Cape Shoals and GTs at Spit Bommie. Two species that thrive and feed better with maximum run in the tide, so something to consider next weekend if stick-baiting or popping on heavy tackle appeals. Talk of less sharks on the shoal country over the past fortnight will enable traditional bottom-bashing for a variety of tasty reefies.
A quick chat with Greg Pearce of Double Island Point Fishing Charter fame was enlightening as to the impressive reef fishery off the Wide Bay bar. Avoiding snapper and pearlies altogether has been nigh on impossible recently, but Greg knows what country reduces his chances of encountering them. It just so happens that some of this very country is prime ground for red emperor, so he had a couple of blinder trips during the closure that produced quality reds to 40lb.
Jewfish are a viable target for Greg and his eager crews this time of year. He knows how, where and when to target them, and succeeds using techniques proven over time. Snapper will be back on the hit list this weekend, so he won’t have to burn nearly as much fuel as he has lately. Snapper numbers were excellent pre-closure but the sharks were a nuisance. Less shark issues are anticipated now, which is great, because the average snapper size will be bigger.
Pearlies are in terrific numbers down off the Wide Bay bar too, so clients taking charters in the near future are bound to head home exhausted, happy, and with an excess of primo reef fish to share with family and friends. Double Island Point Fishing Charters is so popular it is booked out in advance much of the time, but if you are local and keen to go on the standby list and make yourself available when cancellations occur, then you might get lucky and get a crack at the brilliant fishing trips Greg delivers.
Good luck out there y’all …… Jase
Local HBGFC member, Riley McLeod, has been crowned Australia's champion junior game fisher. Congrats Riley and lookout marlin this spring.
Another great addition to Fisho's Recommended Services - MarineTech Hire - done by staff member, Logan.
Anyone keen to get into game fishing is welcome to join the HBGFC members for the BBQ above.