Fisho’s Weekly Fishing Report – 21st November, 2025

Threadies such as this one of Brock's can be found in our local rivers and down the straits.

Lovely Weekend Before Northerly Winds Return

With another fortnight behind us since our last “weekly” fishing report, we can look back on frustrating times wind-wise interspersed with brief periods of glorious spring weather. Things are cooler and quite pleasant at present, but that will all change next week as the north wind and the heat returns.

Glamour conditions greeted boaties lucky enough to hit the bay this morning. A sea breeze to 15 knots will cool things off nicely this afternoon, and set the stage for similar conditions for Saturday. Basically, expect a lighter onshore south-easterly breeze of around 10 knots early in the day, followed by a stiffer wind to 15 knots or stronger in the afternoon. Sunday will be even better; again, with a lighter onshore breeze early, followed by a pleasant but slightly stronger afternoon sea breeze.

Come Monday, the north wind is expected to return. You should get the day in on the bay no worries, with very light winds throughout the morning, that tend northerly and strengthen to 20 knots before nightfall. Subsequent days look nasty for bay boaties, but will suit estuary and impoundment fishos. Northerly winds to 20 knots or even more are anticipated, which will bring the heat and perhaps a little stormy precipitation in the hinterlands.

Yesterday’s new moon means the moon will be waxing again for the next fortnight. Dark of the moon spring tides aren’t all that huge this time of year (unlike the full moon tides), so conditions will be easily managed by anyone familiar with our enhanced tidal flows. Obviously, the daily tidal flow will deteriorate day to day for the next week, so take advantage of the run right now, then gear up for the next set of neaps this time next week.

Aedan and Leo proudly displaying their best trout from a recent session up north.

Peter Stevo with a sample of the sort of trout you can catch at The Gutters if you can avoid the noahs.

Time to Dust Off the Heavier Tackle for Pier Fishos

There is no shortage of baitfish beneath Urangan Pier these days, and that food source has drawn a mix of predators. Various pelagics have made raids on the herring schools over the past fortnight, whilst a few stray blue salmon have joined other estuary-dwellers such as jewfish and flathead at key times. 

Mackerel made an appearance with the building tides (which have now peaked). Some spun for them with the usual Flasha spoons and other metals, intent on taking a caught fish home for supper. Others chased them by the same means, but with more sinister intentions. Schoolies and broadies make for primo live baits for giant trevally, which have returned to the deep waters out the end recently. 

Targeting GTs from Urangan Pier demands beefy tackle, or at least very capable tackle that can withstand the immense pressure necessary to keep the GTs from the pylons. With barely 4 metres between oyster-encrusted uprights, you can envisage how good old lady luck has a major say in proceedings after hook-up too. Most folks are busted off; sometimes quite monumentally, but enough battles are won to keep the regulars coming back for more, and the newbies itching for their piece of the action.

GTs that linger for periods beneath a fishing platform such as this get wiser and wiser with each bust-off they create (or capture that they witness). So, hook presentation and leader size needs to be reconsidered as the summer approaches. Massive hooks and extra-heavy leaders will be largely ignored by ‘resident’ GTs as time wears on. Time to re-rig with smaller yet super strong hooks (like Mustad Hoodlums or similar) and perhaps fluorocarbon leaders or something closer to 80lb than 150lb if sticking with the standard mono leaders.

Live baiting with a mackerel will seem extreme to the uninitiated, particularly when you witness the size of the bait a GT fisho will present. A 3-kilo mackerel will disappear down the gullet of a big GT without even touching the sides, so barely legal 50cm mackerel are scarcely a mouthful. Using undersized mackerel (or any regulated species of fish) is illegal of course, so do the right thing and stay above the law. This goes for targeting fish governed by closed seasons too. Fisheries officers are well-versed in what fish are being caught from the pier, day and night, and know when to pounce. 

Increased effort from shark fishos plying the deeper waters after dark is expected from now into summer. Hotter waters bring more sharks into our shallows, and some of these critters are quite large. Dirty waters spawned from stronger northerlies and future heavy wet season rains can mean more bull sharks, rays and shovellies, whilst cleaner waters can see a variety of sharks turn up (along with the ever-present bulls).

Urangan Pier regular, Colin, with a sample of the big GTs terrorising the baitfish and mackerel out the deep end at present.

Saltwater Playground Charters have been putting clients onto all sorts of pelagics lately. Johanna with a nice mackerel.

New Moon Whiting and Fishing Our Local Creeks

There is a good feed of whiting on offer for beach fishos right now, courtesy of the larger new moon tides. The very best of the whiting may still be a night-time affair, but good fish can be caught on the morning rising tide and the first of the ebb. Yabbies remain the favoured bait by the masses, yet a tub of humble beach worms can get you amongst them.

The Urangan Pier’s first couple of hundred metres makes a good platform for whiting fishos keen to try their luck after dark. The rock groynes at Shelley Beach are equally as popular these days, as both options get you, your kids and their gear out of the sand and under useful night lighting. The stretches of town beach fronting Urangan and Torquay are the preferred hunting grounds of whiting fishos, with the storm water pipes at Torquay being most favourable for family fishos.

Our little local creeks offer exciting tight-water fishing options this time of year. The coolest and most certainly the toughest of species you could encounter is the mighty mangrove jack. A species more than adequately-represented in even the tiniest of our streams. Don the Bushmans and decent footwear and make your way upstream to fish the mangrove-lined and snag-filled sections with small lures. Do so at dusk or dawn if you are hardy enough and you can be throwing top water lures in ridiculously tight waters and expect some mind-blowing action.

Next week’s renewed heat will spur the jacks into action, but until then, there is always flathead, cod, bream and whiting to target within the creeks. Queenies are a chance on the adjacent flats, and even salmon are possible. Barramundi might take a liking to your offerings, so ensure you handle them gently and return them to the water immediately as they are off the hit list until February 1st next year.

Large grunter have been a feature of catches from our rocky foreshores, and from our town beaches of late. Bigger tides such as these right now are highly conducive to a good grunter bite, so make some effort before the northerlies get too strong and you might not only be eating well but could be bragging for quite some time too if you land fish as large as some others have lately.

Sharks Menacing Our Inshore Reef Fish

Reef fishos have had limited opportunities to get out on the bay lately, so it is no doubt incredibly frustrating that when they do, they end up having to battle sharks all too often. Most locals are now well-versed in shark avoidance strategies inshore, which keeps them on the hop, spot to spot, to avoid depredation. A popular strategy has been to fish shallower, over our shallow fringing reefs, but alas, even those waters are not safe from the noahs these days. 

Trollers scouring the shallow reefs for coral trout and cod stand a far better chance of avoiding the noahs than those who anchor and deploy baits. The big tides favour the trout fishos too, so no doubt there will be plenty of diving lures following small tinnies around the reefs off Pt Vernon and the bay islands this weekend. There have been some very nice trout caught in recent times, so make the most of the current scene before the summer crowds arrive and mop up the dregs. 

Shark issues in the shallows can be blamed partly on the lack of effort in deeper waters lately. Limiting weather has exaggerated the fishing effort in the sheltered shallows, and we all know that sharks head for boat traffic. Sadly, they are still an issue deeper, but luckily, they are currently not everywhere. 

Find an inshore reef devoid of noahs and you could score a big feed of grassy sweetlip quick smart. If your luck holds when the tide goes slack, then you could be dining on fresh coral trout or estuary cod as well. The nannies will feature more as the wet season approaches, so bycatch variety will be limited to squire, blackall, the perches (moses and stripey), tusk fish and the usual passing pelagics.

The second annual Coral Reef Fin Fish Closure is currently in force, but it concludes at midnight tonight. Head north thereafter and catch some trout at the Gutters, or some reds further north. If you are out there today though, stay south of 24°50’ and you can catch fish governed by the CRFF Plan. North of that latitude and you cannot until tomorrow.

Match the Hatch to Target Pelagics

There is a vast variety of baitfish in Hervey Bay and surrounding waters at this time of year. Remnant schools of yakkas draw their predators out in the bay proper, whilst herring are a major drawcard closer inshore. These mid-sized to mature baitfish attract large pelagic predators such as school, broad-barred and spanish mackerel, various trevally and queenfish. All the while, masses of recently spawned tiny baitfish, often barely an inch long, are what our tunas are hunting at this time.

Ask folks about the tuna scene on the bay at present and they will tell you there is stacks of mac tuna out there, and, that they are very hard to catch. Being so fixated on such tiny baitfish makes them hard to tempt at times, so you will need to develop strategies to overcome their blinkered rejections. Going smaller in the lure department is an obvious choice, but you can only go so small. 

Slugs in the 20–50-gram range are typically more than adequate for summer-time mac (and longtail) tuna. That is because the bait is that little bit bigger by then, and the larger slugs match the hatch appropriately. Scaling down at this time is great, if your tackle will throw the smaller lures, that is. If not, select lead-based slugs, or similar profiles where the lure length is shorter but the lure remains heavy enough to cast. Case in point; Arma Nuggets.

Try small jerkshads shortened at the head end on appropriate jig heads if you need to, or fit one of Vexed Fishing’s nifty Jig Wig Bon Chovy offerings to an appropriate jig head and try that. All failing; just go looking for other tuna schools that hopefully are predating on larger baitfish and more accepting to your offerings.

Mac tuna schools are quite prolific and widespread right now. They pushed right down into the Great Sandy Straits with the recent making tides. They can be found from south of Kingfisher Bay all the way up to the open waters of the bay. Longtails are quite scarce, but there are folks reporting sightings amongst the mac tuna. 

It won’t be long at all and spotted mackerel will be a major target species for bay fishos. There should be some north of the bay somewhere now. More south-easters and less northerlies will see them migrate into the bay in numbers soon, but for now, just be prepared in case you trip over schools in the northern bay. Have a range of slugs handy (the same ones mentioned for summer tuna above) and you are set.

Hervey Bay’s Black Marlin Scene Set to Improve

Our inshore juvenile black marlin season has been rather challenging so far, with vastly more boats chasing marlin than actual marlin when the weather is good. That might be the case again this weekend, as lighter winds blowing over Fraser Island offer smooth waters for those heading for the Wathumba-Rooneys marlin grounds.

The new moon means peak bite periods to marlin fishos, so there is that in your favour if you are keen to try your hand. It is worth some effort, as even though this hasn’t been a blinder season where everyone is catching billfish, there have been fish caught pretty much any fishable day. Make the most of the coming days if you get the chance, and head north of Rooneys if the bay doesn’t look promising. Hang in there for the key tide-turn bite periods and make sure your crew is ready when the little billies rock up.

Regardless of marlin numbers, our bay is a mecca for light tackle sports fishos keen to catch an inshore marlin. Many folks will arrive this summer intent on fishing the northern and eastern bay for billfish, spotties and tuna. If the marlin follow the spotties into the bay from up north, then happy days. The more spotties, the more marlin most likely. However, what is the only thing that will limit the biomass of spotties entering or lingering in Hervey Bay? Northerly winds - of which we have had our fair share already this spring, thank you very much!

Slipping across Breaksea Spit, or steering around it to the north, will put you in with an even better chance of catching black marlin. There have been blacks caught over the shoal country at the northern end of the spit in recent times, and bound to more again soon. East of the 13 Mile crossing is a great place to start, and somewhere you might encounter significant bycatch too.

Spanish mackerel have been a nuisance east of the bar unless you head for the shelf. Beyond there it has been all billfish, yellowfin and mahi mahi, with blues, blacks and stripes all possible, making a grand slam a very real possibility on heavy tackle. Again, weather constraints have limited effort offshore in recent times. The current is raging and pouring hot water south past Fraser, so the humpback highway can now be called the billfish highway. Monitor BOM’s SST Charts and you can clearly see the spur of water that brings so many fish so close to our coastline.

BOM's SST Charts clearly illustrate the big tongue of hot water carrying all the marlin past Fraser Island at this time.

Time to Chase Threadies and Jacks

Given that barramundi are off the hit list, and any decent fisho with a conscience will go out of their way to avoid them, the obvious target species for adrenalin-junky estuary fishos this time of year is threadfin salmon and mangrove jack. You might catch both in the Burrum system or down the straits, or you might even get lucky and catch a rare Mary system jack if you can peel yourself away from the threadies at the key time.

Next week’s heat will really turn the jacks on again, so expect a good bite both day and night. Come summer, such heat will mean a night time or low light bite primarily, but at this time, you have options galore. Seek shady overhangs, major structure, deep water and areas where large-eyed predators such as jacks can ambush prey without suffering the glare of the sun. 

The Burrum system’s four rivers all offer champagne jack fishing. Endless snags, rock bars and man-made structure can be daunting for inexperienced folks wondering where to start. Jacks will indeed be resident on many structures and on many rock bars, but often they can be challenging to tempt with lures. They also aren’t as obvious on sounder screens as their easier to catch neighbours, the barra and salmon, so you will need to be observant and fine-tune your casting and lure-working techniques to achieve consistent results.

Or, you could just go bait fishing! Mangrove jacks might be hard to tempt on a lure at times, but they are generally suckers for a well-presented bait. Live baits are fine, and will catch quality fish. They will also attract barra, which isn’t great during the closure. Fillets of mullet often prove even better than live baits, and will limit your barra bycatch to almost zero.

Learn where jack lives by using bait, and all of a sudden, your confidence with lures in the same location will skyrocket. You can then work that spot over properly; putting in the number of casts it sometimes takes to draw out the jacks, and ultimately achieve the success you may not have prior. Once you have your confidence growing, you can then take on the nocturnal scene and really get amongst the jacks that are hyperactive and out and about hunting. Next step – topwater. Following step – new jocks!

The Burrum’s jack will bite this week, so will those within Fraser’s western creeks and a selection of the mainland creeks down the straits. Grunter and whiting are also possible from the Burrum whilst the tides remain strong, and with a little effort you might find schools of average-sized threadies or an occasional legal jewfish. The smaller jewies are on the move since our waters warmed, and large schools of traveling fish can be encountered. 

The Mary system’s threadfin population is growing steadily, but no-one is bragging about big numbers as yet. Still, chasing threadies is a pretty easy day out for anyone with a side scanner and some soft vibes or prawn imitations tied on. Trollers aren’t left out either, as they too can get amongst the threadies making their way upriver.

The Great Sandy Straits is possibly the most exciting estuary option at present. Not only can you spend a day catching mangrove jacks, salmon, grunter and flatties in the creeks, but you can also work the ledges and reefs down that way for a mix of reef fish. Many might be surprised to learn just what reef fish inhabit the straits; a list that includes coral trout, tusk fish, grassy sweetlip, blackall and nannygai. Estuary cod are a constant, like it or not, and might just be the only fish some folks catch. 

Kingfisher Bay Resort’s jetty has been a hive of piscatorial activity lately. Some impressive fish have been caught, and some proved too good for the fishos that hooked them. Large spanish mackerel and longtail tuna have been occasional visitors to the baitfish-rich jetty, but it has been the broadies, the schoolies and the GTs that have created the most consistent excitement.

Blue salmon schools have made passing raids on the jetty’s baitfish schools, whilst large flathead lurk menacingly in the shallows. Jewfish are hunted beneath the jetty relentlessly these days, so it is little wonder that more undersized fish are caught than legal fish. Those favouring whiting can be staring at schools of quite large fish traversing the nearby sandflats one minute, and then racing along the beach casting tiny topwater lures at them when they see them move within range. All-in-all, Kingfisher can be an exciting place to hang out this time of year.

Latest Observations from Fraser’s Surf Scene

You would think Fraser Island would be quiet at this time of year, but apparently not. At least the tracks are good and beach driving is fine. Rocks aren’t an issue for beach travel to the headlands, and for now, the surf gutters are free of weed. 

Pippies are abundant, but not everywhere. Keep an eye out for them whilst travelling and secure your limit for bait if required. Beach worms are big and fat just south of Waddy Point, with a lesser class of worm further south.

Fishing-wise, it has been mixed. Plenty of tailor schools can still be found working the better gutters at key times, but not always. Spinning with large metals or dancing stickbaits through the waves has been the most entertaining way of catching the tailor. It is also great for the mobile fisho keen to cover territory and go exploring. There have been spaniards and GTs caught by slide-baiters again recently, which is very exciting.

The headlands would be fishing great if it wasn’t for the number of large sharks that have taken up residence. Fishing for the tailor amassed nearby is foolhardy at best, and very expensive too. Whiting fans might score well over the dark of the moon, particularly within the low tide gutters and melon holes. 

Unfortunately, those darn march flies have returned, with a vengeance, making life a little uncomfortable for beach fishos over there. Otherwise, Fraser’s waters look especially inviting and the chance of XOS tailor will still draw in a few die-hards this month.

Good luck out there y’all …… Jase