Dane was absolutely stoked with this beautiful permit he caught on fly whilst fishing at Weipa recently.
Onshore Breeze Bringing Showers
The weather has changed dramatically in recent days; from the previously steamy heat spawned by northerly winds to much cooler and breezier conditions with an increasing threat of showers. As pleasant and comfortable as our climate feels right now, it is hard to visualise any joy for boaties beyond sheltered waters for a few days to come.
Today's 15 knot easterly is set to strengthen slightly during Saturday and restrict boaties all weekend. Winds are likely to kick-off each day at 15 knots then build to 20 if not 25 knots. Saturday looks the worst, with a subtle improvement possible Sunday. The chance of showers is increasing day by day too. Not enough to soak our parched landscape, but welcome all the same if we can get a few mm per day.
Gradually improving weather into the next working week will open up opportunities for frustrated boaties. The high-pressure system that has stalled in the Tasman Sea will hopefully weaken enough to see winds lighten. Offshore will still be limited to larger vessels, but the eastern and southern bay should be okay.
The moon is waxing again after the passing of the new moon phase last Sunday. Monday will see in the half-moon of the latest first quarter phase, which means neap tides and minimal current flow once again. Happy days for those folks keen to tangle with our estuarine predators, but maybe not so brilliant for those limited to sheltered shallow reef fishing options or those keen to get amongst the beach whiting.
Ben Wall got stuck into the impoundment barra with the aid of Livescope.
Ben with another whopper. The Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic is on this weekend, so expect chaos at the ramps and boats galore.
Variety of Pelagics Turning it on for Pier Fishos
An abundance of baitfish, that includes a welcome percentage of "surface herring", has been drawing the attention of many passing pelagic species to the waters beneath Urangan Pier. Surface herring are a particularly long and lean version of the genus in case you are wondering, much slenderer than greenbacks and most certainly more appealing to fish and fishos than "portholes". The surface herring are joined by hardy heads, and both are primo live baits for the big broad-barred mackerel haunting pier waters right now.
Broadies to beyond 9 kilos have been caught this week, with the average size keeping pier regulars coming back day after day. Joining their bigger cousins has been a consistent run of school mackerel. These are all legal fish too, with some sizeable specimens in the mix. Needless to say, Flasha spoon sales are spiking at Fishos once again, as keen mackerel fans get cranking.
Adding excitement and variety to the great run of mackerel has been a wave or two of large queenfish to 110cm and even a couple of golden trevally. Big ugly barracuda have been snatching mackerel mid-battle too, creating some memorable and equally frustrating moments for the anglers witnessing their attacks. Add the presence of a few large early-season GTs and you wouldn't want to be a mackerel or a baitfish anywhere near the Urangan Pier at present.
Somewhat less adrenalin-inducing, yet equally as appealing to other fishos, is the presence of quality flathead beneath the pier. A couple might be found along the slope into deeper water out near the end, with your chances about as good in the first channel. Make the effort to catch pike and deploy them alive to go one better on your competition attempting to tempt the same flatties with herring.
Dylan tricked this nice freshy into eating his softy during his latest pond mission.
Little miss Kreis with a fine bass she caught while fishing the fresh with her dad, Dylan.
Tarj scored his new PB flathead a mere cast away from the Burrum Heads boat ramp.
Tarj again with a beaut little barra from a local freshwater pondage.
Town Beach Whiting Fishery Not Living Up to Expectations
Every week can bring new hope and new expectations, but it is fair to say that our local town beach whiting fishery hasn't been as productive as it might be this season. Yes, there have been whiting caught, and reasonably regularly, but not in the numbers we (always) hope for this time of year.
Evening sessions saw the best catches over the past month, when tides were big enough. Last weekend's northerly wind was expected to spur a significant bite from fish gathering to feed in the more turbulent waters, but alas, numbers were less than expected. No shoulder-to-shoulder, everyone hauling them in scenes at the beach end of the Urangan Pier this year so far.
It seems it takes a little more than just the restrictions to gill-netting to bring back our whiting. Mother nature needs to play along as well. Local boaties that know what they are doing have been having no trouble scoring a bag limit of summeries on preferred tides elsewhere in the straits and along the western fringes of Fraser. Yet, here in town, the whiting numbers just aren't impressing.
Is our beachscape losing appeal to migrating whiting schools? Have we depleted our local population of yabbies too much? Is there too much bright light adversely affecting the passage of whiting? Maybe none of the above, maybe some, maybe other totally unrelated factors at play. Whatever the case, if you want a feed of whiting, then target them on prime tides and be prepared to keep mobile to find the best class of fish.
These neap tides do not qualify as prime when it comes to whiting. Next weekend will be much better. Having said this, you still remain a chance, and catching whiting big or small is always fun for the littler kids. Here is hoping this spell of onshore winds triggers a renewed migration along our town beaches and the next full moon fires big time, as the town beach whiting fishery can wind down somewhat thereafter.
Beau Muscat caught a couple of thumping big golden trevally during a recent bay mission.
Queenfish such as this one of Sean's are a great target species in the lower bay and the straits.
Shallow Reef Coral Trout and Mackerel Galore
Frustrated boaties that cannot head for more open waters will consider joining the usual fleet of tinnies off Gatakers Bay and Point Vernon this week. If they do, they will soon realise that the headland offers little protection from an easterly breeze. Regardless, we have transitioned into that time of year when the shallow water coral trout fishery ramps it up, so there will be crews trolling, crews flicking lures, and others soaking baits – all hoping for their share of an increasingly heavily-pressured resource.
Neap tides almost demand dawn starts and maybe even late finishes if you wish to get the best from the local trout. The lack of tidal flow will mean they will be a little lethargic and inclined to feed with less gusto, yet the wind itself can be a positive for those reef waters. Gathered baitfish can be a bite trigger, and wave action can create movement in the absence of tidal flow.
If trolling isn't appealing, then consider the simple art of flicking soft plastics for your next coral trout. You won't need especially heavy tackle for the class of fish that resides on these reefs these days, but you will still need sufficient stopping power (and quick reflexes). The ridiculous abundance of excellent soft plastic prawn imitations on offer these days is mind boggling. All potential coral trout lollies when attached to an appropriate jig head and twitched the right way.
Bait fishos might catch their next trout on a live bait, a whole pilchard, a hardy head, a herring or a whole banana prawn. Those same fishos might find a patch of grassy sweetlip worth processing too if they can avoid the tiddlers. Tusk fish, blackall, cod, perch and sharks are all possible too, whilst grunter could make an appearance. Like all shallow reef inhabitants, the local grunter will bite better with more run in the tide, but you never know your luck after dark during the neaps.
Mackerel have been quite abundant in the same area lately. Trollers are catching quality schoolies and broadies, and are even connecting to the odd stray spaniard. Bait fishos attempting to catch grunter from shore in the area pre-new moon were pestered by mackerel to such extent that it was either gear-up for them or move on – they were that hard to avoid. If you are a mackerel fan, then maybe a session at Gatakers out of the wind is an option this weekend.
Obviously, it is not just the Pt Vernon reefs that produce trout etc at this time of year. The onset of northerlies has ruffled the waters fringing the bay islands recently and turned the water quality more favourable for reef fish to return. Troll, flick or bait fish the fringing reefs surrounding Big Woody and the Picnics and you could expect better results than those fishing Pt Vernon – if you can handle the wind that is.
Brian picked up this ripper little black marlin near Rooneys after a fun trip offshore with Christian.
Just one of the marlin caught by Balin Whitford over the new moon prime bite period.
Baby Blacks Welcomed Back to Platypus Bay Waters
Probably the most exciting news this week would be the capture of multiple juvenile black marlin near Rooneys Point and Station Hill. It seems that a decent number of fish have turned up and the recent new moon really turned them on. This scene was kind-of expected, but challenging to predict, given the vagaries of weather, currents and fish migrations in past years. El Nino theories and history now come into play.
Congratulations to the crews that put in the effort last week. Just reward for being willing to head up there looking for the marlin without waiting for others to do the scouting. Successful crews raised several marlin; hooking some, losing some and landing some. One crew scored three fish for a session, whilst on another day, another crew scored five. Excellent results compared to last year, that's for sure.
So, perhaps your chance to troll those waters in peace is long gone, but you can head up towards Rooneys with great confidence of raising billfish whenever this weather settles enough. The current wind scenario is unlikely to phase those on larger vessels given the inherent protection that Fraser Island offers, and even vessels under 5m can take on the challenge if the skipper and crew are willing to cop a little pounding on the way to the island.
Drop in and see the lads at Fishos if you need advice on catching your first Hervey Bay marlin. We are stocked-up with all the best skirts, along with custom rigs to suit. Bait-rigging arsenal is readily available as are the "fresh frozen" garfish you will need to be rigging if you go the bait option. Be prepared to dish out for a decent teaser set-up if you are in anyway serious, as drawing the marlin to your spread of lures is a must to get a bite.
Ensure you have a suitable spinning outfit at the ready too; armed with a large jerkbait-style plastic, a rigged garfish, or a hook ready to pin one of the live yakkas swimming in your bait tank. Being so prepared gives you the option to pitch a bait or lure at a lit-up billy that won't commit to the skirts in your spread. Be ready to drag that teaser away from the cheeky little buggers too, as these little juvies can get excited and try to eat anything that looks like tucker.
Whale watching crews have once again mentioned free-jumping billfish in their travels this week. The fact that local whale boats will end their season in a week or so due to the downturn in humpback numbers is likely great news for boaties keen to wander the bay with less hazards. We all love our whales, of that there is no doubt, but their numbers are making many skippers extra-nervous nowadays.
The snot weed issue reported on recently is luckily not affecting the marlin grounds in northern Platypus Bay at present. There could be lingering issues further south or in the central bay, so move elsewhere if you run into any. The weed was bad enough to clog water intakes on whale boats and on outboard engines only a week ago, so good riddance to it.
There are big golden trevally harassing bait schools off Rooneys Point and plenty of their smaller second cousins lurking around bait-rich reefs further south in Platypus Bay. Mac tuna schools are quite obvious when busting up on the tiny baitfish they prefer. That tiny bait biomass will increase over the coming month or so and draw spotties and more tuna our way. Until then, you might as well chase mackerel that are feasting on larger baits such as herring and yakkas whilst they remain so abundant.
A sample of a perfect starter kit for those of you keen to gear-up for your first Hervey Bay light tackle marlin.
You want gear for marlin - we have all you need, right here at Fisho's.
Pursuing Pelagics Offshore
This weather will limit all but the biggest game boats from heading for offshore waters, but it cannot hurt to look back on last week's efforts. The Coral Reef Fin Fish Closure impacted northern bay waters and the grounds north-east of Fraser, so reef fishing took a back seat to trolling and a little selective deep dropping for crews that made the effort.
Heavy tackle black marlin were raised and lost by one crew, whilst another crew managed the capture of at least one blue marlin. Yellowfin tuna bycatch was encountered whilst trolling in 200m of water, with no birds in sight. The best of the 'fin went a credible 40 kilos or so, whilst it seems all the tuna bettered 30 kilos at least.
Driven by limited success trolling the shelf, one skipper steered back to the shoal country where poppers were put to work on the spanish mackerel and giant trevally. This was after the same crew decided a feed of deep water reefies was a good idea and the deep dropping tackle was brought out. The skipper knew grounds that only hold snapper and pearl perch, so knew he wouldn't be tampering with coral reef species, and proceeded to slip some very nice pearlies into the esky. Yellowtail kingfish around the 15-kilo mark also took their baits, putting a nice bend in the bent-butts without challenging that sort of serious tackle.
From what we hear, the 4-mile bar crossing is somewhat closed out at present and proving a bit risky. A shift to a gutter formed at what you might call the 6-mile is vastly safer and a better crossing, as of last weekend. There will be a lot more traffic up that way when the weather improves, so we will endeavour to bring you the latest on the bar and the fishing offshore when to hand.
George and Brian hitched a ride with Christian and got amongst the yellowfin tuna along the continental shelf whilst trolling for marlin.
George and the spoils of a deep dropping session during the CRFF closure on grounds skipper Christian was confident held no coral reef fin fish.
A River System or the Straits – Options Out of the Wind
Boaties must concede to the weather and opt for safety, so some may take on the straits this week, whilst others stick with the rivers. Waters temperatures spiked last week while the heat prevailed. Even though it is cooler again, any temperature decline will only be subtle, so all the springtime predators will still be catchable.
Kingfisher Bay Resort's jetty is playing host to numbers of school mackerel at present. Chances are, broadies might even pay a visit too, given how many are only mere miles away near Urangan. Sight-fishing for flathead from the same jetty is a favoured pastime of regulars and first-time visitors, who can try and catch them on soft vibes, but will typically do best with live baits.
Neap tides aside, the Great Sandy Straits' population of quality grunter is worth pursuing. Find them in the creeks, in the channels and along the ledges fringing Fraser's western shores. Chase flathead as well if you wish, by focussing around creek mouths and adjacent mangrove verges hopping your favourite new flathead lollies.
Mangrove jacks in Fraser's western creeks were a better proposition last week with the peaking heat, but they are pretty much a day-to-day option from now until the wet season rains come regardless. Barra and threadies will be hotly pursued this week no doubt, and both species can be found in numerous creek systems as well as select hotspots beyond the streams.
There is only two weeks to go before you can no longer fish for saltwater barramundi for 3 months, so make the most of this week if you can. The Mary's barra are being pursued regularly, as are the Burrum's, yet both systems remain sound options this week. Focus on the threadies in those same rivers prior to the tide slackening for the last of the ebb and your downtime will be limited.
Tie on smaller lures and go see if the Burrum's mangrove jacks are still keen to party after the peak bite during the hot new moon period. Slower-moving water will certainly make it easier to present your lures to likely jack lairs; they just might take a few more casts to respond. Persist in cooler conditions like this by peppering grounds you are confident jacks are holding in and the bites will come, eventually. If not, then come back at night with topwater lures.
River grunter and whiting bit better last week than they will this week, due to the neaps. They are there though, so don't write them off, particularly after dark. Woodgate Beach fished very well for whiting last week by the way. Shore-based fishos scored excellent whiting in numbers and picked up some fine flathead too. The Burrum's flathead are copping a touch-up yet there are still ample fish to target if that option appeals.
Mud crabbing remains quite challenging, as it should at this driest time of year. Future storms will see the crabs hunted from their present backwater lairs when sufficient run-off drives them out. But for now, you will have to get pretty muddy to get your pots to the better crabs. Sandies are an easier option down the straits, and will be a possibility in open waters of the bay soon too, once the whales depart the bay.
Avalon Russell was very happy to catch this fine grunter while fishing with her dad, Rick.
Matt Cawley and his latest threadfin salmon capture. These will be an easy target species this weekend.
Time to Catch Fraser's Biggest Greenback Tailor
Sadly, we haven't been able to gain much information on the success or otherwise of the headland fishery on Fraser Island since the annual fishing closure concluded 1st October. If the observations of the crew from Maryborough's Colts Mens Hockey Club that were there during the last week of the closure is anything to go by, then it must have been fantastic.
That crew climbed the headlands and spent some fascinating time from an elevated position above Middle Rocks as well, to watch massive schools of tailor milling about below. Skirting the fringes of the tailor schools and actively predating on them were numbers of big giant trevally and spanish mackerel. Sharks were abundant too unfortunately, but certainly added another level of excitement to the chaotic scenes unfolding before them.
Their whole crew enjoyed excellent tailor fishing during their stay. The building tides fished well into the evening. Stickbaits produced some of the better-quality tailor, even though the lads didn't catch any whoppers over 60cm. Baits produced plenty of tailor too, with large garfish out-classing the standard pillies for quality.
Ignoring the tales of woe from so many other crews on the island, this intrepid well-experienced crew found tailor everywhere they looked, and even scored a nice feed of whiting from a gutter near Waddy Point. They caught mullet from the same gutter on both worms and pippies, which was as much a surprise as a bonus.
After eating all their fish fresh on the island, one member of the crew stopped at a gutter at Yidney Rocks on the way home and landed an impressive 20 tailor in an hour on Shimano Spin Beam metal slugs he found in a dump bin here at Fisho's. Amazing fishing and a great week for all involved. Well done lads, and thanks Andrew for the report.
Since the closure, folks fishing gutters in the central sector found a good class of greenback tailor when conditions were favourable, along with a few feisty trevally. This onshore breeze has upset the apple cart over there for now, but with any luck, it will flatten the beach out a bit. There are some pretty nasty wash-outs on a rather lumpy beach right now, so take extra care while travelling.
There will be folks keen to hit Fraser's tailor at the tail end of the season when the biggest fish are there for the taking. Better weather will help those folks, as will the option to target them with stickbaits cast across gutters or from the headlands. Drone fishos and slide-baiters will be keen to get their baits back out in better conditions too, wondering whether the next monster to tear line from their spool will be a big spaniard, a GT or yet another shark. Exciting times ahead for some lucky Fraser Island fishos no doubt.
Andrew Davies with 20 tailor caught on his way home from an excellent week on Fraser.
Andrew took out the prize for the biggest tailor caught on a penis lure during the latest Colts Mens Hockey Club Fraser trip.
Quality greenbacks are being caught on Fraser's surf-side. The best fish in this photo went a whopping 66cm.
Good luck out there y'all …… Jase
Get ready to party game fishos. The HBGFC's biggest event of the year isn't far away.