Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report – 24th April, 2026

Regular bay visitor, Sean, with 19 kilos of hard-pulling longtail tuna.

Onshore Trade Winds Return

Hopefully you all got to enjoy the brilliant weather last weekend. It was a darn sight better than the breezy conditions since then, which, incidentally, the BOM and the online weather sites totally failed to forecast accurately once again.

It has been noticeably cooler (yet very pleasant), and obviously that trend will continue as autumn rolls on. The forecast this week looks rather miserable for boaties as far as winds go, unfortunately, and there is even the chance of a few showers most days too. The onshore trade wind has returned, courtesy of a stalled high-pressure system out there in the Tasman between us and the kiwis, and looks set to dominate our weather for a while to come.

The wind will crank to as much as 25 knots from the south-east today, setting the tone for the days ahead. Possibly the best of a bad bunch is extra-early Saturday morning, when a 15-20 knot southerly might see uber-keen prawners and inshore fishos sneak in a near-shore session, before the breeze turns back onshore and cranks to 25 knots south-east later that morning. Chances are most of us will ignore that risky option and perhaps rock up to the local Anzac Day dawn services instead.

South-easterly winds will continue blowing Sunday. 15-25 knots is the call from BOM, so maybe a dawn session in sheltered waters is an option before the wind gets up, but it's questionable. The south-east wind will strengthen further as the working week unfolds. All in all, if the weather gurus have it right, then the south-easter is set to prevail at somewhere either side of 20 knots (if not more) all next week. Not ideal in any fashion, but luckily, we live where we do, and we have alternatives to boating in exposed waters, so all is not lost.

Neap tides are with us currently, courtesy of the half-moon of today's first quarter phase. Making tides hereafter offer a boost to many a local fishery and are favoured by many in the know, so luckily, we have estuary options to fall back on during such a prime time whilst the bay and beyond is a blowout.

Please note folks, that Fisho's Tackle World will be closed for Anzac Day, this Saturday. Race in and grab supplies for the weekend beforehand if necessary, and ensure you enjoy a safe Anzac Day whilst paying your respects to our diggers, military veterans, and those currently serving for the country we all love so much.

Spaniards such as this one of Scott's will be out there when the wind eases. Catch them down Kingfisher way in the meantime.

The Hodge family feasted on mackerel after a recent bay mission.

Stacks of Pelagic Action at the Pier

A continuing trend of improving water quality has seen a timely return of many pelagic species to Urangan Pier waters. The herring are in decent numbers and tending to linger, even though they are relatively small. This biomass of baitfish has attracted broad-barred mackerel, queenfish, golden trevally, school mackerel and mac tuna this week, so the pier has been a busy place for fans of the speedsters.

A few flathead have returned too, and jewfish have been an option for nocturnal fishos. Still no talk of bream as yet, but the factors required to invite them back are all aligning, so they won't be far away. Cooling waters and fresh water still dominating our rivers suggests this bream season might kick off quite soon, so no doubt a few hopeful fans are dusting off the bream gear in readiness for the full moon a week from now.

Local creeks have been giving up more fish as water quality improves. Beelbi Creek at Toogoom has been home to quality whiting and plenty of smaller models of late, and there has been a few flatties poking about up there as well. Add the chance of grunter in making tides this week and that healthy little creek could be one of several options for those of you looking for a light tackle fix while its windy.

Flatties have been the most consistent catch down along the Booral Flats of late, though salmon, grunter and baby bull sharks have been found down there too. The wind will be too much onshore and way too strong for those flats to be at their best this week, so head back into town and try for whiting and grunter as the tides build later next week, or try the creeks either end of town for flatties.

Aaron Muldoon with a cute little diamond trevally fly-caught from a local flat.

Night-time jewfish are hotly pursued by lots of folks in our home waters. Here is Brett with a better-than-average specimen.

Status Quo Unchanged for Inshore Reef Fishos

Those fishing our inshore reefs found the same old reefies on the chew and just as many sharks even more on the chew. Grassy sweetlip remain most abundant and pretty much everywhere there is reef or rubble. They favour the deeper shoaly country in particular at this time, where a landscape littered with sponges, whips, ferns, broken corals and low-lying rocky outcrops enable them to forage on all manner of crustaceans, molluscs and other morsels.

Coral trout are competing with the ever-more abundant estuary cod around the gnarlier reefs, scoffing live baits and well-presented whole dead baits when the tide isn't raging. They will enjoy a reprieve in deeper waters whilst this wind prevails, but any of their brethren still hanging out at Gatakers Bay or Point Vernon are in jeopardy. Those protected waters will be popular amongst small boat owners, even if the tides aren't real flash until later next week.

Quality nannygai are turning up more frequently in the bay, as expected. Some very large fish have been hauled over the gunnels out wide, whilst plump little models to maybe 3 kilos have been found closer inshore. Squire have been re-appearing in catches after the summer hiatus, and are a very welcome addition to any inshore haul. Sadly, those darn sharks continue to trash way too many hooked fish, so it isn't looking favourable for the bigger snapper schools when they start turning up.

Catches of grunter spiked last weekend when many folks parked on well-known hotspots in the lower bay and caught them one after the other. From the Fairway to the bay islands, there were grunter being caught regularly, and many of those fish bettered the 60cm mark. A lot more run in the tide than what the current neaps produce will see them back on the chew, and other hotspots coming online this time next week.

Sharks gave Chris a hard time, even out in the paddock. They didn't get this nice bar-cheek though; caught on a live bait.

There are all sorts of weird and wonderful critters residing along our continental shelf. This pretty little guy is a sunrise perch.

Reef Fish Biting in Shark-filled Northern Bay Waters

Even though no-one is heading out wide this week, we might as well share some of the observations from the periods of better weather recently. The Gutters were popular in calm enough seas, where coral trout were heavily targeted. Enough made it to the esky to keep some crews happy, whilst others just fed the sharks. Grassy sweetlip were the main catch, as always, for those favouring dead baits, and once again, if the sharks were avoidable, then some decent models came aboard.

Quality nannygai could be found out that way, as well as elsewhere in the central and northern bay. Fishing isolates well away from any major form of reef structure not only puts you in the zone for the largest of the nannies, but gives you a chance to land them without attending noahs as well. Sadly, for some crews, even their favourite little lumps well clear of the traffic have been found by large sharks, so it seems fewer and fewer grounds are safe from these pests.

Over Rooneys way, there has been a mix of squire, nannygai, sweetlip and cod on offer. The odd coral trout can also be found too, but trout numbers there would never rival those at the Gutters – never did; still don't. Snapper are likely to make an appearance up there soon, and will be eagerly sought-after come the full and new moons of coming months. Until then, the nannies and big grunter this side of Rooneys make good impersonations of a snappery-squire when hooked and are just as welcome on board as the knobbies.

A feed of nannygai from reefy or weedy ground within Platypus Bay is possible if said ground is shark-free when you visit. Being suckers for various baits as well as so many of the excellent soft plastics and jigs we have these days makes them a very easy target. Steer away if you are catching undersized models one after the other up there though, as they simply do not survive in those water depths due to barotrauma (even if they appear to swim away healthy).

A fine coral trout that made it all the way to the esky for Scott. It's bulging eyes are evidence that he didn't mess around winching it in.

Chris landed this beaut live bait-munching spanish mackerel on a recent run to the northern bay.

Deep Droppers Hassled by Noahs

Many a big investment in bent butt rods, electric overhead reels and copious quantities of heavy braided line have been almost necessary for regular offshore fishos in recent years. Prolific sharks in depths traditionally fished with conventional tackle have sent crews wider and deeper just to avoid them. So, you can imagine their disgust when the sharks turned up in the deep water recently.

Fishing deeper than 200m typically ensures sharks are avoidable. You might even say rare. Yet, that wasn't true recently. Some crews lost bulk rigs and who knows how many quality fish in depths to 300m east of Breaksea Spit, even after moving the necessary miles between drops. Those mongrel sharks sat 60 metres down generally, and taxed everything at times. Adding extra unnecessary expense (and frustration) to an already inflated long-range trip cost thanks to the fuel crisis debacle. Slogging away meant that excellent pearl perch, snapper and various jobfish species joined comet and bar cod in eskies eventually – it just took a lot longer than usual.

So many sharks in that depth encouraged at least one experienced skipper to try shallower country between 40 and 60 metres, which often prove very sharky, and guess what – no sharks! Encouraged, and ever-wondering what's biting elsewhere, saw a reposition along the extra-fishy 100m line. Things started well with fat pearlies and snapper coming up first drop. Things quickly went sour though when the sharks rocked up, so off they went to try elsewhere.

You know you are on prime un-tapped reef offshore when you pull up big cattle dog cod like this one of Clayton's.

Big pearlies are no match for deep drop tackle. Clayton hauled a heap of rippers from the depths recently.

Saving Fuel and Chasing Pelagics Inshore

Even though the cost of fuel improved slightly this week, many a savvy sports fisho took advantage of the improving inshore pelagic scene and saved a pretty penny in the process. Longtail tuna have been working the shipping channels that split the bay islands from Fraser Island and crews in all sorts of water craft have been having a crack at them.

Typical of tuna so close inshore, they can be a bit flighty, but persistence and thoughtful boat driving will see success eventually. Plenty of tuna have been lingering for longer in the waters near Kingfisher Bay and the Picnic Islands, where stacks of queenfish were also doing the rounds over the recent new moon. There has also been a few spanish mackerel in that area; some of which were caught from the Kingfisher jetty itself.

The neaps won't favour queenfish fans, but the high winds still create a degree of action for those that can handle such weather. Maybe hitching a ride on the Kingfisher barge and fishing from the jetty for a day could be an option for those unable to make the crossing in wild weather. It will be sheltered all week over there and quite pleasant no doubt.

School mackerel continue to terrorise herring schools off the Burrum coastline and out around 'the banks'. Broadies are making a show here and there closer inshore near the bay islands and within Urangan Channel, and the odd spaniard can turn up anywhere now the water quality is so improved. There are golden trevally and a surprising number of average-sized GTs to be targeted inshore at present too. They can be found in varying locations from the flats to the deeper reefs.

Fisho's regulars are out there on the bay catching longtails regularly when the weather is better.

Harry Leaver loves game fishing, so he has been out there catching tuna with dad lately.

Straits Still the Go Whilst Rivers Run Fresh

Continued success down the straits is just a matter of good timing and being in the right spots when the tide is right. That isn't every day unfortunately, as tide times don't always favour we mozzie-averse humans, so make the most of the good times. There are ample grunter of good size to be caught, either from the shallow flats when the tide is rising, or from the creek channels when the tide is ebbing. Grunter averaging 50cm or so are always fun on light tackle, and make for a tasty meal for their captors too.

Threadfin salmon are actively rounding up jelly prawns during the last of the ebb tide and offer a wonderfully visual fishery for those willing to don the Bushmans and linger through low tide. The same salmon can be caught at other times too, from the flats to the deepest of holes, so go down there armed with an array of lures to cover all bases. You will need tiny prawn imitations or small hard vibes for the jelly prawn feast, as well as medium-sized prawn softies, soft vibes and maybe a few fast-twitching hard bodies for the other times.

Barramundi are schooling in select areas down the straits and are easier targets now than they will be when it's colder. Like all other estuarine predators, they have their prime bite times and favourable tides, so it is a crying shame that the weather is looking so unkind this weekend. Make the effort and fish waters out of the wind and they will bite in the fast-cooling conditions. A better bite is anticipated now than it will be in a month or so, so make the most of it.

There are flathead to be caught down the straits, and also in the lowest reaches of our rivers. Many are ambushing prawns, so a few are even being caught in cast nets by those working drains. Find a big flat that drains through a small outlet (drain) or tiny creek and you are bound to find flatties lying in wait for the prawn etc to be forced from the flat by the receding tide. Chances are they will share their chosen ambush spot with a threadfin salmon or two as well, so be ready for a battle if and when they climb on the light tackle.

Threadies like this one of Billy's are scattered all through the straits.

Mud crabs are still on the move, and the sandies are marching again now too.

Fresh River Waters Still Holding Fish

The 'wrong' tides can see almost the whole length of our rivers running fresh this soon after recent flooding. Making tides this week will push the fresh back and improve the salty mix more and more each day. That will encourage a better bite from fish positioned above the lowest reaches, whilst those well downstream continue to bite well.

The Burrum system is particularly fresh, yet the Gregory and Isis are giving up a modest feed of grunter and some very fine jacks. Flatties are being caught down near the heads too apparently, whilst much of the upper reaches of the system isn't seeing too much fish or boat traffic.

The Mary system is a different scene altogether; where barra and threadies are possible, yet somewhat elusive. The further upstream you head, the smaller the threadies at present; evidenced without even catching them by the multitude of 'puck marks' in the mud where their little noses have been plunging into the silty substrate as they plunder the masses of jelly prawn. Such is the salmon's fixation on jellies, that they can be hard to temp in waters that fresh, until the jellies are forced from the shelter of the mangroves and the feeding spree begins.

Look for flathead around River Heads, along with barramundi, threadies and blue salmon. Jewfish are possible from deeper waters there or over along Fraser's western ledges. Trollers could do worse than to troll slender shallow diving hardbodies through the big gutters around the heads area; such as the Prawn Gutter, the Shell Gutter, China Bite or Burtenshaw Gutter. Threadies being the main target species, with possible flathead, barramundi or blue salmon bycatch.

Aeden and Leo were proud as punch to take this feed of muddies home to the fam.

Leo had a ball bait fishing for jacks with his dad and their mate, Scott.

Banana Prawns Just Getting Bigger and Better

Woodgate banana prawns turned it on again last weekend and there were plenty of people there to enjoy the harvest. The prawns are bigger now than they were at Easter, so that is a bonus. A bucket or a boat limit was a pretty quick and easy achievement early in the morning this week, which had many an onlooker wondering as to why so many folks were lingering and casting for so long when the prawns were so thick.

Onshore winds will make that too challenging for most folks, so expect a convoy of boats heading up there Saturday morning early if the wind indeed blows from the south (offshore up there). Those too slow to catch their feed and head back to the river may have a nasty trip back if the forecast is correct and the wind strengthens as it turns onshore (south-easterly) that morning, so keep that in mind.

Luckily, there are increasing numbers of better-quality prawn showing up in many other locations locally, so you have alternatives to the exposed waters at Woodgate. The prawns might not be as gold and shiny but they are just as tasty, and, in some cases, just about as big. Try the mainland creeks that feed the straits or give Fraser's western creeks a try. Time your efforts for the last of the ebb and first of the flood and you should eat well for days.

Muddies are still being caught from the lower reaches of our rivers as well as on the flats beyond those streams. Reports of catches of fairly average sand crabs off the Burrum coast last week were encouraging, but not nearly as exciting as reports since then of "a bag limit per pot" of super-sized sandies up the island. Sounds like Platypus Bay is the place to be for sand crab fans at this time.

So, the weather may be awful this week, but there is plenty happening inshore for those keen enough. The tides are most favourable for those resorting to the estuaries, and shore-based fishos have ample options out of the wind. Go have some fun and catch a feed of prawns or crabs whilst you are out there.

Chris & Wayne got stuck into the prawns at Woodgate.

You will be catching this many bananas per cast when you are in the thick of the prawns at Woodgate.

Good luck out there y'all …… Jase