Shaun from Saltwater Playground with a solid Westin Swim-munching red bass from the shoals east of Breaksea Spit.
Say Goodbye to the Winter that Barely Was
After a 4-week hiatus due to considerable ongoing pain, it is good to be back in the chair bringing you the latest from the fishing scene here on the Fraser Coast. Lots has happened over the past 4 weeks; from our biggest and most successful annual clearance sale at the shop, to seasonal changes and migratory movements of our piscatorial friends.
The AFTA annual trade show at the Gold Coast last week showcased an incredible array of future fishing must-haves that we are frantically ordering at present. We will select only the best and most applicable for our region from the multitude of new offerings, ensuring you don't miss out and get the edge on the fish.
Our loss is your gain at this time too, as we have to move-on perfectly good product to make way for all the flash new gear. Dump bins will be bristling with discounted product in coming weeks, whilst select items will be stashed for the upcoming major sales period - Black Friday into Xmas. Keep your eyes peeled for instore bargains as you wander the store sussing out all the new post-AFTA goodies. There will be much to get excited about!
Before reviewing your fishing options; a quick look at the weather as usual. Hasn't this been a mild winter! Warmer nights than expected have been very welcome, even though often triggered by unseasonal cloud cover and occasionally annoying precipitation at times. Last winter was notable due to the significant prevalence of dry westerly winds, yet this year, the westerlies' absence has been conspicuous. More onshore winds than anticipated continue to prevail as we see out a most enjoyable winter in God's country.
Today's 10-15 knot south-easter is set to prevail into Saturday. Probably more 15 knots than 10, but vastly better than Sunday's offering of 15-20 knots from the same direction. A shower is possible Sunday, and maybe again early in the working week, when the breeze is expected to ease gradually day by day. Tending northerly and quite light by mid-week, it is bound to feel very much like spring has arrived.
Tonight's full moon sees the peak of yet another lunar cycle. As the moon wanes thereafter and the tides diminish, a number of local fisheries will lose their appeal. Make the most of this weekend folks, it should be a good one on many fronts, regardless of the less-than-ideal weather.
Liam Aldridge caught this 97cm golden trevally at the Pt Vernon artificial reef on a rather chilly morning earlier this month.
Large cobia remain fairly constant bycatch in the northern and central bay.
Urangan Pier Fishery Improves into Spring
Considering the past 4 weeks on the Urangan Pier, unless you are a dedicated bream fan or you timed your assaults right for the passing longtail tuna, then you didn't miss out on much. Baitfish have been there, but 'port hole' herring have outnumbered 'greenbacks' quite consistently. That remains the case, yet pelagic activity has certainly improved over the past week or so.
School mackerel have been somewhat consistent, albeit very small. Undersized fish have been more common than legal models, with the best fish barely 55cm models. This is highly typical of this time of year. Fleeting visits from small numbers of equally-disappointing chopper tailor were barely notable during August, with none keen to settle in for any period.
The return of a small pod of yellowtail kingfish has created some excitement amongst pier regulars. Fish in the 10-15 kilo class have been reported by some, whilst others claim the fish are even bigger than that. Incidentally, Kingfisher Bay Resort's jetty has also enjoyed a visit from kingies recently, so a handful of land-based fishos have had the opportunity to test their tackle on these southern bruisers.
Gin-clear water has created fantastic sight-fishing opportunities for those seeking flathead beneath Urangan Pier. Pike can be caught with enough effort, and continue to prove themselves as the number one livie for pier flatties. Bream fishos are still securing a modest feed from the planks, but their days are numbered. A peak in activity this full moon will probably satiate them as they replace bream terminals with gear more suited to the whiting fishery about to burst onto the scene.
John Brown avoided the sharks long enough to catch a trout nearly as big as the one on his shirt.
Bar-cheek coral trout will be on the bite in the northern bay if you can get there and find a spot without attending sharks.
Beaches Come Alive with Whiting as Spring Arrives
The onset of spring means whiting time for our town beaches and the Urangan Pier. Often kicking off late August, the run of 'summer' whiting from Urangan to Torquay is a popular event for the family fisho. The kids can have a ball catching quality whiting from the beach end of the pier, from the groynes at Shelly Beach and along local north-facing beachfronts.
Bigger tides are the go, so if you miss out this weekend, then prepare yourself for the approach of the next new moon. No-one has been in bragging about beach whiting as yet, so it looks like a belated start (like so many other fisheries these days it seems). In the meantime, consider some effort during any spells of northerly wind that create the necessary turbulence and cover that cruising schools of whiting need to forage closer to shore in such clear waters. Until consistent northerlies 'dirty' our waters a tad, efforts after dark will be most successful.
To date, the beachscape most consistently giving up a feed or some fun has been the stretches out at Toogoom. Currently weed-free, yet benefitting from the recover of sea grasses, there has been whiting and bream schooling out there at times. The creeks out that way have been visited by the same fish, joining flathead, queenfish, small golden and giant trevally and even a couple of cool wintertime barramundi.
Persistent onshore winds have not been conducive to better fishing down along the Booral Flats. Those vast muddy stretches can produce ample whiting and flathead along with blue salmon, grunter and occasional threadies, but offshore winds are favourable for any consistency. This past month has not offered the best conditions down there.
Beach whiting will improve in size in coming weeks. Boaties are averaging 30-35cm locally, and even bigger in the Gregory.
Kade Whittle went to book week at his school dressed as Jacko from Fishos. Very funny young man!
Latest News from Our Inshore Reef Fishery
As the ever-consistent grassy sweetlip population that feeds so many families wanes into late winter, hungry fishos have been plying for snapper, coral trout and estuary cod with mixed results. It would be nice to finally say that the sharks have backed off (like they sometimes do August-September) but alas, no such luck so far.
Bay snapper reports post-closure have been less than impressive, yet there have been some very nice knobbies caught all the same. Weather issues, prevalent whales and shark depredation have all been factors playing on the minds of local fishos that would've otherwise been chafing at the bit to get amongst the knobbies since the 16th August season opening.
There is plenty of appeal, tides and moon wise, for inshore forays this weekend if you can handle a bit of weather. Put in some effort hopping plastics over snapper haunts lousy with baitfish and hopefully the bites will come. Avoid persisting should the noahs be present, as you have many locations where you can confidently expect snapper to be lingering this time of year.
Whilst you might find knobbies on the grounds off the Burrum coast, across the banks or around reefs in our shipping channels; it is the numerous reefs and weedy outcrops in Platypus Bay and the central bay that are likely to be most consistent at this time. Be aware, that snot weed has been reported at places in Platypus Bay, so move elsewhere if it affects you (it is not everywhere).
Stuart had his hands full with this big cod. All cod even close to this size are best released to keep our reefs in good nick.
Brad Anderson with a fair chunk of estuary cod. It is more important than ever to release these brutes if they aren't suffering barotrauma.
Whales are ridiculously prolific in Platypus Bay, and much of the wider bay. This fact is playing havoc with more and more boaties accustomed to night-time travel in the bay. Be wary and keep a good watch during daylight and limit your travel in the evenings. Kick back and enjoy the spectacle that the whales offer and involve the family when you can. We are truly blessed to have such a phenomenal experience on offer in our backyard.
Keep an eye out for the New Zealand fur seal that remains at large somewhere along the vast Platypus Bay stretch of beach. Last seen recently at Awinya Creek (that we know of), it is great to hear that it has survived the attention of the tiger sharks spotted cruising nearby when it first arrived and was showing signs of a past wounding. Word of another similar seal on the eastern surf-side beach of Fraser makes one wish for a reunion between the two, so they can cruise back south together perhaps.
The demise of another humpback a couple of weeks ago wide of Arch Cliffs created a spectacle for those that spotted it. Attended by multiple large tiger sharks at the time, it was still floating prior to apparently sinking somewhere north-west of the 6 Mile. Pictures doing the rounds of an incredibly fat great white shark spotted 11 miles off Arch Cliffs thereafter has folks debating whether its extraordinary girth is the result of pregnancy or gorging on blubber. Most likely the latter if these critters documented tendency to overeat is considered.
As if Hervey Bay sharks aren't already fat enough! Deceased humpbacks have fattened them further this winter.
Ben's jewfish came up short. A cut this straight suggests the taxman was one of our bigger models.
Trevally Dominate the Bay Pelagic Scene
Whilst scattered schools of tuna can be found in Hervey Bay waters, it is the small schools of very large fish known to haunt the straits this time of year that get a few folks excited. Without specific reports from the area to confirm, it is still worth noting their tendency to turn up off Inskip Point south of Fraser at this time (in case you are heading down that way). Not lots of tuna, but very large models full of steam and a never-die attitude when hooked.
Much easier to find (and equally as hard to avoid if you aren't a fan) are the vast hordes of trevally that inundate our baitfish-rich reef systems this time of year. There will be ample goldies and a few of their cousins inshore around shipwrecks, other artificial reefs and local ledges, but it is the waters of Platypus Bay and the northern bay that truly come alive with the greatest biomass of assorted trevors.
Clans such as the goldies, diamonds, brassies, giants, bludgers and quite a few others cloud sounder screens in arches at places such as the Gutters and (to a lesser extent) off Rooneys. Large enough to give you a workout and ever-willing to pounce on jigs, softies, live baits and well-presented dead offerings, these trevors can be exhausting fun for family fishos and those not hell-bent on catching reefies.
Hordes of their smaller brethren, plus schools of sizeable goldies, diamonds and brassies, dominate many a reefy patch in Platypus Bay at the same time. Fantastic fun for the smaller kids cutting their teeth on spinning and jigging tackle. Such fun often interspersed with moments of sheer exhilaration and awe as oversized cobia rock up to see what all the commotion is about. The big cobes are a still a northern bay staple (for now) and will feature randomly in catches late into spring.
The GTs that lurk on the shallower prominent bommies offshore east of Breaksea Spit have been on the rampage lately. Heavy casting tackle is paramount to deny these brutes sanctuary from the gnarly reefs below when hooked whilst dancing big stickies or blooping poppers across the surface above.
A couple more recent juvenile dogtooth tuna captures from the shoal country out there reflects their presence more consistently as they are discovered by chance. Who knows, maybe the odd monumental bust-up on the shoals is a doggy a bit bigger than these pups. The spaniards have been hard to find out lately apparently, yet reports from Waddy Point only a month ago suggest they were down that way harassing tailor.
The mackerel scene close inshore is a bit hit and miss at present. Pulses of small (often undersized) schoolies are migrating into the bay and beyond into the straits. Small schoolies are being spun from the rocks at River Heads for example, where the abundant herring have been a drawcard for them and tailor. Time will see a better class of fish arrive, with spaniards hot on their heels. In the meantime, look for broadies down the straits if you are keen.
Saltwater Playground clients have been catching bruiser giant trevally off the bommies east of Breaksea.
Head for the shoal country off Breaksea when the current is racing and you can catch GTs like Saltwater Playground clients.
Rivers Clearing and Many Fish on the Move
The River Heads area can be productive for more than just the usual estuarine species at this time of year. Cleaner waters appeal to the expected run of bream, flathead, jewfish and blue salmon for both land-based and boat-based fishos, yet pelagics and even stray reef fish can be caught in the vicinity too. Fishing the river mouth with the right baits or lures could see you connect to squire and blackall after dark, often encountered by those otherwise hoping for jewfish or cod.
Up-river migratory movements of apex estuarine predators have already commenced, but is early days yet for the largest biomasses of fish. Reduced gill-netting opportunity will see their passage unimpeded until they cross the boundary upstream that still permits this activity. Whilst the pros are in position and working hard to earn their keep, there are fish you can intercept before they get them.
Grunter are on the move, yet also schooling in apparent spawning aggregations on the flats just beyond the river's immediate influence. Fun times for flats fishos abound should they trip over swirling masses of grunter, often nearby to dizzying swirls of blue salmon. Light tackle often needing a spell should the largest of the blues be encountered, as anyone who has experienced this phenomenon can attest.
Threadies of immense proportions can be found within the Mary River, as well as down the straits. A lesser (but ever-growing and improving) class of fish in the Burrum system offering just as much fun when found in numbers. Its all about big fish and less of them in select stretches of the Mary at present, but those fish will be joined by many more in coming weeks and months. Smaller threadies are abundant in smaller systems and easier to catch than ever.
Dane hitched a ride upriver with Logan and caught this ripper thready on the new BKK Hyperlatch jighead.
Threadfin salmon numbers will increase and they will get easier and easier to catch in coming weeks.
The 2026 winter barra season was a beauty. Some targeted trophy fish with livescope and bettered PBs one after the other. Folks more accustomed to snag-bashing old school caught numbers too, in a winter season warmer than most on record. Interest in our barra fishery will increase dramatically with warming waters, so crowds and traffic will have its effects. Luckily, our major river systems are healthy and productive, and the straits (including Fraser's western creeks) offer ample action.
The Burrum is effectively gillnet-free these days and will see masses of recreational fishos this spring. All four rivers offer options galore for the likes of barra, threadies and jacks, whilst jewfish are a chance, and blues and big tarpon are a distraction. We should see the long-awaited return of schools of queenfish and river GTs (if they haven't done so already). Grunter will continue an upstream march and settle briefly in favourable stretches.
Tailor are a possible target for those favouring the lower reaches. Bigger tides over the coming month could see very solid fish caught, particularly at night. Bream can be found in numbers well downstream, yet quite a few chunky models are also taking baits and lures well upstream already too. Flathead are abundant and stonker whiting are being reported in the Gregory. Bag limits may be rare in there, but who needs 30 whiting if they are bettering the 40cm mark.
Local whiting fishos back down this way have been bagging out on summeries regularly for about 6 weeks now, whenever the weather enables access to the flats and creeks they favour. Evening sessions have still been the best by far, as clear waters inhibit the daytime feeding actions of larger whiting in some areas. That will change with the onset of spring and northerly winds, but at that same time can come the issue with dislodged snot weed and its inherent challenges in a few popular areas.
Coxy with a sample of the grunter you can catch as they migrate back upriver. Find them on the flats and they are even more fun.
Chewy that works for us at Fishos makes flies for impoundment barra and loves testing them at Mondy.
Latest Reports from Fraser's Surf Scene
A month ago, I reported on a lack lustre fishing scene on Fraser's surf side, just as a big southerly blow trashed the beaches over there and put paid to the fishing briefly. Tailor were hard to find pre-blow, but a week thereafter, there were reports of decent schools of choppers making their way up the island. Hearing word of occasional short-lived success in weeks since, but being unable to report on it, I can finally bring you the latest goss from locals on the island.
Beach travel at low tide right now is generally excellent. There are wash-outs at a few creek crossings however, and they are pretty nasty ones, so watch out. You may not see the drop-offs until you are right on top of them, so monitor your island map and identify the creeks (miniscule as they might be) so you can slow down as you approach. The locals know where they are. First-timers and occasional visitors find them as they drive, so be careful.
High tide travel is more challenging and slower, but possible. The beach is pretty lumpy above the mid-tide mark, meaning high tide gutter formations that tailor fishos could be potentially returning to when the time is right. The island's sand access tracks are quite reasonable, even though there has been, and still is, quite big numbers of people on the island. Just enough showery weather to harden the sand has helped, and the graders etc have been to work on the Kingfisher to Eurong track that was particularly nasty prior.
Pippies have been pretty easy to find along various stretches of beach. The massive abundance down south beyond Dilli 2 months ago has moved on. Look for 'push-ups' as you travel and you will secure your bag limit of pippies enroute to your next gutter potentially. Wormers are working the island and doing well. Recreational wormers can pull a handy supply without too much hassle, and the worms are fat and clean.
Jewfish have been the big buzz amongst crews in the central sector of the island, even though it is only a few fishos catching them. Fish in the 80-90cm size range have been caught often enough to warrant a little extra effort from those getting word of their presence. Success over this full moon might only be curtailed by the onshore south-easter that is building to 20 knots.
Worth mentioning yet again, is the fact that there are no 'silver jewfish' to be caught from the beaches of Fraser Island. Any jewfish caught over there will be a mulloway and must be at least 75cm in length to be legally kept. Fisheries must get sick of arguing this fact with folks insisting the 45cm silver jew minimum size applies to beach-caught jew. It doesn't!
Catches of tailor are yet to be consistent, but there have been encouraging moments. Some crews have headed over and failed miserably, only to hear of the success of others after their return. Such are the vagaries of surf fishing. The best reports to date have been from the Maheno north. Undersized choppers are mixed with barely legal models in some schools, so be selective and mobile if alternative gutters are within your scope.
A few larger tailor caught up Ngkala way one week were encouraging, but then they disappeared. Before the closure, tailor being spun from the rocks at the headlands were being taxed by spanish mackerel apparently. No word of spaniards since, but that doesn't mean they aren't over there somewhere. Remember; no fishing from 400m south of Indian Head to 400m north of Waddy Point and 400m to seaward until after the annual closure concludes 30th September.
Observations this year to last from island locals include mention of how good the fishing was within rocky gutters and from the headlands for the likes of tarwhine, legal grassy sweetlip and squire last year, compared to such poor results to date this year. Every year is different it seems. There is a hint of weed threatening select gutters in the central sector of the island at present. Let's hope the building south-easter doesn't see more weed washed in.
Fraser's surf season is in full swing and no doubt many exciting stories will come our way as the weeks roll by. Feel free to share your account of the island; your successes worth bragging about and your observations, good or bad. There is bound to be more good times ahead for tailor fishos and others who chance the weather on the right phases of the moon.
In closing this week, it is worth reminding those of you that enjoy fishing comps and all the fun and bragging rights that they offer, that you have plenty to look forward o in coming weeks. Just to rattle off a few:
The Woodgate Beach Hotel Fishing Classic is on again 18th – 20th September
Hervey Bay Amateur Fishing Club will host their Annual Junior Whiting Comp Saturday 26th September.
Toogoom Fishing Club's Toogoom Fishing Classic will be run over the 25th – 27th September.
Fisho's Tackle World is a proud sponsor of all of the above events (and many more) and we ensure that quality fishing tackle prizes are on offer for all you keen competitors to win. Book your dates and get your entries in to avoid disappointment as soon as you can, and no doubt you will be in for a great time. More details to come as the events draw closer.
Riley McLeod caught this little doggie on a recent offshore mission off Breaksea.
Red emperor are a prime target for reef fishos if they can get out wide enough.
Good luck out there y'all …… Jase