Pauly Jacobsen slipped out wide last weekend for a troll and found big mahi mahi over the shelf.
Heat Builds Bringing More Storms
Storms brewed and rolled in from the west earlier this week after what was quite a decent weekend, Saturday morning showers aside. Maryborough and Pt Vernon residents could've done without the hail, as could plenty of others hit by the isolated patches Monday evening.
We are all a little stunned by the oppressive heat of the past couple of days but should expect it this time of year. We can anticipate a little reprieve today as this morning's south-east change sustains around 15 knots of breeze. Building humidity and dead calm conditions Saturday through the day scream 'storm' and strong northerly winds at some stage later that evening, so enjoy the glass-out but be prepared to run for cover when the billowing cloud bank flattens on top.
Forecasting for Sunday onwards has changed dramatically from last night to this morning. I will leave it to you to determine from the latest updates. A northwester seems likely Sunday, though at what strength is the question (strong seems likely). A rigorous south-easterly change Sunday night is also possible, albeit a short-lived one. Sadly, volatile weather patterns such as now seem to bamboozle the AI-driven conjecture the weather gurus spruke, but that's all we have go on these days.
The moon will continue to wane until the new moon comes Monday. This set of 'darks' does not include especially dramatic tidal variations this time of year, with the daytime and night-time highs and lows of comparable heights. Great tides for many things none-the-less, especially game-fishing, and that will be many folks' focus this weekend.
Balin Whitford has been back up the bay catching more black marlin to add to his season tally.
Liam Bradley picked up his first marlin last Saturday and enjoyed the crazy spectacle that comes with bill-fishing.
Garmin Hervey Bay Game Fishing Classic
Hervey Bay Game Fishing Club is hosting their biggest tournament of the year this weekend. The Garmin Hervey Bay Game Fishing Classic is already underway, as a solid turn-out of 40 boats hit the water this morning vying for a massive $100,000+ in prizes, being their biggest offering to date. Fisho's Tackle World has once again stepped up to kick in a significant component of that prize pool, and we are proud to maintain sponsorship for this great local club and its premiere event.
This game comp is run over three days, with fishing having already commenced at 6am this morning. It will be lines-in at 4pm this afternoon before the fleet return to the mothership rendezvous location at Rooneys Point (or scoot back to Urangan as some may choose). Fishing again from 6am to 4pm Saturday, the fleet will likely scatter offshore as well as across the bay as they take advantage of the best weather on offer for this year's comp.
Those deciding to stay 'inside' can only fish 8 kilo tackle during the comp, whilst those heading offshore can fish 8, 15, 24, 37 and 60 kilo line classes as per comp rules. Fish other than billfish can be recorded - such as tuna, mackerel, cobia, mahi mahi and wahoo – but billfish are the big point scorers and obviously the main target for all.
Saturday night could be rather interesting if the storms indeed roll in. Won't be the first time skippers and crews have had to manage such chaos at Rooneys, so fingers crossed for no nasty issues. Given such a potentially unappealing forecast for Sunday – a day that only involves 6 hours of fishing until 12 noon – there may indeed be coins tossed for designated drivers should the fleet decide to retreat closer inshore beforehand.
Radio scheds can be fascinating for those tuned in to the VHF channel 22, with scheduled calls at 0815hrs, 1015hrs, 1315hrs and 1615hrs. The return of the game fleet can be quite interesting for onshore spectators too if the boats all return at similar times. If the weather allows, then that would be around 2pm Sunday afternoon. Those interested can rock down to the harbour and watch the boats coming in, flags flying, indicating their capture success rate. No doubt the drinks will flow as the big show is rounded up that evening and the prize-giving ceremony gets underway.
Good luck to all who compete this year. May you all do so safely and catch a swag of monster fish to showcase the fantastic inshore and offshore game fishery on offer here on the fabulous Fraser Coast.
Kyle Leaver and son kicked off their game comp efforts in fine form this morning with this billy caught in the first hour of fishing.
Christian Oppenheimer's crew member and a striped marlin they caught on the shelf late in the day last weekend.
Herring Still Abound in Dirty Urangan Pier Waters
Urangan Pier itself will be a prime vantage point from which to watch the boats return from the game comp, even though they may be largely undiscernible from the swathe of other craft doing so the same day. There probably won't be a lot of fishos out on the pier, given the filthy nature of the waters beneath, but there are always at least a few die-hards.
Those folks should find that the herring are still abundant, despite the dirty water that exited the Mary River during recent flooding. There were miles of herring there last weekend, in waters more tannin-stained and still quite clear than truly dirty. Waters that enabled fishos to sight-fish to quite a number of large flathead spotted lurking below. The water has become much more turbid since, but there are still some pretty cool fish to catch.
One of the best is the larger grunter that were part of the major river exodus. Grunter are highly mobile fish that swim with the tides from the shallowest margins to nearby deeper waters. A baitfish-surrounded structure as significant as Urangan Pier is always going to draw their attention during their travels, and the class of grunter caught can be quite bragworthy.
Whether or not the herring linger is yet to be determined, so relying on them for bait solely could be risky. Luckily grunter can be tempted with an array of alternative baits, so assess the state of play herring-wise and carry some large prawns, yabbies or the like if you need to. Put those yabbies to good use by seeing how many whiting have continued their feeding spree in the dirty water; a fish that will bite well over the new moon period, just like the grunter.
Jewfish could be a prime target as new fish move to the pier following the flood. Their usual night-time only feeding times may well extend into daylight hours, so perhaps try live baits or the usual soft vibes or large prawn imitation softies. Stray threadfin salmon are a chance, whilst sharks are bound to warm drags for those fishing oversized baits, especially after dark. Bull sharks will be revelling in the filthy water and can turn up anywhere, anytime, at any size.
Sinking a crab pot from the pier (or our other local jetties) could pay dividends. Muddies are possible, whilst sandies are even more likely since being displaced by the flooding. The local council by-law that prohibits any form of netting from our pier, town beaches and jetties does not apply to traps used to catch crabs. We offer 'lift dillies' for this purpose that can double as a device suited to lifting fish for those not keen to gaff them.
Ben from Precision Cast Charters and a fatter-than-average Mondy whopper.
Dan Frost hitched a ride with Terry from Flick-It Fishing Charters and caught this ripper 114cm Mondy monster.
Dirty Water Options for Landlubbers
As indicated in last week's report, all sorts of prime estuarine predators can turn up along our town beaches post flooding. Many folks will be hoping for a feed of whiting and can be confident that the new moon will trigger a good bite from them. Last reports suggested Torquay was prime, but may no longer be due to the enhanced level of filthy water, so you should be prepared to spot-hop and head west of town if necessary.
The waters lapping our beaches and our foreshore rocky areas are quite brown and dirty at present. That water quality will vary in coming weeks but will also vary with differing stages of the tide. Imagine cleaner waters with incoming tides and the worst of the filth during the last of the ebb and you will get the picture.
Remember that this unappealing-looking mess is actually a big food bowl for foraging fish as well as the predators that pursue them and modify your approach to suit. This can mean using baits that are alive instead of dead, oily and smelly instead of not-so; and lures that contrast starkly against the dirty water or emit vibrations that will attract attention when visibility is basically zero.
Those very same big grunter you might catch at the pier could also be caught from our beachscape, and maybe even more-so. Grunter numbers a week ago were quite impressive apparently, even though the average size was less so. A week on - and better tides with an approaching new moon - and the class of grunter mooching along our beaches has improved dramatically.
You could be hanging onto a noodle rod doubled almost flat from the lunges and runs of a 60cm+ grunter on baits and tackle meant for whiting, so be prepared and don't panic when line starts pouring from your reel. Play out any such adversary in hope of same until the culprit appears at the water's edge. It may only be a dirty old shovelly, or it could be the mother of all grunter.
Stroll our beachscape with a light rod in hand and an assortment of small soft plastics and you could enjoy some of the best grunter fishing our beaches offer. The moon and tides are right, and the fish are there thanks to flooding, so give it a crack. Wander out a tad to reach fish when the tide is low and fish the incoming tide as the grunter move into the shallows to feed. Otherwise, look for resting fish somewhere near structure and see if you can tempt them with your offerings.
Try the Booral Flats for whiting, grunter, flathead and salmon. The sambos could be both blue and threadfin, so be prepared to tie on sturdier leaders when necessary. Fish busting up as the tide rises across those incredibly flat flats down there will have you casting in all directions. There is little for a fish to bust you off on, so fish a light line class and enjoy the ride.
Tayte Bell was over the moon to catch his first-ever Mondy barra that went 89cm on the lie detector.
Tayte's dad, Steve, wasn't to be outdone, catching barra like this one on their recent boys' trip to Mondy.
Barramundi Off Limits for 3 Months
Given the 1st of November closure of the Qld east coast barramundi fishery for the next three months, they are certainly not a target species beyond our stocked impoundments. Folks figuring they would take advantage of high water flows from recent rains have been stung with hefty fines already apparently, with the fines just getting bigger when those folks were caught fishing in the proximity of barrages where such activity is strictly prohibited.
Our major river systems are running fresh and chocolate brown at present, so no-one is venturing anywhere upstream with barra off limits. Some effort could be put in to find threadfin salmon, but that would be incredibly challenging anywhere other than in the vicinity of the river mouths and surrounds on these tides. The straits is a much better bet at present, where a multitude of estuarine predators can be found.
Threadies are a dirty water specialist, benefitting from those long ultra-sensitive whiskers in water a smidge too thin to plough. Look for them rounding up all sorts of fodder in skinny water at times or sitting deep in more saline waters at others. It is in those depths that a lot of other fish will ride out the excess river flow as they condition to the brackish waters.
Spend some time looking for jewfish along Fraser's western ledges and in the deeper reef-strewn holes in the straits. Jewfish may well be caught from River Heads itself at some time, as might salmon. Look for grunter retreating from the creeks and holding station in deeper waters between feeding sprees into the shallows or see if you can work out where the jacks have repositioned for the time being. All of the above will be feeding voraciously with the abundance that the recent flooding created – it just won't be upriver where they were only weeks ago.
Kingfisher Bay Resort's jetty will be an extra-interesting land-based option for those keen to hitch a ride on the Fraser Island barge. Mac tuna and mackerel that were terrorising the baitfish pre-flooding have been replaced by grunter, jewfish and cod since. Flathead remain a constant in the dirty water, whilst bull sharks are likely to pay a visit all too frequently.
Local fisho, Paul Mostert, spent a day fishing the straits with his son and picked up this fine thready amongst other fish.
Samaki's new Swimmick 140SS will be a popular addition to impoundment barra fishos' arsenal this summer.
Crabbers Moving with the Crabs
The mud crabs that were happy in their holes up some god-forsaken swampy backwater only a fortnight ago are now on the move and very likely already well beyond the rivers and creeks they formerly called home. The flats around our river mouths are worth prospecting, as are the vast channels and subtle drop-offs that abound throughout the straits.
Not all the muddies you find will be prime bucks though, as all the jennies and the juvenile progeny are on the move at present as well. There will likely be 'floaters' you spot whilst cruising around close inshore, and sometimes even a surprising distance out into the bay. Don't bother catching them though, as they are call floaters as they are empty and lack any of the delicious meat you so desire.
Bait fishos trying to fish the lower Burrum River post flooding reported multiple interactions with mud crabs, some of which were large bucks. Their attempts to land the cunning crabs were largely unsuccessful as the crab let go before a net could scoop them up. It is possible though, so try if they latch on, or consider clipping on a bit of material that will entangle them if you deem it worth the effort.
The sand crabs that were so prolific down through the central and southern straits pre-flooding are now crawling into pots placed in the northern straits. Chances are strong for a feed of sandies quite close to Urangan Harbour or around the bay islands if you are keen, as crabs retreating from the fresh keep snacking as they travel north.
Always keen for a photo opportunity (not), Craig was happy to pose with this tasty deepwater sea perch just due to how pretty it was.
New impoundment barra gear in-store - Samaki Swimmick 140SS, Wilson Live Mullet 5.5, Jerkfly Signature Series & Fishnfly Custom.
Coral Reef Fin Fish Closure
The second and last of our annual Coral Reef Fin Fish Closures kicked off today the 6th and will conclude at midnight on Tuesday the 10th November. This closure only affects waters north of latitude 24°50', so you can still catch those fish south of there. Consider the reason for the closure – to protect reef fish during their key spawning period – and you might even give our local coral trout, tuskfish, emperors, sweetlips, cods and the like a brief yet much-needed reprieve down here too.
If not, then you can catch them below what looks like pure fresh water in close by fishing deeper until the water salinity remixes and the shallow reefs fire back up. Remember, that fresh water floats on the salty stuff, so it's all salty and business as usual with bonus tucker down deep. The sharks are bound to be a menace inshore and up the bay, but when are they not these days.
Go chase mackerel instead if you have a stomach for their fishy flesh. Schoolies are thick-as out in the central bay at places such as the 25 Fathom Hole and surrounds. There were still schoolies being trolled-up along the drop-off out from the Burrum until the worst of the fresh spewed forth.
Stained yet saline waters out at the 8 Mile and across the banks are productive areas still inshore, as that is where the flood plume is stretching to at present. There is miles of surface action beyond, so the mac tuna have moved in out there somewhere.
Baitfish appear most prevalent in the central and western bay right now, with bait balls and larger aggregations of sizeable baitfish much harder to find up in Platypus Bay apparently. This factor could be telling in results this weekend and beyond for game fishos chasing marlin, but that won't stop the majority of hopefuls heading for Platypus and Rooneys anyway – it's just what they do.
Sam Lamprecht and mate enjoyed the thrills that only marlin can offer in our waters.
Can you imagine the chaos when Warren Edwards from Hervey Bay Amateur Fishing Club hooked this marlin trolling a Classic Dr Evil last Saturday!
Think Like the One Percenters to Catch More Marlin
There is no denying the waters of Platypus Bay and off Rooneys Point will be hectic this weekend, as trollers galore descend on those grounds looking for Hervey Bay's juvenile black marlin. Some will be in the HBGFC comp, but even bigger numbers won't be. Given the skill and experience of the gun game fishos, all others will need to ramp up their efforts to succeed this weekend or just get plain lucky.
Lucky like the bloke pictured hereabouts that hooked a cute little billy whilst trolling his favourite Classic Dr Evil hardbody. Random captures are always possible when it comes to juvie blacks as they are incredibly inquisitive rascals that are pretty much always hungry. It is a matter of 'get big or get eaten' in their world and get big they will.
Marlin numbers in the bay have been reasonable and a massive improvement on last year already. It's fair to say that a few have been caught any day the weather enables access to the bay lately, with most success coming from the waters between Wathumba and Station hill. Lots more effort has been centred around Rooneys Point and the contoured country north of there that has been less rewarding to date.
Having said that, avoiding boat traffic will be challenging in either area this weekend, so you might even consider dropping your spread of lures etc out the back further south, or heading for the central bay where so much other action has been focussed. Monitor the birds, monitor other traffic and most certainly monitor the life appearing on your sounder screen. Billies are drawn to the activity of other predators, so finding them can be as handy as finding the very baitfish they are predating upon.
In the interests of helping you improve your chances of hooking your first billfish, here is a few tips worth considering. Firstly, deploy a proper set of teasers out the back of your boat. Doing so will create the appearance of surface-feeding commotion that will draw marlin to your spread of lures trailing behind. In fact, run two sets if you have the option, as the more commotion, the better.
There is truth in the rumour that the rumbling big diesels of larger dedicated game boats attract more marlin, so you need to create as much (appropriate) racket as you can if you wish to compete with all the other traffic out there doing the same thing. No good being the one to find the fish if the fish are immediately drawn to the wake of a passer-by sporting better kit than you.
Look to troll at 5-7 knots towing light tackle skirted lures, or 6-9 knots for heavy tackle. Vary your speed should you need to, relative to the weather and wave action. Slightly slower when rougher; quicker when calm. Drive quarter-on to the sea (with or against) when particularly rough to lessen tumbling effects and tangling and to maintain a constant average lure speed.
Position your skirted lures so that they are swimming in the leading face of the appropriate pressure waves behind your vessel, not on top of or behind those waves. This enhances the chances of an approaching fish finding said lures as they will get a clearer view, plus the lures just swim better too.
Rig garfish swimming or skipping for times such as these where the added scent and realism can be the difference between hook-ups and refusals from fish that may have seen more lures than Rex Hunt on the day. For our little bay blacks, add a spin outfit ready-rigged with a single hook ready to pin a live bait (if there is some swimming in your live bait tank) at a fish lit up and refusing all alternative offerings. Have another similar outfit at the ready with a soft plastic attached to a large-enough jighead for the same reason.
Set troll patterns to take advantage of key reef systems and identified baitfish gatherings and be prepared to do figure-eights around any such prominent marlin-attracting features. Steer around or even through tuna busting up, as the bay's tuna will ignore the larger lures/baits you are towing for marlin. Plan your day with a view to being on the best spots when the tide is changing, as this is a prime feeding time for marlin. Think 4pm onwards this weekend too as the game comp fishos will have to pull their lines in at that time, and marlin (particularly larger ones) are renowned for biting best late in the day.
Re-stocked and ready to rumble this game fishing season. Skirts suited to light and heavy tackle, pre-rigged and unrigged all at Fishos.
Fishos has all the rigging gear you will need to create your own custom skirted game rigs or set up for swimming or skipping gar.
Head Offshore for the Biggest Marlin
Talking to differing crews of locals that fished either deep-dropping or trolling the shelf last weekend revealed that the current up north is minimal. Deep dropping was great, with ample pearlies, flamies and snapper joining other odd ooglies on ice for the long run home. A feed of tasty tuskies from shoal country on the way was a bonus.
The fishing was very slow for the trollers though, with a couple of crews struggling to raise any fish before 3pm. Even those fish were hard to tempt, with only one striped marlin captured from those spoken to. Yellowfin tuna were non-existent and baitfish in 200m were not as abundant as expected.
So, if heading offshore then head north rather than south at present. The current is raging to the south, which is a veritable billfish highway. But, just like you on the Bruce, it's those roadside eateries that get you to pull over for a feed when you are otherwise intent on just getting down the road. Same goes for the billfish pulling out of the south-bound EAC for a feast or two in the eddies and the like that slow the current north of Fraser Island.
The grounds to the east and to the north of the 13 Mile crossing are most appealing to many local game fishos and pretty much always have been. The geography of the area carries all the features that call marlin in to feed, along with masses of the very baitfish they are so keen on devouring. The shallower shoal country is for smaller billies like the ones you catch in the bay (and a bit bigger) whilst the continental shelf line and beyond is where the biggest fish can be found.
Experienced skippers will steer quite wide if water quality, temp and baitfish dictate, but the 200m depth contour is a good starting point for those learning the ropes. That line is highly productive for blacks, blues and stripes this time of year, as well as yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi.
The new moon period is key to the best billfish bite of the lunar cycle, so excellent results are expected this weekend. Hopefully you get to hook into members of the billfish clan and secure bragging rights until next trip. Remember, all the above counts for nought if you stuff things up when the fish is ready to bring boat-side, so get your crew clued-up on fish handling, clearing teasers and other lures etc, and keep the panic level to a minimum. Chaos will reign when a feisty billfish gets airborne, so be prepared.
Good luck out there y'all …… Jase
Fatboy Lures have made setting the preferred spread easy-as with this image for vessels sporting outriggers.
Follow the principles displayed in this image to set your basic spread for marlin.
No more guess work necessary - follow this guide and benefit from decades of game fishing experience.
Tips worth noting from the gurus at Fatboy Lures.