Deej with quite a large moses perch caught in glamour conditions.
Windy for the Full Moon
Regardless of the BOM’s predictions, last weekend dawned bright and sunny with no rain, which was great. The wind was stronger than they forecast, but that didn’t keep the keener fishos off the water. Glassy calm seas were a bonus for boaties earlier this week, so our ramps and the bay were very busy. Things have turned a little sour over the past 48 hours though sadly, and the week ahead looks a little challenging for boaties.
The south-east trade wind is back, and it looks like setting in for a few days. Today’s 15-20 knot south-easter is about as good as it gets until this time next week. The same breeze could reach up to 25 knots both days of the weekend, so there will be plenty of working locals just as frustrated as the visiting holidaymakers.
A high in the bight, drifting eastwards into the Tasman Sea is the culprit responsible for the current windy weather. A southbound low forming out Caledonia way mid-week could see the trade winds increase further, with another spate of 30 knot winds possible. A shower or two is pretty much a given day by day for the next week. Nothing to fill our rain gauges, but enough to keep our lawns shiny green and growing.
It has been interesting to witness the return of consistent trade winds this summer-autumn. Does that mean we will get those chilly southerly blasts late autumn and one of those ridiculously calm winters we used to get so often so many years ago? Only time will tell perhaps. No-one inform Mr trump about our surplus trade winds, or he might put a tariff on ‘em!
This Sunday’s full moon won’t offer the same appeal as it might do, due to the windy weather. It is a shame to watch such a significant part of the lunar cycle slip by un-fished, so consider your options from appropriate land-based platforms, our beaches, or from sheltered inshore waters if boating. Tidal flow will peak with well less than 3 metres of variation this weekend, so many locations can be fished quite comfortably, wind permitting.
Hot Reels Charters had the boys huffing and puffing whilst hauling in hard-pullers like this blackall.
Get the kids into the bay's big grunter and its happy days all round. This young bloke had a great trip aboard Hot Reels.
Sweeties are prolific in the southern bay, and there is plenty further north too. Hot Reels put some younger clients onto them recently.
Not everyone is a fan of blackall, but put the kids onto a fish that pulls as hard as they do and it's smiles for miles.
Offshore Waters Get Another Rest
There was a window of opportunity earlier this week as the wind and swell abated offshore and a couple of boats made it out Monday. It was a pretty lonely scene east of Breaksea Spit – just the way many offshore fishos like it! The morning run offshore was a pretty lumpy affair, but conditions improved dramatically later that day. The 4 Mile bar crossing is apparently quite narrow at present, demanding a close watch be kept on breakers nearby.
Once offshore, the current was quite strong, at around 3 knots all over the place. Deep dropping was quite challenging, as line had to be paid out constantly to maintain close proximity with the bottom. There were masses of baitfish drawing the attention of many flocks of birds from the 100m line out to about 400m. A half-hearted troll soon identified the mac tuna population out wide, leaving the skipper that shared his report with an inkling there could have been marlin caught if the effort was put in.
Deep dropping efforts raised a limit of pearl perch and many squire. The baby snapper were quite thick apparently, but very small (barely legal). A return to the shoal country in 40-60 metres was soon justified and a quick troll had a boat limit of 2 spanish mackerel secured. A procession of jobbies were on the chew too, but it took a change to dropping small live baits to trigger a bite from the better quality reefies that seemed uninterested in conventional dead baits.
Large RTEs and solid coronation trout pounced on the bite-sized livies in waters largely unattended by sharks. A true bonus out there these days, and something to look forward to next chance you get. Admittedly, our reporting skipper is no fool and he monitors his sounder for the tell-tale arches of the noahs as he lines up a drift. An obvious threat on the sounder soon had him on the trot to the next hotspot when necessary. The hussar remain ravenous offshore, making dead bait fishing less productive than it might be. At least the hussar are sizable though, and they make for exceptional table fare should you decide to bring any home.
Nate Kerslake was absolutely chuffed with this ripper nannygai, and who wouldn't be.
James Rossman getting amongst the bay's speedsters on his high-speed fishing machine.
Jeff raised a smile catching longtails out on the bay.
The Bay is Alive with Life Right Now
A good wet season and substantial recent rains have invigorated Hervey Bay’s waters. Beyond the dirty water line, there is acres and acres of tuna to be found, all feeding on a myriad of baitfish. There are juvenile baitfish representing many species, and hordes of juvenile pelagics too. All part of the food chain, and no doubt wishing they were a little higher up that particular chain these days.
Tuna fans had plenty to cheer about during the recent spell of good weather. The longtails are thick out there apparently. They aren’t always feeding on top and the recent neaps limited their activity (again), so a scout around might see you spot very few tuna or witness the motherlode in full flight. Sizes are mixed, from vast schools of smaller longtails, to smaller schools of larger fish, and loose pods of the biggest of the clan. The sheer variety of baitfish on which they are feeding offers tuna fishos the chance to throw all manner of tried and tested lures at them.
Stick baits are working a treat with so much garfish and juvie long tom about. Stickies often prove most appealing to the larger longtails in particular, and the visual surface explosion and subsequent blistering runs are what make this the most addictive form of tuna fishing. Anyone can resort to trolling for tuna if they wish, put few do in these parts, as the fun factor is so much more enhanced when your retrieve is intercepted mid-crank and all hell breaks loose.
A very proud moment for young Finn Welch, even if his dad's camera work was dodgy-as!
Flora had a fun day out chasing longtails such as this one.
Hervey Bay's longtail tuna population offers great excitement for kids of all ages.
Mac tuna numbers are high out there still, and there are big schools of smaller bonito doing the rounds too. Amazingly, a tuna fishos have relayed yarns about shark-free sessions up the bay. Many a reef fisho wishes they could say the same no doubt. Not everyone chasing tuna has avoided the noahs, but it’s great to hear that at least some have. Pelagic activity is heightened out along the banks, where the dirty waters ex-Mary River mingle with the clear waters of the bay. Tuna were prolific at times within Platypus Bay this week, as well as out in the central bay, and up beyond Rooneys Point.
Queenfish remain widespread around the bay. Schools are still entertaining fishos working bait-laden reefs in Platypus Bay, and plenty of queenies can be found closer inshore as well. Try the flats beyond the creeks or hit the Bay Islands for a look when the weather permits. The larger full moon tides will have them on the hunt. You will soon find out if they are there by casting stickbaits or fast-ripping plastics through likely waters.
Trevally numbers have remained higher than usual within many areas of the bay this autumn. Goldies are well represented on reefs up the island and are also working the fringes of the dirty water adjacent to the flats. Once our waters clear some more, flats fishos will return to their beloved skinny water, sight-casting to cruising goldies. It is notable just how fast our flats fisheries have recovered since commercial netting was restricted, with many species now quite abundant that were scarce as rocking horse you-know-what barely a year ago.
Goldies are suckers for all manner of soft plastics, and they don't mind colourful presentations like Jacko's either it seems.
Jacko putting his much-loved GT Ice Creams to work on the queenfish population up the island.
No, it's not a photo from the 60's. It's Deano messing with his camera settings after catching this longy on a Nomad Madscad.
Mackerel Feeding Holidaying Fishos
Folks fanning out across the bay reported good catches of mackerel from our inshore waters this week. Schoolies are widespread and can be found all the way up the island to Rooneys if you could be bothered going that far. Some stayed quite close inshore and found them feeding in the stained waters at the Bait Grounds, the Simpson arti and other sites across ‘the banks’.
Catching a feed of schoolies is simple enough, as you all know, and the same techniques can be used to catch spaniards and broadies as well. There are enough spanish mackerel scattered across the bay to make finding them easy enough. Basically, find good schools of larger baitfish and either spin or troll for the spanish. Their tendency to predate on bonito and smaller mackerel makes the larger spaniards in particular worth scanning for when such prey is found. Catch a big spano if you haven’t done so before, but best you don’t make a habit of catching a heap in a session. They aren’t the best releasees if handled too much.
Visiting fishos are reminded that spanish mackerel are a year-round no-take species in Platypus Bay. If fishing east of a line drawn from Coongul Point to Rooneys Point, then you cannot take any spanish mackerel. This is due to the inherently high risk of ciguatera poisoning known to occur in fish in that area. To answer your question before you ask it – yes, the very same fish can swim beyond that imaginary line, and yes, they too could contain ciguatera.
For that reason, few locals would consider a Hervey Bay spanish mackerel of 10 kilos or more as fit for the table. Studies performed here years ago highlighted the fact that female spanish mackerel can grow substantially faster than their male counterparts. An 8-kilo male fish could be up to 3 times as old as a similar-sized female. That makes males riskier to eat, as they may have ingested more toxins from their prey over extra visits to waters impacted by the dinoflagellate algae that create the toxin. Platypus Bay waters lack current, and toxin-producing algae thrives on its reefs and select substrate which is why its waters are taboo for spanish mackerel connoisseurs.
Luckily for the general mackerel-eating populace, schoolies and their much more sought-after cousins, the broad-barred mackerel, are not inflicted with ciguatera issues. Spotties aren’t either by the way. Broadies have made a recent resurgence in the southern bay. Sizeable fish are quite common in waters north of Woody Island right now. They can handle the dirty water, and in fact, revel in it. Next chance you get, take a handful of Flasha spoons for a spin, and you should be able to connect to a few broadies somewhere this side of the Outer Banks. The worst you could do is come home with a feed of school mackerel.
Jnr Miss Hodge had her hands full with this fine spanish mackerel.
Hot Reels Charter clients with a feed of schoolies and a solo longtail.
Hervey Bay's longtails are abundant, yet not blowing up on the surface every hour of every day. This wind will draw more into Platypus Bay.
Tri from Fraser Guided Fishing happily gets his clients amongst the bay's mackerel population, as well as every other pelagic out there.
Reef Fishos Have Limited Options This Week
Just as certain pelagic species cruise in to predate on fodder flushed out by flooded river waters, so too many reef fish species take up positions to pounce on the renewed abundance. Many of our most heavily fished inshore reefs are situated within our shipping channels. These deeper channels are highways for many species – fodder and predator alike.
Dirty surface waters hide the much cleaner and totally saline waters below. Our shipping channel reefs are alive right now, and a feed is in the offing next chance you get. Alas, that may not be this week. The full moon will escape without the usual effort from reef fishos it seems. Sneak out should the wind abate and you can be hooking into plenty of grassy sweetlip as well as a few nannygai, coral trout and cod. Beware; the sharks will probably greet you with open jaws without other boats on the water to draw their attention in the more popular spots.
As alluded to in a roundabout fashion in recent fishing reports, now is the prime time to be targeting mangrove jacks fresh from their exodus from local creeks and rivers. There is a few of us with substantial history of intercepting the red terrors that will know exactly where they could be found. Others will simply go fishing and discover the jacks just the way the rest of us did. By getting towelled-up viciously until the big guns are brought out and the tenacious brutes are dragged from their temporary lairs.
These ex-stream jacks are taking advantage of the cover of dirty water to move beyond their juvenile habitats to go on to the next and final stage of their life cycles. Once beyond the realm of the creeks etc, we refer to them as reef jacks around here, and the further offshore you find them, typically, the bigger and meaner they are. It will be 50-65cm fish that you find harassing the life forms of our inshore reefs for the next couple of months. Northern bay waters will be home to jacks to 75cm perhaps, but still, plenty in the 50s and 60s. Get up towards Breaksea Spit or beyond and monsters in the 85cm+ or 9 kilo+ class will test you tackle to the limit. Not many of those fish will ever be caught in the daylight, and nor should they be.
Just as the jacks exited the rivers etc, so did the grunter. School after school of quality grunter is doing the rounds of reefs, rubble grounds and select ledges in the southern bay at present. The full moon will have them on the chew, big time, but few, if any of us will get to enjoy that bite. From Fraser’s western ledges to the Bay Islands, the local artificials and the low-lying gravelly grounds off the Burrum, there are grunter to be found. Quality fish too, in the 65cm+ class.
This moon might see a long-awaited run of grunter off Gatakers Bay – Point Vernon. Indeed, those waters are so well protected from the prevailing trade winds they offer many a boatie about their only reef fishing option this week. Those considering a session anchoring and fishing baits for the grunter (or other species) there this week should heed the No-Anchoring Zones. Visiting fishos should upload the Marine Parks App on their phones so that they are up to speed with the regulations. Drop in and have a chat with someone at Fisho’s if unsure or you need help with that.
Michael with a couple of good jacks that didn't get far on their migratory move out to the reefs.
Brad Cecil ate well after catching this nice little nanny.
Haylie spent a day on the bay and took home a feed of reefies such as this fine grassy.
Jeffrey Ferguson hauled in this fine black-spot tusk fish (bluey) from a local reef recently.
Rivers Remain Dirty Whilst Waters Beyond Demand Attention
After a surprise and almost major flooding event such a short time ago, it should come as no further surprise that our major rivers are still filthy and basically pure freshwater any distance upstream. Now is a time to fish flood tides in lieu of ebb tides should you be in any way inclined to go river fishing. Letting the full moon tides flush and putting some effort in a week thereafter would seem quite a prudent strategy for now.
Look beyond the rivers though, and you can be mixing it with the best of the river’s former predatory residents. Think threadfin salmon and barra on the flats where once only blue salmon, gunter and flathead might have roamed. Catch the latter three in the same terrain on the same day if you get lucky enough. Focus on flats fed by nearby streams that hold enough water in feeder channels at low tide in which displaced river critters can linger. Watch for surface commotion, as dirty water and an enhanced amount of fodder will have some serious fish erupting in pretty skinny water.
The Great Sandy Straits and its network of channels and flats offers prime grounds for this sort of activity right now. Small barra and threadies have been abundant in some pockets apparently. Their bigger brethren will be there somewhere too. The wind won’t be kind this week, but the tides are. Make your way over to Fraser in a capable vessel and you could be reaping the benefits only ever offered post-flood. All sorts of estuarine inhabitants can turn up in places they only visit in conditions such as these.
Prawners are no doubt keen to get the cast net back out first chance they get. The Booral Flats are awash with waves from onshore winds otherwise they could be casting up a feed down there this week. Creek prawns cruising the fresh waters currently dominating our streams are a poor alternative to the succulent mid-sized bananas that were gathering pre-flooding. Let’s see how this moon and its bigger tides impact our streams and go for a prawn thereafter.
Mud crabbing effort would usually be peaking in the lead up to Easter. This full moon will have keen crabbers out getting muddy as they vie for their share of the most abundant mud crabs we have seen here in years. Effort creep back into the flooded streams will occur, whilst most will favour the very lowest reaches. Efforts beyond the streams could be very fruitful, weather permitting, with the channels and feeder streams of the straits likely to produce some of the best crabbing.
Gumboots, gold bombers and salmon from the rocks at River Heads. Just like the way we used to do it in filthy floodwaters years ago.
Bryce caught this thumping big queenie this week. You can find them close inshore while the wind is blowing over this full moon if you are keen.
Find a school of jewies and it can be a fish a drop. A school Jacko found is all undersized at around the 70cm mark, but fun nonetheless.
Get Ready for the Easter Fishing Competition at Burrum Heads
You’ve got a whole week to get your fishing tackle in order so that you can get amongst the fun and prizes in the upcoming Easter Fishing Competition. Run by the community-minded crew from the Burrum Heads Amateur Fishing Club, this event is one of the biggest and most-loved on our local competition calendar and one not to miss. Fisho’s Tackle World is a proud sponsor and we supply many of the prizes on offer.
Run from Good Friday 18th April to Easter Sunday 20th April, this well-run comp based at the Lion’s Park in Burrum Heads is family-focussed offering a ton of fun for the kids and their folks alike. It is very affordable, and your chances to win prizes are many and varied. There will be raffles galore, super draws and giveaways, so you don’t even need to weigh-in a fish to be a winner.
Those of you keen to get amongst the many prizes for a selection of species should focus your efforts on targeting the following:
For Seniors, there are 8 primary species to target. These include flathead (live weigh-in only), whiting, bream, grassy sweetlip, mangrove jack, trevally, grunter and mackerel (spotted or school).
For Juniors, it is all about the bread’n’butter species of whiting, bream and flathead.
There will also be a Best Dressed Mud Crab prize for those keen to enter that section. Not sure if that prize is for a crab wearing the fanciest attire or the heaviest mud crab cleaned. No doubt that matter is clarified in the fine print. It could be an entertaining facet of the event if it is the former.
Hopefully this windy weather will blow away before the big Easter event at Burrum Heads. The river up there is till filthy, but at least two categories are on offer not far from the ramp at present with both flathead and grunter having been caught there this week. Small prawns flicking their way down river will appeal to many predators, so this could be a very interesting comp, regardless of the dirty water. Good luck to all who enter - we know you are in for a great time.
Carl with a sample of the sort of quality grunter you can find throughout the southern bay at present.
Sean was ecstatic when he hauled in this beaut longtail recently. The weather won't slow them down this week, but it might slow us down.
Your scribe put the Panic Stations Mullet to the test in Mondy. A fast-paced retrieve edging the weed beds worked a few times over on metre-beaters.
Fish Arrive at Urangan Pier for Easter Holidays
Recently reopened to enable fishos and tourists to wander its planks for the school holidays, the Urangan Pier has turned it on fish-wise this week too. Stacks of herring have returned to shelter beneath the pier in waters that are already showing signs of clearing day by day. Pier fans should make the most of this school holiday period, as council intends to partially reclose it post-holidays to recommence the restoration works that weren’t fully completed.
Just this week, there have been spanish mackerel, school mackerel and queenfish caught on live baits. Flathead remain a constant along its length since the recent flooding. Other displaced riverine predators are also possible from the pier. Night time effort sees more of those species caught than daytime, yet you never know your luck.
Garfish have been gathering around the smaller jetties at Scarness and Torquay apparently. It’s a high tide affair for them, with the early ebb often producing the best gar bite. A little berley, some tiny hooks and a float attached to the kids’ light lines will soon have them whooping with joy as they haul these acrobatic ‘mini marlin’ over the guardrails.
Schools of impressive diamond scaled mullet have been catching the attention of beach-goers this week. Cast netting restrictions mean you cannot throw a net over them between the Harbour and Pt Vernon (or round them up with a bait net), so don’t be tempted. There is bound to be enough scrappy little whiting and bream scrounging our beach foreshores somewhere out of the wind to keep the kids entertained this week, or you can set the bigger kids up to catch some sharks if you prefer.
Opportunities to fish our local creek mouths could be productive, as could the nearby flats. Thinks flatties and whiting with the chance of grunter or salmon. Wander the rocks fringing Pt Vernon – Gatakers Bay and you might find some of the very same blue salmon schools that have been terrorising displaced baitfish along our town beaches for the past fortnight. You never know, you might even catch a mangrove jack from the rocks if you are up to the task.
Good luck out there y’all …… Jase
Don't miss the big event on the local Easter fishing calendar.