A poignant meme that says it all regarding the lack of warning of Sunday's flash flooding disaster.
Looking Forward to Better Conditions in the Wake of Alfred
Wow! What an incredible turn of events unfolded here in Hervey Bay township last Sunday morning. Unprecedented flash flooding caught everyone by surprise when a self-propagating storm band dumped a ridiculous volume of water on our town in a couple of hours. The storm was intense for those beneath it along the beach strip from Pialba to Urangan, whilst others in suburbs like Pt Vernon felt minimal impact and those just west of town remained dry.
We have always considered ourselves lucky and pretty much immune to flooding here in the bay. That may remain so for riverine flooding, but not so for flash flooding it seems. Our luck was holding well too, as we dodged the bullet they called T.C Alfred, only to be clipped by a ‘ricochet’ from a sting in its tail. Let’s hope we don’t see an event like that one again. It dumped in excess of 500mm of rain in a couple of hours along the beachfront by the way, much more than the 316mm the officials declared from their gauge at the airport.
Many households and businesses were inundated by floodwaters, so a major cleanup is underway at present. We were very lucky here at Fishos. Compressors on the roof couldn’t handle the rain and shut down, impacting our bait freezer, but that has been repaired and our bait supply replenished. Our thoughts go out to those battling to recover from this disaster, and we offer our thanks to those putting in the hard yards to help their friends and neighbours.
Things are back to normal now weather-wise thankfully, with a persistent onshore trade wind keeping us relatively cool. The BOM says we should expect 15-20 knots from the south-east today and tomorrow, before the wind eases and tends more easterly on Sunday. There should be less than 10 knots after a slightly breezier dawn, so that will be the day to shake off your Alfred woes and hit the briny.
A late start, or an early slog up the bay might suit offshore fishos keen to blow the dust off their big rigs and head east of Breaksea Spit Sunday. The conditions look even better on Monday, with the swell dropping back to barely a metre. The bay should be a glass-out Monday if the BOM can be believed, so expect plenty of traffic as many folks haven’t had the boat out for weeks. With the high chance of a return of south-easterly trade winds thereafter, make the most of the brief window of opportunity if you can.
Tidal flow is peaking due to tonight’s full moon, so keep that in mind if you hit the bay before the wind eases. Avoid wind-against-tide periods for a comfier ride. With the moon waning and daily tidal flow diminishing after today, you would be excused for believing we have missed the best the tides can offer. We have to an extent, but take comfort in the realisation that this insane weather event has triggered a major feeding response from a plethora of piscatorial species and now’s your chance to get amongst them.
Torquay Road in front of Fisho's Tackle World Sunday morning.
View from the rear carpark at Fisho's looking out onto Torquay Road during the flash flooding.
The semi-underground carpark at the rear of Fisho's tackle World was a veritable swimming pool Sunday morning.
We are so lucky that the flash flooding occurred so early on a Sunday morning. Imagine the chance of fatalities if it happened at prime time.
Urangan Pier Fishos Still Restricted
Ongoing restoration works mean that Urangan Pier fishos remain restricted to the first channel and part of the sandbank. Folks are saying the fenced-off section will be shifted further out soon, so we will let you know as this happens and more of the pier waters become accessible.
In the meantime, those braving the winds lately have managed the odd mackerel or had reason to get excited when a queenfish or two tore into small fish in the first channel. The full moon might see a modest run of whiting or perhaps the return of the garfish near the beach end. Otherwise, it could be lean pickings until access to deeper waters out the end is regained.
On the other hand, there is a very real possibility that estuarine predators might visit the pier’s first channel this week, drawn to those waters by the fast-dissipating run-off and flushed out fodder from the recent flash flooding. Fish such as blue salmon and grunter might pass by, as might barra, threadfin salmon and any number of bull sharks. Flatties flushed from nearby creeks are likely to take up position near the light posts in the first channel and be quite viable targets over the next set of neaps.
Beach-goers should be able to find flatties near the storm water outlets along Torquay Beach. South Beach and the fringes of the Harbour Walls could also be worth a cast. Our foreshore waters are absolutely filthy right now, as you would expect. This is not a bad thing as far as the fish are concerned; it just means cover for shallow margin feeding forays and extra tucker.
Jack caught this fine flathead from the first channel at Urangan Pier.
Big smiles from Travis Towers when he caught this beaut coral trout.
Xavier Frazer spent a day out on a local estuary and caught this ripper grunter.
Night sessions chasing barra have been very successful for many local fishos.
Tons of Fish Flushed from Local Canals and Lakes
The flash flooding created multiple spectacles all over town, but it was the escape of so many fish from our town’s ponded systems that was of most interest to many fishos. Incredible scenes unfolded for those on the spot, as escapees from lakes in Torquay, Urangan and Eli Waters swam across flooded roads in their bid to reach the saltwater downstream.
There were masses of mullet, plenty of tarpon and juvenile giant herring, as well as many impressive mangrove jacks and barramundi. Some of the jacks and barra were true monsters of their gene pool and a real handful for those attempting, sometimes successfully, to catch them by hand. One massive barra took a mammoth effort to return to the lake from which it had escaped. Alas, all efforts were in vain as it was found floating sometime later, at which time it was measured, apparently, stretching the tape to a whopping 1.3m.
Many of us locals have enjoyed some pretty spectacular fishing from our town’s lake systems over the years. Grey-whiskered old fishos such as yours truly once wandered the banks of these peaceful ponds plucking impressive fish from waters others might’ve consider worthy of little more than aquatic bird life. Younger fishos now haunt these very same waterways quite frequently, in numbers never before seen, and many enjoy regular success. Not mentioning this fishery in the past has been necessary to curb over-indulgence, but it seems the cat is out of the bag now.
A particularly disturbing observation from the flooding of our town lakes has been the ridiculous number of tilapia seen swimming merrily on to their next infestation point. Some folks did what they could to stem the flow by catching them by hand and with landing nets. Their efforts can be applauded, though they will be the first to tell you they barely put a dent in the thousands of fish seen escaping the lakes.
Some of our lake systems are flushed by marine waters on bigger tides and these systems hold a population of other fish such as bream, flathead, small grunter and cod (amongst others). Those lakes also house mud crabs when conditions are right, and you can rest assured that all of those crabs have vacated those lakes and are at large elsewhere right now.
Don’t be surprised to encounter stray muddies whilst looking for fish along our town beaches or on the flats at the outskirts of town. Filthy local floodwaters aside, a rare opportunity has arisen for landlubbers to mix it with some pretty spectacular fish right now. It could be barra or jacks that escaped the lakes, or salmon and grunter cruising the flats seeking morsels flushed out by the floods. Consider the enhanced chance of encounters with small bull sharks in our dirtied shallows at present and wade only where safe and necessary.
You might also want to google a thing called Melioidosis too, and become familiar with this ‘new’ issue. It was brought to our attention by a long-time regular of Fishos some weeks ago, when he told us how he almost lost a limb just because he was wading through floodwaters with a scratch on his leg. Others have lost limbs or otherwise been made very ill by this life-threatening bacterial infection. A number of Aussies have died this wet season already! Stay out of floodwaters with open wounds and avoid ingesting those waters. This is news to many of us, so do yourself a favour and check it out.
This massive barra was an escapee from a local town pond that was seen swimming down the road.
Never before has this much water flowed out from the Shelley Beach groynes flood pipes. There has already been flathead caught there since.
Kane caught this blue salmon shore-based in town. Expect a few schools of these fish cruising the dirty waters from Urangan to Pt Vernon.
Blue salmon will be turning up on local flats and around creek mouths as well as along the town beaches this week.
Storm Rains Have Dirtied Our Rivers Again
Whilst Sunday morning’s storm created the flash flooding disaster here in town, it was the lesser storms along a trough line later that day and thereafter that dropped enough rain in our catchments to put another fresh in our rivers. The Mary system reached minor flooding status briefly. It has since eased and today sees its “final flood warning”.
Lenthalls Dam was overtopped by storm rains once again, seeing the Burrum River achieve minor flood status. The Burrum, Isis and Gregory Rivers are all steady or falling now and considered “below minor”. Renewed freshwater flows of this nature are very much normal given that we are still in our wet season. Frustrating; yes – but normal.
Crabbers won’t be complaining, but many a prawner who was just getting a handle on prawn movements will have to have a rethink. The barra in these rivers won’t be at all phased; more likely relishing in the fresh flow and the feeding opportunities it brings. So too the Burrum’s mighty mangrove jack population. The biggest jacks will either continue to feast upstream for a period, or start their migration downstream in readiness for their next stage of life offshore.
Lure fishos can continue to ply our river waters with the usual offerings, though many will consider alternatives until the big full moon tides are a week passed. Better opportunities abound beyond these rivers temporarily and it is in those waters that some will find success. You’ve had many a chance to tangle with big river predators from our flats and beachscapes this summer, and now another presents. Go have a crack while the tides remain large.
Mary River fishos might have to resort to the usual array of tiny prawn lures or small hard vibes to tempt the threadies so eagerly focussed on a renewed abundance of jelly prawns. Late ebb tide sessions peppering fish you can see working drains can be very frustrating, yet equally fruitful with the right approach. Blue salmon will be a much easier target, as they always are, so switch your focus to them if looking to entertain the kids.
These post flood conditions offer you all a chance to get out there and test swim your flash new ‘Panic Stations’ Mullet lures. These incredible new offerings are just the ticket for dirty water conditions and as you know, mullet are atop the big barra’s menu during these times. Coming in sizes to suit all waters and cast weight capabilities, with out-of-the-packet heavy duty hardware and swimming actions perfected by one of our country’s best barra fishos, the poor old barra don’t stand a chance.
You can cast net some mullet and serve up the real deal on a suitable hook if you prefer. The bull sharks might beat the barra to it if the past few weeks’ efforts are anything to go by. The bullies have been hard to avoid by all and sundry fishing baits, so consider shallower waters such as mudflats adjacent to creek mouths or rock bars, in lieu of the actual creek mouths or rock bars themselves perhaps.
Barra fishos have never had a better mullet impersonation than the fantastic new Panic Stations Mullet.
Dane with Burrum barra-fishing bycatch whilst sinking a Zerek Live Cherabin lure into the snags.
Jerry and mate with a local barra. Recent flooding will have them on the move and on the feed.
Joe's Burrum River 114cm barra smoked an Irukandji Megaprawn.
Big Pelagics Positioned to Pounce
The big giant trevally that were so seemingly absent from our inshore waters mid-summer have been quite prevalent again in recent weeks apparently. The weather hasn’t enabled many folks to access them but those that did found fish in some of the usual locations. The shipwrecks of the Roy Rufus and other artificial reefs are hosting GTs, and the bay islands are offering a crack at them over the bigger tides too.
Disturbed waters and flushed out fodder from recent flooding create feeding opportunities for these apex predators, so consider a GT stick baiting / popping session while the full moon still has some pull. Otherwise, resort to the deeper wrecks etc and see if you can tempt them. The lifelike extra-large prawn imitation lures on offer these days may have been designed with barra in mind, but no-one told the GTs that. Should your attempts with lures all fail, then there is always a large livie.
Sharing the same shallower waters with the GTs over the full moon are some sizeable queenfish. Small schools of larger fish are highly mobile, so don’t just throw a lure or two a few times and move on. They can be ‘doing the rounds’ and you need to persist in a spot while they complete their circuit sometimes. Choose to throw topwater, various softies or even spoons if you like, but don’t be surprised if it is a prawn imitation that they fancy most at present.
School mackerel continue to hound the small herring making their way through our inshore shipping channels apparently. Any pencil squid still cruising those waters are in jeopardy too, as are your squid jigs if the mackerel find them. Over Coongul way it has been the broad-barred mackerel that have impressed some of their captors, so it sounds as though there is another run of broadies inshore.
Spaniards are still out of bounds until the current closure concludes at midnight 21st March. There might be a few giants of the spanish mackerel clan lingering in our close inshore waters, and maybe a few further up the bay too, but it is the time for a run of smaller fish at present and they will be on their way if not here already. Happy days for spaniard fans are just a week or so away.
Jayden Lewis was chuffed with this solid grassy. Expect an impressive bite from these critters thanks to the recent flooding.
Justin Harris caught this chunky yellowfin tuna during a recent trip to the Cook Islands.
Hordes of Tuna Amassed Throughout the Bay
Just as expected, the already growing population of tuna in Hervey Bay waters absolutely exploded as T.C. Alfred came barrelling down the Pacific. Massive seas offshore sent baitfish scurrying into the bay seeking better conditions and the tuna were hot on their heels. It’s a true tuna fan’s playground out there right now, with huge numbers of longtails and just as many mac tuna churning the surface to foam.
From the northern stretches of our inshore shipping channels and the Fairway all the way to Wathumba and beyond, there are tuna schools as far as you can see. Few folks other than those with capable sports boats have been able to get amongst them due to weather constraints of late, but their stories alone are enough to have the local tuna fans frothing. Get out there and get amongst the action as a soon as the weather enables you, as the fish are fresh and the lack of boat traffic might even mean the sharks are scattered.
There has even been reports of spotted mackerel in the central western bay this week. Decent fish in the 3kg+ (80cm) size range have been tearing into bait balls from not far off Gatakers Bay to out near the 25 Fathom Hole. Ensure you have plenty of metal slugs with you on your next tuna chasing sessions and you just might return home with a feed of late season spotties. These fish have rocked up well after their typical season, so perhaps we can thank Alfred for that little bonus.
Longtails have flooded into Hervey Bay in massive numbers. There's jelly beans and barrels on offer from the Fairway north to Rooneys.
Mac tuna are thick in Hervey Bay at present.
It’s a Race for the Mud Crabs
The second hottest selling items at Fishos this week have been crabbing apparatus and crab bait (the first being those dynamite new Panis Stations mullets). It seems everyone with a taste for mud crab will have a pot in right now or is about to put some in. And rightly so too, with crazy flash flooding and minor riverine flooding impacting the mud crabs’ comfort levels in our freshwater-laden streams, they are once again on the move. The full moon will only exaggerate their movements and inclination to feed, so many will be enjoying a mighty-fine feed very soon.
No word on the sand crab front. Heavy weather hasn’t given recreational crabbers much of a chance, and we haven’t touched base with any pros. Chances are there is a feed of sandies to be had from waters not far off our coastline at present though, and maybe quite close in whilst the full moon is glowing.
Prawn fans will be keen to get back on the water and see where the prawns have gone. The Buxton area, and other deep waters in the Isis and Gregory might see some effort during the tide turns this week. Burrum Heads locals will be eagerly monitoring prawning effort at the ramps to see if the prawns wash downstream and accumulate there. Should the bigger prawn simply bury upstream whilst this latest minor fresh washes past overhead, then you might get a strike from them over high tide. Smaller prawn should be quite visible within our rivers, as well as creeks unaffected by localised flash flooding.
The Mary’s prawn population was just starting to gather, so expect good things from the lower reaches as the latest fresh washes down river. Places such as the Prawn Gutter, China Bite and the creeks of the lower Mary/Susan will be worth a look. No doubt there will be mature prawn swimming past the River Heads boat ramps at some stage. Rocks, oysters, current and cast nets are a bad mix, yet some folks are so keen they are there casting every other day. These rains are a real boon for prawn-lovers, so get ready for a banana prawn bonanza in coming weeks.
The muddies are on the move and it’s a race to get to the motherlode first.
Burrum River prawns caught just before the latest fresh. Recent rains have secured a fantastic future for prawn fans.
Banana prawns will be on the menu for many folks this week. Expect a real prawn bonanza fairly soon.
Reuben Barnett with a brace of the sort of flatties you can catch fishing our flats and creek mouths right now.
Be Extra Wary of Flood Debris
Given that Fraser Island and other exposed beaches up and down the coastline were battered so heavily during the passage of T.C. Alfred there is bound to be some significant debris in our waters. Offshore fishos need to be wary, but so too do those boating close inshore. Obviously, there has been a crazy amount of debris washed out of our local streams here in the bay from flash flooding, so take extra care and avoid night travel unless necessary.
Head for our lakes and catch a barra or ten if you want a safer option at present. Lenthalls has been boosted by another inflow, but the barra are still in there and biting. Monduran hosted an ABT last weekend that saw a gun river fisho blitz the regulars using prawn imitation lures apparently. Plenty of metre beaters were caught, but no true monsters.
There is another comp on up there this weekend, in the form of the Humminbird Classic. Many of us regulars will give way to the roaring tournament boats and avoid this prime full moon opportunity, but if you are keen, then head on up and get amongst the lakes’ brilliant barra. There’s not that many boats in the comp so you are bound to find barra-filled locations without traffic. Mondy only rose 1% from this week’s storms and the fish are on the chew.
Good luck out there y’all …… Jase
Jake and Coby took out the ABT at Lake Monduran last weekend. Congrats boys!
Eddie with a tilapia he caught from his backyard pre-flooding. There is thousands and thousands of these pests at large now.