Megan and Amelia Jorgensen from out Wondai way headed wide with their dad, Neil, last week just before the westerly blow, and scored some ripper reds.
Westerly Winds Prevail This Weekend
Struth it’s cold! Nearly as cold as the stare a Queenslander will give a blues supporter that rants on about finally winning a rare state of origin series. Isn’t it amazing how a mere 5 minutes on a field can turn the tide. Comparable perhaps, to that moment or two of glory that a fisho achieves when they slog it out and do the hard yards for that ultimate piscatorial reward. Unfortunately, for Queenslanders, recent events felt akin to a much-maligned mongrel shark snatching a hard-fought prized red just moments from capture.
Alas, fishing opportunities have certainly been limited this week. That incessant westerly wind didn’t hold everyone back though, as quite a few fishos braved the frosty winds and plied protected waters to come up trumps.
Keep the winter woollies handy, as we are in for a chilly weekend. This morning’s bitter south-wester should abate early this afternoon, leaving us with a brief period of calm. A returning westerly of 10-15 knots Saturday will be the precursor to a stiff south-westerly overnight into Sunday morning that could blow up to 25 knots, albeit briefly. Thereafter, finally, we should get a welcome reprieve from the westerlies as the high creeping eastwards across the continent gets close enough to swing the breeze back to the south.
All-in-all, the weekend doesn’t look too flash, but the working week looks very good. Light southerlies to 10 knots or so, tending south-easterly later in the day, look to be the go for Monday through ‘til mid-week. It is anyone’s guess what might transpire thereafter, though if the online weather sites are close to correct (for a change), then we could be in for another spell of light winds right through until next weekend.
Impending good weather will appeal to many boaties, regardless of the moon or tides. The moon will be full this Sunday, meaning plenty of tidal flow for a few days to come. The higher highs will peak at just on 4m in the early evening, from lows around 0.45m in the afternoon. Plenty of run to get so many species on the move and on the chew. This moon and these tides also signal the start of a season that many inshore fishos look forward to each year. More on that subject as you read on.
Matty & Chedda headed up the Bruce and got stuck into the nannies once again.
Matty never misses when he heads north. Quality reds and nannies are just part of a typical mixed bag.
Like so many other reef fish, gold bands cannot resist a well-presented jig. Matty Gray with yet another fine table fish.
Seafood Menu Dictated by Westerly Winds
This past week of westerlies has been significant. A change of the guard has been realised in our estuaries and inshore. Dedicated winter species, such as whiting, bream, flathead, tailor, jewfish, blue salmon and squid have dominated catches from protected inshore or estuarine waters. Many of these species are just hitting their straps too, with more and better things to come for the months ahead.
Those that fished our close inshore waters had the option to anchor and berley for bream, or target them with lures in many locations. The protected sides of the bay islands were productive, as were select areas close to the mainland. The bream are gathered to spawn and big catches are on the cards. It is worth noting, that limited anchoring opportunities exist nowadays just off Gatakers Bay - Point Vernon due to new marine park rules, which demand consideration. The new rules are easily interpreted via the Great Sandy Marine Park App, which you should all have on your smart phones by now.
If bream don’t appeal, then those same sheltered waters can be plied for the likes of tailor, mackerel and blue salmon, all the while keeping an eye out for tiger squid. Dedicated sessions chasing squid might need to be extended for any significant numbers these days, with so many folks out so constantly on the hunt. Improving your chances by selecting and using better-quality squid jigs is highly advisable, as you cannot afford rejections from wary squid pricked and spooked by others before you.
Trollers can wander the shallow reef fringes and reasonably expect a little pelagic action. Find the tailor, the blues or the mackerel and it is unlikely to be single fish coming aboard. Look for signs of baitfish being harassed, and it is quite likely one of these culprits causing the commotion. There are queenies about inshore too, that will be all fired up with the bigger tides. Some will cruise the flats; others will hunt the current lines spinning off the bay islands and elsewhere. A few random trevally, and perhaps even a rat kingfish, are possible from those island verges too, and don’t be surprised if a flathead or cod pounces on a lure worked across the gravelly or rocky shallows.
Ben headed wide in better weather and scored some beaut reefies, including this gold band snapper (jobfish) and red emperor.
Whiting to Feature on Many Hit Lists in Coming Months
Many folks associate winter with ‘winter whiting’ in these parts. The trumpeter or diver variety that is, that are so eagerly pursued by boaties unashamed to gather in vast flotillas. And why not? As they offer a little light-hearted fun, a tasty source of protein and a generous bag limit – all within cooee of land and protected waters. Unbeknown to many however, is the, dare I say, vastly more exciting ‘summer whiting’ fishery that kicks into gear this time of year.
Summer whiting in winter you might ask. Yes, it is a misnomer, as generally-speaking, Hervey Bay’s best ‘summer’ whiting fishing is achieved late winter and through much of spring. It would make more sense to call these whiting ‘sand whiting’ which is their more appropriate name, and alleviate the potential confusion perhaps. Anyway, names aside, there will be many whiting fans gearing up and getting ready for their annual onslaughts as the July moon heralds the start of their favoured season.
Winter whiting fans can still chase their beloved winteries as they have for so many weeks. Drifting the flats and channels west of Woody Island, or loitering closer to Round Island will be popular. Some will venture further south and try the waters off the south-west corner of Woody. Others will wander into the dog-leg on the bigger tides, whilst someone is bound to give the waters east of River Heads a crack.
While all that is going on, there could be hopefuls fishing off Toogoom, O’Regans Creek, the Burrum and possibly Woodgate. Those with history and a memory for past successes might scope out the NU2 grounds or Dayman Spit, or head for Fraser and drift its fringes or Christie’s Gutter (when the weather improves). A couple of cunning old buggers will also be steering totally clear or all the traffic and happily hauling limits of plump winteries within a stone’s throw of a beach in waters unrecognised by the masses. And good luck to them all! The week ahead should be a pearler for winter whiting fans, so we expect to hear of bag limits galore of good-sized fish.
Some of those very same whiting fishos will change tactics soon and start their annual rituals for their summer whiting exploits. Afternoons spent pumping yabbies prior to evening sessions parked up in skinny water on a favourite flat waiting for the whiting to arrive. Their winter whiting rigs replaced with more suitable ultra-light running sinker rigs and super whippy rods. The waters are too clear this time of year for the best whiting fishing during daylight hours, so evenings are the go. The larger evening tides also cater well for foraging species such as summer whiting too, so the option to fish the night tides is profoundly appropriate.
This moon may pass without too much effort from the regular whiting gurus (due to weather constraints), yet the upcoming set or darks in a fortnight might tempt a few. The bigger tides of the subsequent full moon won’t go unfished (weather permitting) and bag limits of fat summeries will be bragged about on the down-low amongst mates. Something to look forward to if that is you perhaps, whilst the rest of us focus on other species and other piscatorial pursuits.
Bentley came all the way from NSW to fish the bay with his family. This blackall brought a smile to his face and bragging rights when he gets home.
Cali joined Bentley and the fam for a fish last week, and was chuffed to catch this fine 'greasy parrot' (tuskfish).
Westerlies Favour the Landlubbers
Cold and nasty as it has been, it hasn’t denied all fishos a crack at a feed or a little fun. Shore-based fishos have wandered the local beaches and scrounged up a few whiting for their troubles. As alluded to above, whiting tend to feed vastly better after dark this time of year, due to the inherently clear water. Darkness means cover from predators hovering above and enables these fish to forage unmolested. All the same, a couple of intrepid fishos found enough whiting to 35cm or so in our local creeks during daylight this week to lure them back for another session.
Those opting to hit the creeks looking for flatties enjoyed a degree of success this week, as did those wandering the vast mud flats with the offshore breeze blowing overhead. The Booral Flats is one such area that doesn’t get a lot of effort, that can produce good catches at the right time. If you don’t enjoy mud, sharp rocks and big walks in capable footwear, then this caper is not for you. Risky moments with the likes of mud crabs, sting rays and inquisitive bull sharks lessen the appeal of such ventures for many folks, as does the necessity to carry your whole armoury with you as you wander said flats in ankle-to-knee-deep water. This fishery is not for everyone, but the rewards, such as big whiting, flatties and the odd salmon draw the same regulars back time and time again.
Fishing from the rocky foreshores of Point Vernon and Pialba is a more popular pastime these days. The chances of catching quality bream in numbers is very real, via bait fishing methods or casting micro lures. Tailor are possible at present too, and a stray blue salmon might even wander in close when the light is low. There is also the chance of a big flathead from the gravelly ‘book ends’ of these rocks. There are increasing numbers of oversized flathead turning up more regularly at this time, so take care to release the bigger girls unharmed when necessary.
It has been fairly quiet out on Urangan Pier once again this week. Having said that, there have been numbers of small tailor giving the herring a hard time, and a few schoolies made a fatal visit as well. Most of the tailor are undersized apparently, so be wary of them, and ensure you have spare bait jigs and spoons as they can take their toll. The schoolies have been legal-sized fish that have fallen for the usual Flasha Spoon or a gang-rigged live bait.
Large flathead are a regular feature of the pier fishery this time of year. I have given plenty of tips on just how to catch them in past reports, so put those techniques into practice and you can enjoy future success. Be mindful of the larger breeding flatties that must be released unharmed. Gaffing them, then hauling them several metres up onto the jetty prior to release is in no way “unharmed”.
The full moon should see another peak in bream activity. Most fish will be caught from the deeper waters out towards the end as usual. However, big tides such as these can see bream come close to the beach under cover of darkness and a rising tide. Those not up for the big walk to the end (some 900 metres) can soak a bait early evening under a rising moon and expect some action. It will be a darn sight warmer than the wind-blown outer reaches of the pier too by the way. Should your chosen bait be yabbies, then the chance of a couple of decent whiting or a flathead might make things even more interesting (and you would be a fool to make such an effort without a squid jig in your kit).
The eastern beaches of Fraser Island would have been a joy to behold this past week, with the offshore westerly breeze blowing overhead and flattening the seas and clearing the already clean water even more. Without actual reports to go on this week, one might assume a continuation of the excellent chopper tailor bite from the week before. Large dart, good whiting, tarwhine and perhaps a few bream are also likely to be entertaining and feeding the fishos lucky enough to be there right now.
Estuary Predators Respond to Westerlies and Baitfish Movements
If baitfish quantity is an indicator of fishing potential (which it is) then our local rivers are showing great signs. Baitfish are abundant and the wintertime predators are on the prowl. Clearing waters and westerly winds trigger mature mullet to migrate downstream en-masse and the likes of jewfish are very much aware of this. As mentioned in the past, this annual mullet migration is intercepted by large jewies stationed at likely ambush points, and you too, can intercept the jewies with a little effort.
You should be able to work out the obvious locations worthy of time spent, and may already own suitable lures to mimic the mullet. If past efforts are indicative, then you don’t even need mullet profiles, as a hungry jewie is a hungry jewie, and the same old soft vibes and large prawn softies will tempt a prowling jewfish if they come within range. Shore-based fishos stand an even chance, whilst boaties have a serious edge. Trollers can even get in on this fishery and spend a few hours trolling the lower reaches of our rivers, the deeper ledges of the straits, or any shallow reef systems within passage of the migrating mullet.
Masses of smaller prey, including hordes of herring, have amassed within our rivers and have drawn plenty of blue salmon. There are blues of all sizes, from the scrappy little rats right through to line-burning leader-shredding giants that will make you think you’ve hooked a potential trophy. They will scoff all manner of lures, and various baits too, so take the kids for a river session and put them in the zone. Blues will have them hooting and hollering with their high-speed runs and dogged fights.
Spend some times chasing flatties on the same day and it will be smiles all round. There are more and more flatties showing up each week this time of year, and recent catches reflect this increase in action. Such ambush predators are super-easy to catch. All you need do is select a few locations where flats, gullies or creeks drain into a main body of water and position your boat so you can pepper the area during the latter stages of the ebb tide. Many locations will enable repeat captures once the tide floods; sometimes producing even more flatties than the ebb.
Matt Cawley sought sheltered waters in a local river this week, and got amongst the flatties.
Threadies are possible for those willing to put in the effort. The Great Sandy Straits offers many creek systems that hold healthy populations of threadies, and our rivers host plenty too. Large grunter mooch about within those same waterways and are avid munchers of small soft plastics. Prawn imitations are hard to beat, as mentioned so many times in the past. The prevailing westerly wind this weekend will blow the bay out for most folks, whilst the straits and the rivers beckon.
There has been lots of big bream over at Kingfisher Bay Resort; some achieving the one kilo mark of 42cm. Large flatties have also been lurking alongside the jetty and plenty of tailor have been terrorising the baitfish. Squid remain a chance for those that get lucky and beat their neighbours to them, day or night. Tailor at Kingfisher and Urangan suggests they will be an option (or an issue) at River Heads too. Go for a spin with a spoon or other metal lure and they will let you know if they are there. School mackerel typically turn up at the heads during August too, so shore-based spinners might enjoy some action from the rocks very soon.
Those heading for the Burrum might encounter schools of tailor in the lower reaches should they focus on the deeper channels. The Burrum’s class of tailor is often substantially larger than those fish found down the straits at this time, so that is a bonus for the locals. Plenty of bream prevail within the lower reaches, whilst flatties are scattered throughout the system. There will be blues, jews, grunter and big whiting on offer over this full moon. Rug up for an evening session and you will better your chances dramatically.
The mud crabs haven’t given up this winter yet either it seems, so make a concerted effort and you could reap the rewards over the full moon prime period. You might want to shift your focus further upstream as the river waters continue to clear and the crabs march back up towards the backwaters. Sand crabbers working pots not far from the west coast have enjoyed decent hauls again recently too by the way, so slip some pots in out there or await better weather and see if they are still thick up the island.
Ever the clown - Treno was happy with himself for catching this wintertime threadie. Nice one mate.
Reef Fishos Need to Avoid the Snapper and the Humpbacks
It hasn’t been much of a week for reef fishos due to the westerly winds. The annual snapper and pearl perch closure is in place at present too, which took the wind out of the sails of many local snapper fans. Just prior to the closure, there were some very good snapper catches reported, most of which came from Platypus Bay and the central bay. Leave them alone until after the 15th August and have another crack at them then.
In the meantime, recent catches from inshore reefs suggest there is still enough grassy sweetlip, cod and nannygai around to warrant a session or two in better weather. Out a little wider, and up the island, grunter have been active and offer a good alternative to snapper for the table. The sharks have been notably absent in some areas, though tragically, not all. Encounters with snapper and squire whilst trying to extract a feed of alternative reef species is highly likely, so hopefully, these encounters are from shark-free waters.
The week ahead looks quite good potentially, so anyone not having to work mid-week will be cheering. Red emperor catches from wide offshore grounds continue to impress, as do nannygai from further north. Should you get the chance to head wide this week, then you should not have too much trouble putting together a tasty mixed bag. The sharks are still an issue on much of the Gutters and off Rooneys, as well as along the 100m line of the shelf east of Breaksea Spit. Many grounds elsewhere have been highly productive of late though, so put in the miles and fish into the evening under a glowing moon and enjoy the spoils.
Mick Kreuzen and crew landed several snapper to 90cm just days before the closure on bait. This is just one of the average fish from that session.
Stuart was happy to haul this handsome Moses Perch over the side recently.
This humpback was stranded on Dayman Spit and took some serious effort to save. Luckily, it swam off healthy much to the delight of all who helped.
Be ultra-wary of humpback whales in your travels. There is a picture hereabouts of a whale that became stranded on Dayman Spit, just off our coastline this week. You would have seen or read all about it no doubt. A great result for rescuers should be applauded, and hopefully repeats of such strandings are avoided this season. It is a timely reminder of the presence of whales well inshore at this time, so don’t be complacent and keep a good lookout where-ever you travel by boat.
The next whale in the Mary won’t be the first, and whale sightings off Gatakers Bay, just out from Urangan Harbour, and all through the channels of the straits are somewhat regular. We all know that Platypus Bay is their playground, but they can turn up anywhere. Be extra vigilant offshore, and especially when crossing the bar. The whales use the same bar crossings as us at times, particularly the 9 and 13 mile, and close calls and at least one collision have been recorded over the years.
Perhaps the greatest addition you might make to your big expensive offshore pride and joy is a Sionyx digital night vision camera that will display what you cannot see in the darkness with incredible clarity. This is an absolute game-changer that offers an offshore skipper the confidence to traverse whale-rich waters comfortably and safely. Check out the photos hereabouts, that speak volumes for what a Sionyx unit can achieve.
Good luck out there y’all …… Jase
Scared of the dark - no more. A Sionyx night vision camera will change your life forever. (Pardon the blurry image, this was cut from a video).
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