Fisho's staffer, Logan, snuck up to Mondy last weekend and picked up this chunky barra on a Berkley Shimma Shad.

Get the Boat Ready – The Weather Is Awesome

A stiff north-westerly wind, followed by a howling south-easter pretty much denied boaties access to local open waters for the majority of last week. Some headed for sheltered waters in local estuaries or lakes and enjoyed the warmer conditions and the bite that such early warmth triggered. That is all in the rear-view mirror now however, as the wind is easing and the week ahead looks absolutely awesome.

Right now, the breeze is onshore from the east at barely 10 knots. It will tend more north-easterly this evening at a similar strength. Saturday looks even better – ultra-light easterly (if anything) with another subtle north-easterly sea breeze late in the day that still won’t reach 10 knots. Sunday is just as good too, though the breeze will tend more northerly, if not very light north-westerly early. There will be plenty of sunshine and zero chance of rain.

Monday should be a carbon-copy of Sunday; the afternoon sea breeze being the only breeze with any vigour. Great conditions again Tuesday will precede a subtle south-east change of barely 15 knots mid-week. Expect an anti-clockwise rotation thereafter as the wind tends more northerly by the following weekend. Absolutely glorious early spring conditions, that offer any keen fisho a huge range of options.

With the new moon now passed, we enter a waxing period as we head for the first quarter phase this Wednesday. This means the tides are diminishing as we approach a period of neaps and minimal tidal flow. This isn’t necessarily ideal technically, but not everyone will care about that with such fantastic boating conditions on offer.

 

Fraser Island is Going Off!

“You can catch tailor anywhere, anytime” were the words uttered by legendary beach fisho and master rod builder, Gary Howard this week. He visited Fraser last weekend during the prevailing north-wester and found the whole surf scene to be utterly alive and the fishing first class.

Many of Gary’s observations are worth noting, though remember that the south-easter whipped up Monday and the whole scene changed dramatically thereafter. Regardless, the island’s surf fishery has been top notch for extended periods over the past couple of months and will no doubt return to its former glory very quickly as the wind and swell settles.

Last weekend, there were countless productive gutters strewn along the beach north to the headlands. Whilst the north-wester prevailed, it was very much a shore-dump, with relatively deep water in close proximity. The strong south-easter changed that for a few days, but it has once again eased. Beach travel from Hook Point north was very easy, with no exposed rocks needing to be navigated or bypassed. There are abundant pippies and worms, and even more fish to predate on them.

Gary picked up some excellent whiting and a few dart down Dilli Village way before heading north. Easy pickings on his specialist ultra-light surf rods, and quality fish to boot. Moving on in search of better dart and tailor, Gary was not disappointed, and in fact commented on how quick and easy a bag limit of tailor was achieved. No greenbacks, but a handy feed of 40-50cm choppers for those inclined to keep some for supper. In fact, from the get-go in Gary’s tailor session, it became quite apparent that the fish were ultra-aggressive; swallowing gang hooks deep, with no fish at all pinned on trailing hooks.

To enhance the fun factor, out came the lures, and Gary put the ever-reliable GT Ice Creams to good use, catching tailor after tailor. If it was a bag limit you sought then it was only a matter of a couple of hours to achieve it. As good as the tailor fishing was, it was actually the quality and aggression of the dart that really impressed. Dart well beyond the 40cm mark were common and willing to take lures as well as baits.

Gary didn’t bother fishing during the evening at all, quite satiated with his daytime experience and happy to kick back and enjoy the magical wonders of Fraser Island. Attempts to fish for whiting or dart were actually a little tricky in some gutters, with the tailor so prolific and aggressive, they were snipping off baits with reckless abandon. There were plenty of baitfish spraying as they were being harassed, and the culprits were often clearly visible in the face of the waves. 

Interestingly, Gary noted just how “friendly” the dingoes were. They simply would not be shooed and kept lingering nearby regardless of his attempts to move them on. Indicative of dogs being encouraged to hang around, or even of dogs being illegally fed perhaps? Given that he enjoyed fishing without any neighbours, and certainly no crowds, the dingoes even made him feel a little uneasy at times. Evening sessions may have been very interesting for a solo fisho. Fair warning for those heading over in the near future perhaps. 

At the time of writing there is absolutely no weed to be seen along the beach from the southern extremity to the headlands. Let’s hope it stays that way. Word of the odd jewfish capture is doing the rounds, and plenty of returning crews are happy to recount their experiences with the tailor and dart. Fabulous fishing and a great sign of even better things to come as the prime surf season continues. 

The headlands and their surrounds are still closed to all forms of fishing until the end of the month, so keep that in mind. If you get the chance, get over there and enjoy what is shaping up to be one of best surf seasons in some time.

Macks at the Pier and Whiting Along the Beach

That north-wester last weekend triggered an even better bite from what was already a highly productive whiting season along our town beaches. Very good hauls of quality whiting have been commonplace, and those with the skill and patience to do so, are achieving bag limits of the tasty little morsels. Some are doing so from the Urangan Pier, whilst others are favouring the beach or the nearby rock groynes.

Urangan has been the place to be, and the best catches remain after dark. Yet turbid waters during the blow certainly offered daytime fishos a chance (if they could contend with the breeze). Neap tides in coming days aren’t all that conducive to the best bite, though no doubt some intrepid fishos will seek a feed from the flats adjacent to local creek mouths during this time, or concentrate their efforts after sundown.

Those focussing on the local creeks can add flathead to their potential catch card, and a haul of bream is quite possible too. Certain mud flats, such as those along the Booral stretch are worth prospecting once the onshore breeze eases. The neaps may not excite the whiting fishos, yet flathead, salmon and grunter are all possible. Be wary of those sneaky little bull sharks whilst wading the flats, and try not to step on any stingrays or mud crabs as you wander. Mobility is key down there for lure fishos, whilst those keener on soaking baits can move a little with the ebb and flow of the tide or sit and wait for passing piscatorial traffic.

If those flats don’t appeal, then perhaps a session manoeuvring around the rocks at River Heads might be more to your liking. Dirty water is pushing out from the Mary during the lower stage of the tide, but when the tide rises enough, the clean water returns and brings a different mix of predators with it. Think mackerel and tailor primarily, yet a queenfish or two certainly isn’t out of the question. 

A flathead is pretty much a given for those with a little wanderlust, and some might even get lucky and pick up a stray grunter or salmon. It is definitely an interesting time when the Mary spews a little filth beyond its heads and the next barra caught in such conditions certainly won’t be the first, or the last.

If a little shore-based mackerel fishing is your thing, then you might benefit from a wander out along the Urangan Pier. Broadies have been fairly common, and both schoolies and spaniards are coming too close for their own good regularly too. There are stacks of herring beneath the pier, and this is drawing the mackerel. Tuna and queenfish are possible should they venture close enough, and there is a good chance of catching flathead again over this set of neaps.

Flathead and Salmon Numbers on the Rise

Dirty water specialists such as threadfin salmon are in their element right now, with all local rivers running a nice shade of brown. There are whispers of large threadies being caught in the lower Mary and you won’t need to burn much fuel to find them. In fact, many of you will likely drive straight past them unwittingly, so consider a little prospecting not too far from the River Heads launching point.

Trollers can wander those large gutters nearby with some confidence, but it is those sporting side scanning sounders; their rods rigged with soft vibes, prawn imitations and shallow-running hardbodies, that are really in the race. Threadies can be elusive, as always, but from now on for several months it is their prime time and some very impressive fish are on offer. Choose to fish the rivers or the straits and you are in with an even chance. 

The threadies’ cousin, the blue salmon are even more abundant and inclined to gather in highly mobile schools. Neap tides aren’t necessarily that flash for the flats fishery, so seek them out within the creeks or the river itself. They will eat almost any half decent lure, but once again it is the soft vibes and the prawn imitations that appeal to them most. Blues can range from annoying rats to huge fish, so be prepared for all-comers.

Grunter catches might take a back seat this week, with their activity likely to peak again closer to the next full moon. Regardless, you are a chance should you be fishing the lower reaches of the Mary or beyond. Jewfish are also a decent target at this time, and are likely to hold station near the heads or over along Fraser’s western ledges. Places such as Kingfisher Bay Resort host a few at times, but their days are numbered if they linger there. Heading south from there is worth considering if you are a jewie fan.

Warmer weather triggers a feeding response from our local barra population, and last week’s heat was welcomed by many barra fans. This week will be an interesting one. Many will struggle to find them due to the changing water conditions in our rivers, but they are there, and down the straits, and certainly worth pursuing. There are lot of very big fish in our waters at present, and fish bettering the 120cm mark will pump out a few chests this spring. Time to put in the groundwork now, before too many captures make social media and the crowds once again gather in our estuaries.

As tempting as all those big estuarine predators may be, it is the humble flathead that will continue to bring smiles to dials in coming weeks. Neap tide forays into Fraser’s western creeks and certain mainland creeks down the straits will appeal to a few folks. Flathead are as common at this time as they are going to be. Sure, bigger tides aide the cause, yet they are still an option for the keen. Trollers in particular, can enjoy tides such as these as they skirt the fringes of flats and wander in and out of creeks towing shallowing diving hardbodies.

Head Wide for Snapper and Reef Fish

Whilst many folks will linger inshore this weekend, due to personal preference, vessel size or a lack of confidence, many more will head far and wide in search of snapper and various reef fish. Those that hang inshore should consider evening or pre-dawn sessions to better their chances at a snapper, at least until the tides get a bit of pace about them again. Catching a few sweetlip and maybe a cod or a trout is more likely for now, and by this time next week, the snapper should be willing and eager once again.

Neap tides offer ample opportunity for those heading for The Gutters to scrounge up a feed. A reduction in shark activity up that way recently is noted, and typical for last month and this. Once it warms up significantly those pesky noahs will be back with a vengeance and trips to those grounds less productive. Make the most of such times as these and you can score a handy feed consisting mostly of grassy sweetlip, tuskies and squire, with perhaps a few trout, nannygai and cod. There has even been a couple of red emperor pulled from those waters recently, indicative of reduced shark activity.

Encounters with large cobia are definitely on the cards for anyone venturing near the Gutters or Rooneys. Indeed, there are likely quite a few large cobes cruising the waters of Platypus Bay and the central bay too; pretty much anywhere there is an abundance of baitfish. So too, the spanish mackerel, that are just as likely from the same waters, particularly where yakkas are thick. 

The 25 Fathom Hole is worth a drop on the way past if you have the time for a quick diversion. Snapper being the target, and jigging somewhat heavily-weighted soft plastics being the preferred method. Obviously, the bigger tides are more conducive, yet this is one area that the snapper will feed during the neaps when the yakkas are in abundance.

We cannot offer any more insight into the state of play on the local school mackerel scene this week, due to the lack of fishing opportunities over the past week. It is fair to say though, that there will be schoolies predating on herring and yakka schools in the western and central bay, with the latitude that runs across from the Burrum 8 Mile to the Outer Banks being worth a look, in particular. No doubt we will be able to pinpoint their whereabouts with greater certainty next week after so many folks hit the water this week.

Heading offshore is a chance for those skippers and crew that can handle a metre of swell and the necessary bar crossings. Light winds will appeal to some crews no doubt, and going on recent reports from east of Breaksea Spit, there is a great feed of reefies and plenty of pelagics on offer. Repeat captures of anything from marlin, spaniards, GTs, yellowfin tuna, cobia, mahi mahi and wahoo are possible; some of which would be that bit more likely with more run in the tide. Bringing home a haul of reef fish is almost assured; be they the usual variety from the shoal country or the victims of deep drop tackle over the shelf.

Crowds Begin to Gather on Barra Impoundments

As productive and totally enjoyable as the winter was for experienced barra fishos, it took a spike in the heat and a northerly wind to draw a crowd on our barra impoundments. Last weekend was a ripper. A gentle north-west wind really warmed things up, with temperatures reaching 26C or better. A far cry from the 17C water we were catching them in over winter, and a darn sight easier task in the renewed warmth. The barra fishing was particularly easy, with many fish caught, and some sizeable ones in the mix.

Lake Monduran was most popular, as always, and north-facing bays and points from Bird Bay to B Bay saw the most traffic. Getting a bite was a matter of right place, right time, but also of right retrieve of the right lure. It is amazing how a dead slow roll might work at times, yet the same lure cranked at a little more pace can be eaten at another. Essentially, the barra went from their usual wintertime antics to once again mooching about in the shallows hunting garfish, perch and bonies. 

Suspending shallow-diving hardbodies once again triggered a bite from many fish, just as they did in winter. The relatively clear water offering the angler a clear view of the take and the broad-shouldered barra exploding on hookup. Unlike daytime wintertime, the barra are once again willing to chase a feed, so slow-rolled paddle-tails and swimbaits worked a treat. 

There is some ‘new kids on the block’ in the impoundment barra lure stakes this season, and just one of them, the new Berkley Powerbait Nessie, has been a proven winner for yours truly for some months. This lure is very unique, with a wicked barely sub-surface gliding action that big barra struggle to resist. A fun lure with many retrieve options that only gets better after dark. At the risk of sounding like a sponsored angler (which I most certainly am not), the Berkley Shimma Shad is another dynamite plastic that can and will fool a barra in just about anyone’s hands. Simple and effective.

Monduran rose about 70cm as a result of that unseasonal rainfall in August. This dirtied the far reaches of the larger creek arms and created a totally different fishery. Prolific aquatic weeds quickly reached for the sunlight and extended their fronds to the surface quick smart. At the same time, this enabled the barra to hunt over the existing weed banks for a period, and drew many fish back to the shallows. Ample opportunity for surface lure fans right now, with fizzers leading the charge for my money. Once the water warms further, frogging will be back on the agenda, big time.

Rising from apparent obscurity, Lake Awoonga is once again a shining light in central Queensland for impoundment barra fans. Just like Mondy, Awoonga is full of big numbers of huge barra, and I am told a solid 135cm specimen was landed up there just recently. Awoonga went ‘cold’ for an extended period and failed to excite anyone, with a general lack of fish for effort. That scenario has once again reversed and the big barra are on the chew.

As good as Mondy might be, it pales into significance when the sheer numbers of fish on offer are compared with Awoonga. Imagine sitting on the point of a bay, or on a point of a bay within a bay, and watching literally hundreds of fish streaming past as they go on the rampage at feeding time. Heroes were made in the past and will be again, as big scorecards tally up on this lake, particularly after dark. Catches in the double figures are possible, as some fishos have proven just this week. When your average size for such a session betters the metre mark, you know you have experienced champagne barra fishing.

The big lakes make poor little Lenthalls seem a little drab, but I am sure the few locals that regularly fish it are happy with that. It continues to produce good numbers of smaller fish with, at times, monotonous regularity. Unfortunately, the lake is only tiny, so it overflows regularly (as it did again in August) and larger barra escape consistently. Should you be a kayaker, or just a fisho keen to avoid the crowds on a smaller lake where the barra and bass are much easier to find and tempt, then perhaps a trip to Lake Lenthalls is for you.

Good luck out there y’all …… Jase

Staff member Scotty now offers on-water training!

JUNIOR WHITING FISHING COMPETITION - FREE ENTRY

When: Saturday 21st September 8am 
Where: Lower Dayman Park Urangan 
Prizes to be won: 3 categories - Under 8's, Under 12's & Under 16's
What to Bring:  Your Smiles, Fishing Rod/Reel, Tackle, Bait, Bucket, Hat, Sunscreen & Water Bottles. 

ALL CHILDREN MUST REGISTER BY RINGING MARG ON 0407600119 PLEASE.
ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT, WHO MUST STAY BY THEIR SIDE.

FREE SAUSAGE SIZZLE AROUND 11AM, AND THEN PRIZE PRESENTATIONS

We will have our club members on hand for older children to learn how to rig a fishing line with tackle.  

Come join us for some fun, bring your imaginations and sense of adventure.          

    

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