Fisho’s Weekly Fishing Report – 7th February, 2025

Onshore Trade Wind Moderating

Consistent onshore trade winds dominated our weather over the past week, nothing overly strong, but enough to keep boaties onshore or inshore. It was quite a pleasant week really. Warm, but not hot, with only the humidity taking the edge off otherwise ideal summer conditions. A far cry from the intense flooding rains up north and the heatwaves and fires down south that’s for sure. Blessed are we that reside on the Fraser Coast.

With the monsoon firmly entrenched up north, and a pretty weak high in the bight, a continuation of the prevailing onshore trade wind looks likely for several days to come. The present 15 knot+ south-easter will ease slightly for the weekend, so conditions on the bay will be okay for all but the fair-weather sailors. Expect no more than 15 knots from the south-east, and possibly closer to 10 knots in the mornings. 

An easing trend is possible leading into the working week. The BOM will call it for 10-15 knots from the east or south-east initially, but the breeze direction could vary slightly. Mid-week looks the best for boaties keen on venturing further afield; noting the persistent metre+ swell offshore. Showers look unlikely until maybe Tuesday, so the 30mm or so we received here in Torquay last week will have to suffice for now.

It is an exciting period of the lunar month as we approach next Wednesday’s full moon. Building tides with a waxing moon nearing its brightest glow will add much appeal to evening sessions for you insomniacs out there. Many fish will react positively too, as will the crabs, the prawns and the squid. 

Maddie still hooked up and hanging on for all she was worth as this bitie kept heading skyward.

Urangan Pier is Closed

Urangan Pier regulars made the most of the few days it took restoration workers to effectively close off the pier following the declaration of work commencement 28th January. The fishing wasn’t great, with a few squid, small sharks, the odd flathead and queenfish the only real sources of entertainment out at the deep end. And then it was all over – pier access denied on Monday for all but the first 40 metres.

The disappointment was palpable apparently, as fishos accustomed to the daily/nightly wander out along the planks aired their opinions and their heartache before they had to turn around and reconsider their options. There is an accompanying picture hereabouts that will illustrate the closed section. There are already whispers of unexpected deterioration of pier timbers and the potential of an extended closure. Nothing official of course. Perhaps council or someone involved will keep the public informed as time goes on.

So, for now, your pier exploits are limited to a possible whiting from the beach end when the tide rises enough, or perhaps a session seeing if you can catch the large mullet milling about beneath. Mullet from both the sea mullet and diamond-scaled clans are very challenging in our waters, but catchable, so don’t be tempted to deploy the highly illegal jagging techniques.

Don’t think casting a net over them is acceptable either. You are not permitted to use cast nets or drag nets from any of our town jetties, or from the town beaches between Pt Vernon and Urangan Harbour. Those folks that think they can continue to cast net live baits from within that zone, knowing full well it is crooked, won’t get away with it forever. Mobile phones and fisheries hotlines are readily accessible these days.

Folks forced to seek their fishing fix away from Urangan Pier will find many other options locally, that are indeed better in many ways than what the pier is currently offering. A little creek session seeking mangrove jacks or barramundi might be successful, and if not, then trying for grunter, flathead or whiting might appeal.

Current water conditions, coupled with the impending full moon tides should see a couple of savvy fishos into quality grunter shore-based in town. Early flood tide sessions flicking small prawn imitations (or the real thing) offer them the best chance. Those that ply the better-known stretches of beach at Pialba or Urangan will have to share those areas, whilst the more adventurous that wander beyond town proper can stretch their legs on the flats without a sole in sight (at night at least).

The full moon tides might see whiting on the menu for some landlubbers. The beach out Toogoom way has produced a good feed of quality ‘ting this week, as has Woodgate Beach. Flathead are a target species around creek mouths by default, but that same small softie you are flicking around might be scoffed by a barra, a salmon, a grunter or a queenfish next. Small prawn is on the menu for most estuarine species and there are plenty of displaced predators cruising our foreshores at present.

If fishing beyond the netting restricted zones in town, you might consider carrying a cast net, or at least having one handy in the car. There is a modest feed of prawn to be had from our local creeks, and also from some stretches of mudflat. Certain access roads that take you down to the muddy expanses of the Booral Flats could see you catching prawn as the tide starts to rise. You will get muddy, and you will be shaking squillions of jelly prawns from your net, but a feed is possible.

You can catch quality flathead from so many differing environments at present.

Barra Season is Open

The wind wasn’t great, nor were the tides for last week’s February 1 barra season opener. Nonetheless many barra fans hit the local creeks, rivers and the straits as soon as they could. Quality barra were caught from numerous locations, and some of those landed were rather large too. Barra caught beyond their usual haunts were interesting, and are proof that we should take the blinkers off at times, particularly at this time of year.

Schooled barra made for excellent sessions for some folks. Those that pursued them so relentlessly during the closure had a definite edge, but everyone is in the game now, so it will be first in best dressed for the prime sites. The Mary will be popular amongst those that know its waters, but it is the Burrum that will continue to attract the most barra fans.

The Burrum remains dirty, but it very much fishable with both bait and lures. Barra are accustomed to times of limited visibility and feed ferociously in conditions such as these. Regardless of where some barra were caught immediately after the season opened, the full moon tides will see a whole swathe of other locations come online. Gutters amongst sandbanks, eddies offering reprieve from the strong currents and structures that offer the same, are all potential hotspots so easily uncovered these days thanks to the high-tech sounders we are all sporting.

Select stretches of beachscape will escape the notice of the traditional barra fishos, whilst those willing to try such alternatives can enjoy stress-free fishing in skinny snag-free waters. Those favouring bait fishing techniques will need to secure livies, and that shouldn’t be too hard at all. There is ample small prawn getting about, and chances are that many of the barra are focussed on these tasty little morsels right now. Otherwise, it will be the usual mullet or herring wearing a large circle or kahle hook that gets sent into the strike zone.

Just some of the oversized prawn plastics we have instore for this barra season. Drop in for yours, and get the best rigging tips too.

The only problem lure fishos have these days is being able to carry the absolute plethora of prime barra lures at our disposal. From swimbaits and glidebaits to topwater frogs, stickies, fizzers or poppers, there is one lure that will be deemed most appealing to a feeding barra. Many folks won’t even bother with the tricky lures and will go for the hands-down simplest option of all; soft plastic prawn imitations. Such a selection is on offer right now from the lockjaw-converter tiny shrimp to the garbage-guts attracting monster prawns bettering 10” or more.

Then there’s the ubiquitous paddle-tailed softies, so reliable in most barra environments, that enable one lure to be swum past fish in various depths and varying currents with a simple weight adjustment or differing jig head. Suspending hardbodies, so adept at tempting wary and patient barra offer the ultimate challenge for many old school barra fishos and plenty of those new to the game too.

Trollers aren’t left out either, as barra scattered so well throughout our rivers and beyond can be found by a simple steady troll in the right area. Focussing on rock bars and snag-strewn banks when the tide is ebbing or low will aide trollers to find barra settled in out of the current after a feeding spree over the flood. Conversely, long trolls along open stretches of riverscape, or along likely ledges or gutters in the banks, will come into play as the tide starts to rise.

Regardless of what technique you muster to catch your next barra, some thought to the future of our fishery, and to what is considered the right thing to do is a must. Long gone are the days when ‘tarp-shots’ or photos of lines of large barra lying side by side, throats cut awaiting the fillet knife, were considered acceptable. No-one should ever be denied a fresh feed of fish, no matter the species (if legal), but some modern-day restraint is necessary to ensure all get to enjoy this most iconic fish.

The minimum size limit for barra is 58cm, and the maximum is 120cm. The bag limit is 5 fish per person, or up to 10 barra per boat if there is two or more people on board. Some of those numbers are way too generous for our part of the world. This is not some remote far-flung location where travellers might consider big kills justifiable, but our backyard, with a fast-growing population. Anyone who thinks that killing a metre-plus barra, let alone a fish nudging 120cm is appropriate, won’t get any pats on the back from today’s fishos. Indeed, many have been shamed relentlessly for such actions in the past, and will be again.

Spearos tend to target barra down this way, and find them an easy target given their tendency to hover dead still. Qld regulations (unlike other states) allow them to be speared within rivers as well as elsewhere. The only real restriction, apart from the 3-month closure, is that they cannot be speared between the hours of 6pm and 6am. Respectable spearos might shoot the odd barra of a reasonable size for the table and move on. Others might chase a trophy. Not quite the sporting ethos that present-day fishos espouse, as catch and release ethics certainly don’t apply to spear fishing. Whilst the majority of our armed fish extractors might do the right thing, not all will. 

Never does anyone want to see boatloads of large breeding barramundi that have been shot by ruthless underwater assassins (or necked by line fishos) for their own commercial gain. It has happened to our barra too often in the past, and will probably happen again. Barra are deemed our state’s most prestigious sports fish by a large portion of the fishing community, and we are indeed fortunate to have such a population of large fish in our waters. Mass kills, so often repeated within a time frame that defies consumption of the possession limit caught previously should always raise suspicion.

Share your disgust with any such ill-intending murderous harvester should you encounter them, and let them know your next call is to Qld Fisheries as you take photos of their boat, their vehicle and/or their catch. There is no place for this sort of activity, no matter the target species, and especially not our precious barramundi. It seems everyone out there was keen to see gillnetting done away with so that our estuarine predators could recover and future fishers prosper, and alas, legislative changes made that happen. Now it up to us to do the right thing, and to step up when necessary to ensure that an expanded black market didn’t just get created by default!

No good hiding Dave - we know it's you behind that Mondy monster.

Ash with a hefty night time barra from Mondy.

Night time is the right time for chasing Mondy barra if you want numbers in the heat. Chris with one of his latest.

Amassing Prawns Trigger Good Bite in Our Estuaries

Dirty post-flood waters are just the ticket to get a prawn season underway, and things are looking up this year. Already, masses of small prawns flushed down from the upper reaches of the Burrum system have been keeping Burrum Heads locals and visitors well-fed. They may only be fairly small, boilers in lieu of fryers if you like, but there is plenty of them and a bucket limit has been achieved by a few folks.

The Mary system’s prawns have reacted in a similar fashion. The usual stomping grounds of local prawners in the lower reaches have been visited and the prawns assessed. Small is the word, with plenty to throw back in many places. Larger prawn flick up the net occasionally, but the average size hasn’t made for a consistent ‘medium’ classification as yet.

The full moon tides will see many prawns on the move. They are growing fast in waters requiring less energy to exude salt from their systems. Those that moult, throwing their shell to grow out quicker, will disappear briefly around this moon, before returning with a vengeance. There are definitely good times ahead for banana prawn fans in our district, it is just a matter of when you decide to have a go. Froth it and go early and there will be lots of mud flung, baitfish and other discards in your net. Your net itself will need a rigorous wash out too, as loose silt from recent minor flooding is prolific.

Leave it for another month, and the prawn will be much better size, the schools more assembled and a cleaner style of deeper-water prawning offering an easier option in a cooler environment. The prawn will be sporting a thicker shell too, making them far more appealing to peel. Can you wait though? There is no denying how sweet your first prawn haul of the season can be! 

All this prawn has drawn displaced predators back into our rivers from a temporary floodwater sojourn elsewhere. Barra and threadfin salmon are the two main targets in the Mary system right now, with possible bycatch of blue salmon, or maybe some grunter near the heads. 

The threadies will be a great target for drain-bashers this week. Their jelly-prawn corralling antics will make them quite visible, so sneak up on likely drains and tiny creeks and toss a small prawn imitation their way. As stated so many times in the past, your arsenal for such an assault might also include small vibes, small paddle-tails and small shallow-diving hardbodies. White or gold colours might raise your confidence level, but don’t think for one second that colour can be seen in water as muddy as the stuff these skinny water threadies will be feeding in.

The Great Sandy Straits will once again be the most appealing place for estuary fishos to try over the full moon. The big tides offer so many ambush-feeding opportunities down that way and the fish know it. Once again, barra and threadies will be prime targets, but jacks, grunter and possibly even jewies could provide alternative action. Look for creeks recovering from recent freshwater inundation and settle in where your sounder reflects plenty of life.

Flats fishos can test their skills in the dirty shallows down the straits, or ply the cleaner waters closer to town. Expect anything from queenies, grunter, salmon and barra down the straits, to golden trevally, more queenies and flathead back up this way. 

Fly fishos will stay local for now due to water clarity, yet their apparent need for visuals on a specific target fish is lost on an old fisho like me. Surely the very same high-tech sounders than can pinpoint a fish for others can offer a fly fisho a shot in the dirty stuff (or am I missing something?). Surface-breaking tail swipes and gaping maws gorging on jelly prawns are obvious targets for a next cast. Threadies and barra on fly seem highly viable to me right now, regardless of - if not because of - the dirty water.

Jacko with a night time jack that fell victim to a Samaki Vibelicious soft vibe.

Jacko again, with proof that the first jack wasn't a fluke.

Daniel enjoys fishing with Jacko, and why not, when the lads are catching quality flatties such as this.

No Change to the Status Quo Inshore

Fishing effort on the bay hasn’t been as pronounced as it was in past weeks due to weather constraints. The week ahead looks vastly better though, so no doubt our ramps will be busy once again. The usual line up of reef fish inshore should bite well with the full moon approaching. Expect plenty of action from grassy sweetlip, nannygai, grunter, blackall, cod and trout. The sharks will make short work of way too many fish as usual most likely, so take advantage of the better bite the big tides offer in the shallows and give those waters a nudge at dawn or dusk if necessary.

There are still swags of pencil squid out in the bay, up the island and throughout our deeper shipping channels. Bag limits of 50 pencillies is easy enough, before putting them to work to catch a feed of fish. A few small tiger squid were unlucky to stop over at Kingfisher Bay Resort recently, and squidding effort from the jetty over there has been peaking ever since.

The Fairway has been a productive spot this week, if you like a bit of pelagic action anyway. School mackerel have been on the prowl out there, and a few golden trevally have moved in too. The same can be said for the Burrum 8 Mile, and both locations will likely receive visits from fishos this week that have caught grunter there under a glowing moon in the past.

Mac tuna schools haven’t been as abundant over the past week or so as they were previously. The longtails are taking their sweet time turning up in any numbers too. There are small schools of longtails out there somewhere though, so have a spin rod at the ready if heading up the bay. Dominant onshore breezes this week will likely centre most tuna searching efforts up in Platypus Bay, out of the wind, yet the open waters of the central bay may see more schools drawn in by the bigger tides flooding south.

There is still a chance of tripping over a school or two of spotties, but the 2024-2025 season looks like being a real fizzer (just like the inshore black marlin scene). Thankfully, the acrobatic queenies have been willing to make up for a lack of action otherwise, and they have been everywhere. Schools continue to harass bait schools in open waters of Platypus Bay as well us along the fringes of the skirting flats.

Spaniards are off limits until after the 21st, so ensure you return any to the water should they be unavoidable. There appears to be little word of the usual inshore giant trevally that should be out there terrorising all smaller inhabitants of our shipwrecks etc. Dirty water in past weeks might be a decent excuse, yet they can handle a reasonable mix and clean enough water is washing past many key sites right now. Perhaps the full moon tides might tempt a couple of GT fans to try their hand at the usual inshore hotspots.

Grassy sweetlip are prolific in the southern bay and feeding well. Joe converted a freshly-caught pencil squid into this sweety recently.

George is cruising our waters and caught and released this beaut GT on a live squid whilst anchored in Kingfisher Bay.

Coxy has been out on the bay proving there are at least some longtails to be caught.

The Weed is Gone Again on Fraser

Not having up-to-date reports from Fraser Island’s surf scene last week left us with little insight to offer, and alas, limited information is all we can share this week. Some very cool happenings are worth mentioning however, both being centred around ‘Cathedrals on Fraser’, the resort at Cathedral Beach. 

Those lucky enough to be on the spot near the resort beach access point discovered a loggerhead turtle hatchling shuffling across the sand. An app that enables identification of varying species being used to identify the little champ. Not to be outdone, there were big old female green turtles digging nests up in the dunes not far from the resort too. Special moments for those on hand to witness these creatures in their element, and another reason to be vigilant when driving on the beaches over there.

Meanwhile, the weed that was threatening to make the surf fishing a serious challenge has gone. There was weed reported by folks returning from Sandy Cape, but the rest of the surf beach is weed-free. The march flies are a major hassle still, and will be for some time, so fishing effort has been curtailed due to these irritating pests. For that reason, we can offer little on the fishing front, apart from a suspicion that flathead, dart, GTs and tarwhine are still worth pursuing should you get the chance. There are some very well-formed gutters up Cathedral Beach way.

It was interesting to see the reports of a crocodile down near Inskip Point this week, and also just a little concerning. When so-called experts claim such a visit from a croc is so rare we shouldn’t be concerned, or that this animal is probably the same one sighted at Coonarr Beach, it leaves an old fisho like me a-gasp. To believe there is only one crocodile in our region right now would seem a little risky, if not foolhardy. 

Heed these recent sightings as fair warning, and take extra care around our estuarine waters (and elsewhere too it seems). We are still amidst the prime period post flooding, during which crocs might wander. Blame ‘climate change’ like some will if you like, but don’t be too complacent. Oh, and if you happen to spot a croc yourself, then call the wildlife hotline on 1300 130 372 or report it via the QWildlife app.

Photo taken by a ranger showing the marks left behind by the croc that visited Inskip Point.

Schoolies are on the chew out around the banks and off the Burrum. Daniel with a relatively small one.

New Artificial Reefs Destined for the Bay

The Qld Government announced that funds have been allocated for new artificial reefs in Hervey Bay. The details are available if you google this matter online, but in brief, it looks as though new reefs will be deposited somewhere out off Pt Vernon, whilst another cluster of reefs are destined for the waters between Elliott Heads and Woodgate. Opportunities for other reefs elsewhere in the bay were missed apparently, being objected to by some parties involved. That may be a shame, but the new reefs are great news and something to look forward to in the future. More details will be shared once known.

A call to a staff member of the local Marine Parks office raised the need to highlight a couple of issues Marine Parks officers are having to deal with all too regularly. Infringements within the Big Woody Marine National Park Zone MNP16 and the No-Anchoring Zones NAA02 and NAA03 simply should not be happening. The free app to be found at qld.gov.au/GSMPzoning is a great tool that will ensure you don’t wander into a green zone, whilst also clarifying the rules regarding the many other zones within our marine park. Alternatively, we have brochures instore that we can hand you, but the mapping contained therein is very lacking compared to the free app.

In addition, Marine Parks officers are continually finding disregarded or mislabelled crab pots which they keep having to deal with. Fisheries officers often relay the same issues. Please ensure your pots are labelled correctly, and weighted sufficiently to contend with prevailing currents. If you need to report derelict or abandoned crab pots, then you can do so via the FISHWATCH hotline on 1800 017 116.

Good luck out there y’all …… Jase

PS: Be aware of New Life Jacket regulations for Queensland boaties. Click on the link https://bnbfishing.com.au/new-life-jacket-regulations-in-queensland/ for a fully detailed article from Bush’n Beach Fishing that explains all.