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Fishing Report
Hi Everyone, hope you are all having a good week! The early part of the week brought heavy rainfall, with over 100mm of rain recorded across the Gold and Tweed Coasts in just 12 hours. Combined with strong winds, fishing conditions have been less than ideal. However, there’s good news for the upcoming weekend, as light winds and plenty of sunshine are expected, making it a great time to hit the water and try your luck. Let’s explore some fishing options for the weekend ahead.
Crabbing Tips and Hot Spots
If you’re planning a fishing trip this weekend, don’t forget to throw in your crab pots. The recent heavy rain is likely to stir up Mud Crabs, making them full of meat at this time of year. Some productive spots to try include the Coomera River, Paradise Point, Aldershots, Pimpama River, Never Fails, Tipplers Passage, Jacobs Well, Cabbage Tree Point, Tiger Mullet Channel, Logan River, and Russell Island. For the best results, use fresh fish frames, whole mullet, or raw chicken as bait. Don’t forget to use a quality bait bag to prevent bait theft and give the Crabs more time to find their way into the pots.
Offshore Fishing Report
Heading offshore for a fishing adventure over the weekend looks promising. However, it’s always recommended to check the most up-to-date weather forecast before heading out. Prior to the weather change earlier in the week, a diverse range of fish species were being caught on the offshore grounds. Reefs closer to the bait grounds up to the 24-fathom reefs have produced Spotted Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Jew Fish, Trag Jew, Snapper, Moses Perch, Maori Cod, and the occasional Cobia. Deeper reefs such as the 36 and 50 fathom reefs have seen nice catches of Snapper, Pearl Perch, Tusk Fish, Yellow Tail Kingfish, Samson Fish, and even impressive Amber Jack (see photo below) caught by Sea Probe Fishing Charters. The fish aggregating devices (fads) are still attracting decent numbers of smaller Dolphin Fish, which is a positive sign for anglers aiming to land a good catch. Recommended baits include WA Pilchards, whole large Squid, Bonito Fillet, Mullet Fillet, and live baits.
Bream Fishing in Cooler Temperatures
With the temperature starting to cool down, it’s an excellent time to target Bream around Jumpinpin and the Broadwater. The freshwater flush from the recent rain tends to activate Bream and increase their feeding activity. Look for structures that attract fish and bait, such as submerged trees, rock walls, bridge pylons, jetties, and pontoons. Carusoe Island, Short Island, Kalings Bank, Whallys Gutter, and Tiger Mullet Channel around Jumpinpin have produced quality Bream over the years. In the Broadwater, areas like the Nerang River, Gold Coast Seaway, Wave Break Island, Runaway Bay, Paradise Point, Coomera River, Aldershots, and Tipplers Passage offer plenty of man-made structures and natural snags where Bream can be found. During the winter months, Bream feed heavily on large whitebait schools present in the waterways. For tackle, a light estuary outfit with 9lb mono line, 8lb to 10lb trace depending on the structure you are fishing, size 4 bait holder hook and a sinker to suit the current – normally from a 2 to 4 ball will do. Best baits are; Mullet Fillet, Bonito Fillet, Mullet Gut, White Pilchards, Squid and Yabbies.
Quotes from the Boats
Brad from Brad Smith Fishing Charters reports:
“I managed to get a few days on the water this week even. The report this week will be pretty much repetitious of what is to come from now and the next few winter months and that is a heap of Flathead. Our winter months are when the flatties congregate to spawn in the Tweed and matched with that, we will see big schools of Bream and Tailor also coming up the river to also spawn and next month will see them arrive. Even though we caught some fish deep water jigging, the best results came from trolling pontoon 21 crackjacks and slams which produced a lot of double hook ups.”
Clint from Brad Smith Fishing Charters reports:
“It was Flathead that were the dominant force in the Broadwater, they will be around for many months now. We had some cold Southerly winds this week and fresh mornings which resulted in slow fishing at first, but the Flathead came on as the day warmed. It has been a lot of fun catching 20 to 30 fish a day in the shallows from 0.5 to 3 metres deep. Some days Ecogear ZX’s and MMD prawn vibes were working well, others Zman ST Grubz and 3 inch Minnowz were killer. Best colours have been motor oil, opening night, and Houdini on run out tide. Out deeper in the channels the Arrow Squid are coming on and will be thick for the next three months, and there are also a heap of nice Flounder around. Tailor have been busting up near the seaway, what an exciting time of year!”
Gavin from Sea Probe Fishing Charters reports:
“Some great catches of Mahi Mahi still around the fads and it’s good to see the bottom fish starting to show up due to the colder conditions with plenty of Pearl Perch and Snapper coming through with some Big Amberjacks.”
LINKS & INFO
If you have any great catches or photos you would like to share, please email us and let us know how you went. mail@coomerahouseboats.com.au.
Stay up to date with all fishing regulations in Queensland https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries
Hire a tinnie with your Coomera Houseboat hire to maximise your fishing range on the water: http://www.coomerahouseboats.com.au/our-fleet-type/hire-tinnies/
Seabreeze is a great website to access a local forecast http://www.seabreeze.com.au/graphs/
Good luck with the Fishing. Brett
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