Fishing Report 

Friday 26 August 2022     

Hi Everyone, hope you are all having a nice week, as we head towards the Gold Coast Show Day Long Weekend at the time of writing the report it looks like we will see some moderate winds but unfortunately there is a pretty good chance of rain hanging around. Given the conditions, if you can put up with a bit of rain it will be well worth getting out for a fish on both the Tweed and Gold Coast waterways. Let’s check out what’s been biting and some good options for your Long Weekend. 

Where They’re Biting

The fishing offshore has been pretty good the past week with fishos finding a few weather windows to head out and chase a feed. Good numbers of Snapper have been on the chew for those lucky enough to find a school to target. At the time of writing my report it looks like the southerly winds might be up over the weekend and then start to ease Monday, just make sure you have the latest forecast before heading out on the water. Once again, the close reefs off the Seaway have produced some good quality Snapper on the dawn or dusk bite and also on the tide changes which are best times to target fish on the 18 and 24 fathom grounds. Finding good ground to fish is the key to success in close, I always try not to fish too close to other boats, opting to have a good sound around and try to find a show to target away from the crowds this will increase your chances of catching fish. It’s worth having a good look on the sounder when choosing a spot, finding a show of bait or fish arched up is a good indication it’s a spot worth having a drop on. If you are not catching fish in the first 15 minutes or so I would usually recommend moving on and trying another area of the reef, even a small move of 50 metres can make a big difference. Catches from the 18 to 24 fathom grounds this week have included Snapper, Jew Fish, Cobia, Trag Jew, Maori Cod, Moses Perch, Spangled Emperor and Tusk Fish. Out wider on the 36 and 50 fathom reefs current depending fishos have scored some great feeds of Snapper, Pearl Perch, Cobia, Tusk Fish, Yellow Tail King Fish, Amber Jack and Samson Fish to name a few species. 

Fishing Competitions

The King of the Pin competition was held last weekend with plenty of keen anglers giving it a go, by the sounds of it the comp was a great success with lots of happy winners taking out some great prizes in their chosen categories. The comp saw a good mixed bag of species like Jewfish, Tailor, Flathead, Bream and Whiting landed, to name a few.

Bait Schools

The Broadwater and Jumpin Pin are holding lots of bait schools at the moment, this in turn has seen plenty of good-sized Tailor being caught this week. The best time to target Tailor is the last couple of hours of the run-in tide when the water quality is at its best and the first hour of the run-out tide. The deeper main channels seem to be the best spots to target the Tailor, the bait schools tend to hold up against the current lines in the deeper water and will move towards the surface when being attacked by hungry predators. When looking for fish to target, always keep an eye on the sounder for signs of life to indicate either bait schools or schools of lager fish like Tailor in the area. Birds searching a current line or diving hitting the water is a great sign as it usually tells us that fish are actively feeding at that time. When searching try trolling a mixture of diving lures to cover ground until you get consistent hook ups, once you have found fish you can then look at switching to throwing metal slugs as they can cast a long distance: work quickly or let sink, to attract fish feeding deeper. If there is plenty of surface action, try a surface popper or a stick bait for an exciting surface strike. Some good spots to look at the Gold Coast Seaway, Main Currigee Channel, Mouth of the South Arm of the Coomera River, Aldershots, Jumpinpin Bar, Kalinga Bank, Crusoe Island, Mouth of Tiger Mullet Channel, Short Island and Canaipa Passage. 

Flathead

Flathead catches have also been very consistent this week with some great fish being landed in the Broadwater, Jumpinpin and the Local Rivers of the Gold and Tweed Coasts. A mixture of soft plastics, soft vibes, glide baits, trolling hard body lures and drifting baits have all done the trick on the Flathead.  

From The Lads

Brad from Brad Smith Fishing Charters reports the weather was awesome this week and so was the fishing earlier in the week but unfortunately the back end went a bit quiet. The reason the last couple of days went a bit slow was the lack of run in the tides and a major barometer drop. It is amazing how you can have the best sounders as well as equipment and techniques and mother nature’s little tantrums have the last say. It was not like we didn’t catch anything over the past couple of days we just got less fish and worked harder to get them. The fish caught this week were Flatties, Bream, Whiting, School Jew and Mangrove Jacks. 

Squid

Clint from Brad Smith Fishing Charters reports this week again there was lots of Squid in the Broadwater. It is now peak season for them, and they should be on for the next month. I will be doing lots of Squid fishing and chasing nice fish as well, so book in your private charter soon. Limited dates available. The Squid are now bigger and more numerous in their usual areas both sides of Crab Island, Biggera and in all the holes from Seaworld to Sundale bridge. Look for areas 4-6 metres deep and use 2.5 and 3.0 size squid jigs. My favourites are Ecogear  Dartmax in colours including green, gold, white, orange, pink, and purple, red in cloudy conditions. Cast them out far enough that they will reach bottom then either drift or slowly lift and drop and retrieve. Other than the Squid there are some nice Flathead on the flats and in the channels, plus Flounder, Bream, Winter Whiting and Tailor. I have been noticing the bite including the Squid has been dropping off during each day as the barometer drops. This week we have some nice size tides for channel fishing in the Broadwater, and casting lures over the edges of the sandbanks.

Snapper Season

Gavin from Sea Probe Fishing Charters reports Snapper season opened on the 16th and weren’t they on the chew bagging everyday along with Pearlies, Tuskies and also Dolphin Fish still hanging around on the 50 fathoms taken on pilchards and squid.

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. brett@coomerahouseboats.com.au or brett@fishotackle.com.au     

Stay up to date with all fishing regulations in Queensland https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries

Fisho Tackle and Coomera Houseboat Holidays now have Hire Tinnies follow the link to view 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