Fishing Report

We have been blessed with another nice week of weather on the Gold and Tweed Coasts, with just a bit of wind on Wednesday to slow fishing down. As we head towards the weekend, the forecast is looking good with light NE/SW winds on both Saturday and Sunday, along with a small swell for offshore fishing. There may be some rain to start the week off on Monday.

Important Notice for Offshore Anglers: All offshore anglers are reminded of the Snapper and Pearl Perch Closure starting from 15 July (from 12.01AM) for all Queensland waters. Please refer to the provided link for more information: https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/90132. It is recommended to check the most updated forecast before planning your fishing trip.

Fishing Highlights

The fishing offshore the past week has been pretty good for those who put in the time and effort to explore the reefs and find shows of bait and fish to target. Some notable catches include a 70cm Snapper by Tyler using mullet fillet bait and a great Jewfish caught by Brett fishing around the 18 fathom reefs off the Gold Coast Seaway. During the Snapper and Pearl Perch closure, anglers can target other species such as Trag Jew, Silver Jew, Cobia, Tailor, Trevally, Tusk Fish, Maori Cod, and Moses Perch on the 18 and 24 fathom reefs. The 36 and 50 fathom reefs offer a mix of Pig Fish, Trag Jew, Cobia, Tusk Fish, Yellow Tail Kingfish, Amber Jack, and Samson. Trolling lures on the wider grounds has also yielded Blue Marlin, Stripped Marlin, and Yellow Fin Tuna. Recommended baits for reef fishing include WA Pilchards, Whole Large Squid, Mullet Fillet, Bonito Fillet, live Yakka’s, and Slimy Mackerel.

Abundance of Flathead

Flathead have been abundant in the past week, with great catches of quality fish reported from the Broadwater and Jumpinpin areas. The water quality has remained good, with clear conditions closer to the ocean entrances during the incoming tide. Bait fish are well spread out in the area, providing ample feeding opportunities. The deeper main channels have been productive for good-sized fish ranging from 40 to 55cm, ideal for those looking to keep a few for a meal. Female Flathead have also been caught and released around the tops of sandbanks during high tide and in drains adjacent to the banks as the tide falls. Trolling hard body lures, working with soft plastics, soft vibes, metal vibes, or drifting with live or dead baits have all been effective techniques. Some recommended spots to try, include Wave Break Island, Crab Island, Sovereign Island, Paradise Point, Aldershots, Tipplers Passage, Never Fail Islands, Jacobs Well, Cabbage Tree Point, Bedrooms, Kalinga Bank, Crusoe Island, and the mouth of the Logan River. It is advised to use a trace line from 10 to 20lb to avoid line breakage due to the Flathead’s abrasive mouth.

Year-Round Whiting Fishing

Quality Whiting can be caught all year round on the Gold and Tweed Coasts. Targeting the same areas as in summer during the day will yield the best results. Live bait such as blood worms, beach worms, and yabbies are recommended for a higher chance of landing a nice feed. Some popular spots to look for Whiting include the Tweed River, Tallebudgera Creek, Currumbin Creek, Nerang River, Wave Break Island, Coomera River, Pimpama River, Jacobs Well, Tiger Mullet Channel, and the Logan River. For Whiting fishing, it is advised to use a light estuary rod from 7 to 9ft in length paired with a small spin or avley reel spooled with 6 to 9lb mono. A long 6lb fluorocarbon leader, 3 to 5 ball sinker (depending on the current), and a size 6 bait holder hook for worms or a size 4 bait holder hook for yabbies are the recommended setup. It’s important to keep in mind that you may need to move around different spots until you find a school of fish feeding.

Quotes from  the Boats

Brad from Brad Smith Fishing Charters reports:

“Here we are again at the end of another very productive week of fishing. Before my fishing report I must mention to be careful when navigating the Tweed River as there are a lot of logs and debris floating around the river from the rain last week and slightly larger tides. I fished the lower reaches of the river which I usually do when we get rain as the bait and fish are flushed downstream and we caught over 30 fish a day. There were huge bait schools holding up on the bottom in the 7 to 10 metre areas. The fish were in abundance feeding on them and of course at this time of the year mainly Flatties. The other species caught deep water jigging were small School Jew, Bream, Chopper Tailor and Flounder.“

Clint from Brad Smith Fishing Charters reports:

“A busy week with charters every day, as always during school holidays. Again, the Dusky Flathead were prominent but the average size dropped off for a couple of days after the full moon. They are widespread from shallow to deep, and like tidal flow to feed, ambushing bait fish that are travelling with the current. The water temperature in the Broadwater has been around 18 degrees, so it’s not  necessary to start very early in the mornings. Like me, until I’ve had two coffees, they take a while to wake up. They have been taking soft plastics with my favourites being Zman 3 inch Minnowz, Pontoon 21 Awaruna, and MMD fat skippers. I did some trolling as well and we caught some quality Flathead using Pontoon 21 crackjacks and Asari Sweepers. In the deeper channels there has been more Flathead, large numbers of Winter Whiting, Flounder, Arrow Squid, a few Tailor, Big Eye Trevally, and the usual Bream and Tarwhine. Ecogear Zx40’s and breamer vibes, and live yabbies are doing the job.“

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