Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report – 29th November 2024

Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report © Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay

The Platinum Prince from Commercial Chaos with a brace of thumping big red emperor caught out wide © Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay

A Wet Weekend to Conclude a Very Warm Spring

The past week offered much improved boating conditions on previous weeks, though few got to head wide until just the last couple of days. The humidity is rising with the heat right now, as another round of wet weather approaches us from the west. This morning's light onshore breeze of barely 10 knots might stiffen slightly this afternoon, but not by much. Today's easterly will tend north-easterly at dawn tomorrow, then swing more northerly for the remainder of Saturday. It is likely to be quite damp, with passing showers gathering momentum as the day wears on. Sunday could be even wetter again, with winds of 10-15 knots from the north during the afternoon, after what might prove to be a relatively calm morning.

Shower activity should ease by Monday evening, leaving us with a great week on the water for those that don't have to work. A light easterly or north-easterly breeze is anticipated from Monday right through the working week. This forecast could change of course, and very likely will, but for now, the week ahead looks like a doozy.

Offshore looks fairly accommodating too, at least for those in larger more capable vessels, that head north of Fraser. After the rain clears early next week, there should be generally 10-15 knots from an easterly direction and swell of around a metre. There will be more swell to our south, so pick your days and tide times well if you plan on crossing the Wide Bay bar.

This Sunday's new moon means spring tides once again. There will plenty of tidal flow to get the fish and crabs on the move. Not too much, with highs peaking at 3.64m from lows of 0.70m. A great moon phase to be on the water, and if the reports from the making tides this past few days are anything to go by, then you could be in for a fat time.

Surface-Feeding Pelagics Amassing in the Bay

You don't have to drive far from any local launching facility to run into schools of mac tuna. They have been abundant right through the local shipping channels, as well as up the west and east coasts of the bay. Many of the schools lingering inshore are quite flighty, demanding a little extra finesse as you approach. Arming yourself with an array of tiny metal slugs will help tempt them at this time too, as this early in the season, the baitfish are at their smallest.

It is interesting to hear of increasing numbers of longtails in the bay this week too. Still only small numbers, but more than recently. It is remarkable what a reprieve from the north wind can do for our waters. There have been small schools of longtails feeding with the macs in the western bay. Tempting one of them amongst so many mac tuna has been challenging, but things will improve as the longtail numbers build.

Longtails have been cruising the shallow flats up the island apparently. Chasing these fish in skinny water is a very popular pastime for local and visiting tuna fans, but few get to succeed consistently. Reading the tides and availability of baitfish is just one factor when it comes to chasing skinny water longtails. Approaching them without spooking them is a challenge in itself. These are typically larger tuna and super wary.

No doubt some of those that succeed will be glad they chose a well-balanced casting outfit to get the distance needed in this situation. For many folks though, skinny water tuna can be a more random affair. Basically, tearing up the island in close at speed and pulling up for a cast if they trip over a school of black shadows on the sand. Nothing wrong with that if you get lucky on the day.

A solid week or more without the north wind has triggered a migration of spotted mackerel into the bay. Right now, you can find spotties up off Rooneys and out at the Gutters. You can also find schools of them not far off Gatakers Bay, where the sharks are tearing them a new one with monotonous regularity. Spotties at the pier, and random schools in the central bay are all very interesting observations from a week of dynamic making tides.

So, if chasing spotted mackerel appeals to you, then it is time to gear up and add a swag of metal slugs to your collection. Take advantage of the Black Friday and Xmas sales if you like, as you are going to need lots of lures. Recent history has consistently seen the sharks shadowing the larger biomasses of spotted mackerel (and tuna) and their toll can be substantial on a 'bad' day. Bite-offs from the spotties themselves are relatively low when compared with the attention of the taxmen.

Spotties will continue to flood into Hervey Bay in bigger and bigger numbers right into summer. Whilst ever the wind blows from the easterly or southerly quadrants, their tendency to feed into the wind should draw them in. Their quarry is tiny juvenile baitfish that they ball to the surface before feasting on. The commotion they make on the surface is very obvious to experienced onlookers. Spotties tend to sip and slash at the surface more-so than leap clear of the water porpoise-style like the tuna.

Lures-wise it is the smaller slender-profiled slugs that you should be throwing at the spotties (and the tuna). Given that the initial run of baitfish is often the smallest, you will be well-served selecting a few slugs in the 15-30gm range for upcoming sessions. As the summer wears on and the baitfish grow, the 40-50gm slugs come into their own. Having said this, you must always match the hatch, regardless of time of year, so a savvy spotty/tuna fan will have a mixed assortment on board and be ready for all-comers.

Hopefully this influx of tuna and mackerel will be enough to draw in better numbers of black marlin. Reports this week have been pretty dismal. Comments recently about seeking marlin deeper in the water column might still hold merit in the near future, but with so much increasing surface action in the bay, the more traditional surface-trolling approach demands a revisit. Don't forget to steer out wider into the central northern bay, or well north of Rooneys, if the Platypus Bay waters prove fruitless. Chances are, that any marlin in the bay will be drawn to the activities of the lesser pelagics, so focus on the fringes of the melee when appropriate, whilst being ever-mindful of sharks.

Mackerel, Queenies and GTs Moving Close Inshore

The making tides this week certainly livened-up the southern bay. Combined with improved weather conditions, these tides enabled baitfish numbers to swell inshore and the pelagic predators have been hot on their heels (tails). School mackerel are turning up all over the place inshore. You can find them off the Gatakers Bay - Burrum Coast; right through our inshore shipping channels; Urangan Channel; and up the island. 'The Banks' from the Fairway to Coongul remain a good stomping ground for mackerel fans, whilst virtually any deep reef hosting schools of baitfish will get a visit from the toothy gang at some time.

The bigger tides this weekend are prime for a big of light tackle queenfish fun. The swirling waters that spin off the bay islands are great starting points, as are some of Fraser's deeper rocky ledges and the fringes of select sandflats. Queenies hunt many flats in our area and use the intersecting channels as highways to travel to and from. Otherwise barren-looking sandy channels that feed into creek systems can come alive with queenfish this time of year.

Seek them out with slender topwater offerings or your favourite softies. Queenies are super aggressive when in the mood and will eagerly hunt down a fleeing morsel if it looks right. That is your challenge - getting the right lure dancing at the right pace to tempt the queenfish. Once landed, handle them with care and get them back in the drink quick-smart. Queenies exhaust themselves totally in their bid for freedom and leave nothing in the tank. Revive such fish whilst always keeping a lookout for noahs. The same goes for giant herring, which are also about right now and just as responsive over the new moon tides.

The influx of mackerel and small tuna hasn't been lost on the giant trevally population. Large GTs turn up at this time of year and will tend to hold station on select reefs, ledges and artificials throughout the summer. They will also spend time terrorising the inhabitants of the shallows when the tides are bigger (like this weekend). Blooping poppers or dancing large stickbaits across reefy flats and swirling eddies can soon be interrupted with monstrous explosions if your timing is right. The chance of rain might keep several folks at home this weekend, so try some of the more obvious regular haunts in their absence.

Golden trevally will also be on the chew again this week. There are schools over off the west coast and even more up the island. Small goldies are roaming the inshore flats and offer great sport on light spin tackle or the fly gear. Larger fish can be sounded-up around the bait-rich reefs of the southern and central bay, though consider the shark depredation issue when necessary. Another run of broad-barred mackerel through the southern bay has been a bonus this week, and Urangan Channel has been as good a place as any to find them.

New Moon Action for Inshore Reef Fishos

Trollers get your troll on, as there are few times better than this new moon for some hot shallow reef action. The mackerel might give you a hard time in some areas, but persist with the stouter-profiled deep diving lures and a feed of coral trout is on the cards. There were quite a few trout caught over the recent neaps, so what's left should be fairly easy to tempt. Early mornings will be the go until mid-week when the afternoon tides gain appeal.

Grassy sweetlip continue to keep quite a few families in fresh seafood. There aren't many easier fish to catch, and sweeties are so widespread in the southern bay that they are an option from most reefs; deep or shallow; gnarly or gravelly. Better quality fish will come from the shallow reefs after dark or pre-dawn on these bigger tides, whilst the same quality fish can be caught from deeper reefs day and night on nearly any tide. They 'can be caught' that is, if you can avoid the noahs. Sharks are an increasing issue week by week as our waters warm, and will possibly reach nightmare status in coming weeks if recent history is to repeat itself.

Estuary cod are ravenous at this time of year. Bigger fish in deeper waters will soon snaffle a jig or large softie danced in their faces, as they will an ultra-deep diver that swims slowly past. Live baiters will always account for the biggest numbers of course, and most cod will be caught when the tide is slack. Hopefully everyone is releasing the larger cod to protect our reefs and keep the holes beneath from filling with sand. If you are unaware of the vital importance of cod regarding reef health, then simply watch underwater video of them fanning the holes at the fringes of the reefs to keep them 'dug out' and you will get the gist.

Blackall are very active in the warmer months. They are most inclined to hunt after dark, and this is when some of the largest of their species surprise many fishos. These fish are much-maligned by the majority of fishos, yet no-one can deny their fighting ability. You can decide if they are edible for yourself. They don't seem to suffer the same weed-tainted flesh locally that they do to our north, yet few of us could be bothered trying them. A quick de-hook and return to the depths is enjoyed by most blackall caught by locals in these parts, whilst an ever-increasing population of fishos new to the bay are tempted to try them on the plate.

Big Tides Have Our Rivers Flowing Hard

There is a slight stain of dirty water making its way down the Mary River, but nothing dramatic. Dirtier waters, stirred up by stronger tidal flow are a given for the springs, so most effort will be concentrated nearer the mouth for the immediate future. There has been plenty of action within cooee of River Heads this past week too, so work the tides and you could be the next ones enjoying this action.

Blue salmon have been highly aggressive as they chase the herring schooling near the peninsula. A lot of these blues are in the 60-80cm range which are scrappy, yet very manageable, fish on regular tackle. Numbers are possible when you discover a school, with soft vibes and soft plastics likely to catch the most. Trollers can also catch their share by trolling a mix of deep and shallow diving lures along the fringes of the large gutters in the River Heads district. Bait fishos can simply throw a live herring out in a likely spot and await their next run.

There might be a few threadies pay the heads a visit this week. Their numbers remain poor upriver sadly, though what fish are there are rather sizeable on average. Future weeks will see this fishery change, but for now, the best approach remains the 'scan and vibe' scenario - where you use your sounder to locate the fish and hop soft vibes past them below. Drain-bashing with smaller presentations is a good option over the darks if you can find enough fish feeding in the shallows to warrant the effort.

There are quality grunter in the Mary and Susan rivers and the bigger tides will suit their roaming style of feeding. The usual prawn imitation softies, particularly the GULP range, will help you track them down. Bait fishos can park and await their arrival near the mouth of a feeder creek or along a gravel-strewn bank. Larger grunter in the 55cm+ class can be caught on very light tackle, and even your leader need not exceed 20lb.

There is every chance that a feed or some fun with whiting, bream and flathead is possible in the lower Mary/Susan this week. Queenfish, GTs and mackerel may even make an appearance near the heads. Any jewfish lingering in the area will be best targeted at night when the tide is slack, and it is at that time that the local estuary cod will be hyperactive too.

The fishing in the northern half of the Great Sandy Straits proper could be much better than it has been recently. Let's hope that the making tides this week returned baitfish to the creek systems and their feeder channels. It was a very poor return for effort over the full moon, so here's hoping for better times ahead. You should be able to wander into a host of creeks and reasonably expect to catch salmon and grunter without too much effort this time of year.

Chasing mangrove jacks has been more appealing of late. Fraser's western creeks (and select mainland creeks) house some impressive jacks, and in some cases, in numbers. You must fish for them though, as techniques otherwise deployed to catch salmon and grunter won't snare too many jacks. Snag-bashing in the upper reaches is the go, when the tide is low enough to keep them from the root-matted mangrove forest. This heat will have them all fired up and the humidity will make them even crankier. Put in the effort and not only might you catch one of our most handsome fish, but you could also be in for an absolute treat if you take one home for dinner.

Mangrove Jacks Turn it on in the Burrum

The mangrove jack fishery seems to be going from strength to strength this spring, and the summer ahead should be every bit as good. The jacks got an early start due to the insanely warm early spring period, and should chew well again this week. It is hot, it is muggy, and they love it like that. Throw in cloud cover for a good day bite and warm nights and you just ran out of excuses - so go get 'em.

The dark of the moon is a prime time for Burrum jack hunters. Those not scared of the dark will be in their element as they soak baits in strong tidal flow upstream of some of the river's most gnarliest structures. Those opting for lures can cast all night too if they wish, but focussing on the slower tidal flow on the tide turns is a good tactic. Working fizzers, stickbaits, small poppers or weedless frogs after dark adds to the excitement of it all. You might have caught many a barra on surface lures after dark, but the sheer viciousness and jaw-mashing crunch of a big jack will still give you a fright.

Spend your daylight jack fishing efforts looking for key sites where significant tidal flow is broken by structure of some form. It might be a rock bar; it might be a tree or a mangrove clump. It might also be a moored boat that offers shade from the sun that big-eyed Mr Jack chooses to shelter beneath. Swim lures along shady banks and through deeper rock-strewn holes otherwise, and spend some time on the prominent rock bars themselves. They often come to life on the spring tides as jacks position themselves to snatch mullet passing overhead.

There will be quality grunter caught from the mid-reaches of the Burrum this week. Some will park the boat high up on a sandbank and soak yabbies and prawns when the tide rises after dark, whilst others will soak similar baits in deeper holes during daylight. Those favouring lures can hop the usual prawn imitations through likely terrain whilst ever-watchful for the prolific snags that make this option a little more challenging in that system.

Salmon are possible from the mid-upper reaches, whilst jewfish are a chance further downstream. The Buxton region is an interesting one at this time of year. Crabbers can be a real nuisance when they plonk their pots in along prime fishing terrain, and the river has no shortage of pots right now. The muddies have started to move and a feed is in the offing over this set of darks.

The mud crabbing has improved dramatically since the stormy weather of the full moon a fortnight ago. Whether it be the Mary system, the Burrum or the Straits, there have been crabs on the move and potting regularly. Quality has been mixed however, so make the effort to test your crabs for 'fullness' and return any light-weights to the drink.

There has been a lot of herring in the Burrum Heads area of late, and this has drawn the attention of schools of queenies. Boaties can seek them out by working the channels that intersperse the sandbanks both within the river itself and out the front. Not all the queenies are large fish, so you can have some fun on lighter tackle and smaller lures. There are larger queenies in the mix though, so it might be the lure you choose to work that dictates which sized fish inhales it on the day.

Dark of the Moon Fun for Beach Fishos

Word from one crew that headed for Fraser's surf beach last week suggests there was some exciting times to be had. Slide-baiting for larger predators saw plenty of attention from the shark population. Meanwhile, there were spaniards caught whilst spinning from the rocks and some quality tailor to boot. On top of this, there was word of jewfish being caught and quality flatties as well. We cannot offer much on the specifics, but suffice to say that good old Fraser Island offers plenty of action outside of the traditional tailor season if you are keen.

On the local town beach front, possibly the best target species for this set of darks is grunter. There has been the odd one caught by folks soaking prawn baits at low tide recently, and these bigger tides should make that an even more appealing option. Lure fishos might opt for a small prawn imitation that they slowly hop across any subtle gutter or past any rocky outcrop.

Whiting fans might secure a modest feed if they head for the fringes of town. The Booral Flats is worth a try for the mudskippers, whilst the flats out front of Eli Creek, O'Regans or Beelbi can offer a bit of fun for those working tiny topwater lures early in the rising tide. Flathead are a chance from similar terrain, whilst a meander upstream might even see you connecting to a mangrove jack or two.

Making Tides Improve Urangan Pier Fishery

The local pier regulars have been into the action on Urangan Pier this week. The herring have returned en masse and there are plenty of pelagics arriving daily for the feast. One of the most sought-after species is the broad-barred mackerel, which put in another good show this week. There has been swags of schoolies as well, and even the odd spaniard apparently.

Queenfish also turned up at times and added their own special level of excitement. The presence of spotted mackerel at this time of year is a bit of a surprise, but no shock, given word of schools off Gatakers Bay only days earlier. The arrival of giant trevally really stirs up the locals, and they will be lining up for their crack at them on a regular basis in months to come.

Another drawcard for pier-goers over the warmer months is the sharks that cruise pier waters at night. GT-snatching sharks are already present, so expect to see seriously heavy tackle if you wander the planks after dark in the near future. You can also expect to see plenty more folks standing above lights lowered to water level as they vie for the annual run of pencil squid. It has started, albeit slowly, and squid numbers will continue to build as summer arrives.

Good luck out there y'all... Jase