Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report – 27th December, 2024

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

Nannies can be caught throughout the bay. You just need to find them without the sharks, as Jeff did © Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay

Winds to Ease as New Year Approaches

We trust you all enjoyed your Christmas festivities, and suspect you are probably still digesting your over-indulgences. It is time now to look for opportunities to wet a line and perhaps add more fresh seafood to your holiday platters.

The weather has been reasonable this past week, with days of light winds and a quite welcome south-easter that made for pleasant conditions Christmas Eve onwards. The heat is returning now though, and the building northerly breeze this afternoon will set the scene for the weekend.

Any plans to venture up the bay will be stalled until the north wind abates. The 15-20 northerly Saturday and 15 knot northerly Sunday will make for uncomfortable conditions in all but the slickest of seaworthy vessels. An easing trend from Sunday evening should see lighter winds and more favourable conditions for the bay. Having said that, storms and heavy showers are possible from Monday onwards, so the following week could be quite interesting for weather watchers and a little frustrating for boaties and campers.

Monitor the latest reports daily, as there is minimal credibility amongst forecasts this far in advance. The moon is predictable though, and it continues to wane as we approach next Tuesday's New Year's Eve new moon phase. There will be about 3m of tidal variation as the tides peak early next week. The lows and highs are only average, yet the enhanced tidal flow will have many species of fish and crustacea on the move all the same.

Dirty Water Hampers Fishing Effort at the Pier

Sadly, the after-effects of the significant recent rains have dirtied our inshore waters and adversely affected the fishing along Urangan Pier. The water spewing from the Mary River is fresh and filthy and it has made its way to, and beyond, the pier. The usually massive biomass of herring has moved on and so have the majority of the predators.

Estuarine fish such as large tarpon might be a chance, as might queenfish, grunter, salmon or jewfish, but for now, the fishing scene at the pier isn't looking good. Shark fishos might enjoy some entertainment from passing bull sharks, but rays and shovellies are probably more likely.

The kids could get a buzz from fishing for garfish in the first channel if you and they are keen to try that caper. The gar have been a feature there and at the rock groynes to the west of the pier in recent days. Prawn or yabby pieces pinned on tiny hooks trailed behind appropriate floats will see them into the little garies. A few whiting or bream might also be a chance from the same areas should you wish to try for them, but don't expect any sizeable models.

The undersized whiting at the rock groynes and along nearby stretches of beach have been the prey of the odd roaming queenfish in recent days. Without their usual diet of herring, and pencil squid temporarily MIA, the queenies will cruise our shallow margins looking for any suitable supplements. The same goes for any sharks in the area, so efforts after dark with larger baits set for noahs should soon trigger some action.

Grunter are now the most sought-after species from our town beaches and man-made platforms. Blue salmon are also making a show, but few would trade a grunter for a blue. Both species can be caught on baits and on lures. Soft plastics are the numero uno for the grunter, whilst the blues aren't nearly as fussy. It is actually a good time to try those shiny new topwater lures you got from Santa. The blues will climb all over stickbaits and the odd intrepid fisho might even score a grunter or two. Skinny water and low light will be factors in any such success.

Jewfish revel in brackish waters and are a major target species for a growing clan of fishos. Slack water at night offers jewie fans a major window of opportunity, yet the same species can be caught mid-tide from locations that break the current. Prawn imitations and vibes are just two of the usually-successful lure options, whilst live baits and whole squid can see them hooked-up on bait fishing rigs. Should you be so lucky as to get amongst the jewies, just remember that the minimum size is 75cm and the possession limit is just two fish.

Flood Waters Shift Focus Away from Our Rivers

Those very same life-giving rains of a week or so ago have basically declared our local river fisheries null and void. That is, at least, in all but the lower reaches and the mouths of these rivers. The Mary continues to flow pure fresh, and with overflow from the catchments still on its way downstream, will do so for a while yet. It is a similar scene in the Burrum and Cherwell Rivers, that have since stabilised from moderate flood levels, but remain pure freshwater.

The fresh from the Burrum and Cherwell obviously impacts the Isis and Gregory as they flow together and mix. Some might consider less freshwater flow in the latter two rivers making them more appealing options currently, and they are welcome to test that theory. In essence, most effort in the Burrum system will be confined to the deeper holes nearer the heads and the waters immediately beyond the river proper.

With barramundi off the hit list until February 1st, any efforts in the Burrum should be focused on mangrove jacks and tarpon riding out the freshwater flow. It is an unappealing scene for local lure fishos, though those with top-end run-off experience might think otherwise. The grunter and salmon that were making their presence felt pre-flood have moved beyond the confines of the river and can be sought 'out the front'.

River Heads may be purged by pure fresh water at present, but that doesn't mean it is totally devoid of river predators. Chances are, that at some stage, fish such as jewfish and salmon will make an appearance amongst the froth and bubbles swirling about the peninsula as they move in to predate on the baitfish forced downstream by the flood.

Shore-based fishos might consider long shallow-diving hardbodies or paddle-tailed plastics as suitable arsenal with which to tempt any predator in the River Heads area. The latter stage of the ebb tide, pure fresh as it may be, can be the prime time for casting from the stones out there. Even better if such activity is performed in the wee hours of the night.

As jelly prawns amass in vast 'plumes', they will attract a host of predators. Jellies may be tiny, but their pursuers can be some of our estuaries' largest. King threadfin salmon in particular, are partial to a feast of jelly prawn, and are often quite obvious as they round up and gorge on jelly prawns forced from muddy drains and the like. This scene can be one of frustration, as these large salmon can be fixated on the tiny morsels and ignore so many otherwise prime offerings.

Arm yourself with plenty of small shallow diving hardbodies, tiny prawn imitations and small vibes (hard and soft). Seek the salmon by monitoring likely muddy banks, rocky verges and drains when the tide ebbs and work your lures with a variety of actions until you get a response. Persistence is often key, but a willingness to go tiny and chance rub-offs on lighter leader can sometimes be the only thing between you and a frustrating donut.

The lowest reaches of the Mary and Susan Rivers might already offer opportunities to mix it with jelly prawn eating sambos, but it is much more likely that the big gutters just beyond the river mouth and the channels amongst the vast mudflats out that way are most productive. Experienced local flats fishos will know the scene and will time their efforts based on water quality and tides in coming weeks.

Catching Reefies Beneath the Brown Water

The dirty water plume from the Mary River has pushed beyond the bay islands, but is not quite reaching the outer banks as yet. Whilst the inshore waters may look dirty and uninviting, remembering that the fresh stuff flows over the salty stuff should have you visualising reef fish going about their business unhampered below. Indeed, the plume is a direct provider of sustenance for the reefies as baitfish, prawns and other morsels are washed seaward.

For now, the waters off Gatakers Bay and Point Vernon are stained but relatively clean. Catches of small coral trout continue for trollers and others, whilst many folks shift their focus to the impending influx of grunter. There have been a few caught; just the odd one here and there for now; but more will show in the very near future. The new moon tides might be just the ticket to trigger a grunter bite off the shallow reef edge in close.

Out wider, grounds such as the Burrum 8 Mile, the Fairway, and other reefs eastward towards the Outer Banks have already given up quality grunter. Sadly however, the shark activity in those waters is peaking and way too many fish are being wasted. This scene will go on unhindered now doubt, so if you are one of those folks fishing shark-infested waters such as those, please do the right thing by us locals and our fish, and move on.

I must say, reef fishing inshore in Hervey Bay in summer is a very challenging subject to write about. I can give you tips and offer you insight into various fisheries that you could tap into, but I have to do so fully aware of the ridiculous shark depredation issue and the impact of an increased number of fishos and enhanced fishing effort will have. Read on, but please, PLEASE, consider our fisheries and do what you can to minimise the ongoing demolition of same due to the shark issue.

Look for sweetlip in shallower waters, along the fringes of the shallow reefs that skirt the bay islands and Fraser's western ledges. Do so when the light is low; pre-dawn and at dusk or into the evening. Quality sweeties can be caught from such waters, particularly over the darks (new moon period), when tidal flow is stronger. There are many sweetlip to be found in deeper waters in the shipping channels, but that is where the sharks are at their worst.

Nannygai are starting to make an appearance in small numbers within our shipping channels, and their numbers will improve going into late summer and early autumn as more and more fish move in to capitalise on the bonanza of food flushed out by wet season flooding. These nannies are very fond of the pencil squid that arrive early summer too, and will stay inshore regardless whilst ever the squid do.

Speaking of the pencil squid, the dirty water has stuffed the usual Urangan Pier and Urangan Channel fishery for now, and adversely impacted other waters east of there. Look for your next haul of pencillies north of the banks, or from the deeper waters in the northern extremities of the shipping channels. There is every chance there will be schools of small squid somewhere off Pt Vernon too; you will just have to look for them in the deepest water you can find in that area.

Estuary cod will be hyperactive at present and you can catch them from virtually any significant reef inshore. Live baits and whole baits will tempt them, as will any of the usual artificial offerings you use to tempt trout. The trout too will be active, at least when the tide is slack. Good luck getting any decent ones past the noahs.

Just for everyone's' information, a few of the popular inshore spots that have had shark issues this week include; the Channel Hole, Boges Hole, Bogimba Ledge, the Roy Rufus artificial reef, Moon Ledge, the Outer Banks, the Burum 8 Mile and the Fairway. How other sites are faring - such as Mickeys, Sammies, The Simpson arti, the Hardy arti and others - is unknown by the author. Recent history would suggest all sites are in jeopardy.

Plenty of Pelagic Action Inshore

Spending time chasing pelagics appeals to many locals and visiting holidaymakers alike. Luckily, there is plenty of action on offer at present without burning a ton of fuel. Numbers of school mackerel seem to be almost everywhere. Admittedly, there are many undersized fish and barely legal fish in the mix, but quality fish are just another cast away on average.

Schoolies have been abundant right across the 'banks' from the Burrum 8 Mile, past the Fairway to the Outer Banks and over to Coongul. Yes, the sharks are in attendance often, and the odd huge groper too, but a feed is achievable and mackerel losses don't seem as devastating as prime reef fish. Spinning for mackerel with spoons and other 'kinky' slugs is working a treat, as is the usual bait-fishing tactics.

The mackerel are so thick in some waters that trollers have been able to secure a good feed well away from the reef sites and the attention of the sharks. Family fishos keen to get the kids hooked up without the risks of flying treble-adorned metals or gang hooks might give the trolling option some consideration. It is very easy, with the right lures, which we will be happy to put in your hands should you drop instore.

There has been a number of mac tuna schools feeding in the stained waters closer inshore of late too, and they are seemingly a tad less flighty than usual. Those looking to mix it with them might consider adding a few gold or white slugs to their usual arsenal to help their offerings stand out in the stained water.

The yakkas and other baitfish gathered at the Fairway have been a drawcard for a host of pelagics; not just the schoolies. There has been plenty of small spaniards (mostly undersized), a few broadies, golden trevally and the odd GT. Word of the occasional spotted mackerel has also made the grapevine, though numbers have been minimal.

Indeed, our usual summer run of spotted mackerel is MIA right now. Somewhat akin to the general lack of baby black marlin that have been so disappointing this season. The spotties have been elusive or otherwise simply not out there. Hervey Bay seems to be suffering from a lack of visiting pelagics of the surface-feeding varieties this summer. Perhaps the incessant northerlies of spring saw them bypass the bay and hitch a ride on the EAC that poured right past Fraser Island much earlier and faster than usual this year.

Spotties should be a major highlight of our bay fishery, and still may be. It is hardly encouraging to look at the weather forecast for the week ahead dominated by northerly winds though. We need south-easters to draw them in and hold them in the bay. Moreton Bay fishers are already into the spotties and there are fish well south of there too. Stay tuned for future updates, and for now, ensure you have plenty of metal slugs in the 15-45gm range on board in case you trip over the motherlode.

At least the queenfish have been providing plenty of fun lately. From fish feeding in open water up the island, to fish working Fraser's western ledges, the fringes of the flats over there, and the verges of the bay islands, there have been sizeable queenies showing up regularly. Right now, you can expect to find them working the dirty waters across the mainland flats outside the Burrum system anywhere between Woodgate and Pt Vernon, as well as down the straits.

You can add a spot of GT-wrangling to your to-do list this summer if you believe you are up to the task. Schools of large GTs moved inshore just recently and have taken up residence at the usual hotspots. Shipwrecks and other artificial reefs are some of their favourite haunts, followed by the ledges skirting Fraser's western fringes and the strong tidal flows around the bay islands.

The GTs may well vacate the shallower margins of the islands etc in favour of deeper waters just for now, but they will return when the water quality suits them. Expect a handful of fish out at the banks at this time, and potentially around the odd deep-water beacon. This week's new moon tides will have the GTs rampaging, so if you are keen to get fully stretched then head on out and see if you can tempt them.

Further up the bay, there have been sufficient spanish mackerel to make them a viable target for trollers and others. Some fish have moved south to feast on the schoolies etc closer inshore, meaning there are spaniards all the way from the Outer Banks to the Gutters. The bag limit is only one fish these days, so your spaniard session might be a brief one. Enjoy it while it lasts, as, like all mackerel, they aren't the best catch and release candidates.

Incredible Run of Sand Crabs and Muddies

Whilst the fishing may have been compromised by dirty waters and sharks, you won't hear too many complaints from crabbers at present. Those that didn't get their fill of muddies pre-flood have continued to pursue them post-flood with good results. The very lowest reaches of our rivers gave up crab last week, but it is the flats and channels beyond the river proper that have been a standout just recently.

The straits will see a lot of mud crabbing effort in coming weeks. Anywhere from the waters adjacent to Fraser's many creeks to the channels weaving amongst the mangrove-lined islands of the straits will be worth sinking a pot or four. The crabs have been so active that a soak of a couple of hours is all it has taken to get a sniff, and if no success is realised, then the pots can be moved to (hopefully) greener pastures.

Out in the wide expanse of Hervey Bay proper, it has been a sand crab overload. Commercial crabbers are making a fortune and recreational crabbers are getting amongst the action too. The north wind is going to play havoc with bay crabbing efforts this week, so look for periods of lighter winds and get your pots out there when you can. Land your gear on the motherlode and you will have your bag limit in no time.

Offshore Options Looking Great Next Week

This weekend aside, the weather looks pretty good for offshore forays next week. Light northerly winds will make getting to the Breaksea Spit bar annoying for smaller vessels, but once across and out wide it should be sensational, with minimal swell. The current will likely be raging from the north, and could be even more exaggerated should the wind increase beyond the weekend's 15 knot+ forecast, but the seas look good.

Based on efforts from a few fishos this past week, there is plenty to look forward to out there. The deep dropping has been great, with pearl perch, snapper and various jobfish species joining the usual deepwater cods for the long trip home. Heading north once over the bar seems like a better idea than heading south of late, assuming it is reef fish and less current that you seek.

Pelagic activity is worth investigating offshore as well. Spaniards and GTs are likely candidates for some topwater action over the shoal country, and those keen to troll can mix it with them too. Catches of wahoo have been fairly consistent for several weeks now, and mahi mahi should not come as a surprise if encountered.

It seems likely that there will be game boats deploying heavy tackle out wide as the new moon approaches. Some of the best action on the blue marlin front has come from the deep water from Lady Musgrave to the Breaksea Spit 13 Mile in recent times. Time will tell where the fish favour this week. To date, baby blacks seem nearly as scarce offshore as they are here in the bay.

Monduran Madness

A north wind blowing out the bay and dirty rivers locally would suggest that every man and his molix will be at Monduran Dam this weekend. The wind will tend northerly this afternoon and stay that way for some time to come. The holiday crowd can be absolutely maddening, but many of the modern fishos don't actually know any different, so they just take it in their stride (whilst we Mondy regulars steer clear for a while).

A hint of north-westerly breeze suggests the main basin is going to be bumper to bumper with trollers and scopers this week. Those waters continue to give up fish willing to bite when they get the urge. Approaching storms and potential heavy rain should trigger a much better than average bite, so there are bound to be some big numbers of large barra caught, particularly at night.

Those keen to avoid that scene and actually burn some furl can wander the lake looking for more traditional barra fisheries. It is topwater time and both daytime frogging and alternative low light topwater sessions should be successful. Barra seek shade when they remain in shallower bays at this time of year, so knowing where there are significant laydowns in the right depth of water can be a real advantage. So too, knowing where the best blooms of those extra-broad-leafed water lily outcrops are, and knowing what tracts of water are overrun with weed.

The barra will be receptive to such a broad range of lures at this time that you can afford to experiment. Following the flock and deploying the same lures as your neighbours in heavily-pressured parts of the lake can, at times, be counter-productive. Yes, there are tried and proven winners that the fans of trolling tactics will all favour, but I am talking about casting. Dare to be different, and those barra that you have watched ignore every offering might just leap skyward with your latest and greatest acquisition in their gob.

Good luck out there, and a Happy New Year to you all, from all the crew at Fisho's... Jase