Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report – 10th of January, 2025
by Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay 10 Jan 06:30 UTC
10 January, 2025
Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report © Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay
Another Wet Week for the Fraser Coast
The past few days have been sublime here on the Fraser Coast, and many visiting holidaymakers have joined the locals to create quite the crowd at our boat ramps. The wind has been rather light, and could remain so for much of the coming week. Everyone is bracing for wet weather again though, as storms are likely to be followed by a string of showers that started last night.
Online weather gurus are predicting major rains for our district that will kick off today and dominate our weather right through the weekend. Further rains thereafter could add to the potential flooding events they say we should prepare for. If you have a sense of déjà vu watching this unfold at present, then you are not alone.
Two major rain events recently look to be repeated this week if predictions are accurate. If not, then many will pass the hype off as click-bait once again. There is no doubt we are in for some storms and several showers; just how intense is yet to be seen. Be prepared regardless and take extra care when out boating in exposed waters or fishing flood-prone streams in heavy rain.
Wind-wise, today's light north-easter will struggle to reach 10 knots unless a storm barrels in. The weekend looks like light northerlies and wet. Storms approaching from the west could see wild seas whip up, albeit briefly, so only vessels capable of withstanding such a blow should consider overnight anchorages beyond sheltered waters, and even they should be sporting appropriate ground tackle.
Continued light winds are possible right into next week. More favourable and kinder to boaties than the northerlies of the weekend too potentially. The tides are prime as well; building daily as we approach next Tuesday's full moon.
Our highest (morning) highs will peak at around 4m from lows a tad below 0.7m. Folks unfamiliar with our tide range in these parts should take care when traversing our many shallow flats and creek systems, to ensure they aren't left high and dry like a small number have already this summer.
Fishing Still Quiet, But Improving, at the Pier
It has been another quiet week out on the Urangan Pier. Improving water quality is noticeable, particularly at high tide, but the dirty ex-Mary waters are still impacting the quality of the fishing. All the same, there has been a small number of blue salmon, the odd queenfish and a few flathead feeding on the returning schools of herring.
Sharks are still making their presence felt, offering some sort of sport for the youngsters. The smallest kids are having fun catching herring, small whiting and bream amongst a string of other pickers. Short walks not far into the first channel save them the big hike out to the deep end, and there is fun to be had either side of high tide.
Sightings of threadfin salmon and queenfish along Urangan beaches have had a few hopefuls working lures and soaking baits down that way, whilst whiting at the rock groynes keep a few family fishos entertained. The garfish seem to have disappeared from there again, whilst it would be no surprise to hear of a flathead or two caught this week.
Grunter remain the major target for savvy fishos willing to wander our town beaches and nearby rocky foreshores. The full moon tides are prime for this species and a better quality of fish can be expected from numerous stretches of beach. You might need to throw back a few smaller grunter amongst the better fish at times, but all are fun for the kids, and the big ones are great sport and tucker for all.
It is back to basics for beach grunter at present, with baits of yabby, prawn or squid being most favoured. A pilly might catch them, as might a mullet fillet or herring. Quality presentations on hooks that are strong enough, yet not too large are the go. Bream have taken baits fished closer to rocky outcrops, with some being decent size this week too.
Those seeking grunter on lures will do well to try soft plastic prawn imitations. You might need to get your shins, or maybe even your knees wet to get to the best of the daytime grunter, with the early flood tide often proving the most fruitful. Evening sessions won't require wet feet as the bigger grunter mooch right up into the shallows with the rising tide.
Should the rains create local flooding events as some predict, then you might consider targeting the verges of man-made outflows onto the beach, or the flats beyond the creek mouths. An immediate flush of tucker can draw hungry fish to such locations and you can capitalise. Flathead might join the party, as might large tarpon and maybe the odd salmon or baby shark.
There is still plenty of fun for the kids inclined to mix it with small sharks along our beaches. Larger baits will soon attract them, particularly after dark. Opportunities abound for any of you willing to wander the mudflats of Booral as the full moon tides and light winds see fish such as whiting, flathead, grunter, salmon and sharks feeding right up in the skinniest of water.
Big Predators Lurk in the Murk
Just as you might make a pre-emptive strike at select beach locations about to be impacted by run-off waters, you could seek larger quarry at our river mouths. The River Heads peninsula has been known to give up some very impressive predators in situations such as these, and conditions this week are better than last.
Fish already acclimatised to the filthy water are inclined to use the coloured waters to their advantage as they pounce on fodder flushed from the river. They can sense approaching rains and impending floodwaters better than any web-based computer model and may already be positioned in readiness for the next river rise.
Casting shallow diving minnow-style hardbodies has long been a favoured approach of locals looking to tangle with large predators from the slippery oyster-covered rocks at River Heads. The big salmon, jewfish and flatties that lurk in the eddies amongst the swirling murk of the fast-flowing Mary River mouth will typically swipe at a lure right at the water's edge. Steering the largest of the salmon or jewfish back to the rocks proving quite the challenge should you be under-gunned when they get out into the current.
Displaced riverine species have taken up station in many locations beyond our rivers and are being actively targeted by an increasing number of shore-based anglers. Lure fishing certainly appeals more than bait in the snaggiest of terrain, or in zones awash with strong currents. Remembering that all of these fish can sense their prey better with their lateral lines than they will ever see with their eyes will improve your confidence in the murkier waters.
Some of the best brown water fishing happens after dark. At such times, the major predators seek their prey on the surface and just below, so shallow retrieves are often best. Topwater options are boundless and species not often taken on such techniques can respond to the right dance.
Regardless of location, any prospecting fisho must respect their surrounds and heed the rules in built-up areas. This goes for the Urangan Harbour precinct in particular, where reports of folks fishing from private moorings and even from moored vessels reflects badly on all fishos. So too those that persist in trespassing across private land to get to a waterway. Stealthy after dark assaults are particularly risky, as folks won't take kindly to someone caught in their backyard in the dark. Would you?
The Bay's Shark Population Explodes
Now, as much as most of you probably hope the above heading is literal, alas it is not. If you have been fishing in the bay this week, then chances are you have suffered encounters with sharks. Very few have escaped their attention, and even these folks are nervous about their next venture. The bull sharks and their toothy cousins are here in big numbers and absolutely ravenous.
Our reef fish and pelagics are biting very well since recent flooding, but sadly, more are being lost to sharks than are being taken home for dinner - far more! Daily stories from visitors and those just learning to contend with the shark issue, that recount losses in boxes of hooks in lieu of individual hooks, are devastating, and very hard to listen to. Thinking of the wastage at a time of plenty, with so many folks on the water daily, is downright depressing.
So, what can we do about it? On a grand scale - nothing. Our governors created the rules that gave every shark virtual immortality once they reach 1.5 metres in length many years ago, and we (and even more-so our fish) have paid the price ever since. So many of these sharks are of such huge size now, and so aggressive, that it is little wonder we have lost so many Aussies so tragically in recent years.
Being shark savvy as a fisho demands that you minimise your impact on a given area, and keep on the move should the sharks discover you. Move on after the first bite-off, not the 10th or the 20th! These creatures never seem to get their fill, and their feeding draws more to the banquet whilst ever you continue to offer them prime tucker.
In nature, reef fish are adept at sheltering from prowling sharks when they threaten, whilst evolution saw pelagics develop a turn of speed capable of out-running them. Hooked by us and exposed from their shelter, or slowed from their speedy escape, they are all easy prey. Prime larger fish quite often, that are key breeding stocks necessary to ensure a healthy future fishery and a balanced ecosystem.
If you are new to the bay, or new to fishing the briny, then learn to recognise shark depredation. What seemed to be a dire battle with a fish that you started to win before it grew exponentially and tore off for the horizon should be recognised as a shark taxing your quarry. A huge fish you hooked that took an hour to fight then got away, or just cruised around steady and unstoppable - was a shark - nothing surer. Also telling, are scuffed leaders that can be the result of the raspy skin of sharks that stole your fish and not the coral below. All signs, amongst others, to look out for and react to with a speedy retreat to another spot some distance away.
I know I have ranted on a little more than usual on this matter this week, but I feel it is necessary for our growing population of fishos to be educated on occasion. The rest of you know the scene and what to do, so share your tips and observations with others you meet and we can minimise our impact to a degree.
Fishos will keep going fishing - that's what we do. But when the return for effort is so diminished and the frustration levels peak so often, some shift their focus and deny the sharks any further impact on their lives. Selective fishing, and an increasing effort shift to less-taxed waters has already seen many of us turn our backs on local areas at this time of year. These darn sharks will be with us for many months now, so do your bit, and hopefully you can feed your family and have some fun without the ongoing devastation.
Target Shallower Waters Over the Full Moon
The great bite from our reef fish and others will be even more exaggerated as the full moon approaches. Further efforts in deeper waters inshore might be rewarded if you are lucky, where the likes of grassy sweetlip, nannygai, tuskies, grunter, cod, blackall and coral trout are all possible. The sharks will have a say in your success at pretty much every inshore hotspot however, and will have an extra spring in their step over these bigger tides.
Luckily, such tides see many of the very same species hyperactive in shallower waters, and often migrating to these shallows for the peaking tides of the month. So, to better your chances of success, perhaps consider targeting these fish on or along the fringes of our shallower reefs. You will do even better if you fish into the evening or get out there before the dawn (for all but the trout and tuskies of course).
The reefs fringing the bay islands are worth trying right now, as are stretches of shallow ledge country along Fraser's western shores. The fringing reefs and reef flats that extend from Gatakers Bay to Pialba have been giving up a modest feed of sweetlip, grunter and the odd trout of late, but those waters suffered an exaggerated amount of effort in recent times. This full moon should see some interesting grunter catches from the fringes of those reefs, and a better quality of fish at that.
Trolling success can be heightened over the bigger tides, and there are bound to be plenty of folks giving that technique a try. Coral trout are the number one target of course, but grunter and cod can get in on the act, particularly for those that slow down and dredge the deeper edges.
Heading a little wider in the bay can see you still catching grunter, from locations such as the Fairway and other spots across that latitude. Those waters are home to many school mackerel and a few trevally too, so expect encounters with them when fishing gravelly bait-laden grounds out that way.
The deeper inshore reef systems are so sharky I hesitate to mention them, if not just to warn you. The Roy Rufus arti is still popular regardless of the sharks, with a few sweeties making it to the boat if there are enough others vessels about to occupy the noahs. The Hardy arti and the Channel Hole gave up a good feed for a lucky few recently, but enhanced effort since has seen a return of sharks there too. Boges Hole, Bogimba, Moon, Mickeys, Sammies, Kingfisher; you name it, there are (were) primo fish there, but so are the sharks.
The Outer Banks and the Simpson arti are suffering shark issues, so mostly only mackerel are making it to the boat. The Arch Cliffs 6 Mile is more about pelagics than reefies these days, making it an easy option for mackerel fans nonetheless. Beyond there, the smaller isolated reefs and weed patches up the island and out in the central bay are home to some nice nannygai and worth a visit if you know where they are.
At the risk of highlighting more negatives, please consider the significant barotrauma issue that impacts all nannygai caught in waters beyond 10 metres deep. Basically, as mentioned in the past, all nannies hauled to the surface from waters beyond that depth are inclined to die upon return to the water. They may have swum off, but research over the years has proved that all forms of venting or otherwise fail to save them from barotrauma. Many folks relay stories of catching nannies one after the other that were just undersized, not realising that all their releasees failed to survive. It is well documented, and our governors are still scratching their heads over a solution.
Improved News for Spotty Fans
Many suspect the sharks are extra vicious this summer due to the lack of spotted mackerel in the bay. Perhaps, but regardless of that, there are now reports of schools of spotties filtering in from those fishing Platypus Bay and Rooneys waters. Their numbers are not even a shadow of the masses we expect each summer, at this stage, but enough to warrant a little exploration and high-speed spinning fun up that way.
Word this week mirrors an account relayed just after issuing last week's report, where spotties were caught a few miles off Arch Cliffs. The spotties were found feeding beneath small flocks of noddy terns, a dead giveaway of smaller baitfish that the spotties are so fond of. The other most recent reports came from those that drove onto schools just north of Rooneys Point.
So, if you have had enough of trying to extract reef fish from shark-infested waters, perhaps you can scoot on up the island and look for spotties. You will see mac tuna schools as you travel, and can decide whether they deserve your attention on the way. If you can manage such forays to coincide with sunny skies in lieu of heavy cloud or rain, then all the better.
Should you fail to locate any spotties, then fall back on some reefy country and you are bound to get amongst the school mackerel and trevally calling such sites home up there at present. If you trip over a marlin, it will be front page news in these parts, as they remain conspicuous by their absence.
Heading off Rooneys or over to the central northern bay reefs might see you encounter spanish mackerel or a stray cobia. The spaniards are due to make their usual summertime raids close inshore too, so a dedicated spaniard fan won't bother burning that much fuel for a sole fish (or boat limit of two) whilst they can be found just wide of the banks.
The GTs must be out that way somewhere too, as the schools that would normally be mugging the fish around the pier and the inshore shipwrecks appear to have vacated those sites due to dirty waters. They won't be far away, and could make a return to areas such as the Simpson or the Roy Rufus with these bigger tides. Live baiters are far more likely to hook them than topwater fishos should they be there.
Topwater efforts inshore have been more focussed on queenfish since recent flooding, and the average fish caught has been quite sizeable. Get the kids onto these high-flyers and it will be big grins all round. Try the fringes of the dirty water, the ledges along Fraser's western shore, or the verges of the bay islands. Flats fishos will find them working the edges of channels too, where goldies can also be enticed as they mooch along waiting for the tide.
Larger Boats All Heading Offshore
Not too many folks are keen on wasting their time and energy at the Gutters with so many sharks out there, so offshore capable vessels are all pointed for Breaksea Spit and beyond at present. There are multiple crews out there right now, all keen to try their hand at the wondrous reef fishing and topwater pelagic action on offer over these hallowed grounds.
Should the shoal country and the waters to the 100m line remain shark central, those sporting deep dropping tackle will waste no time heading deep. Waters around the 200-250m depth will be most popular, and bound to give up the usual pearlies, snapper, various cod, flamies and other jobfish. Some might even venture deeper looking for blue eye, bass groper and other ooglies of the deep. The weather is great, and so long as they head for the right waters and avoid the current roaring south, they will be filleting for hours upon their return.
A couple of hours spent dancing topwater lures over the shoals and the regular hotspots such as Spit Bommie will be on some minds. Spanish mackerel and giant trevally will be the main targets. If the bait is there, then their chances are good. A troll between spots might return anything from a spaniard to a string of wahoo, a marlin or some mahi mahi. Reef fishos staying "shallow" will be hoping for the usual array of tasty treats such as RTEs, cockies, reds, green jobbies and so on. We will let you know how they fare next week.
Another Flood Can Actually Be a Good Thing
Most folks are dreading the thought of another flood on top of the two minor events we experienced recently. Perhaps they should consider the undeniable benefits of such an event now, that can only serve to enhance the already acclimatised inshore and estuarine species should it be another minor event. A major flood might slow things for a while, but the long-term gain for our waters will be massive either way.
Folks fishing or even just launching at Burrum Heads would have had to have had blinkers on to not notice the kids and others casting nets for prawn near the ramp. Small river prawn, washed down in recent flooding, has accumulated at the heads and many are scoring a beaut feed. They aren't large prawn, but even the shore-based prawners are taking home a modest feed, with the odd energetic chap bragging of a bucket limit.
Locals are catching a feed of smaller river dwellers in the lower reaches. A mixed bag of bream, flathead, jacks, cod and grunter has fed a few families. Most folks are keen to get beyond the river when the weather is good. Sharks are an issue at several sites off the Burrum coast, yet the hope of quality grunter and mackerel keeps folks keen enough.
It is more about threadfin and blue salmon down in the Mary, and once again, it is the lower reaches where most effort is focussed. Drain-bashing is the go at present, with the threadies in particular being partial to a feast of jelly prawn. Tiny lures will tempt them, but many casts may be required before you get a reaction. Live baiting is an easy option for many, and their standard practice would be to position themselves near a creek mouth or along a bank that drains a flat through the ebb tide.
Heading down the straits or over to Fraser Island to find better water has been a viable tactic for some this week. Good grunter are still being found in the channels and along the drop-offs, with jacks, cod and salmon also working similar terrain. Waters from Kingfisher to Ungowa are worth prospecting right now, and perhaps even more-so should the Mary come down again.
There are more whiting and bream down the straits than usual for this time of year due to the dirty river water, and large flatties have made a return to the flats and creek mouths since the floods too. The straits really does come alive in times of flooding and could well be the place to be in coming weeks. These big tides in particular will have the flats and creeks draining big-time, so there will be plenty of displaced predators keen to capitalise.
Add Calamari and Crab to Your Banquet
If you are over the sharks, or just need to supplement your fish diet with alternative seafood, then you are in luck. The pencil squid numbers have been improving in the southern bay and there are even better numbers up the island. A possession limit of 50 pencillies is a fairly simple affair at present, so take the kids for a run and get them into the fun.
Do those of us that live here a favour, and return any baby tiger squid you catch to the water unharmed. Tiny tigers aren't nearly as good a bait as pencillies and killing these babies is a major waste. Our tiger squid season has been a huge failure in recent years, impacted by so many folks now targeting the pencillies in deeper waters and retaining the tiger squid bycatch before they have a chance to spawn. The tigers are the fatter more colourful ones with flaps that run full length of their body by the way, as opposed to the skinnier arrow (pencil) squid with the pointed arrow-type flaps at the rear.
Abundant sand crabs in the bay have meant many a crabber has feasted like a king for weeks. Good weather enables all but the smallest of boats to access the open bay waters and set their pots in depths of 10-18 metres. The crabs are fairly widespread and some serious numbers can be caught in a soak of only a few hours. Overnight soaks can see you throwing back the equivalent of a motherlode after your 20pp limit has been retained. Quality crab too, full of sweet tasty meat.
Smaller boat owners and landlubbers don't have to miss out either, as the muddies have been very active all summer. Those crabbing the creeks should do well over the full moon, as will those working the flats and channels beyond. Further flooding, or even just heavy rains will only improve what is already a good year on the muddies.
Good luck out there y'all... Jase