Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report – 31st January, 2025
by Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay 31 Jan 21:17 UTC
31 January 2025
Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report © Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay
Moderate Onshore Trade Winds This Week
Last Friday night's storm and impressive lightning show preceded a welcome change from the oppressive heat beforehand. 80mm at Pt Vernon and a bit less elsewhere locally was the only significant rainfall for the past week. The cool change was very subtle, leaving us to raise a sweat on any fish begrudging our interference, even though the breeze blew a few knots stronger than the weather gurus forecast.
Weather-watchers are closely monitoring the movement of a string of low-pressure systems up north at present. The monsoon has finally formed and will be active for the foreseeable future. Our northern neighbours are in for a battering and a drenching, but we should be fine (for this week anyway). Indeed, the standard-issue late summer period of cloud-bearing onshore trade winds looks like dominating our weather this week.
If you haven't been out on the water during recent days of better weather, then the weekend forecast might be frustrating. Today's 15 knot easterly will strengthen overnight and tend more south-easterly for the duration of the weekend. Expect up to 25 knots most of the day beyond the dawn period. Slightly lighter conditions might suit early risers, but even they will be confined to sheltered inshore waters. Passing showers are possible on Saturday, and even more likely on a daily basis thereafter.
The same breeze will start the working week, with a lighter onshore breeze of around 15 knots by mid-week. That is, if the atmosphere up north behaves the way current modelling suggests it will. Low pressure systems are very volatile and less predictable than highs, so monitor the latest reports. Weather will be big news this week, if not for us, then certainly for those up north.
The new moon has been and gone, and the moon is waxing once again as we approach the first quarter stage next Wednesday. This means the spring tides have peaked and tidal flow is diminishing with the neaps only days away. Hardly the best tides on offer at present, so you might find some comfort in that whilst the wind blows and your boat remains on its trailer.
Urangan Pier Restoration Works Begin
It seems that major restoration works on our iconic Urangan Pier have been scheduled without any of us at Fisho's being aware. My apologies for bringing this news to you so late, but this is literally the first we have heard of it. The works were gazetted to commence 28th January 2025, for completion by 4th April 2025.
In a council statement you can google online, they suggest that temporary closures of sections of the pier are likely as timbers are refurbished along with guard rails and kerbing. A new paint job will spruce the old icon up once again, and future visitors will see it at its best. The chance of works being delayed due to inclement weather are very real given the timing of this restoration smack bang in the midst of our prime wet season. Council promises works will be postponed for the Easter school holidays and the pier made accessible if works are not completed on schedule beforehand.
Locals will be familiar with pier refurbishment works, remembering lengthy closures and restricted access in the past. One such past resto was at a time when the pier's fishing was as good as it had ever been, so the pier regulars found rather inventive ways of accessing the fish. Fences denying the law-abiding public access to a tempting fishery made them mere spectators of piscatorial pursuits being enjoyed by a cunning few who flouted the restrictions.
It might be naïve to believe everyone will do the right thing and accept the access restrictions this time around, but the majority will. Risking life and limb for the sake of a fish is foolhardy at best. Please respect the workers and their designated construction zones and don't get out there giving the rest of us fishos a bad name. It is going to be a frustrating period for many pier regulars, some of which seem to live for their daily wander on the planks.
The fishing hasn't been terribly flash on the pier this week it seems. There is plenty of herring beneath, but few predators. The odd queenfish terrorising the baitfish in the first channel has been the only real highlight, apart from the odd small shark.
Pencil squid haven't been terribly thick either, though there have been some caught at dawn and during the evening. Whiting continue to entertain the kids fishing the beach end, even though nearly all have been undersized. It would be nice to be able to share photographs of the construction sites and restoration works as progress is made. If you are so inclined, feel free to share them with us via our email for use in upcoming fishing reports. Send us your happy snaps any time you like too.
Landlubbers Can Seek Alternative Hotspots
Those boatless souls that savour the pier fishery might consider joining other landlubbers in their quests to extract fish from our foreshores. Conditions are quite promising right now, with creek flooding subsided and our fish fully acclimatised to the current conditions. There are many local options for those on shank's pony, so here are a few.
Whiting numbers are high along many of our beaches. Small fish are abundant in town, and more likely to keep the little kids happy whilst serious whiting fans look elsewhere. Heading west and trying the beachscape adjacent to O'Regans and Beelbi Creeks might see you connect to a better class of whiting. Considering the impending neaps however, such activities will be better as the full moon approaches.
In the meantime, some time spent flicking lures for flathead could be productive in the same areas. Larger quarry such as threadfin salmon, blue salmon and the soon-to-be-catchable barramundi might also be encountered. The water quality in the creeks themselves has improved recently, so a wander a short distance upstream could be on the cards. Quality mangrove jacks call these creeks (and Eli Creek) home and are very active at this time.
The beach fishos up Woodgate way are enjoying the spoils of dirty creeks and catching quality whiting. Decent numbers too, so perhaps a cruise up the beach is an option when the full moon rolls around. Shark fishos also frequent Woodgate Beach at night time and catch some enormous bities. Prime time for such activity now if you are so inclined.
The Booral Flats is certainly worth a visit for the more mud-tolerant hiker. The stronger onshore wind won't be appealing, nor will the day or two after the breeze eases, but when this east-facing mudflat isn't buffeted by winds, it can be super-productive. Whiting are the mainstay for some folks, whilst flatties are the next most common catch. Encounters with schools of passing grunter, or the odd blue or threadfin salmon can make a session in the skinny muddy stuff quite exciting. Remember, there is no gillnetting down that way anymore, and those flats have always been prime feeding grounds for displaced estuarine predators.
Speaking of such predators, have you heard about the croc sighting at Coonarr Beach up near Elliott Heads? Videoed in the mini-surf, the croc in question is still at large and possibly still on the move. Many want to poo-poo croc sightings as fake or mistaken in these parts, which is just plain stupid! We have had and probably still have the odd crocodile in our waters, so folks need to be wary enough to be safe, whilst not being alarmed.
Whispers of a recent sighting at a similar time not far from River Heads that supposedly originated from a local farmer has river regulars on the lookout. One individual shared his observation of a suspicious croc-like object making its way against the current in the river just this week, all the while doubting his own observation.
Dirty waters in hot conditions make for prime opportunities for crocs to relocate. Having been protected for over 50 years now, there are a lot of very old and large crocs calling northern Australia home. Big males don't like each other's company apparently, so territorial disputes see weaker combatants forced to find greener pastures. Our waters are just warm enough to sustain them and our wildlife has no fear. Happy hunting grounds for displaced saurians perhaps should they be forced south.
Having experienced two close encounters with crocs in our rivers (one in the Burrum and one in the Mary) many years ago, and having met a dozen blokes with similar stories to tell, I feel it is timely for another warning. Stay safe, by avoiding wading in dirty estuarine waters and don't turn your back to the water whilst pumping yabbies near the edge of a muddied stream. I've said it before and I will say it again; your chances of getting taken by a croc in our waters is very minimal, but it ain't zero! Should you have an encounter, or sight what you are sure is a crocodile, then please contact Qld Marine Parks staff immediately.
Anyway, all that aside, the River Heads peninsula could produce some interesting fish this week. The chance of a barra is a bonus in waters that have been a passageway for salmon and grunter post-flood. Long slender shallow-diving hardbodies were the weapons of choice in the past, and very likely still score when worked by someone adept in their manipulation. Soft plastics are far more commonly deployed by modern fishos, and rightly so, as many such lures can be worked through waters varying in both depth and current speed. Try low tide at night if you dare and see how you go.
Cheers Galore as Barra Season Opens
As of one second past midnight tonight, the Qld East Coast Barramundi Fishery is open. Frustrated barra fans that have done the right thing and avoided targeting them for a very long three months can now get back out there and target their favourite species. This is a very cheery time for many of us. Perhaps those that failed to obey the rules during the closure will cheer too as they post photos of their closed season exploits this coming week.
Barra-centric effort will be massive from an ever-growing sector of the local fishing fraternity this week, so it is comforting to know that the fish enjoyed a fruitful closed season where sufficient rains fell to ensure some degree of propagation. It is well-documented from the Fitzroy system to our north as to just how much recruitment occurs during a wet season. The bigger the wet; the greater the recruitment.
We are only part way through our wet season in earnest, so please consider this, and the additional future benefit for our fishery should more rains come and more large female barra get to spawn. Continue putting the big girls back, as you all should be doing, and their future in our waters is assured. This is our first summer since gillnetting effort was reduced, so barra in all waters other than the upper two-thirds of the Mary River are safe from the usual opening season assault.
Boaties will be racing each other to the barra schools they expect to find within our river systems, our creeks and down the straits. Those sporting livescope technology have a distinct advantage, and many of them will be leading the charge knowing full well where the barra are lurking. Recent minor flooding has left our rivers dirty, but they are improving dramatically. Barra displaced from the rivers often linger not far beyond whilst adjacent waters have some colour, so a burgeoning flats fishery is in the making right now.
Barra open season is big business for tackle stores, and we, like others, ensure we are well-stocked with every bit of arsenal you might need to get amongst them. The incredible range of lures on offer these days is mind-blowing and a disproportionate number of these lures are barra-focussed. Very large lures in the form of swimbaits and prawn imitations are the new hot products on our lure walls these days and now you have the chance to test them out legally.
Our waters host some very large barramundi and always have. Fish bettering the 130cm mark are far from common, but metre-beaters are relatively easy to find. There are apparently healthy numbers of 120cm fish about this summer. We may not enjoy the sheer quantity of barra that some northern outposts do, but boy oh boy, we make up for it with quality. Our average size is substantially superior to many ports, and possibly second only to the mighty Fitzroy. The Mary and the Great Sandy Straits very likely continue to host the very biggest of our barra, but the Burrum's fish are very impressive too.
Lake Lenthalls overflowed during the recent flooding and spewed thousands of mature fish into the river system below. Many have taken up station along the Burrum's length and many have parked in the vicinity of the heads. Those that had to witness the senseless and selfish slaughter of way too many large breeders from those waters during past season openers are hoping they don't have to see it again. There are no nets to run the gauntlet of any more, just we line fishos and those that consider it fair to shoot them, so feel free to offer your opinion to those you see being greedy.
A long list of potential barra hotspots will see some effort when conditions are right this week. Our smallest creeks and their surrounds should not be overlooked, particularly by keen landlubbers. Large barra can be found in the smallest of systems at times, and in pooled backwaters too. Man-made structures will be the platforms from which some might pursue their next barra, whilst others will be more original and seek their quarry beyond common ground.
Barra aren't the only estuarine predator on the hit list this week. Time spent steering away from the barra and seeking threadfin salmon will be productive for experienced Mary River fishos. Improving water quality has seen better numbers of large threadies taking soft vibes in the usual manner from deeper sections in the lower reaches of the river. Drain-bashers can have a crack at them when the tides get a bit bigger again too.
The Burrum's jack population is largely still there, and itching to smash the next cute little lure you think you can swim past it. Topwater options for both jacks and barra abound at present, so those not scared of the dark will be out there popping, skittering and walking their offerings past likely hangouts or cruising fish they hear in the night. Quality grunter are possible from the lower reaches, and schools of tarpon are working the deeper holes upstream if you seek some fun for the kids.
If you are a fan of eating prawns, or just favour them as bait, then make sure you have a cast net on board next time you hit one of our rivers or creeks. There are prawns being caught in the Burrum system, in the Mary system and also from local mainland creeks. The quality is very mixed, with more throw backs then keepers for most of us, but a few kilos is only a sweaty session away. Waiting for cooler weather and capitalising on more mature prawn will improve your return for effort ratio, but if you cannot wait, then go have a crack.
Bay Fisheries Plagued by Sharks
Thw weather wasn't great this week, but many still made their way out onto the bay. Australia Day forays up Wathumba way were less productive for sports fishos than the previous week. The hordes of mac tuna, so prolific only a week before, seemed to do a disappearing act along with the baitfish they previously preyed upon.
School mackerel have been feeding families fishing various parts of Platypus Bay. Schoolies closer inshore have been active too, as some folks chasing pencil squid can unfortunately attest. Don't limit yourself to only a couple of squid jigs in the bay folks, as mackerel take a shine to them in deeper waters and soon diminish your arsenal on a bad day.
The queenfish off Wathumba and elsewhere in Platypus Bay have been a real saviour for fishos seeking some otherwise scarce surface action. They have been smashing topwater lures with gusto and scoffing plastics jigged mid-water as well. Of course, the trevally population has been all over the jigs up that way and enough larger goldies can be found to ensure you raise a sweat at some stage.
Spanish mackerel are off limits for the next 3 weeks. You cannot take a spaniard from our waters from 1st- 21st February, nor between the same dates in March. There appear to be plenty around nonetheless, so you will just have to let them go if you catch one. Time your spanish hunting missions for the week in between the closures if you are so inclined, or focus your efforts on alternatives.
The sharks continue to give virtually every reef fisho a hard time in Hervey Bay. The shallows still give up a feed without too much taxing, but deeper reefs inshore and the northern bay reefs are a nightmare. There is very little effort out at the Gutters these days, which is reflective of the poor return for effort and changing attitude of new bay fishos learning all about our shark issues.
Avoid the noahs somehow these days and you won't have much trouble getting a bite from the nannygai, grassy sweetlip and cod inshore. Nannies up the island have been on the chew too, and a good haul can be a quick affair if you know a spot that other folks don't. Coral trout bite very well at this time of year, both in close and up north. Not many are making it past the sharks in the deep stuff, so a lot of folks continue to default back to the shallows for a feed of smaller fish.
Most Fish Seen in Years Off Wide Bay Bar
Talking to Greg Pearce of Double Island Point Fishing Charters fame last night was interesting and enlightening, as it always is. Greg's knowledge and intimate understanding of his piece of our ocean is incredible, and the results on his charters reflect this. He has many options, skippering a capable vessel that can comfortably fish a bit of sea and get places in quick enough time to change tactics when necessary.
Plans B and C etc have been necessary all summer as Greg has had to run from spot to spot to get away from the sharks. The bullies are nearly as thick down that way apparently, but Greg has the luxury of a lot more spots that we have and substantially less boat traffic to contend with. His observations in recent weeks led him to state that he is seeing the best reef fish shows that he has seen in his charter career. Masses of fish, and quality to boot, but few without attending bull sharks.
Huge numbers of quality pearl perch can be found in relatively close in waters our offshore fishos up this way would consider too shallow for that species. Getting a couple up, then getting sharked, then moving on to the next spot and doing the same thing can put a feed on ice for Greg's punters without doing damage to those fish aggregations. Knowing of and fishing small isolated spots can put numbers of various reef species on quick smart too, with the likes of reds, snapper, cod and sweetlip adding to a great take-home feed for lucky punters.
Interestingly, Greg's mates on trawlers working off Fraser Island are braining it. They are working the shallower grounds off there and filling up in quick time. Maybe the comments from Fraser Island locals regarding weed in the surf borne of trawler activity just offshore has some merit. The DPI has put the FADs back in apparently, but the only mahi mahi hanging around them have been smaller fish. Bigger dollies have rocked up boatside out of nowhere at times making for exciting moments on board and a photo opp or two for lucky clients.
After suggesting he might have some big cobia heading his way if they ever get sick of eating our prolific sand crabs, Greg shared some recent occasions where he spotted small cobia swimming alongside the bigger bull sharks. Mimicking the remoras perhaps and staying clear of those nasty teeth and bad attitudes whilst scrounging a few morsels remora-style. Clever little cobes.
Greg has entertained a few crews with the odd spanish mackerel session, which he is very happy to do when the sharks are so bad. This option will be off his agenda during the closure, but knowing him, he won't have any trouble finding alternative targets. The water is 29C on the shelf and 27C in close down that way at present by the way, so heaven help us all if a cyclone spins up and heads our way.
Fraser's Surf Scene Has Its Summertime Challenges
The dingoes aren't the only thing biting over on Fraser Island at present. Those darn march flies are absolutely atrocious! They are so bad, that campers parked at various spots along the beach have had to pack up and seek greener pastures at places such as Cathedral Beach Resort. Whilst not march fly free, the resort grounds are a far better place to kick back and relax than the beachscape this summer.
If you haven't experienced Fraser's marchies, then you are in for a shock should you be heading over there in summer. These things are huge, like horse flies out bush, and relentless in their desire to suck your blood. They cannot be kept at bay with repellent in anything but an over-dose, and some say the smell of a swatted fly attracts the others. Lose - lose it seems. The smaller green-eyed demons have been just as vicious of late and have been responsible for some very nasty lumps and irritating wounds.
Fishos trying to relax are prone to do the march fly dance quite often, so summer surf fishing isn't all roses on Fraser. The fishing has been good, and in some areas great. Issues with weed north towards the headlands last week was a thing, but opportunities to fish remained, as the weed was manageable. Flathead, GTs, tarwhine and choppers were mentioned by fishos a week ago, but all I've heard about this week is the flies. Oh, and the jellies. There is lots of large 'tiger' jellies in the surf down Eurong way and what appear to be blue bottles washed up on the sand. There is no weed from Eurong to Cornwells, but beach travel is tricky in places with shifting sands and newly-formed gutters adding some serious bounce to your 4WD adventures.
Back over on the western side of Fraser, Kingfisher Bay Resort's jetty has been the place to be for a feed of squid. The water is clear at high tide and a bit stained at low tide. There is baitfish in the form of herring and hardy heads there, but not big numbers. The fishing over there was tough last weekend, but can improve in the blink of an eye in such a prime location.
Good luck out there y'all... Jase