Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report - 23rd May 2025
by Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay 23 May 19:46 UTC
23 May 2025
Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report © Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay
Spectacular Weather for Show Day Long Weekend
It's the show day long weekend here on the Fraser Coast, and the weather is looking spectacular. That's three out of four long weekends in a row now - wow! Show attendance might be down on average this year as any keen fisho with a boat will be out on the briny making the most of the glamour conditions. No sign of rain, ultra-light zephyrs and building tides - holy cow - what a forecast!
Generalising the latest from the BOM, you can expect light and variable winds in the bay, with a westerly tendency after a light southerly kicks off the long weekend this morning. Classic conditions Saturday and Sunday should see light south-westerlies in the morning tending north-east in the afternoon - perfect! Monday is still looking good, but Tuesday not so much, as the westerly wind builds prior to the arrival of a cool change mid-week.
The tides are building and the moon waning as we approach next Tuesday's new moon. This means a little extra run in the tide daily, until the tides peak with the latest round of massive new moon springs. Night time high tides will be the bigger of the two, and will peak as high as 4.13m from lows bottoming out at a mere 0.48m come Tuesday. Tidal flow won't be nearly as dramatic over the weekend, but certainly sufficient to get our marine creatures on the move and on the chew.
Pier Restoration Works Over-Due for Completion
Restoration works out near the end of Urangan Pier were scheduled for completion on the 15th just gone. Recent delays mean the workers are still hard at it, but they only have the last 15 metres to go. They should be packed up and out of there in no time, and we will confirm this once known.
In the meantime, the pier has been fishing quite well for a few pelagics. Broad-barred mackerel have been the star performers, keeping locals and tourists busy sending live baits or spoons their way. There have been a few school mackerel out there as well, and the odd large GT apparently. The herring are quite thick, so there is plenty of tucker to attract passing pelagics, that might even see a stray tuna or two come within casting range as these tides peak.
It hasn't been all beer and skittles out the end for mackerel fishos of late, as the pesky whalers have been rushing in to tax any broadies left hanging in the water too long. Swift and accurate action with a swinging pier gaff has been necessary to secure your mackerel before it is torn to shreds. The whalers have only been 6-7 footers, but they have been ultra-aggressive and quick to pounce.
Flathead have been a consistent catch on and off for many weeks. There are large flatties caught regularly, and given that these critters are a mainstay of the winter fishery, we should see and hear of even more in coming weeks. The neap tides will suit flathead fans best, but they are possible at any time.
The bream are yet to show up in any real fashion. Just the scrappy little tackers that are more pest than desirable target. The pier's waters are prime for an invasion of spawning bream real soon, with masses of baitfish that will supplement their diet of crustaceans etc during their habitation. The next full moon in a fortnight or so will very likely have pier bream fans hanging over the rails out towards the deep end as they bounce their well-rigged baits back beneath their feet with the tide. A cold snap between now and then will ensure this scene unfolds.
Carry Squid Jigs with You from Now On
Whether you are boating in the southern bay or straits; wandering our beaches or rocky foreshores, or even heading out to fish the pier; you should ensure you have a suitable selection of squid jigs handy. Not so much the tiny little jigs we use for pencillies, but the slightly larger 2.5 and 3.0 sized models we use for tiger squid.
We don't enjoy the big numbers of tiger squid these days that we used to. You can thank a booming population of more educated fishos for that. Sight-fishing for these cool cephalopods is very trendy amongst modern fishos and virtually everyone knows how, when and where to catch them (for the most part). The tasty buggers don't stand much of a chance of breeding locally like they used to. It seems to be a "get in and get 'em before the next crew does" approach these days.
It's sad for old hands like yours truly to think that never again will we see the days where we could spend hours just catching and letting go big numbers of fat roed-up 'localies' from several spots, after filling a bucket with a selection of prime squid for a few meals and some primo bait. Racing each other from hotspot to hotspot whilst trying to stay beneath the radar if actually catching them is a necessity these days that was rarely an issue not that many years ago (pre-COViD).
So, the race will be on from now on. Our waters have cleared nicely and are inviting for the squid to return. Boaties have endless options, focussing mainly on structure-filled shallows, whilst shore-based fishos have plenty of spots they can try too. The Pialba-Gatakers Bay foreshores are a prime example of such terrain, but careful assessment of the tide and the landfall should be undertaken before you go trudging all the way out some spur of rock in hope.
Time and practice will soon have you understanding squid movements and dud downtime in the wrong spots at the wrong time will be minimised. As winter unfolds and our waters get even clearer, what squid are left will roam further into waters many wouldn't even consider their domain. Until then, ensure you carry squid jigs with you even if you aren't on a dedicated squid hunt, as you will be kicking yourself otherwise if a big plump one, or perhaps even a whole school, rocks up unannounced.
Before any of you consider mass slaughter of our pressured squid population, remember that there is a strict bag limit on tiger squid these days. It is 20 only, and that, like everything else, is a possession limit. You won't find tiger squid or calamari squid listed in Qld Fisheries regulations, which seems a bit silly, but they fall into the 'default limit of 20' for any marine creature otherwise not regulated. Arrow (pencil) squid deserved a dedicated bag limit (of 50), but no number was assigned the tiger squid it seems.
Inshore Scene Ready for Addition of Snapper
Baitfish are already amassing inshore and our waters are clearing beautifully, so it will be no time at all and snapper will return for their annual spawning run. This new moon is bound to see a few proper knobbies caught, but whether or not their captors are prepared to declare said captures is yet to be seen. Cunning locals that have the snapper scene wired from eons of past trial and error now share our waters with teched-up modern day gurus, all competing for a heavily diminished snapper population that is a mere remnant of Hervey Bay's past glory.
Sharks can be blamed for the serious decline in our inshore snapper population, and these pests will most certainly have an impact on stocks again this season. All fishos should be shark savvy these days, and should never remain fishing a ground plagued with the murderous monsters. We can live in hope that the shark issue this winter won't be as bad as recent winters, based purely on a seemingly diminished issue during the recent tuna season. Here's hoping anyway.
The usual inshore hotspots will be prospected by many crews this weekend, no doubt. From Moon Ledge, through the various artificial reefs to the grounds off the Burrum; there will be snapper fans eagerly jigging plastics or soaking baits in hope of a run from a big knobby. Smaller squire have been all that has been officially reported (to us anyway) as of the past fortnight, so we are kicking off from a very low base for this late in autumn. Whispers of a couple of knobbies caught just yesterday are promising, so expect photos of their proud captors next week.
Should the snapper fail to excite, then bycatch of golden trevally will have some fishos grinning (and others groaning). Time spent targeting nannygai will be time well spent, particularly over this set of 'darks'. Avoid the noahs, and a few plump little inshore nannies could supplement a feed of snapper quite nicely thank you. Grounds within our shipping channels might produce a few, but it is up the island or out in the central bay where the better numbers will be found.
Otherwise, a feed a fat sweetlip is on the cards from many inshore grounds, including the Roy Rufus and other ledge or ferny sponge country found throughout our shipping channels. Cod will be active when the tide turns, as will any coral trout you might find. Live baits or the prawn imitation softies will be their undoing, as usual. Our water temperature is about to drop quite dramatically when we get a prolonged cold snap, but until then, it is happy days for the warm water loving species just mentioned.
The shallow reefs may be less productive due to increased water clarity, yet there have been catches of quality grunter off Gatakers Bay that won't be the last this month. The bigger spring tides of the new moon will have the grunter fired up, not only in the shallower fringes, but out in the deeper water of the southern bay as well. There will be schools off the Burrum there somewhere; some out across 'the banks', and plenty down the straits. They might turn up as bycatch whilst fishing for snapper for some, but are certainly a fish worth targeting in their own right as well.
Tuna Not as Prolific as They Were Recently
It seems as though the main biomass of longtail tuna has moved on, as they do at this time of year. Left in their wake, however, is some of the largest models you will encounter, just not in such massive numbers. Finding longtails out in the open bay can be a challenge at present apparently, and even the mac tuna schools are scattered. This is not to say that you won't find them out there; just that it isn't the free-for-all of weeks past.
The western bay up Theodolite Creek - Coonarr way can be very interesting for tuna fans at this time, and word of large longtails off the leads out from the Burnett confirm the option to head west and north to be a viable one. However, it is the big fish cruising the shipping channels south of Moon Point towards Kingfisher Bay that are so eagerly pursued by a dedicated bunch of Hervey Bay based fishos.
These tuna can be super wary, and ultra-frustrating, and with some models reaching the 20-kilo size range, can be a nightmare to land with sharks in the area. All the same, they are impressive fish for tuna fans and within range of the smallest of vessels right now. Be prepared to mix it up to get the bite, and fall back on the ever-reliable jerkshads if your favourite stickbaits are failing to get a positive response.
Spanish Mackerel are as Prolific as They Have Ever Been
Reducing commercial effort and dropping recreational bag limits to a mere one spanish mackerel has seen their population explode here in Hervey Bay. The Arch Cliffs 6 Mile remains central to a lot of the spanish action, whilst the reefs dotted along Fraser's west coast from Coongul to Moon are hosting plenty too. Maringa Bommie has had a few drop in for a visit, as has Sammies. The Outer Banks continues to see spaniards passing by, and there should be no surprises if they turn up at the Fairway or at the Burrum 8 Mile.
Masses of herring and isolated schools of yakkas have been the drawcard for schools of spanish mackerel, but they won't let a school of bonito pass by without a glance either. There is a lot of school fish in the 7-13 kilo range out there, and no doubt numbers of larger fish as well. I have harped on plenty recently and in the past about the risk of ciguatera poisoning from these critters, so you assess your risks and take your chances as you feel fit. Few suffer the consequences in reality, but ask anyone who has and they will assure you it ain't worth the risk.
A much safer consumption option is the abundant school and broad-barred mackerel you can find within a short drive of our boat ramps. The broadies are about to move into some pretty skinny water up on the flats for feeding forays throughout winter, but can still be found harassing baitfish on various deeper inshore reef sites for now.
Schoolies will be a real pest for snapper or grunter fishos trying to catch their quarry off the Burrum coast in coming weeks. This set of darks will have them feeding in quite close in places, and possibly in numbers. The usual reef systems will host schools so long as there are herring present in numbers. Trollers can focus their runs around the fringes of these reefs or down past the line of beacons leading from the Fairway to Urangan.
Queenfish are bound to excite a few fishos over this set of spring tides. Sessions chasing them around the bay islands should be productive, if not a little crowded. There will be schools hugging the drop-offs that fringe Fraser's western flats in places and schools lingering around reef systems of Platypus Bay. Golden trevally will also feature in catches this week no doubt. Some will be bycatch of course, whilst others will be from dedicated efforts at the Outer Banks and up the island.
Bigger Boats Pointed Offshore This Weekend
Such primo weather has had larger boat owners gathering a crew to share the fuel costs of their planned explorations offshore this weekend. There might be a little swell on the bar which could see a few smaller boat skippers puckering up, but it should be easy to read as it will be all swell and no sea. Heading north and beyond the influence of Breaksea Spit will appeal to those that know their way around up there, and good catches are expected from a few experienced local crews.
Red emperor are bound to be a major target for many, as will be the large nannies on the flat country up north. Coral trout will be targeted with jigged lures or live baits when the tide is slack enough. Otherwise, it will be soaking baits for the likes of the red fish, sweetlip and tuskies. No doubt plenty of cod will be caught, and hopefully shark issues will be minimal.
Those that head east of Breaksea instead will have a vast range of reefies on offer, that could see a very colourful icebox for the long run home. The shoal country will be jigged and bottom-bashed for reds, red throat, green jobbies, maori cod and coronation trout, and there are bound to be plenty of solid tuskies caught in the process. The hussar can be awfully thick at this time of year, and hard to beat at times, so bait up big and annoy their picking habits whilst you await a bigger fish to steal your bait from them. Oh, and bring some back for me too Rory, bugger ya!
Offshore fishos sporting electric reels and bent butt rods will only spend so long on the shoals before they head over the shelf for some deep dropping. All the usual deep-water targets will be out there waiting, including pearl perch, snapper, jobfish of many forms and various slimy big cods. There is bound to be plenty of interesting photos next week from this weekend's efforts.
Some will venture towards the Gutters or off Rooneys Point instead of heading offshore this weekend. They may do okay, but will have to pay the taxman if they linger around the prominent and well-known ledges. Trout, sweetlip, tuskies, nannies and maybe the odd red could share esky space if the sharks can be avoided. Otherwise, it might be a selection of less appealing fish or just smaller fish in general that are easier to skull-drag up without the attention-grabbing head turns and battles of larger fish.
The spanish mackerel have been quite abundant out at the Gutters of late. It shouldn't take much time at all to put a boat limit of 2 spaniards on board. Then you will be just cursing them and trying to avoid them all day as they snip off baits and lures meant for more colourful critters. Schoolies are a possible issue on the southern-most sector of the Southern Gutters too. They are typically a large version of that species, so a handy box filler for those that don't have the reef fish blinkers on.
Get Amongst the Barra Before the Chill Sets In
The waters of the Burrum system are clearing nicely and the barra up that way have been on the chew. Plenty of fish can be found with a little searching, and they are well-scattered throughout the four rivers of that system. This set of makes should have them firing on all cylinders as they expend a bit of energy feeding up before the cold snap coming next week.
There are plenty of bream in the lower reaches too if they take your fancy. Cricket scores are possible in the right spot with a little berley to get them on the chew. You might find a school of grunter, or just the odd stray as you drift the flats and channels at various stages of the tide. The big new moon tides will have them on the chew no doubt. Flatties might also feature in catches for some Burrum fishos, as might blue salmon and even the odd jewie.
Putting some effort in to catch a late season mangrove jack or five in such warm weather is a great idea this weekend. The extra run in the tide will favour the bait fishos, but lure fishos are certainly in the running too. Expect big jacks if you linger in the mid-lower reaches, and perhaps numbers in schools amassing for their exodus offshore. Dark nights of the new moon offer an opportunity for such a migration, so lucky be those that get in their way and intercept them.
Hit the Mary system instead if you prefer, and you might get lucky with even bigger barra down that way. The dirty waters of the Mary are becoming more saline week by week and the barra have been on the move. Threadies of all sizes are possible, with schools of smaller fish possible in ridiculously thick schools. Blue salmon bycatch is a real chance, and a few flatties are only a little effort around the drains away.
Beyond our rivers, the vast expanses of the Great Sandy Straits will appeal to a few savvy locals this week. The big springs will drain the flats and creeks and our estuarine predators will be there to pounce on the abundance of baitfish and prawns forced from the mangroves. Barra, threadies, blues, flatties, jacks and cod will all be possible, as will queenfish, grunter, jacks and jewfish. Whiting and bream are also on the cards for those inclined to pursue them, so there is no shortage of target species down that way this week.
The sharks have been a problem throughout the shipping channels of the straits recently. You might thank the passage of tuna for that to some extent. Folks fishing for jewfish at Kingfisher Bay Resort's jetty have been sharked relentlessly, with both undersized and fish to (what would have been) 90cm being taxed. Squidding will be a popular pastime over that way for some time to come. Bream will be a feature within a month or so, but for now it is jewies at night, flatties and occasional passing pelagics by day, and a few whiting for those that wander the beach.
Buckets of Big Bananas
Two weeks ago, word got out that the banana prawns had turned up at Buxton Hole and it was on for young and old. Pros rocked up, as did the usual locals, along with a string of newcomers new to the local prawning scene. Bucket and boat limits were easily achieved, as the prawns were so easily identified on a sounder in the deeper water.
As the Buxton scene lost appeal due to the number of boats, many a local river regular scanned the Burrum further upstream, as well as its feeder rivers, and alternative patches of bananas were found amassing in select deeper holes. As word spread even wider, even those relatively quiet backwater stretches of the other rivers became a little overcrowded as more and more folks discovered others already on the prawn elsewhere.
A few days ago, the prawning grounds off Woodgate fired as well, spreading the effort, but also attracting even more crews to the motherlode emerging up there. Woodgate had hot and cold days this week, but generally-speaking, it has been on fire. It will be very popular this weekend no doubt, and why not, with such clean and large banana prawns on offer. Meanwhile, there is prawns on the move in the Mary system and down the straits as well, but many don't care with such a better-quality product waiting for them to the north.
As with so many highly productive fisheries, some are tempted to exceed their quota of product and this has most certainly been the case on the prawning grounds. The same faces and the same boats can be seen day after day scoring their bucket or boat limits with a general disregard for the 'in-possession' component of said limits. Fisheries have been too smart for some, positioning themselves rather cleverly where few might expect them. A number have been nabbed for their excesses on-water, with search warrants issued and hefty fines handed out for freezer contents at residences.
So, if you haven't had a chance to get amongst the banana prawns of late, then now is your chance. Grab your biggest top pocket net, and head for any of the aforementioned areas. You are bound to score bigtime and be feasting for days to come.
Drop some crab pots in and score a few muddies from the river you select too if you wish. They are continuing their march back upstream and are potting well. Those heading off the Burrum coast could run pots out wide for sandies perhaps (avoiding the Woodgate Green Zone of course), as the sand crabs have been on the move too, both up that way and up in the eastern bay. These big tides should see good catches of sandies closer to home as well, in only a few metres of water, for those less inclined to head wide and haul pots from the deeper water.
And finally, a big question on many readers' lips at this time of year is "have the winter whiting showed up yet"? Well, in short, yes, with schools found off Woodgate and out near the NU2, as well as smaller numbers elsewhere. Chances are they will front up off Gatakers Bay etc sometime soon, if not this weekend. Until then, it's off to Woodgate to catch whiting that are quite often smaller than the prawns up that way right now. Seriously, take a cast net too!
Good luck out there y'all... Jase