Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report – 25th July 2025
by Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay 27 Jul 06:52 UTC
Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report © Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay
A Damp Weekend and Cooler Thereafter
So much for the brilliant weather we were supposed to enjoy last week. There were a couple of brief periods where the winds were light, but all-in-all the week didn't shape up nearly as well as the online weather sites had predicted. It's a good thing our lives don't rely on accurate weather forecasts from the BOM these days. No wait - yes, they do!
Anyway, let's see if the week ahead turns out anything like they are predicting. They have been talking up a significant rain event this weekend. Timing of impact keeps varying, surprise surprise, but it looks like we will see it late Saturday; through the evening and into Sunday. Just enough rain to keep our grass green and probably just enough to keep a lot of folks off the water.
Winds-wise, it isn't the prettiest of pictures. This morning's 10-15 knot south-easter will tend more easterly this evening and then swing into the north at around 15 knots Saturday as the rain band nears. You could sneak out early and hit the bay, but the estuary scene looks more appealing. Expect a 20-knot north-wester Sunday morning until the rain clears. A westerly of some sort will blow it offshore, hopefully by midday.
Offshore south-westerly winds to 15 knots seem likely Monday, meaning cooler air temperatures once again. There could be a brief window of light wind Tuesday before another rain band lines us up for a mid-week weather event, that could see prevailing stronger winds thereafter seeing out the working week. All conjecture really, as believing longer-range weather forecasts seems foolhardy these days. Monitor it daily perhaps, and hopefully they are wrong again and better weather graces our region.
We can at least rely on the moon and tides, and their impact this week is quite significant. Quite large spring tides to 4 metres are flooding our flats and flushing our creeks at present, courtesy of today's new moon. Diminished tidal flow thereafter will lessen the impact and water clarity will improve again as the week wears on. Many Fraser Coast fisheries are at their best at this time of year, so let's take a look at a few of your options this week.
Baitfish Numbers Improving Beneath the Pier
It has been a substantially more interesting week for Urangan Pier fishos this week. The making tides drew herring to pier waters at times, yet they are still reluctant to set up permanent residency. Schools of herring are appearing over certain stages of the tide, then disappearing again just as quickly as they arrived. Thankfully, the pike are lazy buggers and they have been a constant for quite some time.
When the herring have been in attendance, there has been small numbers of school mackerel and tailor predating on them. Members of both species have been very much on the small side, as can be expected in July, but legal fish have been in the mix. Arming yourself with a selection of metal lures, in particular the Flasha Spoons, means you are ready to spin-up a few mackerel or tailor if the herring aren't there for live baits.
As all pier regulars know, the 35-gram Flasha is the main actor for pier waters, and elsewhere in the bay too. This time of year though, many folks lean towards the smaller and chunkier 30-gram model for the tailor. The 15-gram Flasha is an incredible smaller version, with every bit of the excellent action that makes the 35-gram model so popular. It's smaller profile sometimes being just the trick needed to trigger a bite from warier fish in clear waters.
Catching pike has been fun for the kids and a necessary chore for any jewfish fans planning an assault on the pier's mulloway after dark. There is a knack to catching pike in the first channel when the tide is low, but out the deep end it is just a matter of larger bait jigs with bigger hooks and sturdier branch lines than those favoured for pier herring.
Enough jewies are being caught to suggest they are a viable option. Some are undersized, but others are legal fish. Flathead remain a chance every day, but their numbers appear better just about everywhere else other than the pier. Bream numbers and size are still only very average unfortunately; a result of the lack of herring this winter no doubt.
Northerly winds associated with this weekend's rain event are likely to stir any whiting lurking near our town beaches into action. Whiting fishing is about to become a serious pastime for many beach-goers in coming weeks, and a few local gurus are bound to investigate the new moon bite triggered by the onshore winds. We have just received a fresh supply of our usual cured beach worms, finally, after a fortnight's hiatus. Grab some, or go pump some yabbies, and you might just find yourself dining on fresh whiting next week.
Landlubbers Spoilt for Choice Right Now
Whilst boaties might be lamenting the less-than-ideal weather this week, those that get their fishing buzz from shore-based activities have many options to choose from. The most obvious is the flathead fishery that is going from strength to strength in and around our local creeks. The mouths of the creeks and nearby flats have been particularly popular this week, and for good reason.
Remembering that the flatties are gathering in preparation for future spawning, and that all the bigger fish are heavy in roe right now should mean everyone is doing the right thing and letting them go (even if they are under the legal maximum size). Naive statement? Sure, but we can live in hope. Good handling practices and tending towards soft plastics in lieu or treble-armed lures when the biggest fish are targeted helps to minimise our impact on their intended spawn.
All local creeks have given up flatties this week, and all will again next week. Flats such as the Booral mudflats are also particularly productive flathead hunting grounds, and periods of offshore breeze have aided success down that way. Whiting, bream and blue salmon have also been on offer from those flats, so mastering the tides and getting your feet muddy has been worthwhile of late.
Further to the south thereof, the rocky shores of the River Heads peninsula have been quite exciting for a few fishos this week. Encounters with blue salmon have been a highlight, on anything from small plastics to walk-the-dog style stickbaits. The draining tides post new moon will see them hyperactive as they herd any baitfish trying to exit the nearby flats. The fact that schools of herring are amassing near the heads lately is drawcard enough in the deeper waters.
Small tailor and a handful of tiny mackerel have also made their presence felt on the eastern side of the River Heads peninsula in recent days. Cleaner waters with the higher stage of the tide are the go if you are keen to sample these fish, and you would struggle to do better than to spin for them with the very same Flasha Spoons mentioned above. Blue salmon just happen to be suckers for the same spoons, so you can do no wrong by relying on those lures.
You can expect a better run of both school mackerel and tailor from the River Heads rocks throughout August. For now, if you want bigger tailor, then you might want to head for the rocks at the opposite end of Hervey Bay township. Larger tailor have been absolutely smashing stickbaits retrieved rhythmically from the rocks up there, and some of those fish have been proper-chunky.
Berleying and casting out unweighted baits from the rocks at Gatakers Bay is a worthy option for bream fans that aren't too anxious about getting snagged or busted-up. Big numbers of bream can be caught and truly large fish of 40cm or more landed from those jagged rocks up there are worthy of some sort of bragging rights. Boaties have it much easier of course, and they can catch cricket scores of fat bream with ease.
It goes without saying that any landlubber should carry squid jigs at this time. Actively targeting them is a knack that very few master when it comes to the vast expanse of rocks Pialba to Gatakers. Time spent pondering where and when the squid will cruise into or retreat from a select bay or finger of rock is often better than blindly walking all the way out there to fail and then return to try elsewhere.
2.5 size squid jigs are the go for this activity. Light enough to swim through the shallowest of water, with big enough spikes attached to haul the heavier squid from the water. Landlubbers will get a crack at squid in coming weeks and months if they are observant, and this could be from several locations beyond the usual rocky shorelines.
Impressive Flathead Fishing in Our Estuaries
Boaties hitting the creeks and the lower reaches of our rivers are revelling in the abundance of flathead. Excellent numbers can be found in many waterways, reminiscent of better times pre-COViD. The big new moon tides really drain these streams and any feeder drains etc, so catching flatties is even easier at present than it was over the neaps a week ago.
The Burrum has been very popular amongst flathead fans, as has the lower Mary. The vast network of creeks and channels that makes up the Great Sandy Straits is even better again, and Fraser's western creeks and flats in particular are a true haven for big numbers of flathead. Limited netting activity means better numbers, so we can only blame our fraternity if flathead numbers decline inappropriately at this time.
The current flathead fishery lends itself to a little experimentation for those of you that are so inclined. Unlike years past where just catching flathead was almost a bonus sometimes, you now have the option to try out all manner of lures and techniques to mix it up and keep it interesting. Softies will always reign supreme, yet large minnows and swimbaits that the southerners often favour to keep from getting bored are worth a try. Crimp those barbs down on the trebles and see if you can sight-fish monster lizards in skinny water. Great fun for you and an absolute hoot for the kids.
It just so happens that we landed a couple of huge ranges of spanky new soft plastics in recent days. We have been frantically getting them up on display so you can give them a test this weekend. Those of you that are shop regulars will have noticed the unusual vacant lure wall real estate in recent weeks. That void has been filled with a range of very exciting new offerings that are bound to get your wrists twitching. Turn around whilst you are admiring those new softies and you will discover a whole host of other new offerings from another big brand name that will have many of you drooling.
I am not being specific with the above teaser as there are embargos on releasing information until a given date. Needless to say, all will be revealed via social media not long after you read this. Don't wait for the official release if you are in the neighbourhood though, and get in and get some before everyone else. Whiting and bream fishos are well catered for, flathead fishos are spoilt rotten, and many new reef and jewfish lures are just aching to be purchased and put to work. The fish really don't stand a chance these days!
Local Flats Fisheries at Their Best
The local flats are just the place to be trying some of the swish new softies this week. Flathead are pretty much a given of course, whilst time spent chasing bream and whiting will also be highly productive. Opt for tiny topwater and enjoy the visuals, or go sub-surface and trick the cunning larger fish with tiny hardbodies, softies and blades. This fishery has rebounded in a big way and serious numbers of fish can be wrangled on finesse gear.
Daytime lure fishing techniques are favoured by many nowadays, whilst the historic gathering of dedicated 'summer' whiting fans gears up for night-time sessions chasing their beloved 'ting. This fishery will hit its straps now, and maintain the rage for a couple of months. Success will come for those that focus on the bigger new and full moon tides that rise early in the evening. Low tide departure to enable yabbies to be pumped on the way being part of their end game.
Whiting fishos with the blinkers on will only be happy when they have scored bag limits of plump 'ting and nothing else. No bycatch of bream or other annoying time wasters. Others might enjoy the variety that comes with bycatch, particularly when it is line screamers like big grunter or blue salmon, or maybe just a lazy lizard or two. If you fall in the latter category, then ensure you have alternative outfits to take on all-comers and leader sizes to match.
Flats sessions down the straits can see you getting amongst large queenfish, small goldies and maybe even little GTs or permit. Lots of folks are hoping for a more productive permit (aka snub-nosed dart or oyster-cracker) fishery now that gill netting has been reduced. Fly fishos in particular are salivating at the thought and eagerly tying crab and shrimp patterns in hope.
Other skinny waters down the straits will be dominated by blue salmon in schools many of you are yet to witness. Make the effort one day and if you time it right, you will not be disappointed. Picture swirling schools of sambos gathering for an assault on a nearby flat when the water is the right height and colour. Throw in schools of grunter of various sizes on the same day on the same flat and you have pandemonium in skinny water.
When the tide isn't right for the flats fishery, you can always steer towards a ledge, a hole in a creek or other likely terrain and target jewfish. There are ample spots down the straits that host jewies in small numbers, and they are quite an easy target. Soft vibes or prawn imitation plastics (plus some new shapes in one of the new range mentioned above too by the way) will all tempt jewfish. You can even tie on a deep diver and go for a leisurely troll. Estuary cod bycatch might keep pulling you up, but that's not a bad thing for everyone.
Tailor are fast becoming a pest down the straits for some of us, and a bonus target species for others. From the bottom of Woody Island to Kingfisher and throughout much of the main shipping channels of the straits, tailor are gathering in bigger numbers. They are still somewhat scattered and highly mobile, so you need to be on the move too. There are baby choppers that annoy all and sundry, but enough quality fish to get tailor fans excited.
Spinning with spoons will soon find them, as will trolling minnow-style lures. Tying on stickbaits and mixing up your retrieves will soon have you discovering what turns tailor on, and you might enjoy a little bycatch of queenfish or trevally in the process. Keep an eye out for big broad-barred mackerel whilst traversing the straits. They haven't been mentioned much of late, but there should be some big fish terrorising baitfish down there somewhere. We could even see a run of rat yellowtail kingfish at the Picnics or Kingfisher sometime soon.
Bay Options Whilst Snapper Off Limits
Given that snapper are our primary drawcard for inshore bay fishos this time of year, many folks are left a little bewildered as to what they can target and do so without impacting on the spawning snapper. School mackerel are one such species, that many folks are quite keen on, and they have started to show up in better numbers in the southern and western bay.
Those that might have otherwise enjoyed a little slow trolling with deep divers for snapper in winter can now tie on minnow-style lures that don't dive as deep and troll them about at a brisk pace of 6- 8 knots. Finding schoolies this way is pretty easy, and even easier if you focus on larger reef systems within our shipping channels that are hosting schools of baitfish.
The Burrum 8 Mile, the Fairway and the reefs across 'the banks' will all be worth prospecting for mackerel. So too other reef systems up the west coast that are highly productive at this time, and offer a bonus grunter fishery in shallow waters too. There will be a lot of small schoolies in the current mix. The ratio of legal versus undersized fish will quickly change in the very near future, but for now, be prepared to throw a few rats back.
Spanish mackerel are highly likely to turn up inshore some time soon, as they follow the baby schoolies and other baitfish. They are most prolific in the northern bay at present, and are proving hard to avoid at times at the Gutters. As you all know, big cobia can also be found up that way, and a serious influx of trevally will be a feature of the August Gutters fishery.
Large longtail tuna to 20 kilos have been reported from Platypus Bay waters recently. Incidental snapper bycatch until recently, but maybe an option for fast-retrieved plastics or metals from the depths. Queenies are still providing lots of fun for sportsfishos up that way somewhere and trevally numbers are growing.
Humpback whales have started to arrive too apparently, so a little extra caution and a good watch is mandatory. In coming weeks and months, pods of whales and solo individuals will spread far throughout the bay, and night travel in particular becomes quite risky. Whale numbers are higher than ever, so we need to be more vigilant than ever. Offshore fishos need to be even warier, as the troughs between waves can hide all sorts of 'speed bumps'.
Those of you unfamiliar with our waters should perhaps google boating etiquette around humpback whales. There are rules restricting your approach distance and rules dictating how you should pass them. Do not be complacent close inshore either, as a few whales each year decide to grace us with their presence quite close to Urangan Harbour, Pt Vernon and even down the straits. Many traverse our inshore shipping channels each season and the odd one has even entered the Mary.
Winter Whiting Proving Fussy at Times
If the BOM has it right this week, then offshore forays will be put on hold. Indeed, the weather looks ordinary enough to suggest that a large proportion of the boats launched this week might just be chasing a feed of winter whiting in close. Those folks are likely to score a good feed in the process too, as the winteries are largely well-spread throughout a selection of the usual grounds.
Drift accuracy and persistence, coupled with observant skippers and the right baits, have been key elements to success when the winteries haven't been in a ravenous mood. Feedback from crews that fished west of Woody Island last week suggest that the best catches came when drifting the shoulder of the banks that skirt the channels down there. Drift the midst of the channel for nought, and up on the flat itself for the same result. Hit the sweet spot and a good feed was fast-coming.
That feedback is noted, yet should not be considered gospel for every day. The whiting favour select depths and bottom with the right substrate and abundance of edible morsels to warrant their being there. On another tide, at another time, results may well have varied and the flats or the channels may have out-fished the shoulders.
So too, the ongoing debate about best baits for winter whiting. Yes, yabbies are hard to beat in any circumstance, and very likely consumed in favour of all other baits when the biggest and wariest of the well-fed whiting are all that is beneath your boat. Plenty of times though, simple squid strips, pieces of worm or GULP worm is all that is needed to secure a great little feed, and the sheer convenience of these baits cannot be denied.
Those that caught fish down Woody way last week were very happy with the average size of the fish. Toads were only a problem occasionally and were avoidable, which is always good. Summeries were found by some folks, adding a bigger class of whiting to their haul for the day's efforts, and reinforcing the need to ensure you can tell the difference between the size-regulated whiting and the winteries.
Schools found near the NU2 a week ago did the disappearing act on those that fronted-up too late apparently, and Gatakers Bay is still rather quiet. So, it looks like most effort will be south-east of the harbour, or somewhere out in front of the town beaches this week. That is, unless you want to try your luck down the straits. Given the abundance of alternative fisheries you can tap into down that way during your outing makes it seem most appealing to me.
Good luck out there y'all...... Jase