Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report – 10th October 2025
by Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay 10 Oct 12:34 UTC
10 October 2025
Brocky Ridgeway and his boys, Kyro & Kingy, with a sample of their latest day on the bay. No doubt it will be marlin next, eh boys © Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay
Northerly winds prevail
Two weeks on from our last fishing report and we are now entrenched in a typical spring weather pattern. Light to moderate northerly winds, interspersed with brief spells of cooler onshore south-easterlies saw out the past fortnight. We even enjoyed a decent storm that dropped a little hail to our immediate west.
The week ahead looks like more of the same, with the north wind set to dominate the local weather-scape. Northerlies of 10-15 knots look set to persist day in day out from now through the weekend. Bank on the 15-knot part of that forecast and be prepared for even stronger wind in the late afternoon.
A north-wester Monday will be a fair indication that a change is on the way. That change will arrive Tuesday in the form of a south-easter that will likely follow a band of storms or at least showers of some degree Monday evening. An onshore breeze will prevail for a couple of days thereafter, before hopefully easing prior to the next round of northerlies.
The full moon is a few days behind us now as our tidal flow gradually diminishes and we approach the last quarter phase next Tuesday. Neap tides are next on the agenda before the tides 'make' again mid-next week. There are good times ahead for estuary fishos in particular this week.
Fishery changing weekly at the pier
Looking at the past fortnight, Urangan Pier fishos enjoyed a few exciting days and a few not-so-exciting. A week or so ago, there were plenty of average-sized broad-barred mackerel being caught, as well as a handful of longtail tuna. Those species have since moved on, apparently, courtesy of the tides and waters dirtied by the northerly winds.
School mackerel have been more consistent, offering a little action for pelagic fans most days. Spinning with Flasha spoons is as popular as ever, and remains the easiest way to "sample" the pier's waters and see what's about without the hassle of securing live baits and waiting for a bite. More pelagic species will join the schoolies once the tides start making again we trust, assuming the water quality remains reasonable.
Schools of whiting have been spotted as they cruise just off the beach and along the sandbank. Whiting fishos had ample opportunity to get amongst them over the recent full moon, thanks to the light northerly creating cover and feeding opportunities at the beach end. Fewer fishos tried the pier than elsewhere though it seems, as the town beaches and the groynes were favoured by many.
A good feed wasn't too hard to secure whilst the moon had plenty of pull. The state of play right now suggests a substantially diminished bite, however, waves crashing onto our beaches when the north wind strengthens can be trigger enough to get at least a few whiting on the bite. If you were ever to catch a feed of whiting over the neaps, it is in conditions such as these.
Whiting numbers along our town beaches are edging closer to expectations, and the coming weeks should be quite productive. The average size is quite okay at present, though we aren't hearing of too many folks bragging about particularly big fish. Be ready for the lead up to the new and full moons in coming weeks if you are a whiting fan, and get the smaller kids involved as this fishery offers a ton of fun for the whole family.
Bream have largely moved on, returning to our estuaries to join their pikey cousins for the warmer months. If you haven't caught pikey bream before, then you just might in coming months. They tend to lurk around mangrove slips with plenty of flooded vegetation and show a tendency to snatch at lures meant for much larger quarry. Catch them as you would a silver bream otherwise, and be prepared for a scrappy tussle around the mangroves on the light gear.
Flathead numbers are not what they were over past months, but you can still catch a few. Try the local creeks and head a little further upstream. Look for shaded drains as the heat peaks, and be prepared for some vicious bycatch if you venture far enough upstream. It is mangrove jack time in our estuaries and this renewed warmth has them all fired up.
Warmer waters favour our shallow reef fisheries
The month of October has long been associated with a renewed surge of life on our local shallow reefs. The fringing reefs of Gatakers Bay to Pialba and those surrounding the bay islands all tend to attract increasing numbers of reef fish and mackerel as the spring northerlies return the water colour to more of their liking.
Certainly, the most sought-after of all shallow reef dwellers is the bar-cheeked coral trout. Pursued relentlessly from now through summer by various means, these tasty morsels' days are numbered if they persist in the shallows. More fishos than ever are targeting trout on the troll these days, so early starts and finely-tuned lures are a must if you want to beat others to the prizes.
Expect more action on the bigger spring tides than the neaps, but get out there at dawn and you can snare a couple even with minimal tidal flow. The same medium-paced trolling tactics that a handful of us deployed before the turn of the century remain a constant. The only variable being the "trending" lures of the time, and the size of the quarry. The trout will never be of the size of eons past, yet the same wide-wobbling "yellowbelly-style" lure still appeals to the current crop of fish.
Tighter-shimmying lures can out-fish such presentations when everyone is trolling the same hardware, so add a couple of variants to your arsenal to keep you in the game. Oh, and always beef up the trebles (and the split rings too if necessary). You just never know when a better class of fish will intercept your lure.
A feed of grassy sweetlip can be expected from future shallow reef endeavours. The best of which will come pre-dawn through first light, then again as the sun sets. Whilst quality fish can be encountered around Gatakers Bay and the rocky foreshores, it is the bay islands' reefs and those fringing Fraser's western shores that will produce better fish. For now, the sharks aren't a problem in the shallows. I wish I could say that for our deeper inshore reefs!
With our snapper schools all but gone, or at least moved on to the northern bay and wide Platypus Bay, we are left with perhaps a few squire and the usual warm water suspects. Coral trout get more active with warmer water and so too the estuary cod. Mind you, having said that, the mild nature of last winter saw many species bite surprisingly well throughout the cooler months. Quite a handy distraction given how poor the inshore snapper season was.
Grassies are already quite abundant around the fringes of our deeper inshore shoal country and reef systems. Unfortunately, so too are those dreaded noahs arks. Having to listen to a visiting fisho recount a session whereby he was sharked 15 times whilst sitting on the pick on the Roy Rufus arti was hard to stomach. The mind boggles as to how many fish are wasted in this woke protect-at-all-cost world we live in these days. Please do the right thing fishos, and keep on the hop when the sharks turn up.
Mackerel joined by tuna but they're hunting differing prey
School mackerel have gone from strength to strength over the past fortnight. The surge of fish that migrated into the bay recently are now widespread and well-represented on many of the usual local haunts. The Burrum 8 Mile, the Fairway and the reefs across the banks to the Simpson arti have all been hosting plenty of schoolies of late. So too have other beacons and even the Bait Grounds at times.
The north wind might take the appeal out of a day boating on the bay, but at least you haven't had to venture far for a feed of mackerel. Fish off Gatakers Bay, Toogoom and Woodgate can be accessed without too much of a pounding, otherwise, wait for a break in the weather to head a little wider if your boat is a bit on the small side. Try the waters of the straits if you prefer, where you might find mackerel not far from River Heads, Kingfisher Bay or further down the straits.
Mac tuna schools turned up in large numbers off Gatakers Bay and out to the Burrum 8 Mile and the Fairway last weekend. Unlike the mackerel that are focussed on herring and yakkas and the like, the tuna have been fixated on the tiniest of baitfish a mere inch or two long. The mac tuna have been joined by a sparse spattering of longtails, but at a ratio of a paltry 30:1 to the macs apparently.
Both tuna species can be frustrating to tempt when so focussed on such tiny baitfish, so be prepared to resort to tiny jerk baits (often shortened at the thick end) attached to heavy, yet small, jig heads. Otherwise, opt for the smallest of metal slugs and lighter leader and see how you go keeping the pins in the bigger fish. Some of the macs are quite sizeable, so plenty of sport is in the offing if the sharks don't turn up.
Given the runs of broad-barred mackerel at the pier in recent weeks, there mut be schools and a few solo roamers around our inshore reefs and flats. Trollers might find them when on the hunt for schoolies, otherwise it will be those targeting the prominent high reefs such as shipwrecks etc that might enjoy a few encounters. Straits fishos might find broadies whilst chasing queenfish or blue salmon, and no-one should be surprised if more turn up at River Heads when the tides begin to make.
First word of baby blacks in the bay
The much-anticipated juvenile black marlin fishery has kicked off in Hervey Bay. It has been a very steady start, with only a few fish caught and a bigger number dropped - but it's a start. The northerly breeze left limited opportunity for the masses to try their hand as yet, but that could all change next week. Gear up and be ready for the lead up to the dark of the moon and hopefully better weather, and point the boat towards Rooneys for a crack at a billy.
Fish raised and/or caught to date have mostly come from off Rooneys Point (north-western corner of Fraser Island for the uninitiated). Small fish, as to be expected, but sporty acrobats none the less. Here's hoping for a return of better numbers of baby blacks in the bay this season, as last year was abysmal. Stay tuned for updates as the season unfolds.
A handy distraction has been the large spanish mackerel lingering in the northern bay. Most fish have been 15 kilos+, with the odd fish doubling that figure. Target them on stickbaits for the ultimate in fun, or simply troll them up on fast-moving minnow lures or gang-rig a live bait and send it out the back. Trolling rigged baits has become trendier these days, and is made even easier with the likes of Reaper Rigs. We stock all the best variants nowadays, so give them a crack if trolling baits appeals.
You all know of the impressive run of large cobia that northern bay fishos have been enjoying in recent months. October can be a transition month, or a prime month, depending on the weather and the fish. Some are appearing offshore, yet others will be scouring the vast sandscape of the bay looking for sand crabs. Needless to say, you remain a good chance of catching big oversized cobes out there somewhere - if you can get out there.
Roaring current offshore
Word from those that braved the northerly or snuck in a trip in lighter winds suggest the current is raging offshore right now. It set in quite early this spring, and has been boosted by the persistent northerlies ever since. Reef fishing offshore is largely taking a back seat to trolling and topwater tactics for quite a few offshore fishos, and why not, as this is the time of year when that fishery really fires out there.
The schools of larger yellowfin that turned up in late August haven't been talked about just recently, but to be fair, few folks have had the chance to get that far wide. Dedicated game boats with the capability of handling heavier seas have trolled the waters over the shelf and reported the 'first' blue marlin captures of the season. Plenty more to come we hope, particularly given the calibre of some of the players out there this season.
"Vermin" bycatch of baby yellowfin and striped tuna have been noted from continental shelf waters, whilst wahoo are making their presence felt over the shoal country. Hitting the shallowest of the shoals with poppers and stickbaits has produced a number of giant trevally and spanish mackerel on the bigger tides recently, with cobia also turning up to join the fun at one of the most popular spots.
Whales are still very abundant in Hervey Bay waters, and just as abundant offshore. They will have all moved on by some time perhaps mid-November, but until then, ensure you and your crew keep a constant vigil. Night travel remains risky given the extraordinary number of whales about these days, and anchored vessels should always have an emergency plan should entanglement occur.
Big predators in the mighty mary
We struggle to avoid the bull sharks whilst reef or pelagic fishing in the bay, and now they are becoming a pest in the Mary River. Bulls of various sizes are calling the river home right now, and they are highly mobile. Of course, its barra and salmon time, so increasing boat traffic can be expected, and we all know how attracted these predators are to our boats.
Bait fishos can have some fun putting the kids onto the smaller bullies if they like. A live mullet or a large mullet fillet pinned to a decent hook and a wire trace will suffice, or you can go the whole hog and source catfish or freshwater eel as bait. As far as the bigger sharks go, perhaps just monitor your fancy new sounder and do your best to get your fish to the boat before they shorten the fight for you.
Barramundi will be the primary focus for a lot of river fishos in coming weeks. Barra season will close come midnight 31st October, so don't dilly dally and waste your opportunities beforehand. Go scan likely snags and rock bars for obvious signs of barra and throw various lures at them when the tide is right. Go armed with the latest in prawn imitations and paddle-tailed softies, hardbodies and soft vibes, and you are in the game.
Proper big salties cruise the waters of the Mary, and the Great Sandy Straits, so be prepared for a dust up and make sure your hardware (trebles and rings) and your leader is up to the task. Handle the bigger fish with extra care and limit their time out of the water. Hopefully most of you are advocates of catch and release when it comes to our most iconic species, and if so, the future looks brighter than ever for a fish that's had a tough time here in the past.
Few would target barra for the whole of their river session, as threadfin salmon can be a much easier and more viable target for a greater period of the tide. Well, they would be more viable if there was more of them, at least. Weirdly, mid-way through October almost and threadfin numbers remain low in the Mary system. There's certainly enough fish to find and target, but nothing like we should be seeing at this time. Another example of a fishery burgeoning late this year?
Typically, there would be no easier time than now into Xmas for thready fans. Cruising the river, scanning likely spots as you go, couldn't be simpler. Find the fish and cast a soft vibe ahead of them and work it back with the tide. Easy as, when the increasing warmth of spring urges them to be more aggressive. Offer them prawn imitations if they reject your vibes, or smaller paddle-tails in the shallows if you prefer. All will work, as will a lazy troll for those so inclined.
Schools of threadies can be found down the straits at present, making that country extra appealing. Add barra, blue salmon, queenfish and some very impressive grunter fishing to the mix and you are in for a great day. Delve deeper into the creeks and the mangrove forest and you can add jacks to your hit list, as the red terrors are once again active and ready to rumble. You've had your fun with the flatties, the bream and whiting, and now its time to get serious!
The Burrum system is hugely popular amongst sports fishos keen to mix it with the healthy population of barra up that way. Chasing jacks is now a very viable option, and the Burrum or one of its feeder streams is as good a place as any to chase trophies in these parts. Expect good things from those waters in coming weeks, even if it is a little crowded. Oh, and beware the snot weed in the lowest reaches. It is an issue at present.
Monduran fires under immense pressure
Lake Monduran regulars are lamenting the passing of winter as our beloved lake is once again THE lake to fish in all of Oz. Frantic efforts to get in before the crowds were well-rewarded with plenty of fish here and there. Most caught by modern-day Livescopers, but plenty caught old school by the likes of yours truly as well.
Having been there prior to the long weekend and witnessing the change in mood and attitude of the fish as the traffic roared to life was less eye-opening than it was confirming of what we've seen each year recently. In a nutshell, the great "edge bite" prior to the long weekend turned sour as the fish were spooked from the shallows and were forced deeper. Regardless, clever edge fishing tactics kept the fish flowing, but not in the commonly fished country, and not in nearly the same dramatic numbers.
Insanely busy would describe the long weekend chaos at the boat ramps and on the lake. Picture the scene where boaties had to park beyond the standard carpark, overflowing the next park up the hill, then resorting to finding parks all the way up to the toilet block. Crazy! And no doubt very frustrating for many.
At least the barra bit well for a period, then went a bit quieter as they were shocked by all the traffic. Big schools broke up, yet the fish kept biting in many areas. All manner of lures worked in waters clearer than we have seen in years. Up to 5m visibility created amazing scenes in some waters a couple of weeks ago, all of which have returned to 2m vis or occasionally better at present. Incredible sight-fishing and a tremendous buzz watching the fish eat your lure then put on a show in the clear water.
No doubt Mondy will be exceptionally busy again this week, courtesy of the northerly breeze and word spreading of the good barra bite. Many will be too clever to get involved for the remainder of October though, as a succession of fishing comps at the lake take crowding and pressure to the next level. Anyway, you've only got these few weeks to get amongst the salties, so sensible priorities will see plenty of gun anglers on our rivers until the season closes.