Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report - 17th April, 2026
by Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay 17 Apr 21:49 UTC
17 April 2026
Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report © Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay
Spell of Glorious Weather Continues
Local fishos have been spoilt for choice these past few days as a run of spectacular weather graced our region. Light winds and sunny skies have been persisting, in a drying atmosphere destined to bring us more of the same over the coming week.
It's absolutely glorious out on the briny today. The ultra-light winds will tend northerly and build to maybe 15 knots as the seas breeze kicks in late this afternoon. Expect that breeze to swing westerly during the wee hours of the morning, meaning early risers Saturday will be greeted by a little leftover jiggle if they head up the bay. Easing further, then tending east to south-easterly, means the worst of the wind will be either super-early or late in the day.
Sunday looks awesome, with around 10 knots from the south-east to throughout the day, and the best conditions favouring those inclined for a Sunday sleep-in. The early working week looks potentially even better again, with ultra-light and variable zephyrs inviting anyone unburdened by work commitments to head as far and wide as they like.
Offshore, Fraser Island waters will be most inviting today and then again mid-week. There will be enough breeze from the north-west, then south-east during the weekend to deny smaller boats the option of heading offshore, but larger vessels will handle the 1m swell and a bit of sea just fine. Leave your run until after the weekend if in doubt, or just play in the bay.
Precipitation will be rare and fleeting if it even eventuates this week, and a warming trend mid-week will be welcome as our temperatures begin their general decline this month. Our nights are ultra-dark, courtesy of today's new moon. Our tides are peaking too, as stronger tidal flow passes between lows bottoming out at 0.5m and highs peaking at 4m.
Finally, Some Action at Urangan Pier
Improving water quality beneath Urangan Pier and making tides have drawn a host of predators to feast on the gathered baitfish. As the herring schools lingered, their presence attracted a few broadies and at least one spanish mackerel. Schoolies made an appearance too and are still keeping their pursuers busy spinning spoons or soaking gang-rigged live baits.
A few mac tuna have busted-up on the sand bar when the tide is high, and queenfish have been spotted working baitfish out of casting range not far from the beach. Flathead have made a welcome re-appearance in small numbers, whilst jewfish keep nocturnal fishos and those insomniacs willing for a dawn raid from catching extra ZZZ's.
Bigger New Moons Tides Favour Beach Fishos
As the making tides built height and strength after the recent spell of neaps, the forage species synonymous with our beaches and mudflats came back on the chew. Whiting fishos still have the option to chase their beloved little 'ting on yabby or worm baits while tidal flow remains significant, and are possibly best served targeting the Urangan beaches or the fringes of town.
Chasing whiting on topwater lures is once again a highly appealing option for those with ultra-finesse tackle. Working the lower half of the incoming tide phase on beaches or mudflats slowly covering with water will soon see some action. Keeping mobile if your first spot is a failure is paramount to success.
Given these post-flood times, the time of year, light winds and an increasing prevalence of offshore breezes, the Booral Flats is worth investigating for landlubbers unafraid to get their boots muddy. A session wandering the vast flats early in the incoming tide, flicking small lures or soaking yabbies or small prawns could see you catch anything from whiting and flathead to grunter and salmon.
Those flats down there used to be netted regularly post-flood, when threadfin and blue salmon joined grunter and whiting in a mass exodus of the flooding Mary River. Moderate to strong onshore winds either side of easterly restrict the fishability of those flats, so it has only been the last week or so that has offered ideal conditions for land-based adventures. Given the lack of netting nowadays, those waters should produce better than ever, and might even see the likes of barramundi, banana prawns and most certainly, mud crabs, join the abovementioned list of flats visitors.
Don a suitable shoulder bag and/or backpack if trying this area for the first time. You need to be mobile as you wade vast mudflats in ankle to knee-deep water, so it is ideally a one rod only scenario. Go light and battle bigger-than-expected hook-ups confidently in terrain offering a salmon or otherwise little option to bust you off. Wear shoes that you can get muddy, or even better, consider a set of rock boots if you intend go next level down there. There are little bull sharks and there are mud crabs and rays, so tread carefully, or make a bit of noise as you wander.
Creek mouths and the mouths of our rivers are producing an increasing number of fish. Flathead are just one, and they are joined by grunter, queenfish and blue salmon around the creeks on occasion. The same can be expected from river mouths too, along with barra, jewfish and threadfin salmon. Reef-bound mangrove jacks have had to pass by the heads to exit the Burrum lately, so the odd capture shore-based should have been more of a bonus than a surprise.
Great Bite from Reefies Out Wide
Last weekend's favourable weather saw a couple of crews cross Breaksea Spit regardless of the residual swell. They found the fish biting particularly well offshore in a southerly-setting East Australian Current of generally 2.5 knots. The north-wester that sprung up overnight made for very challenging conditions when it boosted drift speeds, so picking a fishable depth then anchoring and lowering substantial leads was one way to stay on the fish.
The reefies occupying the shoal country out there can make for a very long list indeed, so it was good to hear of the more sought-after specimens such as red emperor, maori cod and red throat joining the equally welcome venus tusk fish, gold-spot wrasse and others for the long haul home. A great feed and more than enough fish were caught by some, yet their catches could've been much better if it wasn't for the usual shark menace.
Many offshore fishos are sporting electric reels and bent-butt rods for deep dropping these days, just so they can go deep and avoid the sharks whilst maxing-out on fish fillets. That same deepwater tackle was called into play in as little as 50 metres just to have a chance of beating the sharks last week apparently, and without it, results may have been quite poor.
Since then, another day or two of divine glassed-out weather saw different crews head wide of Breaksea and go deep dropping. Large pearl perch were very welcome when hauled from the depths, and joined a few random jobfish and cod in fast-filling eskies. No talk of pelagic activity at that time, yet some might pursue popper-crunching critters today if they are out there.
1770 fished well last weekend, with all the red, orange and pink fish on the chew in varying depths. The drive up the highway is justifiable for an increasing population of local fishos as their return for effort in local waters is taxed so heavily so often by sharks. Sure enough, the current fuel crisis sucks and makes many rethink, but there is nothing like glassed-out weather to spur keen offshore reef fishos into action.
Some of those that burnt way less fuel and headed for the Gutters in the northern bay were rewarded over the recent neaps (yet not all were). Quality trout were caught, along with the occasional small school red, nannies and a few sweeties and cod. Those that got lucky chose (rightly so) to avoid the shark havens that are the prominent ledges of the Gutters and found quality fish hanging on mere pimples of structure on their high-tech sounder screens. A few spanish mackerel were also caught last weekend, so better numbers would be expected now (not that you need any numbers with a bag limit of one fish).
Inshore Reefies Fire Up for the Darks
New moon tides are highly favourable for all of our inshore reef fish at this time of year. Everything from tuskies to coral trout, cod and sweetlip are on the chew, and no doubt any snapper or squire in the area will be feeding too. Nannygai are also highly active and are moving inshore as daylight hours shorten. The best catches of nannies still appear to be from beyond 'the banks', but surely there are a few strays lurking around our shipping channel reefs by now.
Maybe there is, and evidence of same has been missed, as so many fish being hooked inshore are being predated upon by sharks. Yes, that ongoing menace is still a major issue, and will only be worse over the dark of the moon. Stay shallow and target a feed to avoid them if you like, or at least remain highly mobile and do your best to avoid them in deeper water.
Schools of grunter can be found in quite a few locations at present. One that suits those with the smallest of boats is right there near-shore at Gatakers Bay / Point Vernon. Baits soaked along the outer edge of the fringing reef can tempt them in daylight hours, where they can be jigged on small prawn imitations or soft vibes. A lazy troll over the same waters might also turn up a few, so consider trolling lures with slimmer profiles to better your chances of attracting and hooking grunter.
More grunter can be found by heading to close inshore grounds such as those off the Burrum and around the bay islands. The Fairway will offer a crack at them too, if the sharks out there let you catch them. Well-presented baits of squid or banana prawn are as good as any for grunter, whilst the humble pillie will catch them as will strip baits and herring or hardy heads. They are suckers for prawn imitation softies and soft vibes and even snatch slow-pitch jigs in the deeper waters.
Tuna and Mackerel Spread Across the Bay
Such great weather lately has enabled many fishos to go scouting around the bay looking for pelagics. Tuna fans have found plenty of longtails in the central and western bay, with particularly good numbers blowing up off the Burrum Coast at times. So, if you are looking to explore different waters and maybe avoid the carnage from the noahs up the island, consider an assault on the western bay. Save fuel and head for Kingfisher Bay otherwise if you prefer and you might find the longtails still feeding down there.
The Fairway's gathered baitfish schools have been attracting predators and the whole area fished well in recent days. School mackerel were caught, along with tuna nearby. Large queenfish fought way too hard to be landed quickly enough to avoid the sharks unfortunately, so respect them and steer away if you discover a school of queenies shadowed by the noahs.
School mackerel can be found around numerous reefs in the western and central southern bay, as well as up in Platypus Bay. A few small (sometimes undersized) spaniards are feeding with them here and there, so take care to ID your mackerel before despatching to stay on the right side of the law.
These bigger new moon tides scream queenfish and GTs for those inclined to work the deeper flats and/or the current lines converging around the bay islands. Some of the queenies might be extra-large and some will be quite small. Respect all of them and land them as fast as you can to minimise interactions with sharks. Manageable-sized GTs are turning up all randomly inshore; occasionally in large packs. Fun for anyone sporting the tackle to mix it with them.
Flats fishos can test their skills on a host of species if they use stealth and a little cunning to creep about on our local flats. Queenfish and golden trevally might be encountered in cleaner waters at the top of the straits, whilst blue salmon, threadfin salmon, grunter and perhaps barramundi join them the further down the straits you head. Flathead are also possible, though they exhibit a tendency to take up residency where prawns are more abundant in dirty waters at this time.
Estuary Fishos Drawn to the Abundance of the Straits
As stronger new moon tidal flow turns our river waters to filth temporarily, many fishos will be drawn to the vast expanses of the Great Sandy Straits. The flats offer abundant opportunities as hinted to above, whilst the creeks can see virtually all of the abovementioned species and more take a swipe at a lure or bait. Those waters are alive with prawns of one size or another (and possibly all sizes in some cases) and are also the temporary home to many displaced baitfish yet to return to the recently flooded Mary system.
Think grunter and salmon and you should have a good day if you go armed with the right lures. Soft vibes will have their moments, but it is the prawn imitation soft plastics that will be the overall winners. GULP Shrimp have been deadly on these species since their inception and remain a die-hard favourite for many of us. All the same, it has been too tempting to try the plethora of excellent prawn patterns adorning the lure walls of Fisho's Tackle World these days, so many alternatives are now well-proven too.
Size can be everything when chasing estuary fish on prawn imitations, particularly over the dark of the moon. Bigger tides drain the mangrove forests and jelly prawn (those miniscule little versions of the tasty critters we so eagerly seek in larger sizes) get flushed from the 'groves in masses. Threadfin salmon, in particular, developed a special skill of rounding them up with their whiskers and can be ultra-fixated on jelly prawn and nothing else when the tide is bottoming-out.
Many a fisho has been - and many a future fisho will be - frustrated by big threadies casually slurping big gob-fulls of jelly prawn in skinny water whilst totally ignoring all and sundry artificial offerings. Hence the size matters thing, and the need to present them with the tiniest prawn imitation you can find. We offer a few at Fisho's, that include 2" Berkley GULP Shrimp and the smallest of the you-beaut Barambah Stinger Shrimps, just to name a couple. Lighter leaders are demanded with such small presentations, so it is more like 20lb than 60lb in this scenario, and a very real need to go easy on your drag setting.
Toss those tiny shrimp patterns into the filthy impossible-to-see-in waters and either steadily hop them back out or just slow-wind and wait for the chaos. Mud will fly and your line will leave rooster tails as threadies go tearing off with your little shrimp. Obviously, this is an ebb tide caper, and just where you do it will depend on the depth and volume of any given drain and the movements of the threadies. The lower Mary and Susan are good starting areas, as are most of the strait's creeks. Big open flats have to drain too, and there are a few snake drains that the threadies just love right now, so give such spots a few casts on your way past.
Just as tiny is the go for jelly prawn hunters, larger prawn imitations are the go for others. Barra fishos have been blessed with some awesome prawn softies to 8" or so that sport massive hooks and stinger hardware. Perfect for scopers seeking whoppers and just about as effective for those of us that rely on nous and a good imagination. Intermediate-sized prawn softies will catch everything on their day and can be put to use constantly in deeper waters or in scenarios where jelly prawn isn't the only item on the menu (ie; flood tide etc).
Burrum Springs to Life Post-Flooding
Whilst the straits might appeal more over the darks, the lower Burrum system has much promise too. Fish have been settling back into the river and feeding as the waters tend clearer and the future looks bright indeed. Quality mangrove jacks have been intercepted on their migratory exodus from the river to the reefs, and this trend will continue into next month. Expect schools of larger jacks when you find them and make sure you have the tackle required to extract these dirtiest of opponents.
Flathead have been extra-abundant of late too, and are showing up throughout much of the lower reaches. Flatties are positioning themselves to take advantage of the run of prawn, so can be found anywhere from the drains and muddy banks to rock bars and deep holes. Such a run of flatties has been a bonus for river fishos and one much better than any seen prior to the exclusion of gillnetting in those waters.
There are barra to be targeted, along with threadfin and blue salmon within the confines of the rivers. More cleansing tides will see the grunter return in numbers too, but for now you are better off chasing them out the front. Whiting fans can make hay while the moon doesn't shine, and can expect a feed from the downstream sandbanks while the tides remain large.
Prawners and Crabbers Feast Yet Again
Seafood lovers are well and truly spoilt locally this time of year. The mud crabs continue to pot well both within the confines of the rivers and creeks, as well as beyond. Prime areas in the lower reaches of the rivers are attracting crabs in higher numbers, as can seem obvious when you drive past strings of pots barely 20 metres apart. The pros are doing well, and so are many recreational crabbers, so it seems like it's a race to harvest before the abundance declines.
Sand crabs have showed up in reasonable numbers off the Burrum Coast again, yet their general size isn't anything to brag about as yet. They will improve and spread, so take some pots out for a soak and hopefully your efforts are rewarded. Better weather like this certainly makes sand crabbing more appealing, yet surely, many will struggle to drag their pots away from the muddies right now.
As Woodgate prawns turned on the usual disappearing act over the smallest of the neaps, that didn't deter a whole fleet of hopefuls heading up there for a look-see. The tides post new moon should see a return up there, you would suspect, so the scouts that get there first won't be alone for long once word gets out of the prawns' return.
In the meantime, there is a great feed of banana prawns up for grabs in numerous other locations. Just a few include the lower Mary and Susan Rivers, the mid reaches of the Burrum system, various creeks within the straits, as well as our little local creeks. Catches of bananas were being taken regularly from the pontoon and ramp at River Heads just recently, and will likely be again.
This is definitely not a time of year to be wandering around in a local estuary without appropriate cast nets on board. A little time scanning with your sounder, or slowly motoring along likely banks watching your boat's wash can help save you time searching with your cast nets. The prawns will be actively moving over this set of darks and the occasional westerly wind and cooler nights will only encourage them to run.
A great time of year to be fishing, crabbing and prawning our waters, and all when the weather is looking so awesome. Make the most of these times folks, as we will be talking about the chill in the air and a whole new host of activities all too soon.
Good luck out there y'all...... Jase