Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
WELL, it’s the last month of 2020 and to say it’s been a challenging year for many people would be a massive understatement. One thing that thankfully doesn’t change is fishing in its most basic form. There is nothing better than getting away by yourself or with friends and family to wet a line.
That’s how I escape it all anyway. Whether it’s in a boat offshore catching big fish or land-based chasing small estuary and freshwater fish, it doesn’t matter. Getting back to nature is so refreshing. Leave the mobile phone on flight mode and focus on the fishing – nothing else will matter.
On the Gold Coast at this time of year, mangrove jack and sand whiting are both cranking up their activity. Sand whiting are easily caught around sandbanks with fresh yabbies and bloodworms, and there are plenty of bream and flathead in the same areas. You can catch these fish by casting over the top of shallow yabby banks on a run-in tide and off the edges of banks on a run-out tide. Exciting whiting
All you need is 7’ 1-4kg estuary rods and 1000-2500 size spin reels spooled with clear mono or spinning fluorocarbon line in the 3-6lb range. Use the lightest sinker you can get away with while still keeping contact with the sandy bottom and pin the yabbies or worms on small No. 4-6 baitholder hooks. Remember big whiting often have a very timid bite, so give them plenty of time to chew then swallow the bait before you set the hook. Exciting whiting
In Queensland sand whiting have a 23cm size limit and bag limit of 30. They’re really only worth keeping for fillets at 30cm or more and I don’t see why anyone would need to keep 30 per person. They are a prolific fish and grow to around 35cm in about five years, reaching sexual maturity at around 20cm in length and two years of age. Sand whiting generally spawn two or three times a year between September and April.Exciting whiting
You’ll often find bigger whiting close to areas where stingrays are feeding – so, find the rays, find the fish! Another good way to catch big whiting is by anchoring at night along the shallow banks opposite Gold Coast City Council Chambers, using bloodworms for bait. Massive flathead can be found hunting whiting in the shallows at this time of year.Exciting whiting
If targeting bigger flathead, quietly cover ground and cast glide bait lures that suspend to get their attention. A sweeping motion of the lures, with pauses in between, seem to work best. Big flathead will often be in water only 20cm to 1m deep. A merry Christmas to you all and remember to enjoy family fishing time.Exciting whiting
To book on a charter with myself or Brad, or if you have any fishing related questions, SMS 0432 990 302, email fishingwithclint@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook.
