AS I predicted last month, April saw longtail tuna, jewfish and tailor dominate catches along the Iluka/Yamba breakwalls and most of the headlands here on the mighty Clarence Coast of Northern NSW. Catches of spanish mackerel from the walls have come to a grinding halt, however given the large numbers of tuna about, they would have to be quicker than …
Read More »Are shark numbers increasing?
WE’VE all had hooked fish taken by sharks! It’s part of the fishing equation – the ‘taxman’ in his grey suit getting his share. Sharks will always make up a significant proportion of a healthy marine environment. But lately we’ve seen numerous complaints of increasing numbers of sharks mauling hooked catches. Facebook and similar social media sites have been riddled …
Read More »Seeking out Moreton Bay sweetlip
FISHING around the shallow reefs of Moreton Bay will probably see two types of sweetlip turn up. The grass sweetlip (minimum size 30cm, max possession of 10) and spangled emperor (minimum 45cm, max possession five) are some of the tastiest fish getting around. They are also some of the best fighting fish you’ll encounter for the size. Grassies inhabit the …
Read More »Fishing still great in South Burnett despite dropping water levels
THE water levels in our two dams are slowly dropping and this has been happening for some time. It’s hard to ignore but it’s a simple fact of life when you’re going through one of the worst droughts in quite some time. Boondooma Dam currently sits at 35 percent and Bjelke-Peterson Dam at 8 percent. Despite the low levels enough …
Read More »Tuna, snapper and jewfish throughout Moreton Bay
FINALLY southeast Queensland has got some much-needed rain and relief from the heat and wind. Dropping water temperatures and the influx of fresh water should fire up the prawns and fish over the coming month and make for great fishing. Tuna Longtail tuna have improved in numbers and regularity, feeding off the surface throughout Moreton Bay since cyclone Oma. Unfortunately, …
Read More »Kayak Bass Open at Clarrie Hall Dam
OVER the past few years a dedicated group of kayak anglers have fished bass competitions around Queensland, NSW and the Australian Capital Territory. But with the demise of B.A.S.S. Australia Nation, these anglers have limited dedicated kayak competitions available to them, with only ABT providing an avenue where the kayakers would have to compete against boats in the Bass Electric …
Read More »Finding Faust barra
THERE is something addictive about broadening your fishing knowledge. Trying new techniques, chasing different species of fish and travelling to new areas allows you to become a better all-round angler. I’m lucky enough to call Lucinda in north Queensland my home and it offers an endless array of fishy options. Pretty much any tropical fish you can think of calls …
Read More »Sportfishing fun on Gold Coast
HI everyone, at the time of writing we still haven’t had any decent rainfall here on the Gold Coast. I hope by the time you’re reading this we have had heaps. The dry conditions are really starting to make fishing a bit difficult. The best fishing since Christmas has been for marlin offshore and mangrove jack inshore. You can target …
Read More »Techniques for wading the flats
ESTUARY flats are top fishing locations for everyone from the beginner to the expert. Estuary flats can be defined as anything from exposed to semi-exposed low tide sand flats in rivers and creeks to exposed tidal flats on the calm or western sides of Queensland’s big sand islands. Structure Not all exposed sand or tidal flats attract good numbers of …
Read More »Surface feeding pelagics prevalent in Hervey Bay
THE wind continues, but it has settled a bit. With the prevailing wind coming from the east, we’ve beem able to get out and catch fish. Plenty of bait has moved in closer to the shores of Fraser Island and it’s not too small, predominantly being white anchovies and blue pilchards. The dominant successful lures have been soft plastics and …
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