Hello everyone, I hope you were able to catch a break in the weather and head out for a mackerel or two. On the Gold Coast, the wind and swell were non-stop for at least two weeks straight, making it very difficult to get out. Finally, there was a nice window of good weather that created a great opportunity to …
Read More »Spanish and spotted mackerel
Mackerel are still all the rage this month. While not the worst season, they have been patchy, particularly the spanish variety. Spotted mackerel have been consistent without being thick. I came in with a bag of spotties recently that averaged 4kg a piece, so the quality has been fairly good for the most part. In previous seasons, my daughter Keira …
Read More »Maximising mackerel mayhem
Hi everyone, sorry I missed an article last month. Right on crunch time, when it was due, I had my appendix removed. A very common procedure I know, yet it had me out of action for a couple of weeks, on doctor’s orders. I’m still on light duties, though the doc did say I could go fishing… if I had …
Read More »Cracking catches on Capricorn Coast
This month I was going to cover the Shimano King of Kings competition but unfortunately, I’ve run out of time. Keep an eye out for an in-depth run-down next month. For this issue, we’ll have a good look around at what’s been happening locally. With the warmer weather, the estuaries have all been about grunter, fingermark, mangrove jack and barramundi. …
Read More »Surprise snapper success
Well, what a dismal start to 2024! snapper With all the rain earlier in the year, the water around the southern bay islands was very ordinary, to say the least. Throw in the wind and trying to coordinate dates when people can go fishing with the days and weather windows available and we’ve managed only one day on the water …
Read More »Spotted mackerel ring netting update
The recent commercial netting activities in Moreton Bay, initially raised on social media, has triggered a reaction from many recreational fishos. With most of these anglers having fished the bay for years, they no doubt saw the damage ring netting did to fish stocks back in the 1980s – which has taken years for the fishery to recover from. Before …
Read More »Mackerel pre and post closure
G’day everyone, I hope you found my previous article useful in trying to get yourself onto a spanish mackerel or two. As most of you would know, we have two separate closures for Queensland tidal systems – one was February 1-21 and the second closure starts March 1, finishing March 21. Up until this point, I’d been right into the …
Read More »Switching tactics for spotted mackerel
Typically, by February a fever has kicked in on the close reefs, attracting frequent fishos and visitors to wet a line in a melting pot of excitement and frustration. mackerel Yep, you guessed it… mackerel season! With the mackerel run well and truly underway and the southern closures – south of Stanage Bay to the border – taking effect on …
Read More »Fish rich in February
Happy new year… unless you are a fishing guide. The weather continues to be challenging, and therefore, so is the fishing. Where are the masses of spotted and mack tuna? Where are the occasionally annoying school mackerel? Yes, sorry, but have some wind instead – unfortunately, I spent the beginning of December hiding from wind. Thankfully, the small area I …
Read More »Manhandling marlin
It’s marlin mayhem again. I keep the socials fairly marlin free, as I don’t want an armada of boats getting in the way. Even if others are posting, I find that the fire doesn’t need any more fuel. My job is to boat fish for my boat, not encourage more competition. And by the time this is published, it might …
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