Page 65 - Demo

AGrunter and flathead have featured in the Burnett
S for many and understand how to gether, often with the parts of identify the two species added bonus of a feed Queensland, of grunter because they of fish at the end of the
Bundaberg Region
by BRAD YOUNG
our region craves rain, have different mini- day.
though the fishing hasn’t been too bad for anglers who have had the time and opportu- nity to hit their favour- ite spots.
Flathead have been prevalent, especially in the mid-sections of the Burnett River around Strathdees boat ramp and upstream.
mum size limits. Spotted grunter have
Visit the team at your local tackle store and hit them up for advice about how to get started targeting a local read- ily available species, or maybe the ‘secrets’ to targeting the one spe- cies you have always dreamed of adding to your bucket list.
I have enjoyed many successes walking along a drop-off with my bait suspended beneath a float. The float enables the bait to move naturally with the cur- rent and the float usually pro- vides a little ‘jiggling’ attention, as it bobs on the wavelets.
Fabulous flathead
a legal minimum size limit of 30cm and barred grunter have a legal minimum size limit of 40cm.
As well as live and fresh bait, they have been taking lures and seem to have a pen- chant for soft plastics.
Make the time to go fishing this Christmas As we approach the end of this extraordi- nary year, when many of us were forced to spend additional time away from work and outdoor recreational activities, make sure you make the most of any time you have away from work and with
Everyone loves fish- ing and can enjoy equal success.
Two keen anglers, Risk and Tony have ex- perienced success with this species recently in- cluding a few sizeable specimens.
family over Christmas. Fishing is a sporting and recreational activ- ity that spans genera- tions, providing grand- parents, parents and children the opportu- nity to have fun and spend quality time to-
Enjoy great family time over the Christmas period, and let’s hope for good rain before the end of summer.
When targeting flat- head, keep uppermost in your mind the fact that they are an ambush predator.
I have enjoyed many successes walking along a drop-off with my bait suspended be- neath a float.
Many anglers make the trip northward to Weipa every year to tar- get barred grunter.
As always, I can be contacted via email at fishnboat@bigpond. com or via mail at PO Box 5812, Bundaberg West Queensland 4670.
Greater success is likely with an un- weighted or lightly weighted bait, or a bait set under a float that can move with the tidal stream.
with many keen fol- lowers, especially as grunter are both excel- lent sportfish – putting up a great fight – and have excellent eating qualities.
I hope this informa- tion helps you get a feed.
They will most like- ly be camouflaged on sand and mud, semi- buried in an area where their prey is likely to swim unaware of the impending danger and ambush.
The float enables the bait to move naturally with the current and the float usually provides a little ‘jiggling’ atten- tion, as it bobs on the wavelets.
My preferred times to target this species are around the top and bot- tom of the full and new moon spring tide using fresh bait.
Until next month...
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Hence, best places to target flatties are along the edges of sand banks and drop-offs and little alleys, where a rising or falling tidal stream will see baitfish pass by.
This approach pro- vides the opportunity to cover a lot of likely country, as well as pro- viding an exciting vis- ual as your float disap- pears under the surface and your line takes off to the left or right.
Many anglers have their favourite ‘grunter spots’ – often a deep hole or channel where this fish congregate.
If using live and fresh bait, it makes sense to ensure your bait moves through the water as either a live, injured or recently deceased baitfish would – which means not anchored to the bottom with a large lead sinker. www.bnbfishing.com.au
Bream are sometimes a by-catch of this tech- nique as well.
Hard fighting grunter
The best bait to use would be fresh live prawns and flesh strip bait.
Grunter – or spotted javelin fish – have also been prevalent recently, chiefly near the mouth of the river.
Yabbies also account for their share of grunt- er, as they move along flats in search of a feed.
Grunter is a species
Take the time to know
Bush ’n Beach Fishing, January 2021 – Page 65
Other anglers success- fully target them off- shore.
If you are successful in catching one grunter, there are likely more around.
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