Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
Firstly, how good is it that there are now no travel restrictions within Queensland, and Queenslanders are free to explore just what the Sunshine State has to offer! It is also awesome to see that most camp grounds are back up and running a little earlier than expected.
BUNDABERG OFFSHORE
With the Bundaberg Show holiday last Thursday, and the weather being amazing, it seemed like everyone with a bigger boat was out on the water. By all reports the reef fish were on the chew and everyone caught close to their limit. I know the guys on Truansea Charters had a cracking day on Monday, landing plenty of coral trout, grass sweetlip, parrot and spangled emperor. Let’s hope it won’t be too long before the weather comes good again so we can get out and explore the deep blue.
BUNDABERG INSHORE
Some local gun anglers have been testing their gear on plenty of cracking grunter that seem to be around in good numbers on the inshore reefs off Bundaberg. These switched-on anglers have been using 20g Samaki Vibes fished close to the bottom with great success.
For more in-depth tips to target grunter, click here!
There has also been a few school mackerel and tuna inhabiting most of the popular close way-points off Bundaberg.
BURNETT RIVER
Anyone who has been on the Burnett River in the past week or so will know that the prawns have been on! Any decent sounder can be used to identify prawns on the bottom. Prawning cast nets in either 10ft or 12ft with a chain bottom and top pocket are ideal for prawning in deeper water. With all the bait in the river, species like bream, blue salmon and flathead become a more common capture during the winter months. Winter whiting are also just starting to show up out the front. The whiting can’t resist Gulp Sandworm soft plastics, cut into inch pieces and fished like bait on the bottom by gun anglers in the know.
LAKE MONDURAN
Even though we are now into winter, the barramundi in Lake Monduran still have to feed. We’re finding that afternoon sessions have been way better. Casting Jackall Squirrels and the new Samaki Redic DS 80 has been accounting for plenty of barra between 70-90cm. As I mentioned, it’s important to support the local camp grounds, so let’s hope the back half of 2020 will be better than the first.
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN QUEENSLAND
The Queensland Government health directions from 1st June 2020 states Queenslanders are permitted unlimited travel and overnight stays within Queensland only. Gatherings of up to 20 people are permitted for indoor and outdoor non-contact activity. A reminder to abide by the social distancing regulations and practise good hygiene. For further information, visit: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/roadmap-to-easing-queenslands-restrictions which will show Queensland’s Roadmap to the easing of the COVID-19 up until July. These restrictions may change at short notice if there is an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Fish with confidence
Dale Smith
