Hi Everyone, hope you’ve all had a great week, after an extra hot weekend and start to the week on the Tweed and Gold Coast we are now experiencing another dumping of rain to give us another system flush-out. Looking to the future, the rain should set us up nicely as we transition into Autumn. Let’s have a look at what’s been happening this week.
Chasing a feed of reef fish has been a good option the past week with some good consistent catches of Snapper, Moses, Trag Jew, Tuskies and Bonito coming for the 18 and 24 fathom reefs off the Gold Coast Seaway. Ben White had a great trip last Saturday nailing a monster Snapper (see photo in report) from the 24 fathom reef. When looking for a spot to fish keep an eye on the sounder for life whether it is bait fish or individual fish. Start a burley trail to attract the fish or switch them on to feed, I find the best method to fish is to float line. For those not used to this method I use a set of 3 x gang Mustad Tarpon 766 5/0 hooks with swivels between the hooks with the sinker sitting on top of the hooks which makes it free to run up and down the line. When lowering the bait hold your main line in your fingers and just drop it at a nice slow steady rate which is a much more natural way to present a bait. Depending on current just use a sinker big enough to let the bait fall slowly and hopefully you should get a hit on the way down.
Mud Crabs are a great option to target after a bit of rain, this week has seen a little more activity which is good news. Coomera Houseboat Holidays customers managed to score a nice feed from the Coomera River. Catches are a bit inconsistent with a mixture of small and female crabs to pick through until you score some good sized bucks. Try the Coomera River both arms, Pimpama River, Logan River, Cabbage Tree Point, Tiger Mullet Channel, Cobby Passage, Jacobs Well, Canaipa Passage, The Neverfail Islands, Brown Island and Tweed River are producing a feed.
Trevally have been smashing bait schools in the Coomera River around River Links, West of the Highway Bride and Sanctuary Cove Arm of the river around jetty’s this week. Other good spots to look are the Runaway Bay and Paradise Point canals and bridges especially the well light up ones at night that attract bait schools. Surface poppers and stick bait will work well. If the Jacks are a bit quiet it’s always good to know you have a chance at hooking a hard fighting Trev.
Smithy from Brad Smith Fishing Charters reports on the Tweed the Tweed River is back to its tranquil self again after the rush of boats and jet skis that were on the water during a very hot holiday season. The dirty water is clearing up after the much needed deluge of rain we received and the fishing is bouncing into gear. The shallows are fishing well on the run in tides for Bream and Whiting on surface lures, and there is the odd Giant Trevally also moving around the shallows. Fishing the deeper holes around the tide changes is producing a few Flathead and Jewies using vibes.
Clint reports the Gold Coast Broadwater is starting to fire up after the rain and the water is clearing. Schools of Whiting and decent size Tailor are feeding at the Southern end of the Broadwater. Look for birds diving and you’ll find the Tailor and odd Trevally. We are starting to catch more Flathead too, and the Squid are returning. The whiting are sitting in deeper water on the edge of the channels during the day. Ecogear ZX40 blades and Samaki vibelicious 70mm soft vibes coated in Sax scent goldprawn will catch fish all day long. Drop them to the bottom and jig with short lift and drops of the rod. The Mangrove Jacks are spread out after the big rain. Huge schools of Mullet and Jelly Prawns have been moving around which will be followed by predators. You may find the bigger fish are not overly hungry in areas where there is an abundance of bait fish.
Hope you all have a good weekend and get out for a fish, if you have any great catches or photos you would like to share, please email us and let us know how you went.
New fishing regulations now effective fisheries Queensland http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/9/1/new-fishing-regulations-now-effective
Fisho Tackle and Coomera Houseboat Holidays now have Hire Tinnies follow the link to view http://www.coomerahouseboats.com.au/our-fleet-type/hire-tinnies/
Seabreeze is a great website to access a local forecast http://www.seabreeze.com.au/graphs/
If you have any great catches to report or fishing photos please email them to brett@fishotackle.com.au Good luck with the Fishing. Brett
