Fishing Report 21 February 2026

Hervey Bay / Fraser Island

Longtail tun active at Platypus Bay, accompanied by a solid run of spotted mackerel through Hervey Bay. Spanish mackerel will reopen for one week from around the 22nd, with fish scattered throughout (bag limit of one). Offshore activity has been minimal, but earlier in the week, crews recorded good catches of flamies, rubies, pearl perch and similar species.

Inshore areas continue to fish steadily, with large GTs present around the shipwrecks and school mackerel taken along the banks and shipping channels. Broad‑bar mackerel are holding at Simpson Artificial Reef, where there is also plenty of coral trout, cod and estuary cod taking well on the turn of the tide. Queenfish are feeding hard on the bait schools. Trevally and queenfish are also working across the flats, particularly where bait has been pushed up.

A few threadfin salmon are being reported in the Burrum system, and small prawns have begun to move into the local river. The Urangan Pier has remained quiet this week with no firm reports, though there is bait there, so based on recent patterns GTs, queenfish and occasional mackerel are still likely to be present.

Limited reports from Fraser Island with March flies having an impact on fishing comfort this time of year.

Fishos Tackleworld Ph (07) 4128 1022 | www.fishostackleworld.com.au

Tin Can Bay

The weather turning it on this weekend getting to boat on the water is going to be the go for many anglers. Hervey Bay received 100-150mm with the rain depression a few days ago, so the water is a little dirty and has stirred things up. Mud crabs have been on the move, and all the creeks have been fishing well. Try setting your pot in the middle reaches and towards the mouth and as always big fresh baits and a good soak. Kuria, Carlo and Snapper Ck’s have all been crabbing well.

The dirty water has not turned the jacks off and there have been some belters landed over the past week. The cloudy condition and muggy temperatures earlier in the week allowed for some explosive top water session in our local creeks, with some crews having 20+ fish surface session. There was also plenty of bycatch like bream & cod caught to spice things up.

Any Crew that snuck offshore with the little weather window during the week were rewarded with some good sizes snapper and all reports were that the fishing was better in close. Sharks plagued most angler out wide. Good catches of lipper, hussar and a few nice tuskfish were all reported. Longtail tuna have been in good number offshore, so if you fancy some fresh sashimi and the weather allows you to, get out the front of Rainbow Beach and fire off some slugs and stickbaits or break out the 10wt flyrod if you want some real knuckle dusting action.

The Chandlery Bait & Tackle Ph (07) 5486 4744 | www.tcbchandlery.com.au

Noosa

The Noosa River continues to fish in a similar pattern this week, with trevally and tailor staying active around the river mouth and through Woods Bay. Afternoon surface sessions are again proving the most productive, especially on the run‑in when the bait pushes tight to the edges. Bream, whiting and flathead remain well spread throughout the system and are being taken from the sandbanks, drop‑offs and deeper channels with steady consistency.

Around Gympie Terrace there is still plenty of life, with jewfish and mangrove jacks holding around the structure and feeding periods improving as the tide builds. Those same species are also gathering farther upstream, with better numbers pushing up towards Lake Cooroibah as the bait continues to move through. There’s a healthy mix of herring, quality‑sized potty mullet and short‑nose gar schooling up along the Terrace, particularly around the higher stages of the tide, keeping the predators well‑fed and on the move.

O Boat Hire & Bait Supply  Ph (07) 5449 7513 | www.oboathire.com

Nice flathead in Noosa Woods, the frying pan and Tewantin. Heaps of Javelin fish in the 2nd Woods Bay.

Noosa River Fishing Safaris Ph 0429 030 823 | www.noosariverfishing.com

Some very large scarlet sea perch, and large goldband snapper caught — much further north towards “the Pin”. A few good spanish mackerel around, and plenty of smaller snapper and other reef species.

Noosa Bluewater Charters Ph (07) 5449 9355 | www.noosabluefishing.com.au

Plenty of fish water pumping out the river to nourish the close reefs. Sweetlip, squire, mackerel, cobia coral trout, on Sunshine and North Reef.

Deep Sea Fishing Co Noosa Ph 0411 222 749 | www.deepseafishingco.com.au

Maroochydore

A few whiting straight off Chambers Island; barramundi in the Maroochy canals 70cm — 75cm, likely stirred up by recent rains. Bream and trevally under the motorway bridge at the cod hole. Flathead in Eudlo Creek. Mud crabs galore middle to upper reaches. Mangrove Jack in smaller numbers up past Bli Bli.

Swan Boat Hire  Ph 0403 601 452 |www.swanboathire.com.au

Mooloolaba

Great mud crabs in the deeper holes through the Mooloolaba River and also the Maroochy River. Mangrove jack still firing around most structures throughout Mooloolaba River. Good trevally along trawler docks. Along the beaches there have been scattered jewfish at Point Arkwright. Grassy sweetlip have fired up on the inshore reefs. Worth going for a Spanish mackerel tomorrow once the closure lifts. Longtail tuna off Coolum. Caloundra Wide is holding some very good pearl perch in 80m. Reasonable catches of snapper, hussar and pearl perch at the Hards.

Tackleworld Kawana  Ph (07) 5444 0714 | www.tackleworldkawanafishingstore.com.au

Caloundra

Rosey jobfish, pearl perch, goldband snapper, and snapper all being caught in healthy numbers.

Salty Fishing Charters Ph 0459 636 798  | https://saltyfishingcharters.com.au/

Report pending.

Caloundra Fishing World  Ph (07) 5491 4566 | www.caloundrafishingworld.com.au

Northern Moreton Bay

Not many offshore reports with inconsistent weather, but seeing some good sized Spanish mackerel so well worth getting out if you get the chance with the opening of the closure. Over the reefs, seeing plenty of big cod, snapper, spangled emperor, and the odd pearl perch beyond 40-50m of water. In the Bay, the longtail tuna getting around; while tricky, smaller presentations are doing best (80mm-100mm). Spotted and school mackerel around the marker poles. Snapper fishing in shallows is reasonably good around Scarborough and Woody Point and some around Mud Island. In the estuaries, it’s mostly about mangrove jack at the moment, with Caboolture & Pine Rivers and the Pumicestone passage creeks fishing reasonably well after the rain. Threadfin salmon around Nudgee and Port of Brisbane. Whiting on the sand flats.

Tackleworld Lawnton    Ph (07) 3205 7475 | www.facebook.com/tackleworldlawnton

Moreton Bay Offshore

Report pending.

High Calibre Charters   Ph 0421 922 713 | https://highcalibrefishingcharters.com.au/

Report pending.

Moreton Island Fishing Charters    Ph 0413 128 056 | https://moretonislandfishingcharters.com.au/

Redcliffe Peninsula

Bream, whiting, flathead and grunter in Hayes & the Pine. Yellowfin whiting in Hayes, the Pine, and a few off the beaches. Snapper and a few grassy sweetlip off the Eastern beaches, jetties & rocky points. Grunter and some school mackerel on the inshores. The odd tailor, school and grey mackerel, and school jew off Woody Point jetty, in Bramble Bay and on the inshore reefs. Mangrove jack in the canals. Muddies, jacks and the odd threadfin salmon in the rivers and creeks. Spotted mackerel in the bay, try the beacons and look for the birds working.

Hornibrook Bait & Tackle    Ph 0483 846 966 | www.facebook.com/HornibrookBT

Brisbane River

Mackerel at Hope Banks to Tangalooma. River is fishing very consistently, with similar action to last week. Abundant sweetlip at Mud Island and Green Island.

Mr Bait    Ph 0431 222 721 | www.facebook.com/Mr-Bait-182344678957765

North Stradbroke Island

Summer whiting at Chain Banks. Flathead along the Lota / Manly foreshore. School mackerel at Hope Banks. Spotted mackerel East of Green Island. Nice jewfish and squire have come into the Brisbane River at Eat Street Markets.

Water Tower Bait & Tackle    Ph (07) 3396 1833 | https://watertowerbaitandtackle.com.au

Moreton Bay / Jumpinpin

Report pending.

Capn’s Charters Ph 0410 590 049 | Capns Charters – Lure & Soft Plastic Fishing Charter

Jumpinpin

No report this week.

Gem Bait & Tackle    Ph (07) 3287 3868 | www.facebook.com/gembait

Jacks have been slowing down a bit lately, people have had to work a bit harder for them. Whiting have been going well however, with live yabbies and bloodworms working splendidly. Bream have been frequent bi-catch on the whiting. A few tailor are coming by. Some cracker jew have come out of the bar taking a liking to heavy vibes. 

Jacobs Well Boat Hire  Ph (07) 5546 2608  | www.jacobswellboathire.com.au

South Stradbroke Island

Report pending.

Gold Coast Boat Hire    Ph 0432 710 892 | www.goldcoastboathire.com.au

Gold Coast Broadwater

Great weather for the weekend with light winds and calm seas. Normally this time of year just as the prawns start, we get a deluge. The rain last week had totals less than expected which helped. It did fire up the whiting which were caught up the Coomera and Pimpama rivers. They were caught in both arms of the Coomera from the mouth to Sanctuary Cove. In the Pimpama from Couran Cove to Diamond Head. There were also javelin fish or grunter mixed in with the whiting, which are common after some rain. These fish fight amazingly and taste just as good, so they are a welcome bycatch. Jew were hooked in the seaway, but the resident bull sharks were always close by, which is frustrating. Mud crabs were hit and miss with some people coming back empty-handed while others who went further north around Jacobs Well got their bag limit. Prawns have started with reports trickling in and Sunday morning on the low tide should see a lot of boats looking around for them schooling up. The beaches will be a good option early with the conditions being great. Lots of bait offshore and now is the time to chase small black marlin on live baits around the close reefs.

David McDonald  Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

Spanish mackerel are here in numbers, but it’s still been closed season until tonight (sat 21st). The FADs have had some mahi mahi action, finally! Great to see. Water temp is 26-29 degree, depending where you fish.  Heaps of bait around. High hopes for good mackerel catches over the next few days.

BK’s Gold Coast Fishing Charters Ph 0414 293 034 | https://bksfishing.com.au/

Deep-dropping in 300m of water has yielded some very nice flame snapper. Abundant kingfish in 80 to 120m of water; with bait, jigs, soft plastics all working well. A few dolphinfish back on the FADS with half-pilchards & live slimey mackerel the choice baits. A few nice sized marlin trolling and live bait working well, if you can find a patch of bait. Snapper have been very good on the 50s, 36s and 24s. Spotted mackerel have been consistent at Palm Beach Reef. Trying to get a Spanish early in the weeks is well on the cards. On the beaches, some summer whiting and tarwhine. Whiting are on fire in the Broadwater, and still reasonable numbers of flathead. Chopper tailor in the morning with small queenfish. Mud crabs have been very good up all the rivers: Pimpama, Logan, Coomera.

Gold Coast Fishing Tackle   Ph (07) 5679 0840 | www.goldcoastfishingtackle.com.au

Tweed Coast

Currently on leave.

Cushy Fishing Charters    Ph 0418 631 076 | www.cushyfishingcharters.com.au

Offshore there is mackerel from the Tweed to Black Rock, Evans Head — finding them in close in not more than 30 to 40m of water. Snapper still biting on the 24s and 36s. Yellowfin tuna at Wyndarra Banks. Some good sized Black Marlin in close. Dolphinfish a bit erratic but are showing up at the FADS. Mangrove jack are still biting hard at the rock walls at Chinderah and at Fingal. Whiting are still going very well in the upper reaches of the Tweed River on yabbies and worms. Schools of Grunter have shown up in the Tweed River. Lots of mangrove jack and tarpon on the Gold Coast in the land-locked lakes. Threadfin salmon are following the prawns at Jumpinpin and Jacobs Well.

Addict Tackle   Ph (07) 5523 3535 |  https://www.addicttackle.com.au/

Ballina

The recent rain has added some color to the water in the river, but the larger tides this weekend should start to push some of this water out of the river. Oily baits with extra scent such as pilchards and mullet have all had some success during the last week. The flathead have been spread from the mouth of the river up to Wardell Bridge. The warm weather has kept most of them out in deeper water. The bream have been caught in both creeks and in the main river, with similar baits to the flathead as well as small soft plastics. The warm weather and slightly discolored water has also stirred up a few jacks this week, with most of them being landed in the afternoons using live baits. The beaches have produced some quality flathead, bream and a few whiting. Some of the larger tailor have been showing up at night on the beaches. Pilchards and bonito have been the best baits to use. The rain and good tides have also moved a few mud crabs around, with reports of catches coming from the main river. Offshore the mackerel have still been a little patchy on the close reefs. The current has still been strong out wide, but there has still been some reasonable snapper on the 32’s and 42’s on both bait and lures. A few trag, flathead, tusk fish and mulloway have also been landed on the 32’s. The 48’s have produced some good quality pearl perch and a few amberjack, with jigs producing the larger models.

Ballina Bait and Tackle   Ph (02) 6686 2527 | https://www.facebook.com/p/Ballina-Bait-and-Tackle-100063582669959/

Evans Head

Try Airforce & Main Beach for school jewfish, bream,  and the odd tailor. The walls at the mouth are holding bream, tailor and luderick. In the Evans River, there are bream, flathead and whiting — and try the upper reaches for mud crabs. Offshore and the close reefs are seeing snapper, trag, spotted and Spanish mackerel.

Evans Head Sports & Marine  Ph (02) 6682 4536 | www.facebook.com/EvansheadSportsMarine

Brunswick Heads

After a lot of rain (over 250 mls) the fishing has lifted dramatically. On the reefs there is mackerel, snapper, jewfish, jellybean tuna, and wahoo. On the rock walls there is tailor, jewfish, dart, trevally, and bream. Beach fishing has yielded dart, whiting, bream, tarwhine, flathead and tailor. The river is still producing lots of jacks plus trevally, bream, flathead and whiting. Mud crabs are also coming out in big numbers.

Bruns Beach Bait and Tackle Ph 0432 394 869 |

Yamba

Still getting mackerel further south, but the snapper a bit hit and miss offshore. The clear water in the Clarence River has seen the fish scatter, but there are plenty of flathead around Maclean and Broadwater. Bream on the high tide over the weed. Lawrence is seeing plenty of flathead.

Yamba Bait and Tackle Ph (02) 6646 1514 | https://www.facebook.com/yambabaitandtackle/

FRESHWATER FISHING

Moogerah Dam

Fish are heading up the creek. Any of the timber and tree lines leading toward the creek are producing fish, with chatterbaits working well along with crankbaits. On the bigger weed banks, soft plastics can be thrown up onto the weed and rolled off quickly, with bass sitting in the weed along with yellowbelly. Larger bass have also been moving across the flats. These fish are best targeted with deep diving crankbaits in about five to six metres of water, either by trolling or casting.

Charltons Fishing    Ph (07) 3818 1677 | www.charltonsfishing.com.au

Hinze Dam

Fish have been caught in the Western Arm, particularly in the backs of the bays. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and crankbaits continue to work across the dam. Similar patterns are occurring in the dams on the north side of town, with chatterbaits and crankbaits working well this time of year. Saratoga are still about, especially up the Western Arm, with one taken last week on a small white spinnerbait fished around the trees.

Charltons Fishing    Ph (07) 3818 1677 | www.charltonsfishing.com.au

Not a lot of reports coming in, but with the barometer going up, and good weather, the fishing should be good. Try fishing fly around the lake margins. As the sun gets higher, fish the deeper water with blades and metal jigs.

Gold Coast Fishing Tackle   Ph (07) 5679 0840 | www.goldcoastfishingtackle.com.au

North Pine Dam 

North Pine a few saratoga caught in the inlets and bigger bass trolling near the dam walls.

Tackleworld Lawnton    Ph (07) 3205 7475 | www.facebook.com/tackleworldlawnton

Bass are being caught from the bank on spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and even metal spoons. A slow retrieve with a spoon along the bottom has been effective. Kayak anglers are finding fish by paddling into the open basin, using sounders to locate the smaller schools. Some bass are also being picked up on the troll around the main basin. Once a fish is hooked, it can pay to stay in the same spot and cast crankbaits or small soft plastics to pick up a few more.

Charltons Fishing    Ph (07) 3818 1677 | www.charltonsfishing.com.au

Lake Kurwongbah

Lake Kurwongbah fishing has been fishing well, with good catches on the edges around the weed, using spinnerbaits and top water lures in the morning and afternoon.

Tackleworld Lawnton    Ph (07) 3205 7475 | www.facebook.com/tackleworldlawnton

Fishing remains consistent. Good fish are being caught on spinnerbaits worked along the edges of the weedbeds, which are extensive throughout the lake. Casting parallel to the weedbeds and slow‑rolling the lure has been producing. Small blades are also working in the main basin, where fish at this time of year often stack on the bottom near the dam wall. Hopping small blades along the bottom is accounting for additional fish.

Charltons Fishing    Ph (07) 3818 1677 | www.charltonsfishing.com.au

Lake Borumba

Good saratoga on surface lures.

Tackleworld Kawana  Ph (07) 5444 0714 | www.tackleworldkawanafishingstore.com.au