Fishing Report 5 February 2026

Fishing Fri 06 Feb 2026

Hervey Bay / Fraser Island

Urangan Pier has seen the early arrival of broad‑bar mackerel, although numbers and size remain modest at this stage. A few jewfish have also been encountered, along with scattered flathead and the occasional queenfish, but overall activity on the pier has been subdued.

Along the local beaches, whiting have been taken on the higher tides, with grunter bream on the low tides, and sporadic queenfish showing wherever the whiting schools are concentrated. Around Point Vernon, trout have been reported in the shallows, with occasional tuskfish, grassy sweetlip and cod mixed in.

In the Burrum and Mary River systems, a small run of prawns appeared earlier in the week before moving back into the mud and becoming difficult to locate. The opening of barramundi season drew large numbers of boats, although catches were mixed. The inshore reefs have seen the usual mix of grass sweetlip, cod, queenfish and golden trevally present, but shark numbers remain high and continue to catches. Offshore activity has been minimal, with few boats heading out due to conditions.

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

Tin Can Bay

With neap tides, the creeks will be the go this weekend, and from all reports they have been fishing well on the back side of the full moon. Mangrove jacks have been dominate and the surface bite in the low-light hours has been explosive the last few days. Barra are also on the menu and have been around in good numbers but hooking one has been challenging, and outside of a bite window lock-jaw has been a thing. Fish seem to be averaging in 800-900 sizes in the Great Sandy Straights, with a slow rolled 5-6” prawn lure being a proven winner along with big paddle tail plastics. The slower the better.

Flathead catches have still been good with a number of good fish being caught in the Bay. The flats at the mouth of Teebar continue to fish well. Golden trevally have been showing up in Snapper Ck in good numbers so hitting the moorings with micro jigs should see you hook up to a few. Whiting catches are still strong, with the flats around Dinnies on a flood tide and a live yabbie filling eskies.

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

Noosa

A spell of strong fishing around Noosa in recent weeks. An abundance of whiting, bream and trevally at the river mouth, and Woods Bay. Sooty grunter at Tewantin along the bend near the marina. Plenty of mud crabs from Tewantin to the first lake (no sand crabs). A lot of moses perch also. Lake Coroibah has produced some nice flathead over 60cm. (Note restriction on keeping large flathead >75cm ; minimum 40cm).

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

No report this week.

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

Plenty of Spanish mackerel when the South-East wind permitted charters. Took the normal range of maori cod, wrass bottom bouncing, and some very big cobia remain around. Fishing North towards Double Island.

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

Limited charters but all boats are back out this coming week. Finding a lot of cobia on the close reefs.

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

Maroochydore

A lot of fish around with whiting at the mouth of the Maroochy River, and Chambers Island. The motorway bridge has been really firing with a range of species, at all times of day, including the middle of the day, with some big flathead. Bream, trevally, jewfish and mangrove jack are all being reported at the cod hole. More flathead at the mouth of Eudlo Creek, and then in the upper reaches, past Bli Bli, anglers are finding more mangrove jack. Crabs have been quiet.

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

Mooloolaba

In the Mooloolah River there have been good hauls of mud crabs in the deeper holes. Good mangrove jack caught around Minyama bridge. Flathead at river mouth. Quality whiting taken at Picnic Point, Maroochydore. Offshore, try chasing mahi mahi around the FADs or grassy sweetlip and spotted mackerel at Currumundi.

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

Caloundra

No report this week due to conditions.

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

Snapper and Cobia at Caloundra 12 mile. Pearl perch and tuskfish at Caloundra wide. Longtail and mack tuna in the shipping channel off Bribie. Whiting and javelin fish in the mouth of Bells Creek. Flathead at Golden Beach. Mangrove Jack and trevally in Pelican Waters canals. Mud crabs from Roy’s to Coochin Creek.

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

Northern Moreton Bay

Bull sharks are in numbers in the North and South Pine Rivers, and readily taking baits, particularly eel. Bream remain up in the mangroves and are responding to topwater lures, lightly weighted soft plastics and small hardbodies, supported by large numbers of prawns currently moving through the system. Additional prawn activity has been reported in deeper holes around the mouth of the South Pine River and the highway bridge in the South Pine. Queenfish and trevally have been moving through on the larger tides, with metal lures and vibes working best. Flathead towards the mouth of the Pine and Caboolture Rivers, while threadfin salmon have been encountered along the foreshore areas in the same areas.

Around Redcliffe, the grunter have been quieter, although grassy sweetlip continue to be caught around Woody Point and Clontarf, with a few bream and snapper reported in the same areas. In the southern bay, cobia have been encountered moving through the channels, and snapper have been taken around Mud Island during the early morning and late afternoon periods. Offshore reports have been limited, although dolphin fish are at the FADs. While Spanish mackerel remain in their closed season, a few incidental captures have been noted. Mangrove jack continue to be taken throughout the canals and the Pumicestone Passage, working lures and live baits.

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

Dolphin fish in great numbers, also snapper, pearl perch and rosy jobfish out wide.

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 Inlet and the Pine River. 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. School jew, grunter and some school mackerel on the inshores. Mangrove Jack in the canals. Mud crabs, mangrove jacks and the odd threadfin salmon in the rivers and creeks.

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

Moreton Bay / Brisbane River

The Brisbane River has fired up with snapper, jewfish, flathead and bream in the lower reaches from the Gateway Bridge to the Port of Brisbane – along the rock walls and moorings. Northern Moreton Bay is seeing more action than the southern areas, with school mackerel in good numbers at the Coffee Pots, the Measured Mile, Tangalooma, M8, M10. Throwing slugs or trolling boards are working well. Abundant diver whiting at the sand hills and chain banks.

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

Reports of mackerel around Hope Banks. Mud crabs in Tingalpa Creek. Flathead also present. Prawns in the creeks.

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

Mud crabs have been the standout, with strong and widespread catches reported, prolific throughout local creeks and channels. Whiting continue to be caught in good numbers in the Coomera and Nerang rivers – and at Jumpinpin. Mangrove jack remain active, with several fish between 35 cm and 50 cm taken, along with reports of larger specimens up to the mid‑50s and low‑60s. Most jack locations remain closely held, though several fish have been confirmed from the North Arm of the Nerang river and from structure-dominated areas toward the Pin. A few good jewfish, one weighed at a little over 6 kg. Plate sized tailor are around but in fewer numbers. Good flathead are present, in the high 60cms – as well as some particularly large specimens (note restrictions on larger fish). Bream remain. Conditions over the coming week are expected to remain favourable, with light winds and stable temperatures likely to encourage increased activity across multiple estuary species.

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

The full moon and big tides this week saw an incredible amount of whiting caught, in bigger sizes and numbers, with live bloodworms and cured beach worms working best. Threadfin salmon are kicking around in some better numbers, taking live prawns, dead prawns, and vibe style lures. Sharks are getting lots of attention with anglers finding that no shortage of hammerheads and whalers in the jumpinpin waterways. Mulloway are atill about also, but the big tides means the tide-turn bite time is much shorter, but stronger.

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

South Stradbroke Island

Summer whiting are featuring strongly, particularly throughout the southern branch of the river. Big mud crabs in the Pimpama Creek. Mangrove jack around Sovereign Island. Bream throughout.

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

Gold Coast Broadwater

This weekend is looking amazing, and there have been a few fish around. The whiting season has been unbelievable this year and the amount of bigger fish is great to see. The Nerang River from Monaco Street right down through the council chambers to the inside channel near Smith Street Boat Ramp is fishing well. Wavebreak and in front of Aqua have produced fish but smaller ones. The Coomera and Pimpama Rivers have had fewer numbers but great quality last week, and there’s no reason they won’t continue to produce over the weekend. Great tides for up the river, and the water quality is perfect. Crab Island has had whiting and flathead caught on the northern bank and drifting between big and little crab has also worked well with yabbies. With the tides getting smaller, it could be worth having a drift through the seaway. After the swell and big tides last week, it may be a good time to see what’s lurking in the depths. There’s a good chance of finding a Jew at the end of the northern wall. Sunday morning on the tide change may have the odd prawn showing up towards Redland Bay and Macleay Island. They have been quite so far, but the Brisbane River has good numbers so they won’t be far.

David McDonald
Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

While the gale force southerly and swell limited available days, there was some great fishing, with mahi mahi on trolled skirted lures, as well as snapper and jewfish on lightly weighted pillies, and moses perch and trag on pilly cubes and slimy fillets on the droppers. The weather outlook is looking good.

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

Good numbers of snapper and nice pearl perch on the 50 fathoms. The current has eased off just enough to be able to get some kingfish with live baits on the bottom there as well.  24s and 36s have seen good numbers of parrotfish together with abundant snapper, and some maori perch. Closer inshore, on the 24s and 18s, plenty of trag, and good sized cobia around. Spotted mackerel are present also.  Along the breakwall and along the beach, there’s still been chopper tailor; together with plenty of whiting, good numbers of dart, and also some nice tarwhine. Back inside the broadwater, excellent numbers of whiting, right up through the Nerang river, the Pimpama and the Coomera rivers. Good flathead around and seeing a number taken as bi-catch when chasing whiting on the banks.

Good jewfish in the deep water at the Jumpinpin bar. There’s been a few sand crabs, but there’s probably been more action with the muddies up the creeks — try to get up right into the back reaches.  Mangrove jacks, trevally and estuary cod have been good and there have also been some nice javelin fish right up the back there as well.

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

Report pending.

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

Ballina

Strong winds and rough seas have plagued us for most of the early part of the week, but the weather appears to have turned for the better. The next four or five days should be great conditions for fishing and boating. The current is still running strong offshore, but there has still been some snapper, flathead and tusk fish on the 32’s. Small mahi mahi \ have made the FAD their home at present, with the odd larger one out wider. Mackerel is the word on the tip of everyone’s tongue at present, and while they haven’t shown up in great numbers yet, it may be worth slowi trolling some live baits around on the close reefs just in case. Back in the river the tides are becoming smaller this weekend as the moon drops away. Both the creeks have produced some crabs, and a few bream and flathead. The main river has also had some flathead spread from the mouth to Pimlico Island. Curl tail soft plastics, small hard body lures and pilchards have accounted for plenty of fish. The better bream seem to be up river from Pimlico Island to Riley’s Hill, on baits such as prawns, squid and some diving or surface hard body lures. The bass fishing has still been a little tough, but a few fish have shown up between Coraki and Swan Bay. Chatterbaits, diving hard bodies and skirted jigs have been the most popular lures choices. The beaches have been similar to the offshore fishing, with little opportunity early in the week due to the weather but it’s looking like a great weekend to get some sand between your toes.

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

Evans Head

Evening sessions off Air Force Beach have produced jewfish, with tailor being taken through the day and the occasional flathead reported. Around the north and south walls, anglers have encountered small numbers of bream along with tailor and a few mulloway. In the lower reaches of the river, bream, flathead, whiting and trevally have been active. Upstream, mud crabs continue to be caught, along with the occasional mangrove jack and scattered flathead. Off the reefs around Cahor’s wreck, snapper have been taken along with reports of pearl perch. South of Evans Head, small numbers of mackerel have been encountered, mostly spotted mackerel, but overall numbers remain limited.

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

Brunswick Heads

Mackerel, snapper, dolphin fish out to see with dart, whiting, flathead and bream on the beaches. A few jewfish and tailor on the walls. The River is holding bream, mangrove jack, flathead and whiting. A few mud crabs being caught too.

Bruns Beach Bait and Tackle
Ph 0432 394 869

Yamba

Limited reports of spotted or Spanish mackerel, with only isolated catches weighed at Iluka, indicating numbers remain low this season, despite boats on the grounds. Crabbing has improved, following what has also been a quiet season, with good numbers now being taken. Good flathead are being reported, with some 70 cm fish caught on Saturday at the lower end of the river. The most consistent activity has been upstream around Harwood and Maclean, where several quality flathead have been reported. Operators note the rapid water‑temperature changes moving fish on and off the bite. Around the Moriarty wall, whiting have been active, with several anglers reporting easy bag limits. No additional offshore or estuary developments have been reported at this stage.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Ewan Maddock Dam

Some good bass, mainly caught on spinnerbaits.

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

Maroon Dam

The rock bank near the dam wall is producing well early on surface lures, and weedless plastics paired with beetle or jig spins help navigate the heavy timber. The bay near the ski ramp has been consistent on topwater plastics and small metal vibes. Down towards the Nursery near the campground, soft plastics along the edges are working well, and the back timber continues to produce a solid early and late surface bite with plastics effective through the day.

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

Moogerah Dam

Moogerah is omitted this week due to increased pressure and a noticeable slowdown in catch rates.

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

Hinze Dam

Eastern boat ramp remains closed. Bass are schooling around the large patch of trees in the middle of the dam, particularly on the northern side. The western points leading toward the dam wall are holding fish, with soft plastics and beetle spins doing the damage along the edges. Early mornings are offering a shot at Saratoga on surface lures. A few schools are sitting closer to the wall but can be difficult to pin down consistently.

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

With the warmer temperature it still should be fishing well, with fish taking topwater fly in the early morning ; and as the day progresses, try spinnerbaits and then metals in the deeper water on the points.

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

Lake Wivenhoe

Report pending

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

Somerset Dam

bass are schooling in the timbered 6‑knot zone at the northern end of the dam, with reaction baits such as chatterbaits and vibes working best, while soft plastics and spoons have been noticeably quieter this week. Expect heavy traffic from Friday through Sunday with the Queensland Freshwater Fishing Competition running. Along the eastern side off Queen Street, fish are holding on the riverbeds and again responding best to reaction-style lures. Pelican Point has plenty of fish showing but they’ve been harder to tempt, with bait anglers doing well on shrimp and live worms. In Billy’s Bay, more schools are being found along the right-hand edge as you enter, while the left side is holding quality Yellowbelly, with Jackall TN60s the standout. Out toward the white buoy in the middle, fish are schooling but require some searching, and trollers are finding good success on spoons and deep divers around the 8‑metre line.

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

North Pine Dam / Kurwongbah dam

At Kurwongbah dam, early‑morning topwater lures have been effective on both bass and saratoga, with fish taken along the weed edges before sunrise. As the sun rises, anglers are having success by working spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and soft plastics through the weed channels, with bass and saratoga mixed in.

North Pine Dam has been fishing well with school fish in the kayak area, getting crankbaits and vibes off the bottom. In the boating‑permit zone on the Rush Creek side, saratoga remain active on calmer days, with swimbaits and topwater presentations producing the better fish.

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

Lake Samsonvale

Report pending.

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

Lake Kurwongbah

Report pending.

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

Brisbane River

In the Brisbane River system, the Shines Road kayak-access section is producing bass and Yellowbelly on small crankbaits and spinnerbaits, with the bite improving further when Wivenhoe releases water. Burton’s Bridge north of Fernvale continues to fish well for land‑based anglers both upstream and downstream. At the Mount Crosby Weir, where fresh water from upstream meets the tidal push, bull sharks are active in big numbers and taking freshwater eel baits. Bass can still be found tight to the far bank out of the shark pressure, with TN60s and heavy plastics best. Joseph Brady Park and the Riverside boat ramp are also reliable spots for bull sharks at the moment.