Fishing Report 29 January 2026

Fishing Fri 30 Jan 2026

Hervey Bay / Fraser Island

At Urangan, pencil squid have tapered off a little following the full moon, but there are still a few queenfish about and the possibility of big GTs showing at times. The local beaches have been fairly quiet, though it’s still worth trying Dundowran or Eli Creek flats for whiting. On the inshore reefs, sharks continue to be a major problem, making it extremely difficult to land fish, but coral trout and cod are still very much on the bite at this time of year, on the turn of the tide, with live baits or jigging lures. There are also good numbers of grassy sweetlip inshore along with the normal run of species such as blackall.

School mackerel remain scarce and spotted mackerel are also thin, though Spanish mackerel are scattered through Hervey Bay with very large fish inshore, and GTs hanging around the shipwrecks. Queenfish are being caught inshore around the Bay islands and across the flats, with a few golden trevally mixed in. Whiting numbers are lower, while flathead are fairly random in their distribution. Grunter are a solid target species right now—look to the sandy stretches, creek systems and the channels for them.

Threadfin and blue salmon are active down the Great Sandy Straits, and the barramundi season opener is the major focus this week. The Fraser Island western creeks are producing mangrove jack, with plenty of prawns showing up and mud crabs appearing in the Burrum system. Mangrove jack, threadfin salmon and barra will all be viable options through the rivers and creeks once the season opens. No substantial reports from the east coast of Fraser Island this week.

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

Tin Can Bay

The full moon should fire up the pelagics and anyone keen to chase a Spanish offshore may get a chance before closure (this Sunday 1 February). With a decent afternoon low tide on the weekend you should be able to target a few flathead around the bigger drain in the Bay. Try shallow running hardbodies, 3-4” grub-tails and 4-5” glide baits. Reports of threadfin salmon keep rolling in — try to fish the run in tide at the creek mouths with prawn lures and 80mm-100mm vibes.

Crabs continue to be on the move so make sure to get the pots in and give them a good soak with big fresh baits being key. Mangrove jack and cod are in the local creeks with a mix of lures and baits doing the job. The run-out tide will fire this weekend and if there is a bit of cloud, toss a few 70mm – 90mm poppers around.

Land based anglers have been catching some nice whiting and flathead off Norman Point, with the whiting taking live yabbies and beach worm. The mouth of Crab Creek has also been fishing well on the last couple of hours of the runout tide.

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

Noosa

Trevally around the Heads. Bream around the jetties. Flathead on the sand bars. Whiting quiet but are still taking yabbies. Crabs are still very consistent.

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

Surprisingly, there have been trumpet emperor/sweetlip around Noosa Sound. Flathead and bream in the frying pan. Big eye trevally and grunter bream in Lake Coroibah.

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

Very limited offshore fishing this week due to unfavourable conditions, but trips to North Reef and towards Double Island Point yielded good numbers of Spanish mackerel and other pelagics, primarily trolling as normal bottom fishing approaches were ruled out.

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

Cobia, Spanish mackerel, pearl perch – on North Reef. Lots of sharks, but still getting a few good ones past them. Forecast improving.

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

Maroochydore

Pretty solid week’s fishing despite the busyness of the Maroochy River. Grunter bream, bream and flathead in the middle reaches and in creek mouths. Good whiting in lower reaches, at the North Shore and around Twin Waters. Still getting mangrove jacks around most of the rocky areas and bridges throughout the river. Mud crabs a little quieter but still around in the creeks.

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

Mooloolaba

With impending spanish mackerel closure, suggest you try to get out on Saturday, as there have been good Spanish mackerel at the outer gneerings. After closure, suggest FADs for dolphin fish. Some good black marlin off 8 mile and 18 mile. Try for grassy sweetlip off Curimundi Reef. Still snapper and pearl perch in the deeper water at the Hards and Caloundra wide. Maroochy and Mooloolah Rivers fishing very well for mangrove jack and the odd barramundi (caught and released with closure). Mud crabs on the move throughout river system – suggest putting pots in the deeper holes with fresh bait for some good bucks.

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

Caloundra

A mixed bag at Caloundra wide including quality snapper, gold band snapper, pearl perch and tuskfish. Bottom-bashing rigs were the best options, with fresh cut mullet fillet and squid being pick of the baits. A few dolphin fish have been hovering around the boat each trip lately so keep an eye out when on the drift. A set of double gangs and half a pilly usually does the trick for these.

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

Inshore there have been sweetlip and cobia, a pretty good run of whiting, and the better than expected run of good sized flathead continues up and down the coast. Mangrove jacks remain consistent in the canals and the creeks, live baiting at night or lure fishing early mornings and late afternoon. There are reports of good spotted grunter and school jewfish (but mostly juveniles). There are still some decent crabs about with the warmer weather, despite the lack of rain and run-off. With the south-easterly winds, you can try for jewfish off the beaches, to target the January / February run around Marcoola and Mudjimba and further south to Caloundra — try soaking live baits, worms or strip baits at night.

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

Northern Moreton Bay

Crabs doing well in Pumicestone Passage with fresh chicken and mullet. Whiting slower, but try Donnybrook and the mouth of Bribie. Around the ripples you are a chance for a snapper early morning. Canals fishing quite well for mangrove jack. Bream at Bribie. Flathead at the mouth of the passage, at Bongaree at drop-offs and Sandstone Point has been excellent for flathead with live-baits the pick. Caboolture River has been harder with larger quantity of freshwater but try for prawns and crabs at the mouth of river, as well as threadfin salmon and jewfish. Prawns and a few tarpon late at night at the mouth of Pine River. Bream around the Hornibrook bridges in the mangroves and throughout the whole Pine River.

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

Dolphin fish remain the primary target and the main fish being caught at the moment in anticipation for a weather turnaround.

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 off the Eastern beaches, jetties & rocky points. School jew and grunter on the inshores. Muddies in the rivers and creeks.

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

Moreton Bay / Brisbane River

Mackerel thick again, with Spanish mackerel off Cape Moreton south to Hutchinsons Reef. Spotted ND school mackerel throughout northern Moreton Bay — at M8, M10 and Tangalooma down to Shark Spit and the 4 Beacons and South to Harry Atkinson Artificial Reef. Yellowtail kingfish at Tangalooma and other reef fish on edge of channel. In closer, Mud Island, there are some good squire and sweetlip . Whiting at Chain Banks and Blue Hole. The Brisbane River has been quieter coming off neap tides, with small threadfin and jewfish and would expect bream and flathead to improve in the River. Mud crabs have been a constant and have got better and better with the full moon. Banana prawns are marching through and worth a look for the cast netters.

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

Sweetlip around Green Island, mackerel at the Hope Banks and prawns in the Brisbane River.

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

Moreton Bay / Jumpinpin

Moreton Bay

The shallow patches are producing strongly. Anglers finding bait holding on the shallow reef edges, especially if you find bait, have had success using small paddle‑tail plastics and three‑inch prawns, lightly weighted with anything from a 1/8 to ¼ jig head being very effective. These have been turning over quality snapper in the 60cm to 70cm range, along with sweetlip, spangled emperor and other reef species. Productive zones include Dunwich, the eastern side of Peel Island, the front of Cleveland and Raby Bay, and the eastern side of Green Island, all of which have been fishing well.

The southern Bay is also holding good schools of threadfin salmon, particularly with the blackened‑eyed model lures. Fish caught over the past week have ranged from around seventy‑five centimetres up to a metre‑fifteen. The fish have been schooling tightly, leading to sessions with three to five fish hitting the net in quick succession. Over the coming days the southern Bay islands are expected to remain well worth a look.

Jumpinpin

Fishing strongly with jewfish shifting slightly, moving away from the bar area and deeper water and pushing back up the system. Deeper holes around Cabbage Tree Point, Mosquito Island and Tabby Island have been holding fish, with additional numbers still present around the Aldershots area and further down toward the bar. Flathead are a little spread out, which is typical for this time of year, but tracking them along the weed banks has been effective and anglers are still finding good patches when moving around. Between Jacobs Well channel and Cabbage Tree Point boat ramp. Plenty of trevally around the Neverfail Islands on the low tide, throwing lightly weighted plastics. The bream have moved up the canals with very light plastics throwing at the pontoons.

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

Jumpinpin

Plenty of whiting in Coomera and Pimpama Rivers. A nice barra around 95cm . Quieter on threadfins this week. Couldn’t keep up the blood worms supply with the proliferation of whiting ; didn’t mid the yabbies either. Mother-in-law fish. Still ample crabs but patchier. A few decent flathead around 80cm being weighed in, but not as thick as they were. A few mangrove jack weighed in around 3kg about a week ago, but quieter through the week.

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

Jumpinpin has seen the threadfin salmon start to pick up, being spotted on side scan rarely, but the bite rate has been good. Whiting have been going well, with live worms pulling heaps of good fish out. Some nice mangrove jacks about as well.

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

Windy with the odd shower this weekend. Sunday is looking the better day for a fish. It’s nice to see the Broadwater with fewer boats after the school holidays and Australia Day. There were trevally caught along the Sovereign Island walls this week with prawn soft plastics working well. Some larger fish mixed in too, with one measuring 86cm, which is a great size for the coast. Flathead were caught around the banks and weed edges of Crab Island, Browns Bay, and Tipplers Passage. Whiting were found in the Coomera River near the red markers opposite the Paradise Point boat ramp, South Stradbroke Island, Crab Island and in front of the aquatic centre. The morning high tide is perfect for throwing a few pots out for a mud crab. Try the Measured Mile, Coomera and Pimpama rivers. The water isn’t too fresh, so put your pots up in the shallows across the top of the tide.

David McDonald
Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

Mackerel have appeared in stronger numbers, with spotted and Spanish boated this week on unweighted pilchards and live baits. 18 fathom reefs and the southern Gold Coast reefs both getting bites. The sharks have been very aggressive on every spot, taking hooked mackerel, and reports of sharks even eating other sharks.

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

Winds have been up impacting fishing. Spotted and Spanish mackerel . Black Marlin at 50 fathom reefs. Inshore whiting and bream. Crabbing has been solid with the heat and rain, but primarily mud crabs.

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

Tweed Coast

Report pending.

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

Plenty of mangrove jack and trevally off the rock walls and bridge pylons in the Tweed River, Currumbin and Tallebudgerra Creeks . Some very good whiting on sand banks and weed beds in all three etuaries also. Good flathead on the run-out tide with larger swim baits and big soft plastic. From Cabarita to Tallebudgerra headland, there have been some good tailor being caught on spinners more than bait, to get out further and draw the larger fish. There has been good water, and good bait for spanish mackerel up until this weekend’s closure. In close there have been good snapper being caught and amongst that some large dolphin fish up to 1m 30. From 40m to 100m some black marlin and smaller striped marlin.

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

Ballina

Report pending.

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

Brunswick Heads

Offshore : mackerel , snapper and disproportionate sharks. Beach and rocks: tailor, jewfish, bream dart and trevally. River has flathead, bream, whiting and habundant mangrove jacks. Mud crabs still around.

Evans Head

Not a huge week’s fishing with big seas, but try along Airforce and Main Beach for school jew and bream. Around the walls, try for jewfish, bream and the odd tailor. In the Evans River, bream, flathead and whiting. Try the upper reaches for mud crabs.

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

Yamba

Offshore, water temps have fluctuated which has possibly kept mackerel reports quiet still. Some reports of spotted and Spanish mackerel but not thick. All bread and butter species are prominent up the Clarence River, with good flathead out of Yamba, McLean and Broadwater. A slow start but mud crabs are here (no blue swimmers).

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Maroon Dam

Maroon Dam continues to fish steadily, with no major change in recent patterns. Anglers are picking up fish in the timber at the back of the dam, with chatterbaits and surface lures effective, particularly early morning, late afternoon or during overcast conditions. Along the rock wall adjacent to the dam wall, spinnerbaits are performing well due to the snag‑prone terrain, although weedless plastics remain an option. This stretch is producing bass consistently, including larger fish along the edge.

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

Moogerah Dam

At Moogerah Dam, conditions remain similar to last week. The spit near the main boat ramp, which forms a significant underwater point, continues to hold fish either on top of the structure or falling away into deeper water. Spoons, chatterbaits and deep-diving lures are all producing fish, with anglers either trolling or casting across the point. Opposite the spit near the ski huts—known locally as Cabin Point—fish are being located in front of the cabins, especially in the afternoons, from around ten metres up to six metres. The same lure selections used on the spit are working here. On the eastern side, within the large bay containing submerged timber, schooling fish are being found from roughly three metres out to ten metres. Spinnerbaits fished down through the timber and slow‑rolled out are working effectively.

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

Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam is providing a variety of options depending on the launch point. From the western ramp, schools of fish are being encountered around the large clump of standing timber directly out from the ramp. Chatterbaits and skirted jigs are both effective; the skirted jig—consisting of a jighead and skirt—can be rigged with trailers such as creature baits, yabbies or frogs, and is semi‑snag‑resistant, allowing anglers to cast deep into the timber and work the lure out with slow twitches. Toward the dam wall, fish are still schooling around the area known as the quarry, located just left of the wall. A quality sounder is needed to locate these schools. Spoons and heavy three‑ to four‑inch soft plastics are effective, with colours ranging from white through to darker tones. From the eastern ramp, anglers working the inlets opposite the ramp are finding Saratoga and bass, especially deep in the shaded backs of the inlets where surface lures can be particularly productive. Continuing down to the southern end, the grass bank there is producing larger bass and Saratoga, with soft plastics rigged with gold jig spinners—in the two‑and‑a‑half to three‑inch size—performing well.

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

There are good reports of bass on the western side of the Hinze dam.

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

Somerset Dam

Somerset Dam continues to produce fish, particularly in the timbered sections where large numbers of Saratoga are holding. The dam is heavily stocked with toga, and spinbaits in bright colours such as yellows, greens and fluoro patterns have been effective. At the start of the timber, moving back toward the open basin, anglers are reporting good-sized yellowbelly. Jackall TN60s are performing well, with fish taking a broad range of colours from dark purples and browns through to whites, which are notably successful at Somerset. Blades including ZX40s and ZX43s in black are also proving effective, particularly when jigged beside the trees by dropping straight down on marked fish and bouncing the lure. Bass are being caught down towards Bass 13 on both sides of the creek, with fish holding between twelve metres and six metres. Spoons in white or baitfish tones are working strongly, with silver remaining a popular option. Heavier chatterbaits in the half‑ounce to five‑eighths range are also getting consistent results.

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

North Pine Dam / Kurwongbah dam

A few Saratoga being caught on swim baits at the North Pine Dam, in the boating permit area. Bass off the points in the early morning and as it gets hotter, deeper in the weeds. Kurwongbah has been slower in general, a few bass at the back of the dam.

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