Fishing Report 15 January

Fishing Thu 15 Jan 2026

Hervey Bay / Fraser Island

Good forecast for inshore fishing with light winds, but possibly a little bit of rain. Inshore fishing has been quite good over the dark moon. Grass sweetlip and coral trout. A few big rogue Spanish mackerel in the Bay, in quite close. Plenty of pencil squid through day and night — inshore and on the Urangan Pier.

There are mack tuna and long tail tuna throughout Hervey Bay, along with queenfish and various trevally species around the inshore islands. The Burrum River has been good for threadfin salmon and mangrove jack, as well as a prawns — so worth taking the cast net. The weather has been poor for offshore fishing so no major reports coming this last week. The Western side of Fraser Island has seen some nice sized summer whiting.

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

Rainbow Beach Offshore

Report pending.

Rainbow Beach Reef Fishing Charters Ph 0439 775 070 | www.rainbowbeachfishing.com.au

Tin Can Bay

There has been good action in Crab Creek with nice catches of queenfish, throwing surface poppers at the start of the runout tide at the boat ramp. A lot of prawn in the system; cast netting and throwing out live prawns has been effective. Mangrove Jack plentiful everywhere throughout all systems. On the building tide, strips of mullet on the start of the run-out tide has worked well, as have hard bodies and 4 inch plastics on the back end of the tide. Nice whiting are being caught on the flats out the front of Teebar Creek with local beach worms and live yabbies. For the first time in a while, it’s worth trying for squid in and around moored boats around the inlet, fishing in 8 to 12m of water. Lots on barramundi, but bear in mind it is closed season for barramundi. Golden trevally is being caught in Snapper Creek with micro-jigs around the moorings. And there are crabs galore — with mud crabs plentiful across all the creeks — so get the pots in.

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

Noosa

Washed out a couple of days this week, but have been taking a few bream throughout the lower reaches. A few whiting on the sand flats around Munna Point and Noosaville. Bream and flathead upstream around the cable ferries. A few grunter bream around the front of Lake Coroibah. Prawns and sand worms working solidly.

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

A much better week, with some nice flathead around Noosa Woods, with some specimens above 80cm. A lot of bream and golden trevally in the frying pan. Lake Weyba a bit slow but still producing Moses perch and bream. Coroibah has seen the full mixed bag this week, with heaps of javelin fish, tarpon, flathead, and a few bull sharks.

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

The mackerel have arrived in big numbers, with spotted and Spanish mackerel prolific before the wind got up. The pelagics, including good numbers of cobia, have been the main attraction but there has also been a good array of reef species including pearl perch and good eating sized snapper. North Reef has been the primary destination with Sunshine the second option.

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

Charters have been limited with the weather, but still found cobia, mackerel, tuna, pearl perch, squire and moses perch, on both North Reef and Sunshine Reef — but the sharks are making things difficult.

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

Maroochydore

Bream spread throughout the river this week, with trevally holding around the cod hole. Mangrove jack have been caught upstream of the Bli Bli bridge, while flathead have been taken just west of the motorway bridge near Eudlo Creek.

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

Mooloolaba

Spanish mackerel at the outer gneerings in good numbers, taken on slow-troll live baits . Cobia at Murphy’s Reef. Pearl perch at Caloundra wide. Spanish mackerel and wahoo on the Barwon Banks. Dolphin fish around the FADs. In the Rivers, the mangrove jack have been fishing very well, around any structures, particularly on live baits. Mud crabs have been on the move after the rain and the deeper holes along the rivers have been producing some great specimens. It has been too rough along the beaches, but best recommendation is to chase the flathead in the gutters.

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

Caloundra

No charters due to sea conditions.

SPECIAL OFFER: 20% off for Coastwatch audience and Club Members (Sign up Here). Mention Coastwatch or enter Coatwatch at the Salty Charters Checkout with an online booking.

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

Offshore has been pretty well shut down with the south-east winds. Prior to that, the spanish mackerel have been around in reasonable numbers, but nothing substantial in terms of spotted mackerel or school mackerel. Grassy sweetlip, some cobia and a few snapper still floating around on the shallow inshore reefs. Estuary wise, there have been plenty of whiting, flathead, grunter. Trevally and mangrove jack have been good in the canals, particularly at night, with lures and live baiting; and some queenfish on lures also. Mud crabs are being taken, but they’re not thick — mainly in the creeks rather than the main basin. It has been a bit too windy for beach fishing and fishing the headlands.

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

Northern Moreton Bay

Dolphin, marlin and . Good snapper in 80 to 100m mark. Some schoolies . Snapper off Redcliffe with grunter. Good reports of crabs at mouth . Bream, flathead, whiting at mouth of rivers fishing soft plastics or lighter weighted . Threadfin and

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

Fishing has been great lately, with plenty of snapper, and pearl perch being caught out wide when the current allows. Dolphin fish and spanish mackerel have also finally made an appearance.

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

Report pending.

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

Sandgate/Shorncliffe Pier

Mackerel, snapper, dart, grassy sweetlip and even bream plentiful at Moreton Island. Plenty of crabs around and enough land based action to keep the kids happy.

Tackle Land 
Ph (07) 3269 5060 | www.tackleland.com.au

Brisbane River

Whiting, sweetlip and mackerel in the Bay. The odd squire at Mud and Green Islands, but mainly sweetlip at the Islands and some grunter. More mackerel are showing up at the four beacons, Tangalooma, M8 & M10. School mackerel at Bribie Island, out front of Red Beach as well as north of Harry Atkinson’s Reef. In the River, it has been quieter over the last fortnight. A few jewfish still and threadfin, but not in huge numbers with the bait possibly staying out in Moreton Bay. Mud crabs have been very consistent ever since Cyclone Alfred — in all the mangrove areas, the rivers, creeks and lower reaches of Brisbane River.

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

Nth Stradbroke Island

School mackerel at the beacons and shark spit, both jigging and floating pilchards. Whiting at Chain Banks, the dog leg at Rous channel and at Amity.

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

Moreton Bay / Jumpinpin

Moreton Bay still fishing well especially with the bigger tides. Finding bait holding on the reef edges has been the secret and throwing plastics into that bait has been very effective. Focussing on Cleveland, Raby Bay, Wellington Point, Goat Island, Peel Island and MacLeay Island, and all of those areas are fishing well if you’re finding the bait. Getting some really nice squire, sweetlip and snapper around the 50cm – 60cm mark. Getting quite a few Chinamen, which is rare. Nice sized flathead holding on the sandy sections on the reef edges, at the 50 to 60cm mark. In the southern bay, there are quite a few threadfin salmon around, but they are moving with the bigger tides, around areas like Russell Island, Long Island and the southern end of MacLeay island.

Jumpinpin is still fishing quite well. Jewfish are slowly dissipating and heading up the river, but still getting a few quality fish at the ‘Pin bar, Millionaires Row and Crusoe Island. Flathead have moved further up river, to Jacobs Well, Cabbage Tree Point, and the Logan River. Starting to see prawns turn up, so vibes have been the lure of choice. Plenty of trevally around Jacobs Well region and measured mile, feeding on the mullet. Can see the bait sitting on the surface. Tailor on the incoming tide all the way from Jumpinpin to Jacobs Well channel.

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

Jumpinpin

Report pending.

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

Threadfin salmon are starting to fire up a bit lately, plenty of solid fish being caught. A few prawns are starting to move through the estuary, however not too thick. Whiting are going solid, good numbers cruising through lately, feeding on live bloodworms and live yabbies. Jewfish are chewing solid, but most fish are of the smaller size.

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

South Stradbroke Island

Big mangrove jack around the Sovereign Island bridge, 40cm whiting being caught on live yabbies adjacent to Coomera Island in the lower reaches of the Southern branch of the Coomera River. Golden trevally under the Jabiru Island bridge, big eye trevally under the M1 bridge on the Coomera River. Few mudcrabs in Coombabah Creek and around Browns Island. Good luck!

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

Gold Coast Broadwater

Not the best weekend ahead with showers, possible storms, and a bit of breeze. Big morning high tides will help fishing the banks for whiting and flathead up near the mangrove line. This week, whiting were caught on the banks south of Crab Island, out the front of the end of Smith Street, and up the Nerang River. They were also up further around green and gold banks towards the Pin Bar. Flathead were caught at Crab Island, the measured mile, the junction at Jacobs Well Channel, and the rock walls north of the seaway. A few sand crabs were caught in the main channels this week, and just a few mudcrabs from the Coomera River. Might be a good option chasing a jack with an evening high and possible storm Saturday night.

David McDonald
Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

Limited offshore charters this week, so the focus was the estuaries with the main catch whiting in the Broadwater, near Runaway Bay and Southport. They were a little quieter than last week, but they are certainly still around in nice sizes, with plenty over 30cm. The rivers were quiet — seeing much more activity in the main Broadwater.

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

Pelagics like wahoo, dolphin fish and Spanish Mackerel being caught offshore around the 36s. 30 Black Marlin taken in game fishing comp last weekend. Weather might keep a lid on offshore fishing this weekend. Inshore has seen good bream and mangrove jack being caught up the canals. Some table-sized flathead caught on the flats along with some whiting. No real reports on crabs, squid or prawns.

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

Tweed Coast

Nice red Emperor during the week on the 24s north east of the Tweed. Over the past five or so years we might catch one or two of these every summer but they usually only measure up around the 20 cm size. This one at 58 cm. Water temperature is warming up this week with temperatures starting to reach 26°, with good bait schools around. If the water stays clear, we should start to see the pelagics fire up.

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

Limited offshore opportunities with the weather. The current is moving quite rapidly out wide, with 2-3 knots being fairly common this week. Reports have come in of some better quality mahi mahi around the FAD and wave rider buoy. A few Marlin in this area and on some of the ground slightly wider. Skirted lures being trolled has accounted for most of the marlin, but a couple have also grabbed soft plastics intended for other species such as snapper.

The 32’s and 42’s has still been the best bet for some snapper and a few flathead. Back on the rocks, we are still seeing some tailor taking metal spinner, with most fish around the 35-50cm mark. A few have also paid attention to some larger soft plastics intended for mulloway. Small bonito have been chasing metal spinners when the tailor have been less interested.

A few mulloway have been taken from the rocks, but most fish have been on the smaller side. With the numbers of tailor and bonito around, the bonito have been ideal bait on the beaches for both tailor and bream. Small tides will ensure this weekend is going to be tough fishing in the river. The morning tides will have more run in them and will be the better option, with baits such as pilchards, mullet and squid. Smaller curl tail soft plastics have also had some success this week on the bream, flathead and mulloway. Live yabbies have been of interest to whiting in the main river and north creek. Mud crabs in the main river and emigrant creek, and plenty of bream and a few trevally upstream from Pimlico Island.

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

Evans Head

Try along Airforce and Main Beach for a few good bream and jewfish. Around the rock walls at the mouth, there have been good jewfish, bream and some luderick. In the River, there have been bream, flathead and whiting. Try the upper for mud crabs and mangrove jack. The sea has been too rough for offshore fishing, but prior to the seas getting up, there were Spanish and spotted mackerel on the close reefs.

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

Yamba

Spotted mackerel offshore and dollies out at the FADs, including an 11kg specimen. River is still fishing solidly as it has in recent weeks — close to the mouth has been challenging, but fishing up river, towards McLean and Omara, has produced good results with very clean water. Mud crabs have come on well after a slow start in the entrances to creeks.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Maroon Dam

Starting to fire again. Darker chatterbaits (blacks, purples) tend to work better at Maroon. You want to fish the edges out to about 5m as they school up in shallower water. At the top of Maroon in the timber, you can’t do much better than chatter baits . Surface lures also work very well in early morning and arvo or on an overcast day. Cicadas or stick bait lures also work well.

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

Moogerah Dam

Out in front on spit out, in front of main boat ramp, you will find fish on the edges as it falls off on chatterbaits, spoons, light plastics — try them all. They seem to like the lighter colours – whites and silvers. They are schooling towards the timber. Throwing crank baits towards the timber is working. They push a bit deeper in the arvo, in which case the metal spoons work.

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

Hinze Dam

Eastern boat ramp good this time of year — to go north or south. If you go south, work up the arms and inlets. Try surface lures throughout the day in the shaded arms ; bent minnows and stick baits which might find Saratoga or bass. Head up towards dam wall where they are schooling — spoons in 20 to 40gram range, and a range of colours work. Green works very well there and you can also try heavy plastics.

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

Western side is worth exploring and fishing solidly.

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

Lake Wivenhoe

Probably the pick of the dams of the moment. Fishing very well out of Billy’s Bay boat ramp — you can either go north or south. Finding fish in 8 to 12m; if you can find a creek bed that flattens out into that range, that’s where the big bass are sitting, in big numbers. Most fish being caught on metal spoons in the 15 gm to 40gm range. Spinner baits also working. Blue and silver colours working well.

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

Somerset Dam

A lot of saratoga and some yellow belly being caught up in the timber. The Saratoga are being caught a bit deeper. Throw 1/4 ounce to 3/8 ounce spinnerbaits for the Saratoga. Target the timber section for the yellow belly with spinnerbaits and crank baits: 3 to 8m are working very well. For Saratoga the brighter yellows are working well, while the darker purples for the yellow belly. Finding bass out from Kirkleigh in the 8m range and schooling at Pelican Point, and towards the spit boat ramp. Target deeper rock walls with crank baits or metal spoons.

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