Fishing Report for 10th July 2025

Fishing Report Thu 10 Jul 2025

Coastwatch has you covered from the Fraser Coast all the way to Yamba. Scroll through and uncover the hidden gems scattered throughout the report!

***Seasonal closure for snapper and pearl perch will be in effect from July 15th 25 to August 15th, 2025***

Hervey Bay / Fraser Island

At the Urangan Pier, there have been some good bream starting to show, and a few quality flathead landed despite the lack of consistent bait in the area. An 8-foot tiger shark was also caught off the pier during the week. Local beaches have been producing well, especially with solid numbers of blue salmon showing up wherever there’s some rock and tidal flow.

Inshore reef fishing has seen extra-large giant herring around, along with snapper in good numbers from the Burrum 8 Mile to Moon Ledge, the Simpson Artificial Reef, and down towards the Outer Banks. The gutters, Rooney’s Point, and the Fathom Hole have also produced fish, with a few coral trout in the mix, although sharks have been a real challenge on the reef.

Queenfish and tuna have been holding deep. Meanwhile, the Straits have been a bit quiet for bait, but tailor, flathead, and whiting are still present. In the Mary and Susan Rivers, the colder water has made barra more elusive, but threadfin salmon and blue salmon have remained active feeders, still firing in patches. There have also been reports of flathead in the Susan River. The Burrum River system continues to produce flathead and bream, with some prawn activity still noted through the area.

There’s been an exceptional number of whale sightings lately, with multiple reports of high activity across the Bay.

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

Tin Can Bay

Flathead are still being caught in good numbers, particularly during the last couple of hours of the run-out tide. Shallow-running hardbody lures in the 120mm to 160mm range have been doing the job.

Mud crabs and sand crabs have both been active. Muddies are coming from the flats, while sand crabs are being found in deeper water throughout the Bay.

Up the creeks, a few cold-water barra have been caught on 5” prawn-style lures, with king threadfin salmon also turning up, mostly taking vibes.

Offshore fishing has been firing, with the recent run of calm weather allowing plenty of boats to get out. Snapper and pearl perch have been the mainstay, along with jewfish, nannygai, and some quality coral trout adding to the mix.

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

Maroochydore

There’s been bream throughout the system this week, with whiting showing down at the river mouth. Cod, tailor, jewfish, and trevally have all been active around the Cod Hole and in the middle reaches.

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

Noosa

North Reef, Sunshine Reef, and Chardons are all fishing well, with reports of Spanish mackerel, sweetlip, squire, Moses perch, tuna, and tuskfish coming through. Out wider has also been reliable, as expected for this time of year, with solid catches of goldband snapper, amberjack, pearlies, big tuskfish, and others. Plenty of whales moving through at the moment too, so keep an eye out when heading offshore.

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

Plenty of Tilly trevally have been active in the Woods this week, and a few juvenile golden trevally have been moving through the Sound. The river mouth has fished well for flathead, with some cracking sessions over the weekend and into the start of the week.

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

Sunshine and North Reefs have fished well, producing coral trout, snapper, sweetlip, tuskfish, Spanish mackerel, cobia, and longtail tuna. Further offshore on the longer 9-hour trips, there have been excellent catches of quality snapper, goldband, tuskfish, largemouth nannygai, and pearl perch.

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

Bream are being caught throughout the lower reaches near the Noosa River mouth, with a couple of trevally showing up in the Woods Bay area. Flathead are still being picked up on the drift through the lower reaches as well. Crabbing has gone quiet over the past couple of weeks.

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

Mooloolaba

Close-in reefs including Murphy’s Reef, Currimundi Reef, and Caloundra 5 Mile have been producing quality snapper and grassy sweetlip. There’s also still been the odd good-sized Spanish mackerel turning up off Currimundi, which has caught a few anglers by surprise for this time of year.

In the Mooloolah River, garfish are still showing in good numbers down towards La Balsa Park, and there’s been some solid bream caught around the trawler docks.

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

Tuskfish and hussar have been coming from the Hards, while the Barwon Banks continue to produce a good mix of amberjack, cobia, snapper, pearl perch, goldband snapper, and rosy jobfish.

Smithys Fishing Charters
Ph 0407 574 868 | www.smithysfishingcharters.com.au

Caloundra

Venus tuskfish were bagged out west of the Barwon Banks in around 50 metres of water using mullet fillets while bottom bashing with paternoster rigs. North-east of the bar, there were some squire and pearl perch also caught.

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

Fishing has been solid again this week, with tailor showing up along the beaches and in the passage, as well as around the new Bribie bar mouth. The passage itself has been fishing well with good numbers of flathead, bream, and tailor, and some larger grunter also mixed in.

Offshore, the usual mix has been reported, squire, snapper, sweetlip, tuskfish, and a few school mackerel, bonito, and cobia across most local reefs.

On the beaches and around the headlands, there have been catches of squire and sweetlip, along with a few jewfish and squid. All in all, it’s continued to fish well across most areas.

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

Donnybrook

Tailor are still getting around in the main channel out from Glassy Creek, with more showing up around Toorbul. Summer whiting are still being caught at Lime Pocket and near the mouth of Glassy Creek. Snapper have been reported around the 112s. Flathead have been across the drop-offs, sand flats, and throughout the creeks.

Donnybrook Takeaway, Bait & Tackle
Ph (07) 5498 8247 | www.facebook.com/Donnybrook-Takeaway-Bait-Tackle

Northern Moreton Bay

Plenty of flathead are still being caught through the creeks and around the mouths of the Pine and Caboolture Rivers, especially on the run-out tide using soft plastics. A few school jewfish have been taken overnight around the Hornibrook Bridge, along with tailor holding around the Pine River mouth.

A few snapper are still being caught around Scarborough Reef, and across some of the artificial reefs in Moreton Bay.

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

Sandgate/Shorncliffe Pier

School holiday fishing has delivered some great results. Shorncliffe Pier produced tiger squid and a solid cod, with a nice mackerel also caught to round out the session. Bream and flathead have been turning up in good numbers during recent outings, and trolling with a Daiwa Double Clutch accounted for a quality flathead as well.

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

Brisbane River

Pending

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

Fishing has been excellent, with solid catches of snapper, Yellow tail Kingfish, cod, tuskfish, and other reef species. Shallow Tempest has been the standout, especially for those floatlining with pilchards and mullet strips.

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

Good quality snapper have been coming out of the Cathedrals, with some solid Moses perch also being caught in the shallower waters around 20–30 metres. A school of Spanish mackerel was also encountered, adding a welcome surprise to the mix.

Moreton island fishing charters
Ph 0413128056 | https://moretonislandfishingcharters.com.au/

Redcliffe Peninsula

Tailor, bream, whiting, flathead, and school jew have been active in Hayes Inlet, the Pine River, Bramble Bay, and off Woody Point Jetty and Scarborough. Yellowfin whiting are showing up in Hayes, the Pine, and along the eastern foreshores. Winter whiting and flathead are being caught north of Scarborough, throughout Deception Bay, and in Bramble Bay. Snapper and tailor have been taken off the eastern beaches, jetties, rocky points, and inshore areas. Squid continue to show up around the jetties, rocky points, and inshore waters, and there have been some good sand crab hauls in Bramble Bay.

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

Nth Stradbroke Island

Snapper have been active on the shallow reefs around Green Island. Tailor are feeding well at Manly Harbour, with white lures proving particularly effective. Whiting are being caught north of the Darcy Light and throughout the Rous Channel. School mackerel have been turning up in the Rainbow Channel and around One Mile.

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

Diver whiting have been active through the Rous and Rainbow Channels, and across the Chain Banks. Snapper and grassy sweetlip are being caught around Harry Atkinson, the West Peel Artificial, and nearby structure. Some good tailor have shown up along the bay’s northern beaches and off Stradbroke, especially Flinders and Home Beach, with sizes around 45 to 50cm.

There’s been no shortage of trevally around the island jetties and the bayside jetties including Victoria Point, Wellington Point, Dunwich, and Amity. Flathead are gathering in better numbers at the river mouths as we head into their spawning season, with many fish pushing into the bay.

Offshore, the snapper and pearl perch have been biting well leading up to the closure, with the recent good weather allowing plenty of boats to get out. There have also been some nice yellowtail kingfish turning up on the 24s.

Mossops Tackle Store Cleveland
Ph (07) 3821 1240 | www.mossopsfishing.com.au

Moreton Bay/ Jumpinpin

Moreton Bay has been fishing quite well, with plenty of squire and good-sized snapper still about. Harris Artificial Reef has been a bit hit-and-miss, but when the fish are there, they’ve shown up in solid numbers and size. Around Macleay Island and southern Peel, there have been consistent reports of snapper in the 40 to 50cm range, especially along the shallow reef edges, definitely worth a look over the weekend if the wind holds off.

The southern Bay is holding good numbers of school jewfish, tailor, and threadfin salmon. Finding the bait schools has been key to locating the fish. Flathead have also been fishing well on the run-out tide around Garden Island and Macleay Island, particularly when the banks become exposed and the water is clean.

In the Jumpinpin region, the water has finally cleaned up after all the rain earlier in the year. Small longtail tuna have been coming through the bar alongside plenty of tailor. Surface activity has been consistent, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for bust-ups. Flathead have been taken on the high tide around Coochiemudlo and Crusoe Island, while the bream are still actively spawning and holding on the deeper ledges around Crusoe, Short Island, Coochiemudlo, and the Pin Bar. They’re fat and aggressive, making for great fun on light gear.

On the low tide, good quality flathead have been caught around Cabbage Tree Point, Jacobs Well, and down through the Jacobs Well Channel toward the Aldershots. They haven’t been thick, but the fish being caught have been excellent quality, just move around to find them.

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

Jumpinpin

Pending

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

Tailor are in big numbers along the Pin beaches, with fish around 40cm and some pushing 50–60cm. Pilchards rigged on ganged hooks have been working well, while 100–130mm stickbaits and 35–80g metal slugs are also producing fish. The Duo Flanker 115mm has been a standout lure lately, regardless of colour. Mulloway continue to be caught in and around the bar on the tide changes, with good-sized fish reported. Threadfin salmon are still about near Jacobs Well, though the run is starting to taper off.

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

South Stradbroke Island

Pending

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

Gold Coast Broadwater

A perfect weekend ahead so time to head out and catch a few. Morning high tide and the full moon will see squid increase in numbers. Not many during the week but this should change over the weekend. Along South Stradbroke, SeaWorld, Runaway Bay and Carters bank are good places to start looking. Plenty of tailor being caught from the beaches right through the Broadwater. Great wind and swell conditions have seen a lot of tailor caught in the gutters along main beach and straddie. Inside the seaway the school kids have been catching them on vibes in the deep with some good sized ones mixed in. Flathead have been caught up north towards the pin bar and Jacobs well. They have also been caught out the front around Crab Island up to 50cm. Winter whiting are out the front of Runaway Bay and along Stradbroke near Currigee. Bream are up the canals with a lot of fish under 30cm but still fun on light gear. The conditions are great to sneak outside with cobia still being caught at the 18’s to the 24’s

David McDonald
Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

It’s been a busy week with school holiday crowds and stunning weather. The 24 and 26 fathom lines have been fishing well, producing the usual winter mix of snapper, pearl perch, tuskfish, Moses perch, reef flathead, cobia, tuna, and cod. School mackerel were on the 18 fathoms at the start of the week as well.

Out wide, there’s been a steady stream of humpback whales moving through, including several mothers with newborn calves.

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

There’s been plenty of kingfish, samson fish, and amberjack showing up on the 36 and 24 fathom reefs, with live baiting and jigging both producing well. Snapper, good-sized pearlies, cobia, and some nice parrotfish are also being caught in those areas. On the 18s and nearby shallow reefs, there have been silver jewfish, along with the odd mackerel and longtail tuna still hanging about.

On the beaches, tailor have been caught in the close-in gutters, while inside the Broadwater around Runaway Bay and the Jumpinpin bar, schools of tailor have been moving through. There have also been good numbers of jewfish starting to show up and schooling in the shadows. Squid and garfish are being found over the shallow weed beds. Up in the rivers, it’s mostly bream and flathead on offer.

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

Tweed Coast

Offshore conditions have been favourable most days this week, with a mixed bag of reef fish caught east of Kingscliff on the 24- and 30-fathom reefs, including Maori cod, snapper, pearl perch, and tuskfish.

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

Snapper have been going well offshore, with good numbers coming from the wider grounds off Byron Bay and the reefs further out. Inshore fishing has been firing too, with flathead and big bream turning up in strong numbers around the Jumpinpin area and the Tweed. Water temps and moon phases seem to be helping, making it one of the better runs in a while.

Hardcore mulloway anglers have been having one of their best seasons in years, with big fish taken off the headlands at night on live mullet. The water hasn’t cooled off as much as usual, and that’s kept some big late-season Spanish mackerel around, up to 20kg still being caught. There was even a sailfish landed on a soft plastic last week.

Tailor are still thick right along the beaches, and longtail tuna have been cruising the back of the breakers alongside dolphins. Offshore, most of the usual reef spots are holding good numbers of pearlies and snapper, so those heading out have generally been getting solid results.

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

Brunswick Heads

Offshore, there have been jewfish, snapper, pearl perch, and a few mackerel still coming through. Rock walls and beaches are producing good numbers of tailor, bream, and dart, with a few quality flathead also being caught on soft plastics along the sandbanks. In the rivers, bream, whiting, blackfish, and flathead are all being caught, and there are still the odd mud crabs showing up as well.

Bruns Beach, Bait & Tackle
https://www.instagram.com/brunsbeachbaitntackle/

Ballina

Bar conditions have been favourable this week, allowing plenty of boats to head offshore. The close reefs have delivered reasonable catches of snapper, longtail tuna, and a few mulloway, with live baits and soft plastics both performing well. Lighter sinkers and jigheads have been more effective when fishing in close.

Out wider, kingfish activity has been a bit quiet, but some quality pearl perch have come from the 42- and 48-fathom lines. Squid and live baits have had the most success, though bright-coloured octo-style jigs are still worth a try. The 32-fathom line has produced a mix of flathead, snapper, trag, and tuskfish on mullet, squid, and pilchards.

Back on the beaches, bream have been showing in good numbers and are responding well to pilchards, pippies, and mullet. Tailor have been patchy, with smaller fish found around the break walls and a few better ones turning up on the beaches further from the river mouth.

In the lower reaches of the river, good-quality bream and a number of luderick have been taken, with the run-in tide fishing best. The better flathead numbers have been between the ferry and Wardell, though there have also been some in North Creek. White or blue pilchards, prawns, and curl tail soft plastics have all been working well. Most of the flathead have been sitting in shallower water, especially during the cooler early morning conditions.

Ballina Bait and Tackle
Ph 0266862527 | https://www.facebook.com/p/Ballina-Bait-and-Tackle-100063582669959/

Evans Head

Try along Airforce and Main Beach for tailor, whiting, flathead, and the odd school jew, with bream, flathead, tailor, and luderick around the walls. In the Evans River, bream, flathead, and whiting are still being caught. Offshore, the coastal reefs have produced plenty of snapper, trag, and jewfish. Upstream, there’s a chance of finding a few crabs in the upper reaches of the river.

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

Yamba

The river has been fishing well, especially with the cleaner water now pushing further upstream. There have been reports of bream, flathead, and plenty of grunter showing up, along with tailor and jewfish also making appearances throughout the system, including up towards Maclean.

Off the rocks, the calm seas have made conditions a bit trickier with the lack of whitewater, which has slowed the jewfish action, though tailor are still being caught. Offshore, snapper and pearl perch are still coming in, but live bait has been hard to find lately, so lure fishing may be the better option for now. Overall, fishing remains solid across the region.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Wivenhoe Dam

Wivenhoe Dam continues to produce solid results. Good captures have come from Platypus Cliffs, the buoy line, Billy’s Bay, Hayes Landing, and right up to Hammond Cove. Bass and yellowbelly have been caught on TN60-style vibes, small soft plastics, crankbaits, and chatterbaits along the edges. Metal blades are working well on yellowbelly close to the bottom, while smaller schools of bass in the deeper water are responding to 20–40g metal spoons, depending on depth.

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

Moogerah Dam

Competition on this weekend.

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

Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam is still fishing well, with good numbers of fish being caught up the back of both the western and eastern arms. Live shrimp has been very effective, though not often mentioned. Lure anglers should try spinnerbaits, small blades, chatterbaits, and crankbaits. A 3″ soft plastic paddle tail slow-rolled through active schools has also triggered bites. As you move out of the arms into deeper water, metal spoons in the 20 – 30g range are worth using. Fish are also holding on submerged timber and deeper points in the main basin, as well as near the dam wall and quarry where they tend to stack up this time of year.

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

At Hinze Dam, bass have been schooling up again on the points, with vibe lures proving most effective.

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

North Pine Dam

At North Pine Dam, bass have been schooling well at Bullocky’s Rest and Forgan’s Cove.

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

North Pine Dam is still a great option for land-based anglers, with fish being caught on metal spoons and spinnerbaits. It’s also suitable for kayaks, and some quality fish have been landed this week from both shore and kayak.

Just across the road, Lake Kurwongbah continues to fish well. Small blades are performing strongly, and jerkbaits along the weed edges have also been productive. Slow-rolled chatterbaits are worth using too. Bass are the main target, with Saratoga a little quiet lately, likely pushed into deeper water with the cold.

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