Fishing Report for 14th August 2025

Fishing Report Thu 14 Aug 2025

Please Note the Snapper and Pearl Perch closure in Queensland Tidal waters from 15 July to 15 August.

New lifejacket laws came into effect on December 1, visit MSQ website for details.

Hervey Bay / Fraser Island

Flathead and whiting are active in local rivers and creeks, including Eli, O’Regans, Beelbi, and surrounding flats and beaches. Bream, small GTs, queenfish, tailor, cod, blue salmon, threadfin salmon, and barra are also being caught. Flats near creek mouths are producing whiting, flathead, and the occasional queenie or tailor on rising tides.

Urangan Pier remains quiet for herring, but pike are consistent, serving as effective bait for flathead, jewfish, cod, queenfish, and golden trevally. A few flathead and average bream have been caught from the pier recently. Tiger sharks have been spotted occasionally, usually at night.

At River Heads, herring schools are abundant, attracting flathead, blue salmon, tailor, mackerel, jewfish, bream, and estuary cod. Golden trevally are widespread, with broadbill possibilities when bait is present.

In the Mary River, herring are also around in numbers, with blue salmon being the dominant predator. Threadfin salmon are still scattered, with trolling producing good results. Estuary cod, grunter, flathead, and whiting are all available. Mud crabs are active but cautious due to competition.

The Burrum River system is fishing well. Salmon, barra, grunter, whiting, bream, and flathead are all being caught. Tailor and Spanish mackerel are active in the lower river and at Burrum Heads.

Fraser Island surf has been slow, though tailor, whiting, dart, flathead, tarwhine, bream, jewfish, Spanish mackerel, and GTs are all possible. A few tailor were caught near the Maheno. Beach fishing further south has improved slightly, with whiting, dart, and flathead in action.

Inshore reefs are limited by weather. Estuary cod and coral trout are active, while deep droppers are catching flametail, ruby, and bar cod. Northern bay reefs have large cobia and venus tuskfish. Golden trevally are present along with scattered Spanish mackerel and school-sized tailor. Offshore, coral trout and cod remain active, with reef species manageable despite shark presence.

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

Tin Can Bay

With light winds predicted and the opening of snapper and pearlies, it is going to be a good time to get out over the Wide Bay Bar and have a hunt ; just check the swell before heading off. Float lining pillies is always a winner. Or why not try a new Nomad Live Opps Jerk Squid. There are also some nice Spanish out there, so trolling a couple of Halco’s around may be worthwhile. Back inshore, there have been good numbers of sand crabs being caught in the 8-10m mark in the The Bay, so suggest dropping your pots while you go for a fish. Diver whiting have been in good numbers and averaging around 200mm, so worth the effort.

The squid are still a little elusive but try upsizing to a 3 or 3.5 to find the bigger squid. Cod have been everywhere of late, and on the rubble beds and reefs there also been getting some nice sweetlip. Up the creeks, the bream are still in good numbers and there have been some mangrove jacks in the mix, but the water is still around 19c so they are a little sluggish on the bite. Up on the flats, whiting & flathead are out in force, so try fishing the incoming tide with yabbies or beach worms for the whiting; a hot spot to target being Norman Point down towards the “Snack Shack”.

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

Noosa

Weather kept boats in early in the week, but fishing has resumed. Maori cod, sweetlip, moses perch, tuskfish, cobia, and goldband snapper are being caught on the local reefs. The Noosa Bar channel is currently at the north end so take extra care when crossing around low or run-out tide.

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

There are plenty of ribbonfish around Noosa Sound. Flathead are being caught in Woods Bay, and a few queenfish are showing up in the ski runs at Tewantin.

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

Anglers didn’t manage to get out until Wednesday when the wind and swell finally eased. North Reef fished well with standout catches including a big sweetlip and a solid mulloway, along with Moses perch, tuskfish, Maori cod and school mackerel. The weekend is shaping up nicely, with snapper and pearl perch back on the cards.

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

Sooty grunter are abundant throughout the river, from the mouth up to the first lake, with some reaching around 40cm. Trevally have been caught just past the car ferry, near the first bend, with nine caught this week.

Winter whiting are making a return, particularly around T Boats and the caravan park, with one spot producing 11 whiting on worms in a single session. Bream are active near Tewantin around the Noosa Marine pylons, especially those covered in oysters, a favourite bream area. Flathead have been quiet, but stingrays are common throughout the river, offering a strong fight for young anglers.

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

Maroochydore

Fishing has been quiet this week, but some activity remains. GTs and whiting are being caught near the river mouth. Flathead are taking baits at the mouths of Eudlo and Petrie Creek. Bream are active throughout, with the occasional mangrove jack showing up near the Bli Bli Wetlands.

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

Mooloolaba

Offshore hasn’t been productive due to the weather. In the rivers, the Mooloolah River has produced some quality flathead from Chambers Island down towards the mouth. The Maroochy River mouth is seeing good bream. In the Maroochy River, garfish are still around, along with solid bream near La Bolsa Park. Canals have been holding good whiting, and the Maroochy River has produced some quality mud crabs. Beaches were quiet with the recent big swell.

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

Grass emperor, tuskfish, and various tropical sea perch species are around Hancock Shoal. Tuskfish, hussar, amberjack, and jewfish are being caught on and near the Barwon Banks. Snapper season finally reopens this Saturday.

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

Caloundra

Snapper season opens Saturday at 12:01am, so anglers will be out early. Usual spots like 9 and 12 Mile reefs are expected to hold fish, with some sweetlip likely mixed in. Offshore, longtail tuna are being caught near Caloundra Headland, along with a few large winter Spanish mackerel. Schools of garfish are moving closer to the coast, attracting the mackeral.

In the passages, good-sized flathead are being caught, with larger females being released and some edible males kept. Both bar entrances are fishing well for flathead. Bream are active from the New Breakthrough up to the Lighthouse. School jew, grunter, and summer whiting are starting to appear around the mouth of Bells Creek, with trevally and queenfish showing up in the canals.

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

Northern Moreton Bay

With the snapper season almost here, anglers are starting to get active. Bycatch snapper have been coming on floated plastics around Hutchies, artificial lures around North Morton, and in the Bay near Mud Island and Redcliffe. Winter whiting are being caught at the Cockle Banks and Scarborough, with good schools near the mouth of the Newport Canals and under Bribie and Hornibrook bridges at night.

Tailor are also active in similar areas after dark. Flathead are taking baits on the outgoing tide at the mouth of the Pine and Caboolture Rivers, and in the passage near the mouth of Coochin Creek around the skids.

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

Sandgate/Shorncliffe Pier

Pending

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

Brisbane River

A similar report to last week’s. Tailor, bream, and flathead have been fishing well in the Brisbane River, especially through the lower reaches. Whiting are patchy but showing around the old Compass Adjustment Buoy and the eastern side of Fisherman’s Island. A few cuttlefish and squid are around Wellington Point and Green Island, either in seven metres of water or up in the weed banks. Mackerel should start showing around Hope Banks soon. For land-based anglers, Shorncliffe Pier is popular, but river jetties are also producing. The jetty near BrewDog under the Gateway Bridge has flathead and bream regularly, with threadfin salmon and jewfish possible on live bait in summer.

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

Pending

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

Redcliffe Peninsula

School jew, tailor, and flathead have been plentiful this week. Tailor, bream, whiting, flathead, and school jew are active in Hayes Inlet, the Pine River, Bramble Bay, off Woody Point Jetty, and at Scarborough. Yellowfin whiting are showing in Hayes and around structures in Bramble Bay. Winter whiting, flathead, tailor, and school jew are being caught north of Scarborough, in Deception Bay, and Bramble Bay. Tailor, flathead, bream, and school jew are also active off the eastern beaches, jetties, rocky points, and inshore areas. Snapper season is about to kick in.

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

Nth Stradbroke Island

Whiting are being caught around Wynnum and the Darcy Light. Tailor are active near Green Island, which should also be productive for squire once the season reopens on Saturday. School mackerel have been quiet this week, likely due to the wind, which tends to reduce their activity.

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

Tailor are being caught off the beaches around Stradbroke Island. Once snapper season opens, Harry Atkins Artificial Reef is expected to fish well. Schools of mackerel are present in the Rous Channel, while whiting are being caught at Hope Banks and in the Raby Bay canals as well as bream. Crab bait is selling, though no reports of active crabs yet but check the usual spots. Jewfish have been caught in the Brisbane River.

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

Moreton Bay/ Jumpinpin

Pending

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

Jumpinpin

Tailor are being caught just inside the bar to Crusoe Island and in Canaipa Passage. Flathead are active along Crusoe Island, Tabby Tabby, Diner Island, and Tipplers Channel. Good bream are coming from Millionaires and Stockyards, while whiting are being caught along the Pig Styes, Fisherman’s Channel, and near Marks Rocks in the Logan River.

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

Fishing on the Pine has been tougher this week. Jewfish and flathead are scarce, though fewer anglers have ventured out due to strong south-easterly winds. Tailor numbers are declining as the season winds down, but the late-season fish are still good in size.

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

It was a tough week last week with the weather and not much to report. Good news is it’s perfect this weekend and that should give us plenty of options. We are getting close to the September full moon which means it’s peak time for flathead over the next couple of months. At the moment they are still in shallow waters especially with the crystal clear waters at the moment. A few suggested spots include: out the front of the Southport pool and up to the boat ramp on the inside channel. Along South Stradbroke near Currigee and around Browns inlet; Crab island and the inside channel between big and little crab and around Rat island. The morning low tide will be the best time to target them as the bait moves off the shallows into the drains and drop offs. Whiting will also make their way down to the seaway or bars by the September full moon so don’t be surprised to find them further down than previous weeks. It may take a bit of moving to find the fish. Squid have been hit and miss but it’s always worth a look this time of year so it might pay to have a scout around.

David McDonald
Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

Inshore fishing dominated the week due to very large swell offshore. Flathead were biting well, with many caught while trolling, with size ranging from 40 to 71cm. Offshore trips on Wednesday found a hungry school of longtail tuna. Snapper season opens this Saturday, with anglers expecting good action.

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

Squid are being caught at Biggers Creek and the nearby flats around Wave Break Island. Offshore, activity has been limited, though a few longtail tuna have been seen. Rough conditions have kept numbers low.

Flatties are coming on well, particularly when trolling little Zurich Tango shad across the flats. Deepwater bream are taking Rapala Trickster lures and Mullet sales are scarce, suggesting low crab and prawn activity.

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

Tweed Coast

Offshore conditions have been poor over the past week, but they should improve by the end of the week. Saturday is shaping up to be a good day to get out and target quality fish.

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

The next four to five days coincide with the full moon, providing a good window for fishing starting today. Early reports show river species are active again, with flathead, bream, and tailor all taking lines with the best tailor being along the beaches. Large jewfish are being caught off the headlands at night on both lures and bait.

Offshore, snapper and pearl perch are still producing good hauls. Water temperatures remain unusually high in the 20s, which is keeping Spanish mackerel active, and occasional sailfish are still being caught. Overall, fishing conditions remain strong across the area.

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

Brunswick Heads

Large swells and strong winds have halted offshore fishing. Beaches and rock walls have produced quality jewfish and tailor, along with dart, bream, whiting and blackfish off the main walls.

In the river, there are good numbers of bream, blackfish, whiting and flathead. A few mud crabs are showing up, but most are hollow and being released.

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

Ballina

The most recent bout of rain and rough weather has discolored the river once again, but this does not appear to have dampened the fish activity. Some excellent quality bream have been landed on the break walls this week using baits such as prawns or mullet fillets. The quality of the fish does drop off a little, the further up the river you travel, but there are better numbers in these areas to make up for the lack of quality. The flathead have been very inconsistent earlier in the week, but as the weather has settled we have seen an improvement in numbers. Small pilchards or prawns have tempted a number of fish, along with some smaller paddle tail soft plastics.

Color choice has been wide and varied, so have a play with a few variations on the day. The run in tides have produced some luderick in the lower reaches of the river. Most anglers are resorting to cabbage from the rocks for bait, or trying some fly style imitations. The offshore fishing has been limited, but this weekend should see the boats able to head out. The close reefs will be worth trying for some snapper, mulloway or longtail tuna. Be aware that there are significant numbers of leather jackets on the 32’s at present so you may want to avoid this area, or take plenty of spare tackle with you. The 48’s have been holding some pearl perch, kingfish and small amberjack, but the current has been inconsistent, which has made it difficult to fish at times. The usual baits such as mullet and squid have worked well, along with some octo jigs and slow pitch jigs, up to 200 grams.

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

Evans Head

Along Airforce Beach, anglers are catching brim, flathead, and jewfish in the mornings and evenings, with the occasional tailor also showing. The rock walls are producing good blackfish, a few bream, more flathead, and some whiting.

Upstream, flathead and bream remain active, with a few crabs being reported. Offshore around Chaos Reef, snapper and trag are being caught.

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

Yamba

Recent rain hasn’t impacted the rivers too much yet, but it’s likely to push fish that were upriver back down. The rivers received a fair bit of rain, yet reports show good bream catches and plenty of blackfish. Some drummer are still being caught.

Ocean conditions have settled, making it easier to fish from the rocks for tailor, drummer amd jew fish. No reports from offshore yet, but today looks like a good opportunity to get back out, with the likelihood of snapper and other species moving in closer. Crabs haven’t been reported, likely due to the cold.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Wivenhoe Dam

At Wivenhoe Dam, fish are holding along the old riverbed that runs through the main channel, with areas like Hammond Cove and Pelican Cliffs producing. Trolling deep divers that reach 25–30 feet is effective, as is casting 20–30g spoons or heavy soft plastics into the drop-offs and working them away from the structure.

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

Moogerah Dam

Moogerah Dam is still fishing well, with most of the action coming from the eastern arm. Launching from the eastern boat ramp and heading upstream into the bays and around the trees has been productive. Spinnerbaits, small jerkbaits and crankbaits are working well. Further upstream towards the dam wall, either side of the main channel is holding fish, particularly in the backs of bays near the timber.

In the main basin near the dam wall, there are schools of fish holding in deeper water. Metal spoons or soft plastics on heavy jig heads, slow-rolled through the schools, are picking up fish.

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

Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam is fishing well, with some bass caught along the eastern side of the dam. Early morning sessions have produced the best fish, though reports didn’t specify exact lures used.

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

Kurwongbah

In freshwater, Kurwongbah Dam is fishing well, with deeper areas producing decent bass on soft plastics and small vibes.

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

Lake Samsonvale / North Pine Dam / Kurwongbah

At Lake Samsonvale (North Pine Dam), quality bass have been coming from deeper water on soft plastics and small metal spoons, with fish schooling in the basin. The edges are also worth fishing early in the morning or late in the afternoon as bass move in to feed. Spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and small soft plastics rolled along the edges are a good option.

Across the road at Kurwongbah, the weed edges are fishing well with metal blades, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. There’s also a mid-dam junction area near the wall that is holding large numbers of smaller bass. Vertical fishing with small blades or spoons is effective there.

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

Maroon Dam

Maroon Dam has a lot of weed at the moment, and jerkbaits fished along the edges are producing. Metal blades worked around the weed towers and soft plastics ripped quickly through the weed are also drawing reaction bites.

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