Fishing Report for 14th November 2024

Fishing Report Thu 14 Nov 2024

Queensland east coast: Barramundi closed season – no-take species between 1 November and 31 January each year. (some exceptions apply — check the Queensland Fisheries website).

Spanish Mackerel northern closure season applying to east coast waters north of latitude 22˚S (located slightly north of Stanage Bay, between Mackay and Yeppoon). 29 October to 19 November 2024. Northern closure dates are aligned with new moon periods.

Hervey Bay/ Fraser Island

At 13 Mile, small black marlin are being caught, while anglers wide of Fraser Island are reporting catches of red jobfish, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna. East of Breaksea Spit, around the 50-meter mark, notable catches include red emperor, venus tuskfish, red-throat emperor (RTE), coronation trout, maori cod, spangled emperor (Spangos), hussar, and green jobfish. Inshore reefs have also been productive, with a steady presence of grassy sweetlip and coral trout.

In the local rivers, threadfin salmon are active, and land-based anglers are finding good numbers of flathead. The Burrum River system is producing barramundi along with mangrove jacks across all four rivers. Bream are spread throughout the system, with the best results seen when anchored and using berley. Salmon numbers in the Mary River system are expected to rise. For those targeting threadfin salmon, try moving to shallower waters during flood tides.

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

Tin Can Bay

Flathead are being caught in good numbers on the flats in front of Teebar Creek, with the last of the runout tide proving productive when fishing with 3- and 4-inch plastics like Molix RT Shads and Squidy Riglers. Whiting fishing has been effective on the start of the incoming tide using surface lures, and there’s been solid flathead action on surface lures as well.

Mangrove jacks are on the prowl up the creeks. For a hot bite at the top of the tide, try fishing small live baits deep into the snags or using strips of mullet. 4-inch plastics, fished weedless, are also working well for targeting jacks in the back of the snags. Lures have been most effective in the last couple of hours of the runout tide.

Mud crabs are active, especially with the full moon approaching, so it’s a great time to drop the pots for a feed of muddies. For mackerel, trolling lures around Big Mick has been producing good catches.

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

Noosa

Clear water conditions have bream active throughout the system, with the Noosa jetties proving particularly productive. Quality flathead are being taken from the sand bars at the Frying Pan. Mangrove jacks are responding well to mullet and pilchard tails in the mangrove-lined creeks. Whiting catches continue on sand yabbies all across the system.

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

Fishing off Noosa has been decent again this week. North Reef has been producing a variety of fish including pearl perch, tuna, morwong, cod, gold band snapper, tuskfish, and the occasional shiny mackerel. Over at Barwon Banks, there’s been a bit of current, but it’s still fishable and worth the drive. Snapper, amberjack, pearl perch, and kingfish have all been biting in good numbers.

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

Despite the weather challenges, there have still been plenty of opportunities to get out on the water this week. Anglers have been landing some great catches, including coral trout, Spanish mackerel, goldband snapper, mahi mahi, as well as solid snapper and pearl perch. The conditions might have been tough, but there’s been some rewarding fishing out there.

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

Maroochydore

Giant trevally are active in the middle reaches, while bream can be found throughout the system. Flathead are concentrated in the middle to upper sections, and whiting are schooling around the river mouth. Crab activity remains quiet at present.

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

Mooloolaba

Wahoo are being taken at the Outer Gneerings and Murphy’s Reef, while grass sweetlip are active at Carumundi and Coolum reefs. Mahi mahi (dolphin fish) are schooling around the 8 Mile.

River fishing remains productive with mangrove jack throughout the Mooloolah system. The Maroochy River mouth is holding good numbers of tailor and flathead.

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

Cobia, cod, and amberjack are being caught halfway out to the Barwon Banks on live bait and jigs, while pearl perch are also being found at the Banks. Between Mooloolaba and Noosa, black marlin, sailfish, and mahi mahi are being hooked in depths ranging from 30 to 60 meters.

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

Caloundra

Whiting and flathead are active throughout the Passage, with whiting being caught around the mouths of Bells and Coochin Creeks. Over at Caloundra, sweetlip have been biting, and the beaches are producing whiting, bream, and dart.

Mangrove jacks have been doing particularly well in the canals at night, with bait proving most effective. Offshore, snapper and pearl perch are still being caught on the 12-mile reefs, while the weather has prompted anglers to target inshore reefs when the conditions allow. The 3-mile, 5-mile, Currimundi Reef, and Murphy’s Reef have all been yielding good catches of snapper, pearl perch and the other usual suspects.

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

Bribie Island

Mud crabs are being caught up in Ningi Creek, with plenty of action there. Whiting are biting at Red Beach, and mackerel are being found at the Birdcage, just out in front of Woorim. Over in the Pumicestone Passage near Banksia Beach, both bream and flathead are on the bite.

Gateway Bribie Adventures
Ph (07) 5497 5253 | https://www.facebook.com/gatewaybaitandtackle/

Donnybrook

There’s good whiting action around Lime Pocket, Mission Point, and up towards Hussies Creek. Bream and a few grunter are holding in the deeper channels, while mangrove jack and quality flathead are being caught in Glasshouse Mountain Creek. Flathead are also showing up through the Passage, especially along the sandbanks, and mangrove jack can be found further up in Bulimba Creek. Mud crabs are starting to appear in the deeper waters, with activity expected to pick up following the recent storms.

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

Northern Moreton Bay

Plenty of mangrove jacks are being caught across all the rivers right now, including the Caboolture, Pine, and Pumicestone Passage. Early mornings and late afternoons are ideal, with hard-bodied lures and soft plastics doing well for snag bashing. The Broadwater is also producing solid numbers of flathead, including some impressive sizes around the flats and drop-offs. Bongaree Jetty has been a hotspot for jewfish late at night and in the early morning, with live baits proving effective. Bream fishing is starting to fire up, especially on surface lures early in the morning, with good action in the Caboolture, Pine, and Brisbane Rivers.

Out at Platypus Bay, there haven’t been many reports due to recent weather, but there’s talk of a few school and spotted mackeral showing up in the Pearl Channel.

Snapper are still being caught off Redcliffe in the deeper waters, with early mornings being the best time. Anglers using soft plastics and slow-floating baits are having the most success. Crabs have been quiet since the rain, but with the next moon phase coming up, we should start seeing a few reappearing in the creeks over the next week.

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

There are good-sized dolphins spotted around the FADs, with a few kingfish still hanging around south of the green zone. Big mosses perch and soils tuskfish are also being caught in the area. Tuna are showing up near the FADs, and there was even a report of a huge marlin hooked, likely chasing the tuna.

Moreton Island Fishing Charters
Ph 0413128056 | https://moretonislandfishingcharters.com.au/

Offshore last week, Amberjack were caught on jigs, providing some exciting action for anglers. Fishing closer to shore around the 70-meter mark also yielded great catches, with snapper, pearl perch, and venus tuskfish all making an appearance.

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

Sandgate

Report Pending

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

Brisbane River – Northern Moreton Bay

The rivers are still performing well, with snapper and a few threadfin salmon being caught throughout. Great reports have come in for mackerel, especially from areas like the Measured Mile, the Four Beacons, and M8, with schools of mackerel widely spread. Over the weekend, one customer even sent in photos showing some excellent catches—proving the fish are there when the weather cooperates.

Around the islands, grassy sweetlip have been active near Goat Island, Green Island, and Wellington Point. As for crabs, reports on sand crabs are limited, but they’re likely still around Green Island and Wynnum foreshore, where they’ve been sighted before.

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

Nth Stradbroke Island

No report this week

Water Tower Bait & Tackle
Ph(07) 3396 1833

Redcliffe Peninsula

The Hayes inlet, Pine River and Bramble Bay are producing consistent catches of bream, whiting, flathead, and grunter. Yellowfin whiting are active along the Eastern foreshores and throughout the Hayes and Pine systems. Snapper are being taken off Eastern beaches, jetties, and rocky points, with additional catches reported from inshore areas. Scarborough reef continues to fish well for mixed bags of snapper, bream, flathead, tailor, and grunter. School mulloway and grunter are active on inshore grounds, with land-based anglers also finding success. Bramble Bay is holding good numbers of sand crabs.

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

Redland Bay

With last week’s rough weather, offshore fishing was limited, but there were still some notable catches. Nice jewfish have been reported around the West Peel artificial reef, while the Harry Atkinson artificial reef has produced snapper. Over at the Port of Brisbane, threadfin salmon have been making an appearance.

Closer inshore, some large tailor are still around Main Beach on North Stradbroke Island, and Tingalpa Creek has been holding a good number of summer whiting.

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

Jumpinpin

Mangrove jack fishing has been exceptional around the Pin, with consistent catches throughout the area. The most productive spots are turbid water zones near structure, particularly snags and fallen timber. Live mullet and medium-sized lures are proving most effective. School-sized mulloway are active in the deeper holes, responding well to vibes worked vertically through the water column.

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

Good numbers of flathead are being caught in Tiger Mullet Channel, Tabby Tabby, and off Oak Island. Quality bream are showing up at Kalinga Bank and behind Tabby Tabby Island. Whiting are being caught near Slipping Sands and the Pig Styes, while mud crabs are starting to appear around the mouth of the Logan River and Rocky Point.

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

South Stradbroke Island

Nice size whiting and Javelin fish in the lower reaches of the Pimpama River. Flathead and bream in Whalley’s Gutter at Jumpinpin. Sand crabs around Curlew Island just south of Wave break. And plenty of thunderstorms being caught in the late afternoons.

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

Gold Coast Broadwater

Finally, a bit of rain, though not enough to cause too many issues. This time of year, we usually get a good flush-out, which helps the prawns and crabs in the coming months. I prefer the water slightly dirty for whiting, so the conditions after those storms are perfect. For whiting, use a long fluorocarbon leader, at least 800mm long, a sinker heavy enough to hold the bottom, and a size 4 short-shank hook to increase your catch rate. If using worms, go for a short-shank hook to avoid spending too much. If I’m using yabbies, I’ll switch to a long-shank hook. Brett at Jacobs Well Bait has a great supply of worms, and it’s handy to stop by the ramp while you’re out fishing. Sand crabs have increased in numbers, with many caught over the past week. There have been numerous reports of 2-3 crabs per pot, so it’s definitely worth setting them out. In the Broadwater, deeper water along the channel edges is a prime target area. With the early morning and late evening high tides, the beaches will be a good option for tailor. Depending on the wind, Saturday morning looks like the best time over the weekend. Mangrove jack are loving the storms. When there’s a bit of fresh water in the system, I prefer using cut baits, as they seem to sniff them out. A fillet of mullet or gar on a two-hook rig, lightly weighted, is hard to beat.

David McDonald
Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

The 50-fathom reefs are still producing kingfish, amberjack, Samson fish, and the odd pearl perch on live bait. Out on the 36-fathom line, we’re seeing good catches of parrotfish and snapper, along with some tuskfish and pearl perch. In closer, on the 18- and 24-fathom reefs, there are plenty of cobia around, as well as silver jew. A few spotty mackerel have also started to show up, giving hope for a long season ahead. Along the beaches, there’s been a good run of summer whiting and dart, with a few tailor around, although they’ve been sporadic. Inside the Broadwater, the whiting are going strong, with plenty around, especially on yabbies and worms. Flathead are also present throughout the Broadwater system, from the shallow flats to the deeper waters where bigger fish are holding. With recent rainfall, mullet are on the move, which is attracting jacks and grunter up into the creeks. Mud crabs are also active up the creeks and into the Broadwater.

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

Morning sessions last week have seen excellent conditions for fishing. On the 24 and 26 fathom reefs, big numbers of trag were caught early in the day. Anglers also landed good catches of pearl perch, tuskfish, cobia, Moses perch, and blue spot reef flathead. With the water temperature rising, there has been increased baitfish activity on the surface, indicating the movement of pelagics into the area. The first inshore summer whiting of the season were caught this week, with a good feed taken on yabbies, including one reaching 41cm. A mid-60s dusky flathead was also caught, showing interest in the same bait.

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

Tweed Coast

Before the rain set in, there was solid action in the rivers. Mangrove jacks were showing up in good numbers around bridges and rock walls, particularly around the Tweed area. Schools of jewfish and mulloway were also reported in the river, along with whiting and trevally, which had been biting well. However, after last night’s rain, the rivers have turned a muddy, chocolate-brown, which has been great for crabbers, with plenty of pots yielding good results.

Offshore, the headlands and beaches are still producing tailor, with school jew and mulloway also being caught. Bream and whiting have been fishing well off the beaches. While mackerel reports have been limited, there’s still a chance a few could turn up this week. Dolphin fish were also spotted around the FADs, despite the rough weather. Overall, while things have quietened down a bit, there’s still plenty of good fishing to be had.

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

The 30-fathom line east of Kingscliff produced quality snapper earlier this week.

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

Brunswick Heads

Offshore fishing has been limited this week due to challenging wind conditions. Inshore reef fishing remains quiet, yielding only modest catches of snapper and mackerel tuna. Beach and breakwall anglers are landing dart, flathead, and tailor. River fishing has produced some exceptional catches, with anglers releasing flathead over 90cm. Mangrove jack numbers are increasing, and mud crabs are expected to be active following recent storms. Bass continue to be found in the creek systems.

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

Ballina

The fishing offshore has been slightly limited this week due to the weather, but there have still been some snapper and flathead caught on the 32-fathom line. Anglers have had success with octo-style jigs, soft plastics, as well as squid and mullet fillets. A few mahi mahi have been coming from the FAD and the wave rider buoy, although the quality has been inconsistent. The slow current has allowed a few boats to venture wider, targeting bar cod, blue eye, and some of the larger yellowfin tuna that have been lingering in the area in recent weeks. The tuna have been showing good interest in surface stick baits, but trolling lures remains a solid option for those heading out that far.

Lighthouse, Shelley’s, and Patch’s beaches have all been producing bream, flathead, and tailor, with pilchards, mullet, and pippies being the best bait options. The recent rain and storms have added a significant amount of water to the region, discolouring the rivers once again. While it should clear fairly quickly, the lower reaches are still worth trying for flathead in the deeper channels, and bream and jacks along the rock walls. Live baits have been difficult to find, so oily and smelly baits are a great option given the reduced visibility. Adding plenty of scent to hard-body lures will help fish find them in the murky water conditions.

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

Evans Head

Air Force Beach is producing quality bream and tailor catches. Similar species are being taken along the rock walls as well. River fishing remains productive with bream, flathead, and whiting active throughout the system. Mud crabs are being caught in the upper reaches.
Offshore reef fishing has been worthwhile, with anglers landing good numbers of snapper, pearl perch, and teraglin.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Kurwongbah Dam / North Pine Dam

At North Pine Dam and Lake Kurwongbah, bass are responding well to slow-rolled plastics, particularly through schools just off the points. This technique has proven to be the most effective lately.

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

Moogerah Dam

At Moogerah Dam, fishing remained strong, with fish moving into the timber. Metal spoons, soft plastics on heavy jigs, and slow-rolling on the bottom worked well in these areas. If fish weren’t found in the timber, anglers had success moving to the edges with crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, small blades, or white spinnerbaits, which were all effective.

Maroon Dam

At Maroon Dam, dark colors such as black, dark purple, and dark blue worked well, particularly for bass targeting red claw. Skirted jigs, chatterbaits, and darker-colored lures performed well in the timber. For bass around the edges, small crankbaits, blades, and topwater lures like poppers, insect representations, and sakadas proved effective, especially early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Spinnerbaits also caught bass on the edges.

Hinze Dam

Last week, Hinze Dam was fishing well, particularly for Saratoga. These fish were active in the backs of the bays, with white spinnerbaits proving to be effective, along with small topwater poppers and creature baits, especially during the mornings and late afternoons. Bass anglers had success in the main basin, where deeper water and submerged timber on the points held fish. Metal spoons in the 20–30g range and crankbaits around the edges and timber were productive. Brighter colors like chartreuse and white were more effective, especially since the water had become a bit dirtier due to recent rain.

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