Fishing Report for 17th July 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

The pier is still quiet for bait, but a few jewfish have started turning up and bream numbers are improving. Along the local beaches, summer whiting have been showing up around the rock walls. In the Burrum system, flathead and tailor are active, and prawns are still running up the Gregory. The Mary system has seen good numbers of blue salmon taking over, with threadfin holding in the deeper pockets. Flathead are scattered through the Straits, with tailor sitting among them.

The gutters are holding plenty of sharks at the moment, but those who stick it out have managed to land grassy sweetlip and the odd coral trout, along with some smaller red emperor. Offshore past the bar, deep dropping has produced flame tail snapper, ruby snapper, and pearl perch prior to the closure.

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

Tin Can Bay

Mud crabs and sand crabs have been caught in good numbers, with the flats producing well for muddies through the upper reaches of the creeks. Sand crabs are coming from deeper water in the Bay and around the creek mouths.

Offshore fishing has been strong with the recent good weather. With snapper and pearl perch now off the list for the next four weeks, it could be a good time to troll for Spanish mackerel and target dolphinfish at the GlFADs. It’s also worth exploring some new ground during the closure, with grunter and grass emperor being caught in good numbers, along with coronation trout, hussar, and the occasional nice red out wide.

Back in the Bay, winter whiting are being caught in good numbers between Carlo and the powerlines, with a few squid showing up in the mix as well.

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

Maroochydore

Plenty of fish about this week with bream and flathead consistent throughout the river. Trevally, tailor, and even a few mangrove jack have been reported around the cod hole, while whiting are turning up further down toward the river mouth.

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

Noosa

North Reef and Double Island Point have both been fishing well off Noosa, with some bigger fish in the mix. The school holiday weather has been ideal, encouraging plenty of boats to head out. There’s also been no shortage of whale sightings adding to the experience.

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

Plenty of trevally, flathead, bream, and a few grunter getting caught in the lower estuary. It’s been a bit quieter further up the river, though there’s still the odd small soapie jew and plenty of bream about.

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

It’s been a busy week with boats fishing daily in excellent conditions. Before the closure, pearl perch were caught in good numbers, and now quality snapper are being released. Other catches this week have included coral trout, amberjack, mulloway, longtail tuna, cobia, tuskfish, and Moses perch, providing plenty of variety during the snapper and pearl perch closures.

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

Bream, whiting, trevally and flathead are being caught around Woods Bay. Further down towards the Tewantin area and Makepeace Island there’s been a lot of mud crabs active, along with the odd good-sized trevally. Around the boat harbour and yacht moorings, tailor have been showing up in decent numbers.

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

Mooloolaba

Plenty of garfish are being caught around the Mooloolah River mouth, with good numbers of bream along La Balsa Park. Flathead have been active in the upper reaches of the Mooloolah River, while along Kawana Beach, quality dart, sea bream, and whiting are starting to show up.

Offshore, Spanish mackerel have been reported on the northern end of the Barwon Banks, amberjack out from Caloundra Wide, and kingfish showing at Outer Neerings. Grassy sweetlip are being caught at Caloundra 9 Mile and around Coolum Reef.

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

Amberjack, cobia, and snapper were caught near the Banks before the snapper closure. Caloundra Wide has produced yellowtail kingfish, pearl perch, and snapper, while jewfish have been coming from Caloundra 12nm. Grass emperor are still being caught off the rocky headlands.

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

Caloundra

Fishing the eastern side of Hutchies has produced a mixed bag of snapper, pearl perch, and Venus tuskfish, with lightly weighted pilchards floated back proving the most effective method. The current moon phase has made the wider grounds a little quieter, so focusing closer in has paid off.

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

With snapper and pearl perch now off-limits due to the closure, focus has shifted to other species. Spanish mackerel are still getting caught, often surprisingly close in, with trolling bonito or tailor proving effective. Cobia are worth targeting around the 5 Mile using live baits, while amberjack are taking jigs out on the Barwon Banks.

In the passage, there have been plenty of bream inside each bar mouth, along with a few flathead turning up, particularly in the stretch from the bar to Bells Creek. Queenfish and trevally have been providing some action, with many being caught on micro jigs. Mud crabs are still being potted in the creeks, though catches remain patchy.

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

Donnybrook

Whiting are being caught up around Lime Pocket and down towards the mouth of Glasshouse Creek. Tailor have been reported through Dunlop Channel and the main channel. A few jewfish are still getting around in the main channel, near the rock walls and at the mouths of the creeks, with even a few mud crabs turning up in the deeper sections. Flathead continue to be caught just about everywhere across the banks.

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

Northern Moreton Bay

Flathead has been fishing really well while trolling, showing up through the Pine and Caboolture Rivers, as well as in the Passage. Tailor have slowed but are still being caught after dark around the bridge lights. The same areas are also holding the occasional tarpon. In the Pine River, there have been reports of a few threadfin salmon getting caught. Snapper have been reported as well, but with the current closure in place, they’ll need to be released.

Plenty of winter whiting are still coming from the Cockle Banks off Scarborough, though the bite has slowed slightly. Small jewfish have been active through the river systems, with the odd larger fish turning up for those braving the cold. Bream are in spawning mode now and are being caught consistently through areas like Jumpinpin, Donnybrook, and up toward Caloundra.

Offshore around Hutchies, Spanish mackerel are still around for those slow trolling stickbaits or fresh baits, with reports of fish being caught in close.

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

Sandgate/Shorncliffe Pier

No report this week

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

Brisbane River

Not too many standout reports this week. Most of the activity has been focused on flathead, bream, snapper, jewfish, and the occasional threadfin salmon through the lower reaches. Bream and flathead have been consistent, especially along the rock walls at Doughboy Creek, Pimpimbah, the sunken wall, and at the mouth of the Brisbane River. The rock wall at the river mouth has been a reliable spot. Diver whiting have been found on the eastern side of Fisherman’s, down towards the Darcy Light, and near the old compass adjustment buoy.

Offshore, last week saw some great reef fishing over at Deep Tempest and the northern 29s, with quality reef species and good snapper caught before the closure came into effect.

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

Over the weekend before the closure, snapper were thick, with reports of great sessions across the region. One outing on the 29s produced eight snapper in just 15 minutes. Deep Tempest has also been firing, with even more snapper caught alongside a few pearl perch. The odd amberjack has been picked up as well.

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

Big tusk fish are around.

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

Redcliffe Peninsula

Grassy sweetlip, tailor, and school jew have been active off the eastern beaches, jetties, rocky points, and inshore areas. Squid are coming off the jetties. Sand crabs are being found in Bramble Bay. Tailor, bream, whiting, flathead, and school jew have been caught around Hayes, the Pine, Bramble Bay, Woody Point jetty, and off Scarborough. Yellowfin whiting are showing in Hayes, the Pine, and the eastern foreshores. Winter whiting and flathead continue to be caught north of Scarborough, as well as in Deception Bay and Bramble Bay.

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

Nth Stradbroke Island

Whiting are still being caught across the back flats north of the Darcy, with mackerel still holding around the One Mile. Tailor and flathead have been active along the Manly foreshore.

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

Dolphinfish have been reported at the Moreton Island FADs. Jewfish are coming from the west side of Peel and the artificial reefs, while parrotfish have been caught around Harry Atkinsons Artificial. Threadfin salmon are still in the Logan River. Tailor are active around Cleveland Point, and bream are being caught through the Raby Bay canals.

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

A few tailor have been showing up around the bar early in the mornings, responding well to spinning lures. Flathead have been caught along Kalinga, the top of Crusoe Island, and down around the bottom of Kangaroo Island. Whiting are being found at Tabby Tabby Island and through Tiger Mullet Channel.

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

Tailor have been fishing brilliantly along the beaches this week, with plenty of school fish around the 40cm mark and some impressive solo fish pushing up to 70cm. Bigger pilchards, whole or half garfish, and pike have been the top baits, while 50g slugs and 95-130mm stickbaits have been firing for lure anglers. Mulloway over a metre have been holding strong in the bar, though the waning moon might slow things down a bit. Flathead have been hitting well, especially on soft glide baits like My Lure Box. There’s also been some really solid bream showing around the Pin, with plenty over 40cm to keep anglers interested.

South Stradbroke Island

Plenty of tailor about, particularly around the Seaway and through the deeper channels in the Broadwater. Flathead are being caught around Crab Island, with arrow squid showing up around Labrador. Some big mud crabs are still being caught near Rat Island at the mouth of the Coomera, though many are a bit green at the moment. Better results on sand crabs around Crab Island and Runaway Bay, with 1 to 1.5 metres of water the depth to focus on.

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

Gold Coast Broadwater

Smaller tides this weekend with conditions not too bad. Flathead have been caught this week on smaller profile plastics. Most have been under 55 cm, but numbers are increasing. With low tide in the morning, it would be a great option to chase them early on the run-out. Tailor are still being caught along the beaches with favourable conditions at the moment, but come the weekend, the winds tend onshore and the swell is picking up Sunday. The ends of the seaway walls in the whitewater should work well with most types of lures. Same as flathead at the moment with smaller profiles to “match the hatch.” Squid have been hit or miss lately, with most people just getting two or three, but it’s still worth a look on the run-in tide. The seaway has produced some great fish this week, including jew, bream, tailor, parrot, morwong, and the odd squire. Fishing the walls should be a bit easier with the smaller tides. Schools of trevally have been found in the seaway, and around Ephraim and Sovereign Islands.

David McDonald  Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

There was great snapper fishing on the 36 fathoms in the lead-up to the Queensland Fisheries snapper and pearl perch closure. Most fish were taken on lightly weighted snell rigs, although earlier in the week paternoster rigs on the bottom produced better results. With the closure last Tuesday, catches have shifted to teraglin, blue spot reef flathead, longtail tuna, along with the odd tuskfish, Moses perch, and cod.

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

Amberjack, kingfish, and Samson fish have been coming from the 42 and 50 fathom reef lines. Inside that, there’s been plenty of parrotfish on the 36s, along with a lot of trag and jew. The 18s are still holding good numbers of cobia and silver jew, along with parrotfish and a few pigfish.

Along the beaches, tailor have been in good numbers, particularly after dark, which has been the pick of the bite. Flathead have also been caught along the beaches in the low-tide gutters.

Inside the Broadwater, flathead have still been really good. Garfish have been around Parrot Rock, Wave Break, and Crab Island. There’s still been a few threadfin salmon turning up around the mouth of the Logan River, and plenty of squid scattered through the Broadwater.

Further up in the Nerang, Pimpama and Coomera river,  bream and flathead continue to be caught, though it’s been fairly steady fishing without any standout species dominating.

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

Tweed Coast

Pending

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

Tailor are still being caught along the beaches, with longtail tuna showing up in good numbers. Snapper and pearlies have been coming from both the inshore reefs and out wider, with most structure holding fish at the moment in NSW but dont forget the snapper closure is now in place across Queensland.

In the creeks, some big winter mangrove jack are still being caught, though it’s been hit and miss. Good-sized bream are continuing to show up throughout the river systems and talks of the sailfish off the coast have still been buzzing. Soapy jewfish remain in the river, along with trevally that have been active through most systems. Flathead are still across the flats and crab reports are still thin.

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

Brunswick Heads

Offshore, snapper, pearl perch, and kingfish have been reported from the deeper reefs, while the closer local reefs continue to produce snapper, jewfish, and the odd mackerel. Along the rock walls and beaches, anglers are finding bream, flathead, whiting, tailor, and dart, with the occasional jewfish still turning up. In the river, there’s been good numbers of blackfish, bream, flathead, and whiting. Mud crabs have slowed down now that the water temperature has dropped.

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

Ballina

Pending

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, bream, flathead, and the odd school jew, while bream and luderick are still being caught around the walls. In the Evans River, bream, flathead, and whiting continue to show up, with a chance of finding a few crabs further upstream in the upper reaches. Offshore, the coastal reefs have produced plenty of snapper and trag.

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

Yamba

The river is still fishing well, with good numbers of bream being caught. Blackfish have really come on through June, with large schools around, though some anglers are struggling to source weed for bait. Most of the flathead are holding in the deeper water, and while there are plenty of smaller fish being caught, the occasional better-quality fish is still being landed, There are also a few grunter showing up in the river.

Offshore fishing has slowed a little, likely due to the long stretch of calm weather. Most anglers are pushing out deeper to find fish, as the shallower grounds have been tough. Standard catches of snapper, pearl perch, parrotfish, and the odd longtail tuna are still coming in, though catches are mainly plate-sized fish. Fishing further offshore in deeper water is providing the more consistent results, with both northern and southern grounds fishing similarly.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Wivenhoe Dam

At Wivenhoe, fishing has remained consistent, with good catches coming from the main basin, around Platypus Cliffs, Billy’s Bay, and further north up toward Hammond Cove. Bass and yellowbelly have been taken using crankbaits, chatterbaits, and metal spoons in deeper water. Working the edges with metal blades and lipless crankbaits like the TN60 has also been effective, especially for yellowbelly holding close to structure.

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

Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam on the Gold Coast has been fishing very well, particularly throughout the eastern and western arms. Fish have been holding around the timber, with spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and small hardbodies producing plenty of bites. Soft plastics rigged with a small jig spinner have also worked well through the trees, with numbers of fish reported.

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

At Hinze Dam, bass have been caught consistently, with no real need for early starts with most fish being taken between 9am and 3pm. Schools are holding off the points, with metal jigs and soft rubber baits proving the most effective lures.

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

Lake Kurwongbah

Lake Kurwongbah has also produced some good bass catches, with trolling along the weed edges and casting small blades near the weed working best. Letting blades drop close to the weed before ripping them free has been triggering bites.

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

North Pine Dam

At North Pine Dam, bass have been caught by anglers slow trolling along the edges and casting stickbaits. Schooling activity should start picking up soon, but overall it’s been a fairly quiet week.

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

Maroon Dam

Maroon Dam has reopened and is fishing strongly. Small blades, chatterbaits, and spinnerbaits are working along the edges and through the timber toward the backs of the creeks. Out in the main basin, small soft plastics and blades along drop-offs and deeper edges have accounted for a fair few fish.

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

Moogerah Dam

Moogerah Dam had a competition last week and saw significant fishing pressure. While catches were good during the event, including fish caught on jerkbaits worked along the weed edges, it may fish tougher this week. Best to give it a break or manage expectations if planning to head there.

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

THIS WEEK’S GALLERY

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Deep Sea Fishing Co

Salty Fishing Charters

Caloundra Fishing World

Capn’s Charters

High Calibre Charters

Moreton island fishing charters

Tackleworld Lawnton 

Smithy’s Fishing Charters

Mr Bait

Gold Coast Boat Hire

BK’s Gold Coast Fishing Charters

Addict Tackle

Charltons Fishing