Fishing Report for 20 March 2026
Hervey Bay / Fraser Island
Hervey Bay is carrying a heavy plume of dirty water, and most systems are still affected by the recent flooding. A few jewfish and the odd flathead are being caught, but overall the river and inshore grounds remain subdued. The dirty water has pushed predators such as blue salmon into the lower reaches, and threadfin salmon are being taken in the very bottom sections of the rivers where the colour improves. Jack numbers remain steady along the local rock ledges.
Inshore reefs under the dirty water layer are holding grassy sweetlip, cod and coral trout, with mask‑vibes and slow‑rolled plastics accounting for fish. Estuary cod are prolific, and grunter are being caught in the deeper channels of the Straits. Sharks are a major issue again this week. School mackerel are scattered through Platypus Bay and in the channels, and the Spanish mackerel season reopens shortly, though the weather is unlikely to allow many boats out. The longtail tuna have been inconsistent—large numbers one day and very few the next—but the general consensus is that the bulk of the fish are back in the bay. Crabbing remains excellent, with months of consistent results and very strong numbers continuing. Prawns are present but patchy, with only sporadic small runs expected over coming weeks.
Offshore, dirty water reportedly extends up to 15 miles past the Wide Bay Bar, yet Spanish mackerel are holding in it, along with a strong presence of sharks. Red fish have been taken in the clearer pockets further out. Overall, conditions remain heavily influenced by fresh water and turbidity, but there are still isolated opportunities across the bay and down the Straits for those willing to work the cleaner edges.
| Fishos Tackleworld Ph (07) 4128 1022 | www.fishostackleworld.com.au |
Tin Can Bay
With good run in the tide and the water temp still up it will be a good weekend to get out there and chase a few Jacks & Barra up the locals. All the creeks have been fishing well despite the colour of the water with darker coloured lures with a hint of gold in them doing the trick for most anglers. The last couple of hrs of the runout tide has been producing the best results for most lure angler and bait fishos alike.
Crabs have also been getting caught in pretty good numbers throughout the Great Sandy Straights but you might need to work through the lighter ones. There have been some nice catches of trevally in Snapper Creek on micro jigs, despite the dirty water. Find the bait on the right mooring and you should be in for a win.
Flathead don’t seem to mind the dirty water either and boaters and land based fishos have been successful. 3-5” plastics have been producing great results, with hot spots at the mouth of Crab Creek and down towards Norman Point for the land based angler. For the boaters, target any of the drains along the pages from Sapper up to Big Mick.
| The Chandlery Bait & Tackle Ph (07) 5486 4744 | www.tcbchandlery.com.au |
Noosa
The river is dirty after the recent rain, and most of the action has been confined to the lower reaches. The best fishing this week has been from the cable ferry downstream towards the river mouth, with good flathead landed earlier in the week, and bream throughout. Trevally in Woods Bay.
| O Boat Hire & Bait Supply Ph (07) 5449 7513 | www.oboathire.com |
Currently on leave.
| Noosa River Fishing Safaris Ph 0429 030 823 | www.noosariverfishing.com |
A few pearl perch, cobia and some nice reef fish fishing at the bottom of North Reef and Sunshine.
| Noosa Bluewater Charters Ph (07) 5449 9355 | www.noosabluefishing.com.au |
Currently on leave.
| Deep Sea Fishing Co Noosa Ph 0411 222 749 | www.deepseafishingco.com.au |
Maroochydore
A fair few mangrove jack are back in the Maroochy River canals and in the upper reaches past Bli Bli, and abundant numbers of grunter bream at the cod hole at the motoway bridge. Big numbers of mud crabs in the middle to upper reaches. Flathead at Eudlo Creek. Most of the other species have been quiet.
| Swan Boat Hire Ph 0403 601 452 | www.swanboathire.com.au |
Mooloolaba
Great reports of longtail tuna off Point Cartwright and Coolum, with mack tuna mixed in, taking anything from a 40 gram slug / stickbait. Coral trout, grassy sweetlip and cobia at Murphy’s Reef. Caloundra wide still fishing well for pearl perch when weather allowed. Worth trying for dolphin fish around the FADs. Try the mouth of the Maroochy and Mooloolah Rivers for flathead or trevally in the early morning with micro jigs. Mangrove jack are being caught in the canals, around the pontoons on four inch diesel minnows.
| Tackleworld Kawana Ph (07) 5444 0714 | www.tackleworldkawanafishingstore.com.au |
Caloundra
Limited fishing again this week, but we have launched our bar training courses — contact us for more info.
| Salty Fishing Charters Ph 0459 636 798 | https://saltyfishingcharters.com.au/ |
A brief offshore break mid‑week produced good numbers of longtail tuna, with Spanish mackerel expected to be available once conditions settle following the season reopening on Sunday. Inshore, the reefs continue to hold grassy sweetlip. Within the Passage, water quality remains very poor due to ongoing runoff through Bells Creek, though dredging has now been completed. Mud crabs are active, and grunter are being caught around the mouth of Bells Creek and the Lighthouse Reach. The canals are yielding mangrove jack and trevally. Overall activity is patchy but improving, and clearer water should return once rainfall eases.
| Caloundra Fishing World Ph (07) 5491 4566 | www.caloundrafishingworld.com.au |
Northern Moreton Bay
Weather continues to limit opportunities, but the bay has still produced fish in the windows available. School mackerel have been active around the Four Beacons, and longtail tuna are working the northern Bay from the top of the Pearl Channel through the Spitfire Channel. Snapper and grassy sweetlip have been taken around Mud Island, with lightly weighted plastics and unweighted baits working well in the shallows. Similar results have come from Woody Point and Scarborough, where grunter have also been caught. The recent rain has prawns on the move, with good numbers reported in the middle reaches of both the Caboolture and Pine Rivers, and this bait movement is helping push fish onto reef edges and river mouths during the outgoing tide.
The mouths of the Pine, Caboolture, Brisbane and Logan rivers remain the most productive areas, particularly on the run‑out. The Hornibrook Bridge has fished well at night for school jew, tailor, tarpon and flathead. Flathead have also been coming from the mouth of the Caboolture River on the bottom half of the tide, and mud crabs are moving well through the Caboolture system. The broader region continues to hold jacks, jewies and big bream where prawns are being flushed out of the creeks.
| Tackleworld Lawnton
Ph (07) 3205 7475 | www.facebook.com/tackleworldlawnton |
Moreton Bay Offshore
Only one charter this week and fishing was quiet.
| High Calibre Charters Ph 0421 922 713 | https://highcalibrefishingcharters.com.au/ |
Redcliffe Peninsula
Bream, whiting, flathead and some queenfish in Hayes Inlet & the Pine River. Mangrove Jacks and school jew in the Pine. Snapper off the Eastern beaches, jetties & rocky points. School jew and cobia off Woody Point jetty, in Bramble Bay, off the beaches and on the inshore reefs. Mangrove Jack in the canals. Mud crabs, jacks and the odd threadfin in the rivers and creeks as well as Bramble Bay.
| Hornibrook Bait & Tackle Ph 0483 846 966 | www.facebook.com/HornibrookBT |
Brisbane
The Brisbane river has been fishing well despite the unsettled weather. Banana prawns are running hard, and the jewfish are active, though there is a wide mix of sizes with many undersized fish among the legal ones. Threadfin salmon are still holding in good numbers, particularly through the lower reaches and around the shipping docks. Mangrove jack remain present along the mangrove edges from Wynnum Creek northwards.
For jewfish, live baits such as poddy mullet, herring and banana prawns have been the most reliable, fished on the deeper drop‑offs. Slack tide has produced the best results, regardless of whether it coincides with the high or low.
| Mr Bait
Ph 0431 222 721 | www.facebook.com/Mr-Bait-182344678957765 |
There have been some decent tailor coming off the Manly rock wall, with the better fish taken after dark. Legal school jew are also being caught late at night, and flathead are showing along the Manly waterfront and out toward Lota. These areas have been the most consistent producers through the week.
| Water Tower Bait & Tackle Ph (07) 3396 1833 | https://watertowerbaitandtackle.com.au |
Moreton Bay / Jumpinpin
| Capn’s Charters Ph 0410 590 049 | Capns Charters – Lure & Soft Plastic Fishing Charter |
Jumpinpin
Still an abundance of mud crabs, especially at the mouth of the Logan River. Not as many prawns in recent days, but there have been good hauls prior. Some nice threadfin salmon around. An angler took two nice ones in the space of 20 minutes including a 1.2m specimen. Whiting a little quieter than normal. A few mangrove jacks around Jacobs Well. If you put the work in there are patches of good fishing.
| Gem Bait & Tackle Ph (07) 3287 3868 | www.facebook.com/gembait |
No report this week.
| Jacobs Well Boat Hire Ph (07) 5546 2608 | www.jacobswellboathire.com.au |
South Stradbroke Island
Report pending.
| Gold Coast Boat Hire
Ph 0432 710 892 | www.goldcoastboathire.com.au |
Gold Coast Broadwater
Showers ahead with Saturday being the best of the weekend, with winds picking up Sunday. Prawns were caught up towards the Logan River and the bay islands this week with some reasonable catches. With the tides increasing due to the new moon, they will be schooled up closer to the tide changes. It might be an idea to look for areas that have less run, like the channel outside of Horizon Shores. Mud crabs should be active with the bigger tides. The morning high tide is the better option for getting them up into the mangroves. A few flatheads were caught around Crab Island on the run-out tide. Other spots were the mouth of Browns Bay, the drains of South Stradbroke, and the mouth of the Pimpama. Not much beach structure after the swell last week, and with more on the way, it might be a while before it gets any formations back. A lot of bait is just off the seaway, and it’s prime time for mackerel fishing if you can sneak out in the weather windows.
| David McDonald Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina |
Southport
Good bait and a better pelagic bite. Marlin, mahi mahi on 36s and spotted mackerel on the 18s. It did slow down in close around the moon, and the sharks became more of an issue then too. Spanish mackerel season opens again from Sunday, and looks like we might get a crack at them early Sunday before the weather turns for a few days.
| BK’s Gold Coast Fishing Charters Ph 0414 293 034 | https://bksfishing.com.au/ |
Another windy weekend is on the way, and most of the practical options will be inside the Seaway and Broadwater. Tailor are expected to be active around the rock walls, with the stirred‑up swell favouring larger poppers thrown into the wash. Inside the Broadwater there are still solid numbers of flathead and excellent whiting, along with plenty of gar across the weed beds.
Around Jumpinpin there have been quality GTs in the bar area, good jewfish, and mangrove jacks up in the canals and systems such as Pimpama and Coomera. Live bait remains the most effective approach for all three species. Mud crabs continue to be consistent from the Broadwater right down to the border. Overall, despite the weather, protected areas are still producing a range of reliable estuary and structure‑related species.
| Gold Coast Fishing Tackle Ph (07) 5679 0840 | www.goldcoastfishingtackle.com.au |
Tweed Coast
No report this week.
| Cushy Fishing Charters Ph 0418 631 076 | www.cushyfishingcharters.com.au |
The creeks are fishing very well, with plenty of perch being taken, especially in the Tweed and surrounding tributaries. The main river itself has been a little slower over the past fortnight, though good whiting continue to come from the central stretches. Mangrove jack have been active with the humid weather, producing a strong run across the tide changes. A few small “soapie” jewfish are showing at the bar entrance, and tailor have begun to appear along the rock walls and off Fingal.
Offshore, Spanish mackerel have been caught in close around Nine Mile and Black Rock, along with spotted mackerel. The inshore reefs are still holding snapper, and sailfish have become a semi‑regular encounter in recent weeks, with a few kingfish mixed in. Out wider, deep droppers working the 250–280‑metre line are finding flame snapper, bass groper, small bar cod and assorted deep‑water species. Early‑season pearlies and parrots are also starting to show around the 60‑metre grounds.
| Addict Tackle Ph (07) 5523 3535 | https://www.addicttackle.com.au/ |
Ballina
The weather has been fairly kind this week, with plenty of opportunities to head offshore. This is going to end early next week, with a large increase in the swell and wind by Tuesday, as well as some rain over the weekend. The mackerel have started to show up, with some Spanish and spotted mackerel caught on the close reefs. Slow trolled baits have tempted most fish, but a few have also been taken on diving hardbody lures. There is still plenty of current running to the south, but there has been some good quality snapper landed on the 32’s using soft plastics and octo jigs. Out wider there has been some small amberjack and a few pearl perch taken on jigs. In the river there has been some good numbers of mud crabs in both creeks. The better numbers of flathead have been from Pimlico Island to the mouth of the river. Pilchards, mullet and bright colored soft plastics have tempted most of the fish this week. A few school mulloway have come from the mouth of the river on prawns or squid. Some quality bream, and a few flathead and tailor have come from the beaches this week. Worms, pilchards and mullet have been the best baits, particularly early morning.
| 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 bream, tailor and school jew. At the walls at the mouth there are tailor, bream and jewfish. Bream, flathead and whiting in the Evans River. Try the upper reaches for mud crabs. Offshore, there are plenty of spotted and spanish mackerel, snapper and trag.
| Evans Head Sports & Marine Ph (02) 6682 4536 | www.facebook.com/EvansheadSportsMarine |
Brunswick Heads
The bar remains difficult, with the larger swell limiting offshore access for most recreational crews over the past week. Until the last few days it has mainly been the professional operators finding opportunities to get outside, and they’ve continued to encounter strong mackerel activity whenever conditions have settled enough to cross. That pattern has now extended to the rec fleet, with local anglers also tapping into the same run of quality fish as soon as the swell eased. This marks the third straight week of consistent mackerel fishing along this stretch. Beach anglers are still picking up bream and whiting, and the rock walls remain reliable for mangrove jack, jewfish, trevally and tailor.
Inside the river the fishing has stayed the most dependable option, with mangrove jack and trevally biting steadily throughout the system. Bream and blackfish continue to work the deeper edges and structure, and mud crabs remain in good supply in the mid and lower reaches. Overall, the estuary has offered stable results while the offshore grounds have been controlled by swell and bar conditions.
| Bruns Beach Bait and Tackle Ph 0432 394 869 | |
Yamba
Offshore activity has lifted with southern areas such as Broomes Head, Sandon and Minnie Waters reported to be very good for mackerel. Some wahoo close inshore. Snapper have been quieter, but longtail tuna are starting to show. Trolling live baits or rigging dead baits on reaper rigs are working.
In the river, the stretch from Maclean down towards the Broadwater is fishing well for bream, flathead, and jewfish with a few tailor mixed in. The river has cleared up, though catfish numbers remain high around Maclean. Anglers are finding success on small plastics, soft vibes and blades around Maclean with pink the leading colour. Small plastics for bream and flathead in the Broadwater.
| Yamba Bait and Tackle Ph (02) 6646 1514 | https://www.facebook.com/yambabaitandtackle/ |
FRESHWATER FISHING
Maroon Dam
Maroon is fishing reasonably well, though most of the fish are small to mid‑size, with better fish mixed in but less common. Lipless crankbaits such as TN60s and T50‑style lures are the main producers. Half‑ounce chatterbaits worked slowly along the bottom are also effective, and a skirted jig is well worth throwing into the timbered edges. Early and late surface sessions remain productive with insect‑profile lures, small frogs and poppers still drawing bites.
| Charltons Fishing Ph (07) 3818 1677 | www.charltonsfishing.com.au |
Moogerah Dam
Moogerah continues to fish well, though the bass have shifted positions over the past week. Fish that were deep in the timber up the main creek have moved across to the opposite side of the dam near Caravan Point, with scattered schools sitting in 6–7 metres of water. Heavy spinnerbaits (5/8 oz), half‑ounce soft‑plastics slow‑rolled along the bottom, and mask vibes have all been producing. Bass and yellowbelly are also beginning to stack on the Spit in front of the dam wall, an early sign of the winter pattern. Metal spoons, soft plastics and chatterbaits slow‑rolled across the point are all working.
| Charltons Fishing Ph (07) 3818 1677 | www.charltonsfishing.com.au |
Hinze Dam
Both the eastern and western ramps are now open, and the dam is expected to fish well after the recent rain. Upstream of the eastern ramp, bass should be active around the timber and are likely to respond to small chatterbaits, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. The same applies on the western side, with soft plastics worked through the trees also worthwhile. Saratoga are expected to fire early in the morning in the backs of the bays on topwater lures, with reaction baits productive as the day brightens.
| Charltons Fishing Ph (07) 3818 1677 | www.charltonsfishing.com.au |
Hinze Dam should offer sheltered fishing, with anglers typically able to find somewhere to hide from the elements. With the current conditions, live shrimp would be a strong bait choice.
| Gold Coast Fishing Tackle Ph (07) 5679 0840 | www.goldcoastfishingtackle.com.au |
North Pine Dam (Lake Samsonvale)
Reports from North Pine have been limited this week, with recent rain spreading fish out. Land‑based anglers should focus on spinnerbaits and chatterbaits cast from the banks. Over the coming weeks, metal spoons may become a better option as fish begin to school more tightly.
| Charltons Fishing Ph (07) 3818 1677 | www.charltonsfishing.com.au |
Lake Kurwongbah
Kurwongbah is producing bass and Saratoga along the weed edges. Small blades and chatterbaits are working well, and topwater lures early in the morning are a good option, particularly for toga. Subsurface spinnerbaits around the weed lines are also effective during the day.
| Charltons Fishing Ph (07) 3818 1677 | www.charltonsfishing.com.au |
Fishing quite well for bass and saratoga with surface lures, at first and last light. During the day troll hardbodies or spinnerbaits on the edges.
| Tackleworld Lawnton
Ph (07) 3205 7475 | www.facebook.com/tackleworldlawnton |
