Fishing Report for 21st November 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

The local beaches along Fraser, from Happy Valley to the Cathedrals, have seen some tailor action, though numbers are tapering off as the season comes to a close. However, flathead and bream are still being caught in good numbers. Small black marlin have been reported, but catches have been down, with only a few coming from Rooney’s, and not in significant numbers. On a positive note, spotty mackerel have started to show up at Rooney’s, and while numbers are currently small, they should increase in the coming weeks.

Mac tuna have been spotted throughout the Bay, all the way down the straights, and metal lures, particularly slugs, have been the most effective for targeting them. As we move into the warmer months, inshore reefs like Big Woody are producing flathead, whiting, grunter, and even coral trout.

Over in the Mary River and down the Burrum system, fishing has been great, with mangrove jacks, flathead, bream, grunter, and whiting making their way onto the hook. The water is clear, making it ideal for fishing. Some decent threadfin salmon have also been caught in the Mary River.

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

Tin Can Bay

The big tides and the recent full moon have sparked plenty of activity, with good numbers of mud crabs being caught. Big, fresh baits and extended soaks have been the key to filling pots.

Mangrove jacks have been fired up, spurred on by warm days and the build-up to afternoon storms. Soaking small live baits along snag-lined banks or using mullet strips has resulted in some great catches. For lure anglers, the tail end of the runout tide has been productive, particularly when skipping plastics into shady pockets along the bank. Surface fishing during twilight hours has also yielded solid results.

Queenfish are in good numbers too. Target pressure edges holding bait and work 95-100mm vibes to get a bite. Alternatively, fast retrieves with jerk shads, like the Molix 3.5” Fork Flex, can be very effective. Most fish are being taken in depths around 4 to 5 meters.

At Norman Point, anglers have reported catches of quality flathead, whiting, and golden trevally. Live yabbies have been the standout bait for these species, making it a go-to choice for those fishing the area.

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

Noosa

Fishing around the Noosa Woods has been quite productive, with good numbers of bream, whiting, and trevally being caught. There has also been solid action around the Mana Bridge and up towards Gympie Terrace, with fish also being taken around the Hilton area. Crabbing has been successful, with mud crabs being caught around Noosa Woods and along the Gympie Terrace area, especially near Goat Island. Up around Makepeace, there has been good mud crab action as well. The top end of Lake Cooroibah has also been productive, with a good mix of fish, including bream, trevally, and whiting, being caught in the area.

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

Coral trout have been active around Sunshine Reef and inside North Reef off Noosa, with several caught around the recent full moon. Cobia, pearl perch, Moses perch, and grassy sweetlip are also being landed in good numbers. At Chardons Reef, anglers are reporting catches of mackerel tuna, cod, sailfish, pearl perch, and mahi-mahi

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

There have been some productive days out on the water recently. Sunshine Reef has delivered solid catches of pearl perch, while anglers heading to Double Island Point have reported a great mix of species. Goldband snapper, kingfish, spangled emperor, and mahi mahi have all been boated, making for some excellent sessions.

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

Nice flathead have been caught in the Woods Bays, while a few whiting are being landed in the Frying Pan. Pennant fish have been reported near the Coastguard, and there’s plenty of javelin fish activity around Tewantin.

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

Maroochydore

Giant trevally have been feeding along the dirty water line, providing exciting action for anglers. Bream, Moses perch, and mangrove jack are being caught around the Cod Hole, while flathead are active near the creek mouths. Whiting are spread throughout the lower river, and mud crabs are being caught in the middle river and creeks.

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

Mooloolaba

Offshore this week, Caloundra Wide produced good-sized pearl perch and amberjack, offering some rewarding catches for those venturing out. At Shardon’s Reef, there were sightings of black marlin. Closer in, the inshore reefs like Murphy’s and the Inner Gneerings saw wahoo making an appearance, while grassy sweetlip were active around Coolum.

In the rivers, mangrove jack have been very lively, particularly in the upper reaches of the Maroochy and Mooloolah River systems

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, with pearl perch also being landed at the Banks. Black marlin, sailfish, wahoo, and mahi mahi are now widespread, with catches reported in depths of 20 to 100 meters from Cape Moreton to Noosa.

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

Caloundra

The weather has been less than ideal, but there are still some good catches being reported. In the Pumicestone Passage, from the Bar Mouth to Bells Creek, flathead and whiting are active, while mangrove jack have been making an appearance in the canals around Pelican Waters and throughout the area.

Offshore, earlier in the week, school mackerel were abundant around the beacons and within the shipping channels, particularly near the markers. Coffee rock reefs have been yielding squire and grassy sweetlip. Meanwhile, hairtail are everywhere at the moment, presenting a challenge for anglers trying to keep their lines clear, with some interesting techniques being shared to handle them.

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

Bribie Island

Report Pending

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

Northern Moreton Bay

The recent freshwater influx is likely to push bait around, making the mouths of rivers and creeks ideal spots to target. The Pine River, Caboolture River, and Bakers Flat are all worth exploring on the run-in tide for bream, flathead, and whiting.

Out at Bribie Island, mackerel are being caught along the dirty water lines near the channel beacons, while jewfish have been found around the bridge edges. The recent rain should also stir up crab activity, making it a great time to drop pots in Passage Creek and the Pine River.

Reports have surfaced of juvenile black marlin showing up in the deep-running channel trenches off Moreton Island, offering a good outlook for the season to come.

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

Despite the challenging weather on Friday and Saturday, anglers who ventured out to the Cathedrals were rewarded with quality catches. Good-sized pearl perch, a few cobia, and snapper were landed over the weekend. Braving the conditions also paid off with some impressive mahi-mahi, all measuring over a meter.

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

Pearl perch and venus tuskfish are being caught in good numbers, with reports of some excellent-quality fish. Due to strong currents on most days, anglers are targeting areas as close inshore as possible. Dolphin fish are present around the FADs, although they can be finicky at times.

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

Sandgate

With the high tides and recent rain, fishing has been firing up across the area. Close to the rock walls and footpath stretches around Brighton, Scarborough, and Cabbage Tree Creek, anglers have been catching good numbers of whiting, bream, and flathead. Salted mullet, prawns, and ZMan Prawnz lures have been particularly effective in these conditions.

Off the piers, small trevally, chopper tailor, and tuna are still making an appearance. Shiny metal slugs are working well for these species, but live herring and herring fillets have been even more successful. If you’re collecting herring and some don’t survive, try filleting them and fishing the fillets weighted under the pier—grunter, bream, flathead, and other species are likely to bite that bait.

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

Brisbane River – Northern Moreton Bay

Recent rain has sparked a boom in sand and mud crabs, with the mouth of the Brisbane River and areas throughout the Boat Passage producing well. Sand crabs are being caught from the Manly Leads to the Darcy Light.

Within the river, bream are active along the rock walls, though threadfin and jewfish have been quieter this week. When conditions improve, the Four Beacons area is worth exploring for mackerel, as well as the stretch from Tangalooma to the Shark Spit. Anglers trolling with paravanes, particularly from Troll Pro, have had success in these areas.

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

Nth Stradbroke Island

Nothing to report

Water Tower Bait & Tackle   Ph(07) 3396 1833

Redcliffe Peninsula

Bream, whiting, flathead, and grunter are being caught in Hayes Inlet, the Pine River, and Bramble Bay. Yellowfin whiting are also showing up in Hayes, the Pine, and along the eastern foreshores. Snapper and grassy sweetlip are being landed off the eastern beaches, jetties, rocky points, and inshore areas.

Scarborough Reef is producing a mix of snapper, bream, flathead, grassy sweetlip, tailor, and grunter, with plenty of bait activity keeping the area lively. School jew and grunter are being caught on the inshores, with some land-based catches reported as well. Sand crabs are being caught off Margate Beach, Scarborough, and in Bramble Bay, while mud crabs are active in the rivers and creeks.

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

Redland Bay

Despite the recent rain, summer whiting are active around the creek mouths. Local creeks are also producing strong numbers of mud crabs, making it well worth setting a few pots. Sand crabs are beginning to show up as well, particularly along the 5-metre contour line near Cleveland Point and Wellington Point. For those fishing the surf, Main Beach on Stradbroke Island has seen some quality tailor catches, with sizable fish being landed.

Bonus fresh water – Barramundi at Lake Monduran have been biting well, with live mullet proving effective for anglers. Darker-colored lures, particularly those with orange belly trout patterns, have also been delivering results.

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

Jumpinpin

With water temperatures on the rise, mud crabs are becoming more active. Dropping a pot near the mouth of a creek or drain has been proving effective. Threadfin salmon are also continuing to show up, often found further from the bar in muddier areas. Vibes remain a popular lure choice for targeting threadfin, along with thicker paddle-tail soft plastics.

Gold Coast Broadwater

David McDonald  Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

Fishing has been excellent on the 42 and 50 fathom lines, with kings, amberjack, and Samson fish making a strong showing. Heavy metal jigs and live bait have been the most effective techniques for targeting these species, and there have been some good-quality pearl perch mixed in.

Closer in on the 24 and 36 fathom lines, snapper continue to bite, with a few pearl perch among them. The 18-24 fathom range has been particularly productive for cobia, which have been abundant this season. Marlin have started to show up around the 40-50 meter range, and dolphin fish are being caught as bycatch, keeping anglers busy.

On the beaches, despite rough conditions, anglers are still landing good catches of whiting, flathead, and dart, especially in the low tide gutters. Whiting are the main catch in the Broadwater, with live yabbies being the bait of choice. In the rivers, mangrove jacks are being caught from Sovereign Island Bridge and Everton Island Bridge all the way up to the Coomera River, with anglers finding success further upstream as well. The recent rain has stirred up the mud crabs, with good numbers being found in the upper reaches of the rivers.

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

The week started with beautiful conditions, and it’s expected to stay favorable through the end of the week. The first mackerel session of the season saw both spotted and Spanish mackerel landed, though they were off the bite the following day. On the 24s and 26s, trag and blue spot flathead have been consistent, with large schools of tailor, including some nice greenbacks, making for exciting double hookups. Tuskfish, pearl perch, and cobia have been the standout catches of the week.

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

Tweed Coast

The spotted mackerel have made an appearance offshore, and mangrove jack are starting to fire up in the rivers. There are still plenty of soapy jewfish around in the rivers, though the water is quite dirty from the recent rain. This rain has also got the mud crabs on the move, so it’s a great time to target them as well.

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

Offshore conditions have been challenging this week, but there have been some good snapper caught on the 30-fathom line. Small dolphin fish are being landed around the FADs, and a few spotted mackerel are starting to show up near the Nines. Looking ahead, clearer water will be crucial, and with conditions set to improve from Sunday into next week, fishing opportunities should increase.

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

Brunswick Heads

The wider reefs are still producing quality snapper and pearl perch, though it’s mostly the larger boats reaching these areas. Closer reefs have been quieter this week, with only a few mackerel tuna and a single mackerel reported. The beaches and breakwalls are seeing good activity, as southeast winds bring in baitfish and clear water. Anglers are landing bream, dart, jewfish, and tailor. In the river, the action is strong, with catches of mangrove jack, flathead, trevally, jewfish, and bream. The recent rain has also encouraged mud crabs to emerge, although many of the catches are undersized.

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

Ballina

The weather is looking to improve for the weekend, although the small tides may make fishing a bit more challenging. With the discolored water, the lower reaches of the river are expected to be a popular spot. Bream and jacks have been hanging around the rock walls, while flathead have been more active in the deeper channels. Pilchards, mullet, and bonito are all great bait options for the murky water. School mulloway have been active in the river, particularly around the change of tides, and there have been some larger fish reported from the rocks. Crab activity has been slow this week, but a few are still coming from both creeks. The beaches have been producing some good catches of tailor, with metal spinners and bait accounting for some solid fish. Bream, tarwhine, flathead, and a few whiting have also been caught, with mornings proving to be the best time to fish. Puppies, worms, and pilchards have been the top bait choices for beach anglers.

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

Evans Head

There have been some good bream and flathead catches on Airforce Beach, with a few jewfish mixed in, particularly during the evenings and early mornings. A few tailor are also around during the day. The North and South walls have been producing bream, flathead, whiting, and solid catches of tailor, with bait balls being the key to locating them. Upstream, mud crabs are still being found around the Black Hole area. Offshore, around Chaos Reefs, snapper, quality trag, and yellowtail kingfish have been spotted.

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

Yamba

Fishing in the river has been productive, with bream, flathead, whiting, tailor, and a few jewfish being caught. Whitebait and prawns have been the most successful baits. Offshore, there have been good-sized snapper and an early mackerel run, though it was short-lived. Deeper waters between 50 to 70 meters, particularly around rubble and kelp areas, have been the best spots for snapper and pearl perch, with calm seas making for ideal conditions. Some kingfish have been reported around the pinnacles further south, and rock fishing has yielded solid catches of tailor and jewfish. A notable catch was a cobia weighing over 40 kilos, taken off the rocks, which is rare for the area. For whiting, bait, such as worms and yabbies, has been outshining lures.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Kurwongbah Dam / North Pine Dam

Freshwater fishing has been performing well recently, with bass schools remaining active. At Kurwongbah Dam, anglers are reporting good catches of Saratoga, particularly in the shallows, where frogs and topwater lures have been effective.

North Pine Dam, particularly within the kayak area, has also seen Saratoga biting consistently, with jerkbaits proving to be a successful lure choice. These Rainy conditions make it a great time to target freshwater species.

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

Moogerah Dam

At Moogerah Dam, the recent influx of rain has shifted the fish patterns slightly. They had been holding around the trees in the back of the dam, but the rain is likely pushing them into the main basin. Focus your efforts near the spit, around the dam wall, and in the deeper sections of the main basin, particularly around the 30-foot mark. Metal spoons in the 20-30g range should work well. Additionally, the edges are worth exploring as the rain washes nutrients into the water, drawing fish closer. Spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, and crankbaits are good options for targeting fish along the banks. With murkier water conditions, darker-colored lures or those with rattles or metallic flashes will help attract fish.

Maroon Dam

Maroon Dam is another spot that benefits from post-rain conditions. Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits along the edges have been effective for catching bass, so it’s a good time to try those techniques

Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam on the Gold Coast also tends to fire up after rain. Saratoga are particularly active during this time, as rainfall knocks insects and debris into the water, creating a feeding frenzy. Small topwater lures that mimic insects, like poppers or cicada-style baits, can entice Saratoga. Bass, meanwhile, will be in the backs of bays and near submerged trees, actively feeding. Jerkbaits, small swimbaits, crankbaits, and lipless crankbaits are all excellent options. Lures with a bit of flash or vibrant color are particularly effective in the rain-altered water conditions.

Wherever you go, this post-rain period offers a prime opportunity to land some quality fish.

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

Borumba Dam

Up at Borumba Dam, there’s been some great bass action, with chatterbaits and spinnerbaits proving to be the most effective at grabbing their attention.

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

Hinze Dam

At Hinze Dam, bass have been active, especially after the thunderstorms. Cloudy or low-light conditions are ideal for fishing, with topwater lures proving effective early in the morning. As the day warms, switching to soft plastics, vibes, or metal jigs around shaded areas is a good strategy for deeper-water action.

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

Lake Monduran / Lenthalls Dam

At Lake Lentilles, barramundi fishing has been solid, with catches ranging from 60 to 90 centimeters. While on the smaller side, these fish still offer great sport, making it perfect for kids during the school holidays. Lake Monduran has also been fishing well recently, but with a bit of a cold snap, the numbers have been down compared to previous weeks.

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

THIS WEEK’S GALLERY

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Deep Sea Fishing Co

BK’s fishing Charters

High Calibre Fishing Charters

Moreton Island Fishing Charters

Smithy’s Fishing Charters

Noosa Bluewater Charters