Fishing Report for 27th March 2025

Fishing Report Wed 26 Mar 2025

The southern closures for Spanish mackerel apply each year to east coast waters south of latitude 22˚S (located slightly north of Stanage Bay, between Mackay and Yeppoon). The annual southern Spanish mackerel closed seasons are: 1st to 21 February and 1st to 21 March

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

Hervey Bay / Fraser Island

In Hervey Bay, at Rooneys to Wathumba and the central Bay, there are plenty of spanish mackerel; as well as lots of bait including long tom and big yakka schools. The longtail tuna have moved in, with anglers getting up to 15 / session up the Island to Wathumba. Big mack tuna schools have been present together with the longtail tuna and spanish mackerel schools . There are good numbers of golden trevally and queenfish in the same areas, that have pushed in with bait schools. Sharks remain very present.

Inshore, on the reef, there are plenty of grassy sweetlip, and good numbers of spangled emperor have been caught in close. Cod, trout and longtail tuna schools have moved into the central Bay and down the straights towards Kingfisher. There are good numbers of grunter down the straights. Mud crabs are present in numbers in the estuary system, including the Mary River and Burrum River with the freshwater movement.

During the cyclone flooding, both the Mary and Burrum River catchments were let go, sending freshwater into the system, dirtying up the water. However, this is beginning to clear. There are mangrove jack getting caught in the Burrum River, with barramundi and threadfin salmon being picked up in the estuary system also.

With inclement weather and beach erosion caused by the cyclone, the fishing has been quiet on the beach side of Fraser Island. Urangan Pier remains closed for maintenance and might remain so for another month.

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

Tin Can Bay

Put the crab pots in! Teebar Creek, Kauri Creek and the flats at the back of the Bay around the power lines (note the Green Zone) should also yield a few crabs. For the lure fishos, get out and try the bank around Judd Point for flathead; they have been very susceptible to little vibes and grub tail plastics, with plenty being boated. Up the creeks, the freshwater has stirred a few things up but the water temp has dropped off making it harder going, but you could try fishing the higher tides for mangrove jack and cod. Try fishing towards the mouth for small pelagic such as GTs and queenfish on the run-out tides. Other than that, with the predicted weather, maybe some trailer maintenance!

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

Maroochydore

Plenty of bream and mud crabs in the middle reaches, with trevally showing up around the Cod Hole. Not much else to report this week, but those chasing a feed should have no trouble finding a few.

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

Noosa

Fishing has been fantastic off Noosa this week, with great catches reported from Double Island Point, Barwon Banks, and the Hards. If you managed to get out there, snapper, pearl perch, gold band, hussar, tuskfish, cod, cobia, amberjack, and Moses perch were all on the bite. It’s been an easy fishing week!

North Reef has also been productive, with Spanish mackerel, spotted mackerel, tuskfish, grassy sweetlip, and cobia all showing up.

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

This week, there were some nice grunter and barbwire queenfish caught in the Woods Bays. Flathead were active along Noosaville, and plenty of dart were around at the mouth on the ebb tide. The frying pan area is holding heaps of bream and whiting as well.

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

Sunshine Reef produced some great coral trout, along with plenty of sweetlip. Laguna Bay saw schools of longtail tuna, adding some excitement to the action.

Up at Double Island Point, the snapper were big, with solid numbers coming through. Goldband and jewfish also made an appearance, rounding off a fantastic week on the water.

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

Fishing has been solid with bream, flathead and whiting in the frying pan area. Towards the back of Noosa Sound and the canals, bream and sooty grunter have been getting around. Around Gympie Terrace, there have been some good hauls of mud crabs. And towards Makepeace Island there have been the usual supply of bream, whiting, trevally and flathead.

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

Mooloolaba

At Barwon Banks, the Spanish mackerel and wahoo have been active, caught while trolling hard body DTX minnows from Nomad. Dolphin fish are being taken at the FADs using livies, particularly yakkas. Longtail tuna have been schooling in the Bay, from Mooloolaba up to Coolum, with catches coming on 30–50g stick baits and 5-inch plastics. Pearl perch are still present at Caloundra wide.

In the rivers, there’s been a good number of mangrove jacks at Lake Kawana, with whiting also showing up in the Mooloolaba basin. Mud crabs have been throughout the river systems, including at Maroochydore and Mooloolaba.

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

Spanish mackerel, wahoo, and mack tuna have been hitting trolled minnows and skirts at the Barwon Banks, while snapper and pearl perch are also biting well in the area. Over at the Hards, snapper, pearl perch, and tuskfish are being taken on bait and Octo jigs, making for some productive deep-water fishing.

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

Caloundra

Weather will stop people getting offshore , but last weekend saw plenty of spanish mackerel, snapper and sweetlip outside; as well as longtail tuna and mack tuna in close. Mud crabs are prevalent in the creeks; while mangrove jack and trevally are being taken in the canals.

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

Donnybrook

Report Pending.

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

Bribie Island

Sandcrabs in Pumicestone Passage at Bongaree. A few beautiful sized bream caught at Bobbin Beach on live blood worms. Big flathead being caught at Belara Jetty as well as a large shark on the Bongaree Jetty. Plenty of mud crabs in the creeks and big sized grunter in Ningi Creek. The beach side has been quiet since the cyclone.

* Note — Gateway Bribie Adventures will be closing down on the 11th April 2025, with all stock being sold at major discounts. Give Cheryl and the team a call or visit to grab a great bargain.

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

Northern Moreton Bay

There’s still been plenty of crabs around, so it’s definitely worth putting the pots out. Focus on the mouths of the creeks, like Cabbage Tree Creek, Pine River, and Caboolture River. You’ll have the best luck around high tide, where the water is a bit cleaner. Fish like bream, whiting, and flathead have been active in these areas. Scarborough Reef has seen some good snapper catches post-flooding, so it’s worth checking out, and you might even come across some grunter. Last week, a few Spanish mackerel were reported out past Hutchies Reef, and when the weather improves, it’ll be game on.

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

Sandgate

The weather has been rough this week, but the fish are still biting. Snapper have been caught off Shorncliffe Pier, with whole mullet proving to be an effective bait. Tailor are also active in the early mornings, taking lures and blue bait, with fish up to 50cm becoming more common.

Fishing conditions have been mixed, with some days producing only a handful of fish. Sole and bream have been among the catches, though numbers have been low. Whiting are around, but larger fish have been difficult to land, with reports of solid grunter breaking off light gear.

For those willing to brave the conditions, bream, whiting, and flathead are still feeding, and a decent catch is possible with the right approach.

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

Brisbane River

With the Brisbane River settling down, threadfin, jewfish, and grunter have been making an appearance, along with plenty of mud crabs and prawns. The mouths of rivers and creeks are worth a shot, especially with the prawns running thick. The rock wall at the river’s mouth has been producing grunter, squire, and flathead, while further upstream around Bulimba, a solid land-based threadfin was caught this week. (See gallery below)

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

There’s been a great snapper bite out wide, with quality fish coming from the 80 to 100m depths. Pearl perch, yellowfin tuna, and tuskfish have also been in the mix, making for some solid deep-water action.

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

Plenty of snapper around at the moment, though in close, it’s been a challenge to get past the juveniles. Heading wider to Deep Tempest and other deeper reefs produced better quality fish, with plenty of solid snapper in the mix.

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

Redcliffe Peninsula

Fishing has been consistent across the region this week, with bream, whiting, flathead, grunter, and school jew showing up in Hayes, the Pine, and Bramble Bay. Yellowfin whiting are also being caught in Hayes, the Pine, and the Eastern foreshores, while scattered Winter whiting are starting to appear.

The Eastern beaches, jetties, rocky points, and inshores have seen snapper, grassy sweetlip, grunter, and some tailor, with school mackerel around Woody Point jetty and the beacons in the Bay. Mud crabs are being caught in the rivers and creeks, while sand crabs are active in Bramble Bay and off Margate Beach.

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

Redland Bay

Good snapper and sweetlip around at the artificials; reports of good mackerel are around, including some Spanish mackerel in the mix. Offshore is fairly active with snapper and pelagics including spanish mackerel and wahoo. Good whiting around and heaps of crabs.

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

Moreton Bay/ Jumpinpin

The water at Jumpinpin is still carrying a bit of colour, but there’s definitely some cleaner water pushing in on the high tide. With everything getting flushed out, bait and fish are stacking up around the mouth and in the deeper water. If you’re heading out, focus on the Pin Bar, Kalinga Bank, the tip of Crusoe Island, or Millionaires Row—good spots for jewfish and flathead. The lagoon at the tip of South Stradbroke Island has also been fishing well, even on the low tide, as fish move in off the draining flats.

Over in Moreton Bay, the water is looking much better, especially from the northern end of Macleay Island up. The shallow reefs have been holding some solid snapper and sweetlip, and Harry Atkinson has been fishing well for both, plus the odd tuskfish. With the new moon and bigger tides this weekend, those shallows should really start to fire up.

As for pelagics, they’re still a bit patchy in the bay—there’s been the odd tuna and mackerel about, but nothing hectic yet. That said, Hervey Bay is loaded with longtails right now, so it won’t be long before they make their way down in numbers.

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

Nth Stradbroke Island

Report pending.

Point Lookout Bait & Fresh Fish
Ph (07) 3409 8724

Mud crabs in Tingalpa Creek. Snapper at Harry Atkinson reef and reports of snapper coming in from Mud Island.

Water Tower Bait & Tackle
Ph (07) 3396 1833

Jumpinpin

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

The water through the Pin has started to improve, and so has the fishing. Prawns are being caught further up the Pin, with threadfin salmon following suit. Flathead are also around in good numbers, mainly along shallow intertidal sandbanks. Mud crabs have been active too. It seems the impact of the cyclone on water quality and fishing has eased off, with conditions gradually improving all around.

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

South Stradbroke Island

A few grunter bream / javelin fish caught around the Aldershots, and mud crabs and sand crabs caught near the mouth of the southern branch of the Coomera River. Some nice whiting and flathead on the eastern side of Crab Island.

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

Gold Coast Broadwater

Heavy showers and strong onshore winds this weekend will make fishing tough. If the conditions don’t bother you there should be a lot of whiting around with the new moon and big tides. Blood worms and yabbies are the two best bait. With yabbies, use no weight on the top of the banks with the run in tide early. If using worms you can target them in the same area but also deeper with enough weight to get down to the bottom. I like worms as they are a smaller bait and they don’t muck around and hover it down if they are feeding. At times with the first bit of extra fresh coming down the rivers they really turn on. The other fish that turn on after the first flush of fresh are Jew. It would be worth a try around the end of the rock walls of the seaway and pipeline. Just beware as the swell is jumping up Saturday. There has been schools of tailor harassing bait fish in the Broadwater. Keep an eye out for birds feeding early on the run in tide to find them. Small metal slugs, top water stick baits or smaller profile shallow divers will all work.

David McDonald
Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

It was great to be back into the mackerel with a solid crew over the weekend! First cast on a metal slug after the season reopened hooked straight into a Spanish mackerel, setting the tone for a cracking session. The action didn’t slow down, with countless hookups on both Spanish and spotted mackerel throughout the morning charters. Lures and baits were both doing the job, with plenty of fish coming off the 18 and 24-fathom reefs.

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

It’s a going to be challenge offshore in the week ahead with many being confined to the Seaway, where there’s been some large tailor, and still some good mangrove jack on live baits and plenty of school jewfish. In the Broadwater, sandcrabs have been good, with reasonable numbers of flathead and some squid starting to show up. Lots of excellent whiting in the Broadwater as well as in the Nerang River, which has been particularly good. A few in Pimpama and Coomera as well. Mangrove Jacks still going strong in the river systems, from Currumbin Creek up. Crabs have been good with mud crabs back on in the rain.

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

Tweed Coast

Spanish mackerel and wahoo have been active on the local reefs this week, with trolling lures around Nine Mile and Fidos Reef likely to produce some solid pelagic action.

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

We are seeing plenty of mackerel around offshore — on lures and trolling dead baits. The standout has been the zombie rig for dead bait. The wahoo are also present, together with yellowfin tuna — that have been following current lines into the 36s — with 40 to 60kg fish being taken in numbers on stick baits (rather than skirts) and poppers. Finding smaller yellowfin around 6 to 10 kg, at 9 Mile and the Mud Hole, while there are large numbers of snapper coming in close after the storm, floating pillies and jigging for them. Windarra Banks is holding lots of kingfish and amberjack — all the way out to the 200m line, jigging in 200m. The river has been a bit slow on flathead, but tonnes of bream and trevally are being caught on surface lures and soft plastics. There are masses of jewfish, with smaller ones through river and larger specimens at the mouths, up to 25kg. Mangrove jacks are still biting hard, at the rock walls through Chinderah and Fingal. Vast numbers of mud crabs after the rain.

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

Brunswick Heads

Offshore fishing is still producing quality catches of mackerel, snapper, yellowfin tuna, and kingfish, though the sharks are still a nuisance. Beach and rock fishing has slowed, with only a few blackfish, whiting, and bream reported. In the rivers, trevally, mangrove jack, bream, and flathead are about, along with some mud crabs being caught.

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

Evans Head

A little bit happening since the storms. The North and South Wall have fished ok with some jewfish, bream and flathead present. Jewfish, whiting, bream and flathead are being taken along Airforce Beach. The River has been quieter after the fish kill.

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

Yamba

The bottom end of the Brisbane River is seeing some bream and flathead pushing back inside the mouth and around the rock walls. Beaches have been fishing well, with whiting and a few dart showing up alongside the usual bream and flathead. Jewfish on the rock walls and headlands have slowed down, though they’re still around in smaller numbers. Offshore, reports of the odd snapper and even a few Spanish mackerel suggest the water is starting to clear, though it’s still not firing just yet. Spanish mackerel seem to be handling the murkier water better than spotties. Crabs remain quiet for now.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Moogerah Dam

At Moogerah Dam, there’s plenty of fish moving around, especially in the trees in the 6 Knot zone, despite the weeds filling up the dam. Chatterbaits, crankbaits, spoons, and soft plastics are working well. Fish are also moving into the back of the creek, so heading through the timber and into the creek could be worth a shot. Metal blades, especially in the murky water, should be effective—anything that vibrates or flashes will work.

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

Wivenhoe Dam

At Wivenhoe Dam, there were a few fish caught over the weekend, particularly around the rocky points such as Platypus Cliffs, the Boyline, and Billy’s Bay. Those spots are still holding fish, with yellowbelly and bass being the main catches. Lipless crankbaits, regular crankbaits, and metal spoons were the go-to lures for the anglers. It looks like the usual hot spots are still producing, so it’s worth targeting these areas if you’re heading out there.

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

Maroon Dam

Maroon Dam is currently holding plenty of water, and there’s some weed around at the moment. If you’re heading out, its recommend working your way up the main creek and exploring the edges. Chatterbaits, lipless crankbaits, and small blades will work well along these areas. Keep an eye out for small groups of fish, and you might find bigger ones as you move toward the main basin and towards the nursery. The nursery, located near the back before you enter the creek, holds a lot of smaller fish but can also produce some bigger ones. Use small soft plastics, metal blades, and lipless crankbaits in these areas. Heading back towards the wall on the same side, target the banks with those same lures, rolling them off the edges.

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

Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam on the Gold Coast is proving a bit challenging at the moment, but there are still fish to be caught. The fish are scattered and moving around a lot, with some success from bait fishermen soaking live shrimp around the trees. Anglers using chatterbaits, crankbaits, and Lucas crankbaits have also had some luck. The fish seem to be in deeper water on drop-offs as well as along the banks near the trees. If you’re heading out to Hinze, it’s definitely worth exploring different areas to find where the fish are holding up.

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

Find a nice quiet Bay on topwater some and look for some bass and Saratoga. Deeper into the daylight hours, you can fish deep and try metal jigs.

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

Kurwongbah

Over at Lake Kurwongbah, there’s been a good number of decent Saratoga caught around the edges and newly covered grass areas. Surface lures have been the go-to for these fish.

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