Fishing Report for 2nd October 2025

Hervey Bay / Fraser Island

This week is very similar to last week. Along the local beaches, Whiting are showing in increasing numbers, though most are on the smaller side. Grunter remain common, but average sizes are tapering as summer approaches. At the piers, Braudbar Mackerel are thick, taking both metal lures and live bait, while a few Bluefin are still being caught, likely some of the final fish for the season. School Mackerel and some Queenfish are starting to move through the area, with additional Braudbar Mackerel being reported this week.

Further offshore, strong currents across the shelf make drifting or trolling the most effective methods. Around the Lightship, shark numbers are lower than usual, giving anglers better opportunities, with Red Emperor and Purple Cod also being caught. More Marlin are appearing in the Bay, including one off Rooneys. Offshore from 25 fathoms out to the gutters, Trout and Cobia are active, while Snapper in the Bay have eased slightly with warming water. Riverhead areas have seen limited action, though a few Braudbar Mackerel were caught near small pontoons, including a Spanish Mackerel that took a fish as it was being retrieved.

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

Tin Can Bay

The Bay has continued to fish well over the past week, with holidaymakers making the most of the conditions. With the neap tide and water temperatures reaching around 25°C, the creeks should be productive this weekend. Anglers chasing Mangrove Jack, Cod or even Barra can have success using small live baits fished deep into the snags. Lure anglers are finding 4–5” soft plastics rigged weedless or 80mm jerkbaits effective for targeting these species.

On the flats, Whiting, Bream and Flathead are keeping anglers busy. Hot spots for boaters include Ida, Pannikin and Cockatoo Islands, while land-based anglers are finding success at Norman Point, in front of the Snack Shack, Kindy Beach and the mouth of Crab Creek. Locally caught beach worms remain a reliable bait.

Offshore, fishing wide are landing Pearl Perch exceeding 65cm, along with quality Snapper, Hussa, Tuskfish and Jewfish. Large Spanish Mackerel are also being caught, with some Tailor anglers upgrading to 15kg+ Spanish. Inshore sand areas at Inskip Point are producing good numbers of fish as well.

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

Noosa

Weather has been excellent most days, with Snapper and quality Pearl Perch abundant. Solid Yellowtail Kingfish, Cobia, Tuskfish, Sweetlip, Moses Perch and Cod have also been caught, along with some large Dolphin Fish. Conditions look set to remain favourable for the foreseeable future.

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

Currents are strong at the Barwon Banks and Hards, but fishing remains worthwhile. Snapper, Pearl Perch, AJ’s, Moses Perch and Tuskfish are all being caught. The North Reef is also fishing well, with all species active including Mahi Mahi and Tuna. Whales are widespread throughout the area.

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

The lower estuary is holding plenty of Flathead, with a few Bream mixed in. Moses Perch have been very active over the past few days. Lake Cooroibah has produced a few Tarpon along with some small Jewfish.

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

Flathead are being caught around Munna point in Noosaville while drifting. Whiting are active in the lower reaches of the Noosaville stretch. Grunter and Bream are showing in First Lake, Lake Cooroibah, with Bream also being caught throughout the system.

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

Mooloolaba

Offshore, Longtail Tuna are being caught off Point Arkwright and on the Barwon Banks, with Spanish Mackerel showing on the northern end of the Barwon Banks. Snapper, Pearl Perch and Cod have been taken at Caloundra Wide, while Grassy Sweetlip active around Currimundi Reef.

Along the beaches from Kawana to Currimundi in the gutters there has been, Whiting and Flathead. At the mouth of the Mooloolah River, quality Flathead and good Bream are on offer. Along the Maroochy River, Flathead and Whiting are being caught east of the Motorway Bridge near Chambers Island.

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

Fishing has been tough this past week with the small tides. Offshore around Caloundra, including reefs like 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 Mile, anglers managed a mixed bag of School Mackerel, Tuskfish, Sweetlip, Snapper and surprisingly a Trag due, but it required a lot of effort, with whales and sharks adding to the challenge.

Across the beaches and inshore reefs, light winds and small tides have slowed the bite, though a few Snapper and Cobia are starting to show. School and Spotted Mackerel should start appearing on the reefs in the coming weeks. On the beaches, Whiting and a few Bream have been caught, with Tailor slowed right down as they move north.

In the passages, Flathead remain in good numbers, though catches are slightly lower than expected due to the small tides. A few Mangrove Jack have started turning up, although later than usual by six to seven weeks. Crabs are also being caught in small numbers, including sand and mud crabs, and should improve as the water warms.

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

Northern Moreton Bay

In the rivers, Bream have moved further into the systems, appearing in canals at Redcliffe and Bribie. Flathead are holding deeper along drop-offs near the mouths where cooler water sits, while Trevally are being caught late in the afternoons on larger lures. The Caboolture River has produced Flathead, Mangrove Jack and some Barramundi. In the Passage, Jacks, Barra and Flathead are being caught throughout the creeks with consistent Bass reports also coming from both the North and South Pine rivers.

Snapper have been fairly quiet, with only a few taken off Redcliffe and a mix of undersized fish along with a decent number of Grunter. Offshore fishing has been limited due to the weather, although the occasional School Mackerel has been showing around the beacons on live or trolled baits.

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

Sandgate/Shorncliffe Pier

Bream have been active throughout Moreton Bay this week. Large fish have been lost under Shorncliffe Pier, while a 50cm Snapper was recently landed. Flathead are being caught off Shorncliffe Pier on both bait and lures.

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

Brisbane River

Fishing has been a bit slow overall, though there have been some School Mackerel in close, with reports from Wellington Point, King Island, the back of Green Island, north of Mud Island, and in the shipping lanes. Snapper are feeding along the Rockwall early in the morning, with anglers catching a couple of fish if anchored around 6am. A few Threadfin are also starting to appear at night in the port.

Flathead are abundant, with good reports from Ningi, the front of the airport, back of Fisherman’s Island, and the front of Wynnum Boardwalk. Whiting are active near Darcy Light, the eastern side of Fisherman’s Island, and the river mouth. Snapper numbers remain low overall, with only the occasional fish reported. Crab activity has been patchy, though a few sand crabs are starting to appear.

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

Fishing 60–70m off Moreton Island has been productive, with Snapper, Pearl Perch, Flathead, Tuskfish and Mulloway all being caught.

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

Fishing in closer areas, like the 29s, has been producing good quality Snapper. Cobia have been caught around Whales, and Square Patch is holding some solid Pearl Perch. Sharks are becoming increasingly problematic, often taking bigger fish on the first drop while letting smaller catches through.

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

Redcliffe Peninsula

Yellowfin Whiting are being caught in Hayes, the Pine, Bramble Bay, off Margate Beach, Scarborough and near the groynes at Brighton. Grunter are active in Hayes, the Pine, on the inshore reefs and in the canals.

School Mackerel, a few Tailor and Trevally are showing at the mouth of the Pine and in Bramble Bay, as well as off Woody Point, Redcliffe jetties and the inshore reefs. Bream and Snapper are being caught off the jetties and around the inshore reefs.

Flathead are active in the Pine, Hayes, Bramble Bay, off the northern beaches, in Deception Bay and near the groynes at Brighton.

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

Nth Stradbroke Island

School Mackerel have been caught trolling around Green and King Islands during the last couple of hours of the runout tide. Snapper are active at Green Island and most of the nearby islands. Whiting are being caught at Wynnum North, though some effort is required to locate them.

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

Plenty of Snapper and Mulloway are being caught around Harry Atkinson and West Peel artificial reefs. School Mackerel are starting to show through the top end of the Rainbow Channel and the eastern end of the Rous Channel. Tailor are active around the foul ground, Harry Atkinson Reef and the northern side of Peel Island plus a legal sized Honeycomb Cod from Peel island as well

Land-based anglers are catching good numbers of Trevally from Amity Point down to One Mile and to the Little Ships Club. Squid are being caught along the foreshore from Victoria Point through to Manly, as well as at Dunwich. Some large Tailor have been taken off Main Beach at Stradbroke, with reports of fish up to 80cm and one claimed to be over a metre (but unconfirmed). Yellowtail Kingfish have also been showing around Point Lookout.

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

Flathead have been fishing well just ahead of the Flathead Classic, with good numbers and sizes being caught, and plenty of oversized fish released. All sorts of presentations are working, though the larger fish are coming on bigger lures such as soft glides and large jerkbaits. A few Threadfin Salmon are still around, but numbers are slowing.

The Pin Bar has been very active, with large schools of Pilchards and Whitebait driving topwater action. Tailor are showing in good numbers, often over 60cm, with some Longtail Tuna also being caught inshore. Flathead are holding beneath this bait, taking advantage of the feeding frenzy.

Gold Coast Broadwater

Long weekend is looking great, with Sunday the pick and light winds. Be prepared for heavy boat traffic over the three days, so it’s best to get out early before the chaos if you’re fishing the main channel or seaway areas. Afternoon low tide is good for chasing flathead, but after the Flathead Classic, it might be worth targeting other species. Thousands of fish have been caught and released, so they’ll probably be a bit hook-shy for a week or two.

Whiting fishing is looking good, with numbers strong. With the rising morning high tide, they should be actively feeding across the sandbanks. Try the usual banks around Wavebreak and south towards the Aquatic Centre. The banks at the mouth of the Pimpama and the north arm of the Coomera also work well for wading on the incoming tide.

For land-based fishing, try Broadwater Parklands from the Water Park to Sundale Bridge. Sand crabs have increased in numbers over the past week, with some good-sized crabs being found. Mud crabs are also on the move, with catches coming from up the rivers. Night high tide is the better option for soaking pots, while possibly targeting a mangrove jack. With rising temperatures and warming water, they’ve been active, and a few good-sized ones have already been caught.

David McDonald  Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

Pending

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

Snapper and Cobia have been caught offshore, with most of the action coming in closer on the 24s rather than the 36s. Tailor are being caught off the beaches, while inshore there have been Whiting and Bream along with some good Flathead on the flats around Carters Bank and Crab Island. Up around the Pin, Flathead have also been taken across the shallows. In the Seaway, Snapper and Jewfish have been reported. There hasn’t been much word on crabs this week, with very little mullet being sold for bait.

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

Tweed Coast

Snapper, Pearl Perch, Tuskfish and Flathead have been caught this week around the 30s and 24s.

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

In the rivers there have been Whiting and Flathead caught closer to the mouths on the high tide, along with a few Black Bream around bridges and pylons. Sea Gar are also in the rivers, giving shore-based anglers some good action. Only a handful of Bream and the odd Mangrove Jack have been reported, with a couple coming from the upper reaches toward Murwillumbah.

Along the headlands Tailor are still being caught in good numbers from Southport right through to Brunswick Heads, with solid reports off the rocks and beaches on both bait and lures. The Longtail Tuna have slowed, but the odd fish is still being landed.

Offshore, Snapper catches have eased, though there are now a few Marlin showing wide. Closer in there have been Longtail Tuna along with Pearl Perch and Parrot Fish.

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

Brunswick Heads

Northerly winds have made ocean fishing more challenging, though Snapper and Kingfish are still being caught. Rock and beach fishing is producing Bream, Dart and Whiting. The river has been a little quieter, with a few Bream, Whiting and Flathead being caught. Mudcrabs are also showing in the river.

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

Ballina

The 32s are still producing the better numbers of Snapper, with a few Mulloway, Flathead and Trag mixed in. Out wider past the 48s, the quality Pearl Perch and Kingfish have been more consistent, with most fish taking various jigs.

On the beaches, catches have included Flathead, Bream, Whiting and Tarwhine. Pippies, worms, pilchards and mullet have all been working, with the early mornings proving the better time before the northerly winds pick up in the afternoons.

In the river, Bream have been showing in better numbers from the ferry through to Broadwater, with small hardbody lures, prawns and mullet working well. Flathead and Mangrove Jacks have also become more active with the warmer weather. Flathead are taking prawns, pilchards and small soft plastics, while Jacks have been hitting jerkbaits and live baits like herring and poddy mullet. A few crabs have started to show in both creeks, and the bigger night tides this weekend should make for good crabbing conditions.

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

Evans Head

Along Airforce Beach, you’ll find that Jewfish have been caught through the day and night, along with Bream, Flathead, and the occasional Dart. North and South Walls, anglers have taken the occasional Jewfish, Flathead, Whiting, and a handful of Luderick.

The Black Hole, Mud Crabs have been appearing, along with the occasional Mangrove Jack, Bream, Flathead, and Whiting. Offshore at Chaos Reef, Snapper, and the odd Jewfish have been caught.

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

Yamba

The river is still fishing well with plenty of Flathead being caught. Reports have been mixed, with some anglers only finding small fish in numbers, while others have landed quality fish including a Flathead measuring 81cm. Whiting are improving with more numbers showing up and good size among them. Bream are active along the rock walls and mangrove edges, with some taken while targeting Flathead in those areas. As the river clears, catches are being reported further upriver, even as far as Grafton, which shows the system is becoming much healthier.

Offshore has also been productive, with calm mornings before the wind picks up in the afternoon. Snapper, Pearl Perch, Kingfish, Trag and Tuskfish have been caught in good numbers, with a few Jewfish still around. Live bait has been patchy, with some anglers finding it tough to gather, although others are still managing enough for a session.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Moogerah Dam

Moogerah Dam has been producing some quality Bass, particularly around the spit and up into the 6-knot zone. Metal spoons, soft plastics, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits are all getting bites, with fish feeding aggressively across a range of lures.

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

Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam is fishing really well with Bass stacked up around the points where trees extend into the water. Soft plastics on heavy jig heads with a slow roll are working, along with chatterbaits, metal spoons and crankbaits. Saratoga have also been caught back in the bays, taking topwater lures, insect-style presentations and surface bugs such as dragonfly imitations.

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

Maroon Dam

At Maroon Dam the Bass are scattered, with early mornings producing along the banks on topwater lures, spinnerbaits and small soft plastics. As the sun rises, fish are moving slightly deeper around the edges of weed beds where soft plastics, chatterbaits and blades have been effective.

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

North Pine Dam/ Kurwongbah

At North Pine Dam Bass have been caught in good numbers, particularly late in the afternoon. Spoons, TNs and jigs are working well around the permit areas, along with live shrimp and trolling.

At Kurwongbah, casting soft plastics such as small jerkbaits and paddle tails off the points has produced plenty of Bass, with Saratoga taking surface lures around the lilies. Freshwater fishing is active, with consistent Bass reports also coming from both the North and South Pine rivers.

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

North Pine Dam is also fishing well, with good Bass taken from the banks on spinnerbaits and metal spoons. Kayak anglers are finding schools of fish out in the deeper water, with soft plastics and spoons working well. The Bass here are in great condition and very active.

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

THIS WEEK’S GALLERY

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Noosa Bluewater Charters

Deep Sea Fishing Co

The Chandlery Bait & Tackle

High Calibre Charters

Moreton island fishing charters

Tackleworld Lawnton 


Tackle Land

Cushys fishing charters