Fishing Report for 31st October 2024

Fishing Report Thu 31 Oct 2024

Murray Cod Closed Season: 1 August to 31 October — All Queensland fresh waters in the Murray-Darling Drainage Division (some exceptions apply — check the Queensland Fisheries website).

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).

Hervey Bay/ Fraser Island

Fishing is picking up with some impressive catches reported around Rooney Point, where small Spanish mackerel and schools of spotty mackerel have made an appearance, alongside active longtail and mack tuna. Marlin have also started to bite in the same area.

From Moon Ledge down to Kingfisher, the abundance of whitebait has drawn in mac tuna and other predatory fish. Monday saw productive action on the Fraser flats, with good numbers of flathead along with golden trevally, queenfish, broad-barred mackerel, and grunter.

Coral trout are beginning to appear around local inshore reefs, particularly near Point Vernon. Offshore reports have been limited due to recent poor weather, but those venturing out are bringing in quality catches, including pearl perch, grassy sweetlip, jobfish, and coral trout.

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

Tin Can Bay

Fishing has been productive around Inskip Point and Big Mick, where anglers have had success using deep-water lures like vibes, drift baits, and Z-Man jerk shads in the 3-4 inch range. Weighted lures are especially effective in areas with strong current, with queenfish often striking higher in the water column, while golden trevally prefer the bottom. In the clearer waters around Inskip, both school and spotted mackerel are being caught. Flashy lures, like Triton 80s and 80 mm spoons, or trolling are good strategies to attract these faster-moving schools.

Mangrove jack are responding well to surface lures, such as frog stick baits in the early morning and late afternoon, while lightly weighted mullet fillet or herring has been productive for evening bites. Whiting are abundant from Snatch Shack to Norman Point on the incoming tide, while tailor are being caught in the 55s at T-Bar and Cowie Creek.

Around Snapper Creek’s mooring points, trevally are active, and for those heading out wide, pearl perch, tuskfish, snapper, and a few amberjack have been caught around the 20-mile mark, with perch measuring up to 60 cm.

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

Noosa

Flathead continue to be caught while drifting through the Noosaville stretches, with bream also providing consistent action in the lower reaches. A particularly good spot for grunter and bream has been the front of Croyden, where anglers have reported solid catches.

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

The weather in Noosa has been fantastic this week, making for great fishing out at the 60m reefs. The current is manageable, and the catches have been impressive, with amberjack, snapper, pearl perch, gold band snapper, tuskfish, moses perch, goldspot wrasse, and yellowtail kingfish all on the bite, along with the usual suspects. Closer in at North Reef and Chardons Reef, anglers are also reporting good numbers of tuna, snapper, and pearl perch, with the occasional early-season mackerel making an appearance.

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

Recently, there have been some impressive catches, including a massive cobia. This week, anglers have primarily been targeting gold spot cod and big grassy emperors, with successful outings reported from popular fishing locations like Sunshine Reef and Double Island.

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

Maroochydore

Pending

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

Mooloolaba

Fishing reports from Caloundra have highlighted great catches of pearl perch and snapper. The 12 Mile mark is producing kingfish and cobia, along with grassy sweetlip on the inner reefs off Mooloolaba.

In the rivers, excellent whiting have been reported in the Maroochy River, with fish reaching up to 40 centimeters. Flathead are also showing up in good numbers throughout the Mooloolaba River. As water temperatures warm up, mangrove jack activity has increased, particularly in the Mooloolaba system and Kawana Lakes.

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

Cobia, mulloway, amberjack, and cod are being caught halfway out to the Barwon Banks. The Hards are also producing amberjack, snapper, and pearl perch, with both live bait and jigs proving effective for anglers targeting these species.

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

Caloundra

This week in the passage, promising catches of flathead have been reported, primarily from the bar mouth up to Bells Creek. Whiting are showing improved sizes and numbers, alongside a noticeable increase in mangrove jack activity within the canals and creeks, particularly in Bells Creek and Pelican Waters. Currimundi Creek and Two Way Creek have also seen good jack catches.

Offshore, squire and sweetlip have been present in the inshore areas. A dozen sweetlip were caught in just three hours on Sunday, with good numbers coming from the Fives, Chevron, and the Seven Mile off Caloundra. Spanish and spotted mackerel are expected to make an appearance in the coming weeks, while cobia have been mixed in with the sweetlip, along with a few tuskfish.

Along the beaches, the standard species like whiting, dart, flathead, and the occasional tailor are still being caught. Bigger tailor are expected to return from Fraser Island as their southern run kicks in between now and December. However, many anglers are not specifically targeting tailor at this time, which may account for fewer catches, so it’s worth always trying for them.

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

Bribie Island

Lately, there have been some large hammerhead sharks sighted, with one impressive catch reported off the main jetty. Whiting are still active at Red Beach, providing a good target for anglers. Mackerel have also been seen out near the Birdcage, just off Woorim. Mud crabs are being caught around Donnybrook and Toorbul, while Ningi Creek is turning up a few solid bream.

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

Donnybrook

Whiting have been active around Mission Point and Lime Pocket, with grunter also showing steady catches from Lime Pocket to Mission Point, as well as around Little Goat Island and Poverty Creek. The main channel, especially around the 11-twos, has produced good numbers of sand crabs. Flathead are biting further up at Bulimba and Glasshouse Creek. A few trevally have been taken near the drop-offs, though in modest numbers, with some decent jewfish reported from the deeper holes in these areas. Meanwhile, mangrove jack are biting well in Bulimba Creek and Glasshouse Creek, with Bulimba reporting the best jack catches.

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

Northern Moreton Bay

In the Pine and Caboolture Rivers, there’s an abundance of little jelly prawns around, which has bream feeding heavily. This means plenty of bream are being caught up in the rivers, with early morning topwater lures working well along the edges. Flathead are moving towards the mouths, seeking the deeper waters, while jewfish are biting on live baits near Bribie Island jetties late at night. Shark fishermen have been active, with juvenile bull sharks now making their way into the rivers, so expect to see plenty of them being caught in the Pine and Caboolture Rivers.

At the mouth of the Brisbane River and around Mud Island, snapper are being caught early in the morning, with another peak bite time in the evening. Threadfin and jewfish are starting to school up at the mouth of the Brisbane River, chasing the prawns that have recently arrived. South Passage has also seen some yellowfin tuna showing up.

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

Brisbane River – Northern Moreton Bay

In the lower reaches of the Brisbane River, anglers are reporting catches of grunter, snapper, and school jew along the rock walls at Hawthorn, Bulimba, Breakfast Creek, and Newstead. Bream are also being caught at Pinkenba and Fort Lytton rock walls. For crabbing enthusiasts, both sand crabs and mud crabs are present from Wynnum Creek north to the eastern side of Fishermans and in Boat Passage. School mackerel have been spotted at the Measured Mile and M8 beacons, with success on slugs and trolling boards.

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

Dolphin fish are being caught at the FADs, while fishing the 29s has yielded good-sized snapper, along with large mosses perch, tuskfish, and a kingfish.

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

There was a great snapper and pearl perch bite over the weekend, with anglers also reporting catches of samson fish and tuskfish on jigs (Jig photographed below).

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

Nth Stradbroke Island

Squire and sweetlip have been active around all the bay islands, including King Island, Peel, and Mud Island. Whiting are being caught at the Amity Banks and along the eastern side of the Maroon Channel. Anglers are also reporting good-sized tailor off the Amity Rockwall, with big bream coming from Manly Harbour. For those seeking sand crabs, Wellington Point is the place to be.

Water Tower Bait & Tackle
Ph(07) 3396 1833

Redland Bay

The Cathedrals are producing some quality snapper, while over at Myora Artificial Reef, anglers are finding good-sized parrotfish in the bay. Flathead are biting well along the beaches on the western side of Moreton Island, and West Peel Artificial Reef is holding some solid snapper. For those targeting whiting, diver whiting are being caught in Fisherman’s Gutter, rounding out a productive mix across the area.

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

Jumpinpin

Flathead fishing turned out to be a challenge for competitors in the Reelitin competition this week, with many teams working hard to land a few decent catches. Bream and whiting have been running steadily, with a handful of late-season tailor still lingering in the mix. As water temperatures continue to rise, anglers can expect an increase in mud crabs and prawns appearing around the estuaries, adding some variety to the catches ahead.

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

Tailor are being caught off the beaches of North and South Stradbroke Island. Whiting are showing up at Marks Rocks in the Logan River and in Fisherman’s Channel. Plenty of flathead are biting in deeper waters off Crusoe Island and Kalinga Bank, as well as in the shallows at Whalley’s Gutter and Diner Island. A few bream have also been reported off the Powerlines and Short Point.

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

South Stradbroke Island

Reports from the northern end of South Stradbroke Island indicate a couple of impressive flathead over 80 cm caught around the entrance to the lagoon, along with a few smaller tailor. Additionally, kingfish have been spotted in the Seaway

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

Gold Coast Broadwater

The weather looks promising for fishing this weekend, with an early morning big high tide coinciding with the new moon. Currently, there are lots of whiting being caught, and the larger tides should enhance the fishing conditions. The first of the run out tide, especially in the Nerang, is particularly favored, as there are plenty of fish during the day, but some of the bigger ones tend to bite at night.

Jewfish have been active along the seaway walls in recent days, with many smaller ones caught and the occasional keeper. Vertical metal jigs have proven effective for these fish. Flathead are also abundant, with many around the 40 cm mark. With the favorable tides this weekend, targeting larger flathead on the banks early in the morning could yield good results.

It’s definitely worthwhile to set out some pots, as sand crabs are in the area. While not in large quantities, there are enough to make the effort worthwhile. Additionally, the tides are great for mud crabs, especially near the mangroves.

David McDonald
Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

Snapper have been caught in close again on the 24s, and a few cobia are still hanging around. Inside the estuaries, there’s a good mix of flathead, bream, and whiting being caught up the rivers. Reports from the Coomera River indicate some mud crabs are being caught, although they’re not prolific at the moment.

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

Despite the conditions, there have been reports of trag, blue spot flathead, and some good-sized tailor at 26 fathoms. Anglers have also landed the occasional nice tuskfish and Moses perch. Notably, a 1.3m cobia was caught on a live yakka at the same depth.
Mutton birds, have been migrating along the coast in large numbers, making fishing quite challenging due to their exhaustion and eagerness to feed. To improve your chances, consider these tips: avoid float lining with dead baits, as the birds tend to leave live baits alone. Refrain from using burley, and keep any scraps or old baits in the boat. Opt for heavier weighted rigs with low-profile baits that can be dropped quickly to minimize bird interference.

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

Tweed Coast

Fishing in the Tweed system is thriving, particularly along the rock walls. Anglers are reporting plenty of big flathead due to the ongoing spawning season, resulting in many sizable catches. Jewfish are also abundant, with smaller ones being especially active on light gear. Some unusual catches have been noted, including tusk fish and sizable kingfish, which are not typically caught as frequently.

Bream fishing has been excellent, with many large specimens being caught, marking one of the best seasons in years. The rock walls continue to produce tailor, especially at the top of the tide, with clear water enhancing catch rates.

Offshore Fishing: Offshore, mackerel have started to appear alongside small black marlin, signaling a potentially bumper season ahead. Dolphin fish are present around the FADs, while snapper fishing has slowed slightly, though significant catches are still reported. Other reef species, such as pearl perch and yellowfin tuna, are available, but finding the yellowfin requires locating the thermocline, which is between 21.2 to 22°C. When the water temperature reaches 23 to 24°C, yellowfin tuna can be found deeper, often not feeding at the surface unless birds are working above them. Kingfish, amberjack, and samson fish are also reported in deeper waters, particularly around the 36s and further out.

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

Brunswick Heads

It’s been a tough week for fishing across the board. Both wide and close reefs have been quiet, with only a few small snapper and a couple of dolphin fish caught at the FADs.

On the beaches and rock walls, anglers have managed to catch dart, bream, tailor, jewfish, and jacks, but not in large numbers. The river is home to bream, flathead, blackfish, whiting, and jacks, though again, the catches have been modest. Mud crabs are still being reported up at Kings Creek.

The freshwater scene is heating up, with bass fishing showing some promise. A special mention goes to Lucas(Photo Below), who at just 8 years old caught his first-ever bass, measuring an impressive 41.4 cm which was safely released.

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

Ballina

The numbers and quality of whiting in the river have been gradually improving over the past few weeks. Surface poppers have been particularly effective, while yabbies have also produced good results during the run-in tides. Flathead are moving towards the river mouth, with fish being caught between the mouth and Wardell Bridge, often retreating to slightly deeper waters during the warm days. Pilchards, prawns, and live herring have been effective on the run-out tides.

Small mulloway continue to be caught on both baits and lures from the ferry to Broadwater, with better-quality fish coming from the rock platforms. Patch’s, Angles, and Seven Mile Beach have yielded whiting, flathead, and a few tailor, with worms, pilchards, and bonito being the best baits, alongside 3-inch soft plastics for flathead.

Offshore fishing has been limited this week, but the weekend looks promising. The current has picked up slightly, making the 32s worth checking for snapper, trag, or tuskfish, and trolling lures around the FADs could yield mahi mahi. The increased current should also trigger kingfish activity, requiring 300-gram and 400-gram knife jigs to reach them at the 48s.

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

Evans Head

Starting off at Airport Beach, anglers have been catching whiting, bream, and flathead, with a few jewfish being landed in the evenings. On the North and South walls, there have been reports of luderick, bream, and flathead showing up. Mud crabs are also making an appearance around the Black Hole.

Offshore at Chaos Reef, good catches of snapper and trag have been reported. Around the FADs, there are some yellowtail kingfish, but there have been no sightings of dolphin fish yet.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Kurwongbah Dam

Saratoga fishing is really heating up, with topwater frogs being particularly effective during early mornings and late afternoons. Bass here and North Pine dam are becoming more active along the edges, making jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and chatterbaits excellent choices for targeting them.

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

Moogerah Dam

At Moogerah, bass were favoring deeper water, with spoons and heavy soft plastics proving effective. When fish weren’t taking in deeper areas, anglers found success along the edges with lipless crankbaits and crankbaits. Productive areas included the spit facing the dam wall, the open flats, and around submerged trees, where chatterbaits worked particularly well when dropped down beside deeper trees

Lake Kurwongbah

Bass fishing along the weed bed edges yielded strong results, with effective lures being shallow divers around 2-2.5 meters, small blades, and soft plastics with a small spinner blade. The lake also saw reports of larger Saratoga, which were caught using flies, small poppers, and subsurface lures.

Wivenhoe

Bass fishing last week saw great action around Platypus Cliffs and Logan’s Inlet, with fish holding in deep water between 30 and 70 feet. Anglers had success using heavy jig heads with small soft plastics or metal spoons in the 30-40g range, dropping lures through the schools and retrieving slowly. There were also solid results along the edges using crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

Maroon Dam

Fishing at Maroon was strong, with skirted jigs working well for bass around structure, especially when used to mimic clawfish. Anglers reported success with a slow, hopping retrieve, and also had good catches on chatterbaits, hard-bodied spectres, Jackall blades, metal blades, and small soft plastics. Early mornings and late afternoons brought a solid topwater bite on poppers, creature baits, and insect imitation lures.

Hinze Dam

Bass action was productive between the islands and deeper parts of the main basin, near the quarry. Anglers used metal spoons and 3-inch paddle-tail soft plastics retrieved along the bottom to get into some solid catches. For Saratoga, the backs of bays proved to be the best spots, with topwater lures, small spinnerbaits, and poppers working well, especially early and late in the day.

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

Borumba Dam

At Borumba Dam, anglers are reporting quality bass, with some impressive catches reaching up to 50 centimeters.