Fishing Report for 4th December 2025

Fishing Report Wed 03 Dec 2025

Hervey Bay / Fraser Island

Fraser Island has been fairly quiet again this week, with limited reports coming through. Tailor are still being caught around Indian Head, along with some Whiting and Dart, but numbers have been low overall. The ongoing poor weather has played a big part, with very few anglers able to fish offshore or get out past the breakers for deeper water work.

Inside the Fraser and Burrum systems, Longtail Tuna and Mack Tuna have shown in large numbers, arriving much earlier than usual. A few small Black Marlin have also been landed, but only in scattered numbers with most boats managing one or two at best. Tailor have been active around the gutters and wider areas, along with smaller Squire Snapper. Coral Trout numbers have remained solid in the deeper water, with live baits, strip mullet and Zerek Prawn plastics working well.

Inshore around Big Woody Island, through the Straits and down around Point Vernon, good numbers of Coral Trout have continued to be caught on prawn-style plastics and deep-diving hard bodies trolled in three to five metres. Off the pier, fishing has been steady with Flathead, Whiting, Grunter, Queenfish and Golden Trevally all caught, along with plenty of Herring holding in the area.

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

Tin Can Bay

Pending

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

Noosa

The Barwon Banks has fished well for Snapper, while the Hards has produced Pearl Perch, Snapper, Amberjack and Tuskfish. North Reef and Chardons have held Cobia, Snapper, Cod and Moses Perch, though the current has been running hard around the closer reefs.

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

Good numbers of quality Flathead have been caught through the lower estuary. Golden Trevally have been holding around the timber, with Moses Perch and Whiting taken through Weyba Creek.

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

Quality Snapper have been caught in 50 to 60 metres off Noosa and Double Island Point, along with a few good Goldband Snapper, Pearl Perch, Tuskfish and Cobia mixed in. Closer to Noosa on Sunshine Reef and North Reef it has been slower, but the odd Cobia, Maori Cod, Pearl Perch and Sweetlip have still been taken.

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

Heaps of Sooty Grunter have been caught right through the river, from the mouth all the way up to the first lake, with fish coming from just about every spot. Trevally have been active in Woods Bay, with a few landed a couple of days ago. Whiting have been holding around the river mouth and across the sandbanks. With the big king tides at the moment, the lower reaches are pushing right up, so the dropping tide over the banks has been the better window, with plenty of Whiting sitting along the edges. Mud Crabs have been around in good numbers, mostly females, with roughly eight out of ten Crabs being females, but they are definitely there and active for the season. Bream are everywhere, and the past week has seen a big lift in overall fish activity across the river.

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

Maroochydore

A few Flathead have been caught through the middle reaches this week. Bream are spread throughout the river, with Grunter Bream holding in the upper reaches around Bli Bli. Mud Crabs are showing up in Petrie Creek.

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

Mooloolaba

Murphy’s Reef has produced Cobia, with more good Cobia also coming from the Outer Gneerings along with Grassy Sweetlip. There are still quality Snapper on the closer reefs, as well as out at Caloundra Wide and east of the Barwon Banks. A few Spanish Mackerel and some Wahoo have been taken off the northern end of the Barwon Banks, with the odd Dolphin Fish turning up around the FADs.

In the canals, some very good Mangrove Jack getting up to 65cm have been caught, mainly around the pontoons. At the mouth of the Maroochy River there have been good numbers of Flathead and Whiting, while more Flathead are also being taken further upstream in the Mooloolah River. Mud Crabs are starting to show right through the estuaries, with good reports coming out of Currimundi Lake.

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

Caloundra

Deep water east of the Barwon Banks has produced full bags of Pearl Perch and some solid Snapper floated up on whole pilchards. Bottom fishing in 50 metres or less has been heavily affected by Sharks, with most quality fish taken before they can be boated. With the current moon phase, Mackerel are expected to show in the Caloundra Bight any day now.

Salty Fishing Charters
Ph 0459 636 798 | https://saltyfishingcharters.com.au/

Snapper were caught on the Five Mile on Monday, but water temperatures were well below what is normally expected for this time of year. Snapper and Sharks made up most of the action, with some very large Sharks causing plenty of trouble. A few Sweetlip have been taken closer in, along with some Mack Tuna and Longtail Tuna. Along the beaches there have been plenty of Whiting, along with Dart and a few Flathead. In the passage, Grunter, Whiting and Flathead have been caught, with a few Mangrove Jack starting to show. Mud Crabs have begun to move, though only in small numbers so far. Barramundi are active but remain in the closed season, and fisheries compliance has been active on the water with regular checks underway. With the water still green and cold, the pelagics have not arrived yet, but a rise in water temperature should see things change quickly.

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

Northern Moreton Bay

Offshore, a few Spanish Mackerel have been caught around Hutchies, mainly between Hutchies and Flinders Reef by trolling dead baits and throwing large stickbaits. Inside the Bay around North Moreton Artificial Reefs, Snapper have been taken on lightly weighted soft plastics. School Mackerel have shown around the beacons from the Four Beacons north, with some Spotted Mackerel also in the southern Bay south of Mud Island and north of Peel Island. Mud Island has fished well for Snapper and Grunter, and the same applies around Scarborough. At the mouth of the Brisbane River, good Jewfish and Threadfin Salmon have come on the outgoing tide. Flathead have been caught at the mouth of the Pine River and along the edges of Hays Inlet on soft plastics and trolled hard bodies. Summer Whiting have been feeding well through the Hays inlet and up the Pumicestone Passage, especially around the mouths of Coochin creek and Roys Road near the boat ramp. Mangrove Jack have been taken in the upper Caboolture River and in the creeks throughout the Pumicestone Passage, particularly Bells Creek.

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

Sandgate/Shorncliffe Pier

Anglers were out and about this week with some nice captures reported. A standout Bream around the 34cm mark was landed, a real quality fish. A junior angler also enjoyed a great session on Shorncliffe Pier, landing a cracking little Bream that made the trip one to remember. A small Moreton Bay Cobia was also caught, not quite big enough for the esky but it put up a great fight. There have also been a few Tripod Fish turning up, not much good for the table but always a crowd favourite for photos, with a reminder to handle them carefully due to the spikes.

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

Brisbane River

Jewfish have lifted this week, with strong action coming from the mouth of the Port of Brisbane. Sand Crabs continue to be a bit hit and miss. A few Mud Crabs are showing in the mangroves. Most of the Mackerel activity is still on the eastern side of the bay. Cleaner water is your best bet to find them. School Mackerel are taking trolled lures, cast metal slugs and floating pillies. The rivers are also producing the odd Bream and Tailor, with Whiting along the mouth and the eastern side of Fisherman’s Island.

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

Goldspot Wrasse, Tuskfish, Moses Perch and Snapper have been taken in the shallows off Point Lookout. Small Longtail Tuna have also started to show, turning up on trolled lures.

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

Redcliffe Peninsula

School Jewfish and Grunter have been taken right around the peninsula. Cobia have shown in Bramble Bay, with Longtail Tuna starting to appear around the inshore grounds. A few School Mackerel have also begun to show off the jetties and on the inshore reefs. Mangrove Jack have been caught in the Pine River and the canals.

Yellowfin Whiting have been reported from Hayes Inlet, the Pine, Bramble Bay, off Margate Beach, around Scarborough and off the groynes at Brighton. Grunter have come from Hayes Inlet, the Pine, the inshore reefs and the canals. Bream and Snapper have been caught off the jetties and on the inshore reefs. Flathead have been taken through the Pine, Hayes Inlet, Bramble Bay, along the northern beaches, inside Deception Bay and off the groynes at Brighton. Sand Crabs have been found in Bramble Bay and along the eastern foreshores, while Mud Crabs are present in the rivers and creeks.

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

Nth Stradbroke Island

Whiting have been coming from the Small Boats Passage and along the Chain Banks. Snapper have been caught around Green Island and Peel Island. Sand Crabs have been quiet, while Mud Crabs are starting to show in Tingalpa Creek.

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

Moreton Bay/ Jumpinpin

Moreton Bay has been hard to fish over the past week with very strong winds, making conditions tough. Early morning sessions at first light have been key for those getting out. Some quality Snapper have been found around the southern Peel Island reef edges, along the rubble and drop-off lines out from Wellington Point and Raby Bay. Efforts have been focused on the southern bay, with plenty of Flathead around Garden Island on the run-out tide, especially where clean water and bait can be found.

There are still good numbers of Threadfin Salmon around Russell Island, Long Island and up around Lamb Island. Working the deeper channels and current lines with the sounder has been the most effective way to locate them. A few Snapper and some good-sized Trevally have also been taken in these areas, often mixed in with the Threadfin. Large schools of School Jewfish have been moving quickly through the southern bay islands. They are not holding in one spot for long, but when located and followed, some nice School Jewfish have been landed.

Jumpinpin has been carrying very dirty water this week with the bigger tides, and it is likely to worsen on the run-out. The better fishing has come on the incoming tide when cleaner, cooler water pushes in. Areas such as Tipplers Passage and the Bedrooms have held cleaner water and produced quality Flathead and a few Trevally. The best activity has been around high tide, with Crusoe Island, the Jumpinpin Bar and the lagoon at the tip of South Stradbroke Island all holding plenty of bait, along with Tailor, Jewfish and big Flathead. Heading back toward Jacobs Well and Cabbage Tree Point, the water remains quite dirty, but by spending time scanning and locating bait, some workable schools of Threadfin Salmon have still been found in these areas.

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

Jumpinpin

Plenty of good sized Whiting have been taken around the Pig Styes, Fisherman’s Channel and Marks Rocks in the river. Some good Tailor have been caught along the beaches off North and South Stradbroke Island and through the bar. Flathead have been biting around the Powerlines, Tabby Tabby Island and Kalinga Bank. Bream have been coming from Kalinga Bank, Cobby Rocks and Rocky Point.

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

Mangrove Jack have really fired up this week, with plenty of good fish coming on and a lot of bust-offs reported. Whiting have been solid over the past week, with live bloodworms proving to be the standout bait. Anglers have found the best results along the edges where cleaner water meets the dirty run-off from the recent rain. Tailor have been active along the beaches, with plenty of solid fish caught and some good schools also moving through.

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

South Stradbroke Island

The Broadwater water temperature is sitting very warm at the moment, which has not helped the fishing much. Mangrove Jack are still worth targeting in the upper reaches of the Coomera River, especially tight around pontoons and rock walls. Fishing around the Seaway and Jumpinpin on a rising tide can improve results, with the cooler ocean water pushing in and triggering a bite. With the full moon driving very high tides, it is a good time to soak a few pots for Mud Crabs. The swell is down, making conditions suitable for beach fishing on South Straddie, with plenty of Pippies around and good chances along the edges of the gutters around half tide.

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

Gold Coast Broadwater

Spectacular weather ahead for this weekend, so get out there. Big morning high tides with the full moon will be perfect for whiting fishing the flats. They will be feeding early on the run-in tide, moving their way up on the sandbanks. Mud crabs will also be feeding across the big high tides. Put your pots right up in the shallows over the last two hours of the run-in and an hour after the turn. Some great fishing from the beaches lately. Saturday morning should be perfect early, with bream, dart and tailor the best options. The odd flathead has also been caught across the low tide. Flathead were caught this week along the rock walls north of the Seaway, Crab Island, the mouth of the northern arm of the Coomera, Rat Island, and where the Measured Mile joins Jacobs Well Channel. Up in the shallows along the mangrove root line is a great spot to troll along across the high tide.

David McDonald
Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

Offshore water has warmed just enough to lift expectations for the arrival of the summer pelagics, but there is still no real sign of them yet. Teraglin, Bluespot Flathead and mixed reef fish have been keeping anglers busy while waiting for a couple more degrees of water temperature to hopefully bring the Mackerel, Marlin and Mahi Mahi into the area.

Inshore Whiting season is officially underway, with some great Flathead also moving through the shallows and providing plenty of fun on light Whiting gear. Whiting have been caught in good numbers on inshore estuary trips, with fish to 38cm reported this week.

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

It has been very quiet with the wind picking up and limiting time on the water. Crabs have been slow overall, with only a few Mud Crabs reported from the upper Coomera River. There have been no Mackerel at Palm Beach, despite plenty of bait holding in the area. A few Marlin were caught last weekend, but over the past couple of days boats that managed to get out have struggled for results. Bottom fishing has still produced the odd Snapper, mostly around the 36 Fathoms.

Inside the Broadwater, Flathead are still getting around, with a couple of nice fish taken off the flats near Wave Break. Whiting are also feeding well along the foreshore on worms, making it a good option for family fishing with kids.

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

Tweed Coast

Pending

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

Across the inshore grounds there are still plenty of Snapper, along with Tuskfish and Pearl Perch. Kingfish remain in good numbers right through from Nine Mile to Windarra Banks. Marlin have started to show, not in big numbers yet, but they are arriving.

In the river systems, there are still some very large Flathead around, but not in big numbers. Mangrove Jack numbers remain strong. Summer Whiting are definitely on the move, with some real quality fish being found right through the systems from the mouth of the Tweed all the way up to Murwillumbah. The Bass fishing up the Rous and the Tweed is fishing very well, with strong numbers of Giant Trevally and Trevally turning up in the river, including some very large models. A standout capture this week was a Giant Trevally measuring around 1.3 metres landed in the river.

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

Brunswick Heads

Offshore in the deep water there have been Snapper, Kingfish and a few Yellowfin Tuna taken. Along the beaches, Whiting, Bream, Dart and Flathead have been caught. The rock walls have produced Bream, Dart, Tailor, Trevally and a couple of Jewfish. In the river systems, Mangrove Jack, Bream, Whiting, Flathead and Trevally are all being caught. A few Mud Crabs are also starting to show in good numbers.

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

Ballina

The weather is shaping up well for most of the weekend, with a couple of storms predicted late Sunday afternoon. The big tides should see Mud Crabs on the move through both the creeks and the main river. Those same tides are also firing up the Whiting, with fish coming from North Creek and the main river as far up as Pimlico Island. Better numbers of Flathead have been from the ferry down to the mouth of the river. A few quality fish have come off the shallow sand flats, but most have still been holding in the deeper channels. Prawns, mullet and pilchards have been the standout baits.

Some School Mulloway have been turning up from Wardell through to Broadwater, with prawns, pilchards and small soft plastics accounting for most captures. The beaches have remained fairly quiet, with only a handful of Flathead, Bream and Whiting reported on the more northern beaches. Offshore fishing has been difficult, with strong current pushing up to three knots from the 32s and wider. Early this week still produced a mixed bag from the 32s, including Snapper, Trag, Flathead, Tuskfish and Mulloway. With the heavy current making bottom fishing tough, trolling for Marlin or Mahi Mahi has been the better alternative option.

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

Evans Head

Airforce Beach is still fishing well for Bream, Flathead, Whiting and Dart, with the odd School Jew turning up late in the day. Around the river mouth, Bream, Flathead and Whiting continue to show, but Luderick are still missing. The crabbing is stronger further upstream and should only get better as the water warms. A few Mangrove Jack have begun to appear, but it’s still early days. Out wider, Chaos Reef has been holding good numbers of Snapper and Trag, while Amberjack and Pearl Perch have been active around the FADs.

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

Yamba

The past week has been tough for anglers, with the bite shutting down in most areas, especially offshore. Even charter operators report slow fishing, with only the odd Cod catch mixed in among Sharks on the reefs. In the river, a few Flathead are still being picked up, but numbers have dropped right off, and the same applies for Bream and Whiting. A change in wind or warmer water could help turn things around, but for now it has been a struggle. There are still no reports of Mud Crabs, with anglers soaking pots without any success. Something has clearly changed, with activity across the system dropping right back, feeling very much like the calm before the storm.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Maroon Dam

Maroon Dam is still fishing well, with quality Bass being caught early in the morning and late in the afternoon on surface, with small poppers and insect-style presentations working best. As the day goes on, small shrimp-style soft plastics around the trees have picked up fish, while out in the main basin, working weed edges with small soft plastics or blades has produced steady results.

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

Moogerah Dam

Moogerah Dam held a competition over the weekend and some good Bass were caught. The better fish are holding tight to structure, particularly around trees sitting in deeper water, as well as trees lining the banks. The edges of the weed beds have also been productive, with Chatterbaits and Spinnerbaits working best to target those fish. Slow rolling Spinnerbaits through the timber has accounted for the better quality fish, and heading up into the creeks and working Spinnerbaits around the heavy structure has also produced well, with plenty of timber holding fish further back.

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

Hinze Dam

On the Gold Coast at Hinze Dam, good fish are being caught from the western arm, with the eastern ramp still closed for repairs. The western ramp is the main access point, with anglers doing well by heading upstream into the backs of the bays. Saratoga have also been active, with early morning surface bites on small Spinnerbaits and surface lures. As the day progresses, Lipless Crankbaits, Crankbaits and Soft Plastics worked around structure have continued to produce fish.

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

At Hinze Dam, a session on the western side produced 16 Bass using live shrimp.

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

North Pine Dam/ Lake Kurwongbah

At Lake Kurwongbah, Bass have been fishing well, with surface bites early morning and late afternoon, along with Saratoga on small poppers and walk-the-dog style lures. During the day, anglers have done better on the edges with spinnerbaits and soft plastics. North Pine Dam has been similar, with surface lures early and a switch to soft plastics and spoons during the day for Bass.

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

Lake Samsonvale/ Lake Kurwongbah

Lake Samsonvale has been fishing well from the bank, with good Bass caught on metal spoons and Spinnerbaits cast from the shore. Kayak anglers are finding similar success by heading out wider and casting back toward the shoreline and into the deeper water. Lake Kurwongbah has also been producing steady action, with smaller Bass and a few Saratoga being caught. Metal blades, Chatterbaits and small Crankbaits along the weed edges have worked well, and early morning sessions in the backs of the bays on small Spinnerbaits and surface presentations have produced Saratoga.

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

Ewen Maddock Dam/Borumba Dam

Freshwater has seen some solid Bass at Ewen Maddock Dam on Spinnerbaits, along with Saratoga at Borumba Dam.

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

Lake Lenthalls – Lake Monduran

The lake systems have been mixed, with some quieter reports from Lake Monduran, while Lake Lenthalls continues to fish very well. The recent storms and warmer water have kept fish active, with good numbers being caught trolling at night and strong results also coming from Live scope during the day in the shallower bays.

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