Fishing Report for 5th June 2025

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

Hervey Bay / Fraser Island

Throughout the bay, there’s been a solid mix of queenfish, golden trevally, and even a few tuna around Woongarra. Snapper are starting to roll in, particularly around the southern and northern gutters, where coral trout and sweetlip have also been turning up. A few squid are being caught inshore, and flathead are showing up around most of the river mouths. Toogoom Creek has been producing some quality bream.

Spanish mackerel are still active throughout the bay and off the southern gutters around Rooney’s Point. For pier fishos, broad-barred mackerel remain the most sought-after pelagic, with large queenfish and the odd lingering giant trevally also drawing plenty of attention. There are stacks of herring sheltering between the pylons, helping to keep flathead catches consistent. Flatties have been responding well to live baits both in the first channel and along the slope toward the deeper end. The bream haven’t quite arrived yet, but they shouldn’t be far off.

The beaches have been relatively quiet, with more action found around the local creek mouths and rocky foreshores. Flathead and blue salmon have been the most common catches in those areas, along with the occasional grunter.

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

Tin Can Bay

Get the pots in, as there are still some quality mud crabs around. Try the flats around Carlo and the powerlines, but make sure you’re up to date with the new green zones at that end of the bay. Snapper Creek has also been producing good numbers, with some nice sand crabs showing up towards the creek mouth.

Squid are starting to appear around the moored boats between the powerlines and Norman Point—not in huge numbers just yet, but still worth a look. Whiting are also being caught in the same areas, especially those prime winter fish. Flathead are still around in good numbers, with many fish in the 48–52cm range, making for a decent feed.

There’s been a mix of small reef species on the ledges and rubble beds, with strips of mullet and squid baits doing well. Soft plastics like 5” jerk shads are also proving effective in these areas. The offshore crew should get a chance to head out over Wide Bay Bar in the coming days, with snapper and pearl perch definitely on the menu.

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

Maroochydore

Bream have been consistent throughout the system, with a few trevally showing up in the middle reaches, but otherwise it’s been fairly quiet this week.

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

Noosa

North Reef and Sunshine Reef have produced well again this week, with reports of Moses perch, snapper, pearl perch, cobia, and Spanish mackerel. Double Island Point also fished strongly, turning up amberjack, goldband snapper, tuskfish, pearl perch, snapper, and Spanish mackerel. The weather is looking favourable for the week ahead, and there are plenty of whales beginning to migrate through the area as well.

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

Mulloway, flathead, and queenfish have been active in the Woods Bays, while bream are showing up around the Frying Pan. Whiting are being caught on the flats near the yacht club.

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

It’s been an awesome week of fishing when conditions allowed. Spanish mackerel were thick, with several standout sessions resulting in full bags. Nice snapper are also beginning to move onto the close reefs, joined by solid numbers of goldband snapper and grass sweetlip.

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

Toowonton has been fishing well for bream and sooty grunter, while the river mouth is holding whiting and flathead. Over the past few weeks, the charters have been reporting strong results, with each session turning up around 50 fish. Crabbing has also been red-hot throughout the entire system—from the mouth all the way up to the first lake—with pots pulling up as many as eight quality crabs each time. Trevally have been active around the Noosa Woods and along Hastings Street, where prawns and worms have been outperforming lures day after day.

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

Mooloolaba

There’ve been a few mud crabs showing up through the Mooloolah and Maroochy Rivers. Garfish have started to appear in both systems as well, particularly around the river mouths. Squid have been reported at the mouth of the Mooloolah River, and with the recent westerly winds, it could be worth trying around Old Woman Island (Mudjimba Island), especially on calmer days.

Inshore reef fishing has still been producing grassy sweetlip and the occasional good snapper, especially on 5-inch jerk shads in pink being the standout colour this week.

Offshore access has been limited recently due to strong westerlies, but the upcoming weekend looks promising for a window of good weather. Those able to head wide should consider areas like Caloundra Wide or the Hards for pearlies and snapper.

Along the beaches, anglers have been getting great jew fish when they target areas with gutters that have them defined entry and exit points. Try your luck around Majimba and in the Kawana Pocket area.

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

Grass sweetlip, snapper, and school sharks have been active close in off all the headlands and smaller inshore reefs.

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

Caloundra

The bream have finally turned up in the Passage, with good numbers showing from the bar mouth through to Bells Creek. There have also been some quality flathead caught inside the new breakthrough and schooled jew in Lighthouse Reach. Queenfish and trevally are active around the mouth and through the Pelican Waters canals. Offshore, snapper and sweetlip are coming off the Caloundra Coffee Rock, with a few Spanish mackerel still hanging around the 12-mile grounds. Snapper and pearl perch have also been reported off Caloundra’s wider reefs. Mud crabs are still active in the creeks, and they just haven’t stopped—it’s been a crazy run.

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

Northern Moreton Bay

Much like last week, there’s been a steady flow of fish turning up throughout the Pine and Caboolture Rivers. Flathead, bream, trevally and soapy jewfish have all been active, with soft plastics and vibes working well across the board. A few better-quality jewfish have also come from around Scarborough Reef.

In Bramble Bay, there’s still the occasional school mackerel and mac tuna being caught, though activity has been a little patchy. Offshore reports were limited due to poor weather, but once conditions settle, the artificial reefs should be worth a look for some decent snapper. There has also been some good cobia catches particularly around the beacons and northern end of the bay.

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

Sandgate/Shorncliffe Pier

The weather has been uncooperative this week, but fishing remains productive. Off Shorncliffe Pier, a cracking mackerel tuna was landed on light gear after a strong fight. On the same day, three additional quality mackerel tuna were caught, mostly from the shallows.

Winter whiting have arrived in large numbers, though sizes remain on the smaller side. Anglers targeting these fish have found success using a #8 long shank hook with a #1 ball sinker, along with red or pink tubing and small pieces of worm or squid. Whiting are so abundant in some areas that catches have been consistent even on pike rigs.

Jewfish are being caught sporadically, both day and night, primarily on live herring. Tailor have been actively feeding along the foreshore just before sunrise and after sunset, offering good opportunities for anglers targeting these species.

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

Brisbane River

Tailor seem to be just about everywhere at the moment, with reports coming in from Wellington Point, the back side of Green Island, and Mud Island. There have also been a few school mackerel caught out from the Sandhills, particularly around the M8 beacon.

In the Brisbane River, there’s been the usual mix of snapper, jewfish, threadfin and tailor, with them stretching from the Gateway Bridge through to the Port still being the most productive locations . There are still plenty of banana prawns in the river too, which is great to see.

Whiting have been a bit patchy but are improving each week. Some are being caught off the eastern side of Fisherman’s Island and around the old Compass Adjustment Buoy, which is out in the Bay in front of the airport

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

When conditions permit, snapper, tuskfish, and dolphin fish are being caught out wide, offering some solid offshore action.

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

No report this week

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

Redcliffe Peninsula

Bream, whiting, flathead, and school jewfish have been active throughout Hayes Inlet, the Pine River, and Bramble Bay. Yellowfin whiting are also showing up in Hayes, the Pine, and along the eastern foreshores. Winter whiting have been caught off Woody Point Jetty and in Deception Bay, while snapper and tailor have been taken from the eastern beaches, jetties, rocky points, and inshore reefs. In Bramble Bay and off Woody Point Jetty, tailor have been joined by school mackerel, mack tuna, longtail tuna, and school jewfish, offering a mixed bag for land-based and boatie anglers alike.

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

Nth Stradbroke Island

Tailor have been active around the Manly rock wall, while flathead are turning up along the foreshore. Whiting have been caught near the North Darcy light, and mud crabs are being potted in good numbers throughout Tingalpa Creek.

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

Redland Bay

Jewfish are holding in the Pin and the upper Brisbane River, while good snapper continue to come off the artificial reefs in the bay. Offshore, there hasn’t been much word on Spanish mackerel this week, and banana prawns have been a bit hit and miss. That said, a big school of banana prawns was found recently around the mouth of the Logan River—so while they’re not widespread, they’re still about if you can track them down. Tailor are still schooling well throughout the bay, and there’s been a solid run of whiting around the Sandhills.

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

Moreton Bay/ Jumpinpin

The Jumpinpin region is still slowly starting to clear up, especially on the slacker tides. This weekend, expect the water to be fairly clean on the high tide, though the tides are still a bit flat. There are quite a few schools of tailor moving through, along with good numbers of dart. The best sessions have been near the mouth of the Jumpinpin Bar.

On the high tide, good numbers of flathead have been caught around areas like left of Duck Creek, Kalinga Bank, the middle of the channel near Jumpinpin Bar, and the lagoons on South Stradbroke Island — all really good spots to target. The bream are also starting to spawn, so they’ve moved a little deeper, and anglers are catching some impressive bream on light gear. On the low tide, as the water continues to clear, flathead are starting to fire up nicely.

The biggest key, as always with flathead, is to find bait. If you can spot baitfish or prawns moving around, you’re more likely to get a good feed. Jelly prawns, whitebait, or regular-sized prawns all seem to trigger bites. Without bait jumping around, your chances drop considerably.

Moreton Bay has been fishing well too. Most of the tuna and pelagics seem to be further north at the moment. There have been some land-based tuna caught off the Shorncliffe Pier and around Mud Islands, with Mud Island usually being a reliable spot for reef fish.

At Harry Atkinsons, the fishing is going well, but you’ll need to get past Sharks. For the southern bay, Peel Island has been one of the best spots, with shallow reef fishing picking up. Good pan-sized squire have been caught, and they’re also starting to show up around Macleay Island. As it gets cooler, these fish tend to move south, so hopefully the numbers will stack up there soon.

Prawns are still running strong with some big schools around, and tailor are moving fast. Spending time with a sounder to locate these schools can pay off well. Overall, the fishing everywhere is starting to fire up nicely, which is great news.

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

Jumpinpin

Pending

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

King of the Pin saw a rainy weekend, but a few solid fish were caught nonetheless. Threadfin, jewfish, bream, and whiting were all on the list. Jewfish have been caught across a range of sizes throughout the Pin, with the bigger fish coming from around the bar and further up the Logan River. Threadfin are turning up in areas with muddy bottoms and active prawn schools, particularly around the southern Moreton Bay islands and near Cabbage Tree Point—where prawns are also being netted.

South Stradbroke Island

Pending

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

Gold Coast Broadwater

It’s definitely cooling down! The westerlies are here and will continue through the weekend. For me as a beach fisher it’s the best time of the year. Tailor were caught along the beaches in good numbers last weekend at Stradbroke and the headlands south. Let’s hope for another good season!

The forecast is perfect with the swell tapering off and early morning high tide. It’s a great time to have a crack if you have never tried. Look for the deeper water close to the beach or where the whitewater stops or along the back edge of a gutter. They love to hunt baitfish under the foam. You can’t go past a pilchard on a gang of 4-5/0’s with a 40lb trace for a bit of insurance.

Slugs are the other option as you can cast them further and if the fish are feeding they are extremely effective. If you are fishing from a boat the ends of the seaway walls are a great spot or if you’re comfortable near the surf zone cast towards the break and fish the back of the break. There have been bream, dart and whiting along the beach as well on worms and pippies.

With the beach destroyed from the recent weather, the high tide doesn’t leave you much beach to fish so low tide at the moment is better access. Whiting are moving further up the rivers so target the middle sections on the run in. Flathead are being caught on the run out tide along the banks of Crab island and further up near the measured mile.

David McDonald  Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

Once again, the weather kept most anglers off the water for much of the week. However, Tuesday provided a good window to get out, resulting in some quality early winter catches—snapper, tuna, cobia, and a couple of very welcome late-season Spanish mackerel to top things off. Floating Tweed bait pillies drew most of the attention, while live bait set on downriggers triggered the Spanish mackerel bites.

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

If you’re able to start the day offshore this weekend, you’ll find striped marlin and tuna showing up on the wider grounds. The 50-fathom line has been fishing particularly well, with strong numbers of snapper, kingfish, and amberjack, along with solid catches of pearl perch. The snapper out wide have mostly been mid-sized but consistent, and the 36s are also producing a good mix of parrotfish, pearl perch, snapper, and some quality silver jewfish.

Closer in, the 18s and 24s are still holding Spanish mackerel, with longtail tuna, silver jewfish, and the occasional big cobia in the mix. The beaches are starting to see more tailor moving through, and there are plenty of dart around as well.

Inside the Broadwater, there’s been a solid run of arrow squid along with good numbers of whiting. Flathead continue to be caught in healthy numbers, and while mud crabs have slowed a little, there are still some mangrove jack, trevally, and estuary cod being caught in the canals and upper estuary systems.

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

Tweed Coast

No report this week

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

There are plenty of soapy jewfish and decent flathead being caught in the rivers at the moment, along with a lot of small trevally moving through. Offshore, things are starting to look promising. Snapper numbers continue to build, with a few quality fish already being landed. Surprisingly, Spanish mackerel are still being reported, and tailor have become the main focus.

It’s all about tailor right now, with solid fish starting to show up along the Gold Coast as they push up from northern New South Wales. Over the next few weeks, we should see bigger fish arriving in better numbers, and that’s where a lot of angler effort is going.

Longtail tuna are also making an appearance and proving to be a reliable secondary target offshore. Many anglers chasing tailor have been hooking into longtails while casting into them bait schools. Watching for bird activity, run-out tide gutters, and headland wash zones has been key to finding the action.

We’re now entering that early winter pattern where the weather occasionally opens up for deeper offshore missions. Anglers are beginning to turn their attention to species like flame tail, bar cod, pearl perch, and other deepwater favourites. But for now, the spotlight remains firmly on longtail tuna, tailor and Jew fish

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

Brunswick Heads

Deep sea fishing is back on and red-hot, with strong catches of snapper, mackerel, tuna, and both yellowtail and black kingfish.

On the beaches and rocks, the tailor have finally turned up in good numbers, and a few solid mulloway have been caught among them—mostly on cut bait, blue pillies, and lures.

In the river, it’s business as usual with consistent catches of bream, mangrove jack, and flathead. There are still plenty of mud crabs about as well, and blackfish have been turning up in great numbers.

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

Ballina

The wind and swell picked up late this week but should start easing as we head into the weekend. The weather over the weekend looks quite good, although it may not be until Monday before most boaties can get offshore. Some good tides this weekend should see the bream firing in the lower reaches of the river. Mullet, squid, and prawns have been the top baits this week.

Flathead fishing has been inconsistent, largely due to smaller tides and cooler conditions. This is expected to improve over the weekend, with better numbers likely upriver from the Burns Point ferry to Wardell, or above Prospect Bridge in North Creek. Prawns and pilchards have been the best baits, along with brightly colored plastics or hard-body lures.

Some quality mulloway have been caught off the breakwalls this week using large hard-body lures or mullet, but they may slow down as the weather settles. Just before the rough conditions arrived, some quality tailor started showing up on the beaches. Pilchards, mullet, or bonito have been working well, but large sinkers may be necessary to handle the strong currents.

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

Evans Head

With the wind and cooler temperatures rolling through, Airforce and Main Beach are still producing bream, jewfish, and tailor. The rock walls have been reliable for bream and luderick. In the Evans River, anglers are finding bream, flathead, and whiting, with the upper reaches also worth a try for mud crabs. Offshore, Chaos Reef has been fishing well for snapper, jewfish, and trag.

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

Yamba

The river is still quite dirty, so it hasn’t been fishing well lately. Most of the action has been along the beaches and rock platforms, where the water has cleared up nicely—it’s turned a healthy blue rather than that muddy brown. This clearer water has brought in good numbers of bream, blackfish, and the odd tailor. There have also been some quality jewfish caught, and offshore reports are improving too.

Outside, the fishing has picked up significantly. There have been good snapper caught, with the biggest reported reaching up to 8 kilos. Pearl perch have also been in the mix, along with some tuskfish and the occasional Spanish mackerel—one weighing in at around 20 kilos was landed off Wooli just a few days ago. Longtail tuna have turned up a bit later than usual but are now being caught.

There are still a few mud crabs about, but activity has slowed. The ongoing rain has kept the river system stirred up, which hasn’t helped, but with a solid stretch of good weather forecast, conditions should begin to improve.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Wivenhoe Dam

Wivenhoe Dam is also fishing well. Good numbers of bass and yellowbelly are being caught from the buoy line, Billies Bay, Platypus Cliffs, all the way up to Logan’s Inlet and Hamon Cove. Lures diving to 3–4 metres are ideal, with crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and chatterbaits all performing strongly.

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

Moogerah Dam

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

Hinze Dam

Surface fishing for bass has been productive in the early mornings. Small poppers and insect-style surface lures have been enticing both bass and the occasional Saratoga. As the day progresses, anglers have had success using small spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Out in the main basin, casting 20–30 gram metal spoons around submerged timber and points has been working well, along with lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

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

Hinze Dam

Out at Hinze Dam, the cooler clear mornings are producing well. No need to get there at first light — mid-morning has been ideal. Fish have been holding on the points, and once located, they’ve been responding well to metal jigs and deep-sinking flies for the fly anglers.

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

Kurwongbah/North Pine Dam

Up at North Pine Dam anglers are still finding a few Saratoga. Most of the action seems to be coming from the less accessible edges, which makes targeting them a bit tricky without a kayak.

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

At North Pine Dam the fishing has been great, especially for land-based anglers. Metal spoons and spinnerbaits have been the standout lures, with light colours such as white or chartreuse producing the best results.

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

Ewen Maddock Dam

In the freshwater, Ewen Maddock Dam has produced some bass, with reports also mentioning Saratoga being caught. Spinner baits haven’t been working very well out at this dam.

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

Lake Lenthalls – Lake Monduran

No report this week

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

THIS WEEK’S GALLERY

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Deep Sea Fishing Co

Noosa Bluewater Charters  

Noosa River Fishing Safaris

Capn’s Charters

The Chandlery Bait & Tackle

Tackle Land


BK’s Gold Coast Fishing Charters

Evans Head Sports & Marine

 

Tackleworld Lawnton 
 

Addict Tackle