Fishing Report for 9th January 2025

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).

New lifejacket laws came into effect on December 1, visit msq.qld.gov.au for details. 

Hervey Bay/ Fraser Island

The pier is producing school mackerel on the high tide, while nighttime sees plenty of shark activity. Whiting and garfish are being caught around the beaches and rocky areas, with grunter also showing up along the beach.

The rivers remain dirty, so the lower reaches of the Mary River are best for threadfin and blue salmon. The Burrum River has some salmon but is mostly yielding bread-and-butter species. In the Sandy Straits, threadfin and blue salmon are active, along with grunter, while mangrove jacks are being caught along Fraser’s western edges.

Inshore reefs are holding grassy sweetlip, grunter, coral trout, and cod, but shark activity is heavy, so it’s best to move on after being sharked. School mackerel are being found around the outer banks near the cleaner waters, while spotted mackerel are off Arch Cliffs and Rooney’s Point, with mack tuna also present in those areas. Platypus Bay reefs are delivering a wide variety of trevally species and nannygai.

Offshore, deep dropping is producing pearl perch, snapper, various jobfish, and bar cod. Spanish mackerel and cobia are active in the northern bay, while the bay itself is yielding great sand crabs. Mud crabs are being caught in the lower reaches and just outside the creeks, with some prawns showing up as well.

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

Tin Can Bay

Shark fishing has been a hit this week, especially in Snapper Creek, with anglers using big baits to land impressive catches. Mud crabs are also lively in Teebar Creek, Snapper Creek, and Kauri Creeks, making it a productive area for crabbers.

Whiting fishing has been excellent along the flats at Carlo, with live yabbies or small poppers like Sugar Pens proving effective. For mangrove jack enthusiasts, Teebar Creek, Carlo Point, and Rainbow Creek have been the standout spots for consistent action.

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

Noosa

Cobia are everywhere around Noosa, with Spanish mackerel, spotted mackerel, and a few sharks also making an appearance. The current is strong from the north, and the water temperature is around 26°C.

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

Fishing has been great lately, with plenty of grunter and flathead around the Woods Bays. Good-sized trevally are being caught in the Frying Pan, and whiting are plentiful along the sand flats of Noosaville. Jewfish are also biting in Cooroibah.

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

Sooty grunter are being caught throughout the river, from the first lake to the river mouth. Flathead are abundant around Makepeace Island, while whiting are active at the Frypan. Mud crabs have been on the bite since the rain, with Lake Cooroibah seeing the best results this week. Trevally are being landed out from the Yacht Club in the main river area.

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

Spanish and spotted mackerel are being caught on Sunshine Reef, with sharks causing some challenges, but coral trout, pearl perch, and cobia are still coming off the bottom. Up at Double Island Point, anglers are landing quality snapper, big pearl perch, and goldband snapper.

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

Mooloolaba

Caloundra wide has been producing good catches of pearl perch and snapper, while up at the Hards, anglers are finding rosy jobfish, and more pearl perch. On the Barwon Banks, there’s been solid action for wahoo and Spanish mackerel.

Closer in at Murphy’s Reef, plenty of cobia have been reported, while the outer Gneering has seen Spanish mackerel activity. Along the beaches, anglers are catching plenty of dart and flathead in the gutters along the Kawana stretch.

In the Mooloolah River, mud crabs are being found in the deeper holes, and mangrove jacks are making an appearance around the pontoons. At the Maroochy River mouth, jewfish have been biting on the run-out tide during the later afternoons. Flathead are also being caught up on the old oyster leases opposite Bli Bli.

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

Black marlin and sailfish are being found wide from Caloundra to Cape Moreton, with blue, black, and striped marlin showing up on the shelf off Cape Moreton. Tuskfish are also being caught on the Barwon Banks.

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

Caloundra

Spotted and Spanish mackerel are being caught on the 3, 5, 7, and Currimundi Reefs, along with sweetlip and snapper. Sharks have been problematic, so if you lose a catch to a shark, it’s best to move on to a different spot.

In the Passage, there have been excellent catches of flathead, along with some tailor, grunter, whiting, and bream. Mud crabs are still being found in their usual spots, but there haven’t been many reports of sand crabs this week. The beaches are producing whiting, bream, and dart, with good-sized flathead reported along the Kawana stretch.

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

Bribie Island

Jewfish are being caught at Bribie Bridge, with mudcrabs and sand crabs being found in the passage and Ningi Creek. Red Beach is producing some nice whiting, while dart are biting at Woorim. For those targeting flathead, Ballara Boat Ramp has seen a few large ones caught recently.

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

Northern Moreton Bay

There have been promising reports of whiting showing up around the mouths of rivers and near Bribie Island. The Pine and Caboolture Rivers are producing solid catches, especially in the cleaner waters near the top of the tide. Bream are being caught near the Hornibrook Bridge, along the Pine River, and the foreshore, with Redcliffe also fishing well for bream. Flathead are showing up in good numbers around the mouths of the Caboolture, Pine, and Bribie Island rivers. Mangrove jacks are being reported in the creeks around Bribie Island, with solid catches on lures in the upper reaches of the Pine and Caboolture Rivers.

In Moreton Bay, schools of spotties (mackerel) have been sighted near Mud Island, though they’ve been challenging to hook. Offshore, anglers have been landing snapper from the deeper reefs off Moreton Island and good-sized dolphinfish around the FADs, with a few marlin caught out in the trenchs.

In the North and South Pine Rivers, a few bass have been taken on topwater lures, particularly early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Crabbing has been productive, with the mouths of rivers and creeks being ideal spots to set pots. This moon phase should see some quality crabs coming out of Pumicestone Passage and surrounding creeks.

For something different, shark fishing has proven to be a challenging yet thrilling option.

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

Sandgate

Fishing in the local area has been exceptional over the past few weeks. Stonker whiting have been abundant from Nudgee Beach to Bribie Island, with anglers using various baits. Live bloodworms remain the top choice, though the high-low tides can make them difficult to find. Preserved beach worms are a close second, freshly caught and preserved for availability.

Local piers and creeks have been producing plenty of bream and flathead, with soft plastics and hard body lures proving effective. However, bream bites and baby blue pillies have also been yielding solid catches.A standout catch recently was a 110cm cobia, landed from the platform near the Ted Smout Bridge (pictured below).

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

Moreton Bay Offshore

Snapper, pearl perch, tuskfish, and Spanish mackerel have been active, with Spanish mackerel responding well to trolling using Halco Laser lures. The current has been running strong in close, so plan your sessions accordingly.

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

Brisbane River – Northern Moreton Bay

There’s plenty of mackerel action, with school mackerel and spotties being caught at the usual spots, including north of Peel Island, Dunwich, and Rainbow Channel. The northern bay is also productive, with reports coming from M8 Beacon, Measured Mile, the Four Beacons, and Shark Spit.

Snapper and sweetlip are being caught around Peel Island and Green Island. Mud crabs and sand crabs are active in the lower reaches of the Brisbane River and on the eastern side of Fisherman’s Island. The port area has produced jewfish, snapper, and threadfin salmon.

While prawns have yet to arrive in full force, there are still small greasies and the occasional small banana prawn mixed in.

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

Redcliffe Peninsula

Fishing has been productive, with bream, whiting, flathead, grunter, and school jew being caught in Hayes, the Pine, and Bramble Bay. Yellowfin whiting are also showing up in Hayes, the Pine, and the Eastern foreshores. Snapper, grassy sweetlip, grunter, and some tailor are being landed off the Eastern beaches, jetties, rocky points, and inshores. There have been reports of small cobia and queenfish in Bramble Bay. Grunter are also being caught on the inshores and a few land-based spots. Muddies are present in the rivers and creeks, while sandies are showing up in Bramble Bay and off Margate Beach.

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

Redland Bay

Schools of spotted mackerel have been active around Harry Atkinsons and the northern parts of the bay, with school mackerel also showing up around Hope Banks. Small boat anglers are reporting nice catches of whiting in the Rous Channel and Chain Banks.

Jewfish have been caught at the West Peel Artificial Reef, and while offshore activity has been quieter locally, Spanish and spotted mackerel are still being caught further up the North Coast.

Closer in, bream are being caught in the Raby Bay canals, and mud crabs are still abundant in the creeks, particularly in areas like Tingalpa creek and Hilliards Creek.

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

Moreton Bay/ Jumpinpin

JumpinPin has cleared significantly after the recent rains, particularly on the high tide. Flathead are becoming more active in the clearer waters near the mouth and around the lagoon on South Stradbroke Island. School jew are still present around the mouths, with the smaller ones scattered throughout the rivers, while most of the larger jewfish seem to have moved on. Flathead have been biting well at the bar mouth during the high tide, but as the runout tide begins, anglers are seeing better bites closer to Jacobs Well. Trevally and jewfish action has remained steady at the Measured Mile and Tiger Mullet Channel.

In Moreton Bay, Harry Atkins Artificial Reef and West Peel are producing plenty of school mackerel, though tuna numbers are minimal. Mud Island and the Port of Brisbane are seeing good-sized sweetlip and snapper, while the Southern Bay, especially around the reefs off Peel Island, has been providing great snapper action. Sharks are thick at the moment, so if you get sharked, it’s best to move on.
Despite the high rain expected this weekend, the wind conditions are looking favorable for heading out. The full moon is arriving just in time, so for the best results, check out Harry Atkins Artificial Reef and Green Island as the tide slows down on the change.

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

Nth Stradbroke Island

Whiting can be found at the Chain Banks, while school mackerel are being caught east of Hope Banks, around Peel Island, and extending over to Amity Banks. Spotted mackerel have also been active around Harry Atkins Artificial Reef.

Water Tower Bait & Tackle   Ph(07) 3396 1833

Dart are being caught along the shoreline, with yabbies proving to be the go-to bait. Chopper tailor, bream, whiting, and flathead are also being landed on beaches up and down the coastline here, offering plenty of variety for beach fishing enthusiasts.

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

Jumpinpin

Pending

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

Whiting fishing in the Pin has been excellent lately, with live worms proving to be the most effective bait, followed closely by yabbies. A reliable rig for whiting is a size 6 long shank hook with 2ft of leader, a swivel, and a 3-ball sinker above. This setup works well in all areas.

Jewfish have also been active in the region, with live baits proving successful. Lures that emit vibrations, like vibes and paddle tails, are also catching their fair share. These jewfish have been of good size, often reaching 70cm and above, and are schooling up nicely.

South Stradbroke Island

The main channel between Rat Island and Wasp Creek has been producing chopper tailor and GTs over 50cm. Greenback tailor over 60cm have been reported at the Pin off Crusoe Island. Runaway Bay’s canal system is holding some quality mangrove jacks, while Coombabah Creek has been the go-to for big rusty mud crabs

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

Gold Coast Broadwater

David McDonald  Private Angler | Runaway Bay Marina

Southport

There has been plenty of action with all the summer pelagic species being pulled in this past week. Spanish mackerel, spotty mackerel, school mackerel, mahi mahi, wahoo, and marlin have been active, ranging from Palm Beach Reef out to 36 fathoms. Anglers are catching them using a range of techniques, including live and dead baits, metal lures, high-speed trolling lures, hard bodies, and skirted lures.

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

Offshore fishing has been exciting, with wahoo, dolphinfish, and black marlin being caught around the FADs and between the 50- and 90-metre lines. With a major fishing tournament this weekend, expect plenty of boats on the water targeting these sought-after species. Snapper are still showing up on the 24- and 36-fathom reefs, along with kingfish and amberjack in solid numbers. Live baits and metal jigs have been effective for these deeper-water species.

On the beaches, summer whiting and dart are being found in the shallow gutters at low tide. Inside the Broadwater, mangrove jacks and jewfish are biting well, especially around structure, with live yakkas or slimeys proving to be the best bait. The Broadwater is also producing whiting, flathead, and blue swimmer crabs throughout the area.

In the rivers, mangrove jacks remain a highlight, with strong catches reported in various systems. Flathead, trevally, and river cod are also being caught in good numbers, particularly near creek mouths, including Nerang, Pimpama, Coomera, Currumbin, and Tallebudgera creeks.

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

In the rivers and along the rock walls, school jew are still being caught, particularly near the rock walls and bridge pylons. The upper reaches are continuing to produce good numbers of mangrove jacks, while whiting has been quieter, with only the occasional catch. Blue swimmer and mud crabs remain active in the upper reaches and behind Seagulls.

On the beaches and headlands, whiting and dart have been reported, with good tailor catches coming from the southern headlands, especially around Cabarita and Snapper Rocks.

Offshore, we’re in the heart of mackerel season, with spotty and Spanish mackerel around the close reefs from Southport to the southern coast. Little black marlin have been spotted chasing bait on the usual grounds just offshore, and dolphin fish are active at the FADs. Game fishers are having success with blue marlin south of Tweed Heads, extending slightly north, around the 200 to 250-meter line.

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

Brunswick Heads

Offshore has seen dolphinfish being caught on the FADs, while mackerel and kingfish are around the boulder, though sharks are making it tough to land a whole fish. The closer reefs have been quieter, with only a few reef fish and mackerel tuna. On the beaches and rock walls, tailor, jewfish, trevally, dart, and bream are biting. The river is seeing good catches of whiting, along with jacks, bream, and flathead. Unfortunately, mud crabs have gone off the bite for now.

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

Evans Head

Airforce Beach as usual has been fishing well, with bream, flathead, and whiting being caught during the day. School jewfish are active in the early morning and evening. The rock walls at the mouth are producing bream, tailor, and luderick, while Evans River is yielding bream, flathead, and whiting, along with mud crabs in the upper reaches and the Black Hole.

Offshore, snapper and trag are being caught around the reefs on the north ground, while mackerel, including spotties and bar mackerel, are being found around the South Reef. The FADs are holding kingfish, pearl perch, and cobia.

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

Yamba

Offshore, the mackerel run continues to be strong, with many anglers having success using pink squid skirts as the go-to lure or floating a pillie out the back. While reef fishing reports for species like snapper and pearl perch have been sparse, the focus remains firmly on chasing mackerel.

In the river, the fishing is still productive with bream, flathead, whiting, and mangrove jacks all making appearances. As the water continues to clear, fish are spreading out, requiring anglers to cover more ground to find consistent action. The lower reaches of the river have seen blue swimmer crabs starting to appear, though reports of good numbers remain limited. Overall, it’s been a solid week for both river and offshore fishing.

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

FRESHWATER FISHING

Hinze Dam

At Hinze Dam, bass are active along the edges of treetops, responding to spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and deeper lures like spoons or heavy soft plastics. Saratoga are also making an appearance, with one recently caught on a 15 cm swimbait. Spinnerbaits in white or chartreuse are effective for these fish, especially in the backs of bays with surface or subsurface lures.

North Pine Dam

North Pine Dam is also producing solid results, with Saratoga caught on topwater lures and small flies. Bass are taking spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits along the edges, making this another great option for anglers seeking variety.

Moogerah Dam

Moogerah Dam continues to fish well, with bass being caught in depths ranging from 10 to 20 feet. Chatterbaits, crankbaits like the Jackall TN60, soft plastics, and spoons are all effective. The main basin and the flats near the tree lines are hotspots, with fish sitting around the 10-foot mark near the edges but not in shallow water. Target these areas for consistent results.

Wivenhoe Dam

Wivenhoe Dam has delivered good-sized bass and yellowbelly, particularly around rocky points and the buoy line. Lipless crankbaits like the TN60 and spinnerbaits are performing well. Bass are active on the edges and in the main basin, with steady catches reported.

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

Kurwongbah Dam

North Pine and Kurwongbah Dams have seen tougher conditions following recent rain, with stirred-up water making fishing more challenging. However, for those putting in the effort during the cooler parts of the day, there are some good saratoga on offer. Patience and precise lure presentations will be key to success in these conditions.

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

Hinze Dam

Hinze Dam has seen excellent Saratoga fishing, with bass also feeding well, particularly as the barometer rises. Surface lures or fly gear have been the top choices for anglers targeting these species.

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

THIS WEEK’S GALLERY

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Deep Sea Fishing Co

Noosa Bluewater Charters

Noosa River fishing Safari

Tackleland Sandgate

BK’s Gold Coast Fishing Charters

Charltons Fishing