NO EARLY ANGLERS PRESENTS
NOVEMBER is here and so too is the most challenging fishing month of the Gold Coast calendar.
The water temp is traditionally too warm to hold the snapper on the closer reefs and not warm enough for the small black marlin and mahi mahi slowly moving our way.
Reef fishing is also difficult as we now have very strong currents with which to contend. In the estuaries the large flathead have spawned and are moving back up the rivers.
However despite all the negatives this time of the year presents, if you are willing to persevere there are still some great opportunities for us.
Firstly it’s warm and stormy and that is perfect conditions for Mangrove Jacks.
We have had an excellent start to the jack season with good numbers in all estuaries.
Troll rocks or gravel patches in the rivers, especially on the run out tide, and be prepared for the odd bust-up as these fish hit and fight hard.
Also there are heaps of jewfish caught at the moment.
The seaway is as good as anywhere to get one. Try fishing with live bait at the end of the northern wall, but dropping a soft plastic works too.
The great news for jew fisherman is that the jewies should be schooled up in the seaway for the next couple of months.
Also, as if a gift from Santa himself, the sand crabs can become prolific this time of the year just in time for Christmas.
Put your pots in the channel around Tipplers for a feed.
On the outside reefs we are seeing the odd dolphin fish.
Unfortunately the water is very dirty, so head far out to find the clear blue water.
The first of the coral spawn appears this month and that is the perfect place to troll for mahi mahi. They love this current line as well as any floating device or structure.
Most of the fish caught this month will be about 6-9kg.
It is too early in season for small black marlin but the odd one will be caught this month as a by-catch of those targeting the dolphin fish.
A few seasons back we had good Wahoo numbers caught in November but I haven’t heard of any so far this month.
If you are rigged up for big marlin there are some blue and stripped marlin being taken out very wide near the shelf.
Two weekends ago there was about 20 hook-ups in one day from the boats competing in the Shimano Shootout so they are definitely there.
All in all November is a challenging month for us fisherman but if you put in the time and effort you will be rewarded.