NERANG A REAL GEM FOR FISH
WE have had ordinary weather with fairly strong southerly winds making it uncomfortable to get offshore to the reefs, as a result the boat traffic on the Nerang River and in the estuaries has increased as it has become the only fishing option.
Given strong northerly and south-easterly winds are common over the next few months offshore isn’t an option.
Luckily on the Gold Coast the Nerang River continues to give all year round. November is Mangrove Jacks bite.
If it is very hot and there is a chance of an arvo storm there is an even better chance the jacks will be on the bite.
Try casting a 100mm soft plastic with a 4/0 jig head at jetties and pontoons and you’ll eventually have success.
This time of year there are Trevally being caught in the Nerang River too, so try around TSS and the bridges at night using surface poppers.
Arguably Nerang’s greatest fishing attribute is the schools of massive whiting that live near the council chambers.
Netters can’t get near them and as a result they grow huge and fight hard. Fish the change of tides with either yabbies or preferably blood worms.
One species increasingly popular to target in the Nerang is the bull shark.
It’s predicted 100 are caught and released on the Coast each week during summer, peak time for targeting them.
Having caught a few myself I can see the attraction. It gives your heavy tackle equipment a workout without having to go offshore, and in some cases without having to leave your house as many are caught off pontoons and jetties.
I like Trevally as they send so many vibrations but just about anything will work.
Queensland law is you are allowed to keep one shark with a maximum length of 1.5m.
If you are considering eating the shark remember the smaller the better for eating.
We are spoilt for choice in Queensland but some from southern states like Victoria swear that flake (shark) is the best eating fish in the sea.
But as my Dad said “let them keep saying that and eating flake while we eat whiting”.