BEST TIME TO BE AN ANGLER
TODAY marks the first day of summer and my favourite season for fishing on the Coast.
There is a lot to get excited about over the next few months. In my opinion not only the best fighting fish come on the bite during the summer months like the mighty marlin, but also the best eating.
Mahi Mahi, Mangrove Jack, mackerel, whiting and sandcrabs – it is a seafood lover’s dream and all are in our waters over the next few months.
The first Mahi Mahi turned up a couple of weeks ago, try either trolling or live baiting at any of the FADs off the coast and you will have success.
It has been one of the best starts to the Mangrove Jack season in years, with some big brutes caught and released in the Nerang River.
Flicking lures in to structures (jetties and pontoons) is the most successful method.
The small black marlin have just arrived, but we are still waiting on the Spanish and Spottie mackerel.
It can be difficult to predict what the mackerel season will be like as some years they are here in massive numbers and some years very lean. Traditionally, though, we start to see them being caught later this month off the Coast.
One fish turning up in time for Christmas is whiting.
Summer whiting not surprisingly come on the bite during summer and there have been some great catches in the Broadwater and the Nerang River over the past week.
Try fishing with either yabbies or beach worms on the sand flats in the Broadwater on high tide, and using blood worms near the council chambers in the Nerang River.
In the Broadwater on high tide you should actually be able to spot the whiting cruising in the shallows.
If you are chasing a feed of whiting in the Broadwater don’t forget to put your crab pots in the water too as the sandcrabs are prolific.
Try anywhere north of Tipplers and unless someone raids your pots chances are you’ll have a great feed.
So forget about buying the expensive ham and turkey for the Christmas table this year – replace them with sandcrabs, whiting and Mahi Mahi.