BE PREPARED TO PUT IN TIME FOR BILLFISH

IT appears the marlin bite has gone from being great to just OK in the last few weeks here on the Gold Coast.

There are still a few being caught but you have to be prepared to put in the hours.

Having said that, on Australia Day I was out at Deep Treg reef (S 2800300 E 15341300) and was witness to an awesome sight of a three-way hook-up of small black marlin.

There is plenty of bait out there at the moment just off the bottom in around 90m of water.

I had a hit, unfortunately not hooking up, but a few were caught using live baits.

Had great reports of spotty mackerel on the gravel patch including the odd big Spaniard as well.

I’m constantly surprised by the lack of fisherman targeting spanner crabs. They are around in great numbers at the moment in 50m of water directly out the front of the Q1 and are beautiful eating.

I recommend if you are heading out for a day of trolling for marlin etc, that you start your day by dropping some frames baited with pilchards and even if you don’t get any fish you should be guaranteed of coming home with something for dinner via some spanner crabs

Every man and his dog have been getting into the quality whiting in the Broadwater in recent days. Young River Abel picked up this massive whiting in a canal at Palm Beach using yabbies as bait. It went 42cm on the brag mat. Fish the Deep Charters...