FESTIVE PATIENCE REQUIRED
HOPE you’ve all had a great Christmas with family and friends, it was nice to see some well overdue rain.
A bit of extra boat traffic hasn’t stopped the fish from biting with some top quality catches.
I was lucky enough to score some nice weather last Saturday and an invitation from my mate Wayne Young to head offshore for a look was too good to refuse.
We headed out at first light to fish the 18 to 24 fathom reefs E/SE of the Gold Coast Seaway, the conditions were glassy and a small swell with a bit of current running from the north to south.
We sounded around and noticed plenty of bait hanging around the reefs, once we located some fish we anchored up and started a burley trail.
Lots of small snapper and pearl perch and the odd Maori cod were on the bite. Wayne hooked some nice fish but was unlucky and dropped his catch.
Bec Clarke did well landing the fish of the day (see photo right), a cracking 74cm snapper which put up a great fight. For bait we used a variety including WA pilchards, mullet fillet, whiting fillet, bonito and yakkas. A boat near us hooked a little black marlin while bottom fishing and landed their prized catch after a 20-minute fight. A few mackerel have started to show up at Palm Beach and Mermaid Reef.
Customers have reported plenty of bull shark activity in the Coomera River, Logan River and Nerang River systems, day and night.
A nylon coated trace between 50 to 100lb will take care of most average sized sharks rigged with a size 6 to 8 hook and a sinker to get it on to the bottom. Fresh water eel, mullet or catfish make great baits, I also recommend using burley to increase your chances of finding your target.
We have had reports of mangrove jack action. The Coomera River has been holding some big fish, so far this season we have had a few fish up to 60cm around our jetty at Gold Coast City Marina. You just need to put in the time to be rewarded, if you are casting lures whether using hard-bodies or Zman and Storm plastics you may need to pepper the same snag before you annoy a fish enough to hit your lure. Live and dead baits have been producing plenty of nice jacks.
Some other good spots to look at are the Sanctuary Cove and Paradise Point rock walls, Sovereign Islands, Logan River, Tiger Mullet Channel, Jacobs Well, Runaway Bay Canals and the Nerang River, if you find structure or snags you should find a fish.
Smithy from Brad Smith Fishing Charters reports on the Tweed he continues to target whiting on MMD splash prawn surface lures with a few bream and trevally in the mix.
Clint reports in the Broadwater there have been good days with catches of big winter whiting, squid, grassy emperor, squire, and a few flounder. Flathead have been scarce.
This week features the lead-up to new moon yesterday, the big morning tides will get the sand crabs active, and a variety of fish. Just time it right as there will be strong flow, fish the two hours either side of the tide changes in the main channels, and try up river or along the edges of the channels when it’s flowing strong.
We wish everyone a very happy and safe New Year, keep in mind it’s the busiest time of year on the water and extra patience will be needed, especially at the boat ramp.