SNAPPING UP GREAT CATCHES

HI everyone, hope you have all had a good week. A bit of rain and wind around midweek on the Tweed and Gold Coast but the weekend is looking much better.

Lots of activity on the water at the moment with the easing of restrictions. Just remember with the waterways being so busy, safety is very important if you’re heading out for a fish. Let’s see what’s on offer for all the fishos this week.

Just to keep everyone up to date I have included the link to Fisheries Queensland with information on the snapper and pearl perch closure which commences July 15 and ends on August 15, 2020.

Make sure you know your responsibilities https:// www.daf.qld.gov.au/businesspriorities/fisheries/ sustainable/sustainablefisheries-strategy/fisheriesreforms.

Locals have been doing well on the whiting. Brothers Tyler and Cruise (see photo) had a great day fishing with their relative Wayne Young up the Nerang River, landing an awesome feed for the family.

The key to finding whiting is to give each spot a go for 30 minutes or so and see how many fish you catch or bites you get. If it’s slow, even just a short move can pay off once you find where the school is mainly feeding.

The Nerang River is a prime location, we also do well in the Coomera River, Pimpama River and Logan River during winter. Live worms are the best bait, a long 6lb leader, size 6 bait holder hook and a good-sized sinker either 4 or 5 ball will keep your bait on the bottom in the strike zone.

Don’t be tempted to strike at the fish, just leave it alone and let the fish hook itself.

The Gold Coast Seaway has been on fire the past couple of weeks with plenty of school size jewfish on offer, just remember that 75cm is the legalsize limit of these species.

Work your sounder until to see the school of fish. Live baits have been the go and have not lasted long before getting smashed.

Some good-sized trevally also starting to school up in the Seaway area.

Best time to try is at the end of the tide cycle, especially the last of the incoming and start of the run out when the current is at its slowest.

Surf fishing will be a good option as the swell starts to drop off, hopefully the schools of tailor will move into gutters from the Tweed Coast up to South Stradbroke Island.

Big jewfish will enter the gutters as the tide rises chasing the tailor or mullet.

Brad from Brad Smith Fishing Charters reports this week was spent working around the middle reaches of the Tweed River working the tide changes in the deep holes. Flathead were the most dominant species, smashing lures.

There were also a few big whiting, bream and those small GTs are creating havoc on the schools of herring.

This month and next month it’s not uncommon to see some big tailor move into the river, so I will keep you posted if they arrive.

Clint reports another sensational week of fishing in the Broadwater. The dredging operation that has been going on in the Western channel north of the seaway has been a magnet to the whole food chain.

Best areas Crab Island, Ephraim Reef, Paradise Point.

If you have any great catches to report or fishing photos please email them to brett@fishotackle.com.au