KEEPING IT SIMPLE FOR THE KIDS
HI everyone, it’s been a good start to school holidays on the Gold Coast with some nice weather to get the kids out and about in the great outdoors and enjoying some quality time fishing. At this stage the weekend is looking pretty good with Saturday being the pick of the days at the time of writing my report with light southwesterly winds on the way and Sunday is looking OK but we will see an increase in the winds from the south around 15 to 20 knots at times
September school holidays are under way and this a great opportunity to get the kids out of the house and have some fun fishing with family and mates outdoors. Kids of all ages should have a fun time learning the basics even if it’s their first time casting the rod, waiting for a bite and the opportunity to catch their first fish. You can also take the kids and try collecting your own bait like pimping yabbies and catching soldier crabs.
When it comes to tackle just keep it simple is the key. A basic light estuary outfit will do the job for most of the fish species you will expect to find on the Gold Coast. Try rigging with 9lb main line, 8 to 10lb trace, 3 to 4 ball sinker and a hook size between 6 to 2 to suit your bait of choice.
There are plenty of landbased spots to take the kids with toilet facilities and even playgrounds nearby if the fishing is slow. A few areas to look at are Paradise Point, Runaway Bay, Labrador, Hope Island, Currumbin Creek, Tallebudgera Creek, Nerang River and Jacobs Well and the Tweed River, which all offer public jetties, parks or sandy beaches which make good fishing spots.
Some of the fish species you may catch are Bream, Tarwhine, Whiting, Flathead,
Moses Perch, Tailor, Flounder and Trevally just to name a few. When it comes to bait try Prawns, Squid, White Pilchards, Worms and Yabbies for the above species. Another option is to put on a soft plastic lure on for kids that wind their rod back in as soon as you cast it out, they will have a good chance at a quality Flathead or Trevally jumping on. If you get any nice catches make sure to email in your photos for me to put in the paper.
The fishing offshore has been good for fishos keen to put in the time and effort travelling in search of a feed. Paul Wilshire and Ben White have done just that scoring some quality Snapper and Samson fish (see photos) when sounding around the 36 fathom grounds. The close reefs have been fishing OK, but the fish seem a bit further spread apart than normal meaning you will have to have a good look around on the sounder before finding a spot worth a look.
The water temp will be slowly on the increase and the current will also be picking up as we come into the spring weather pattern so putting in the mile to get the smiles will be the effort for those keen to do so.
The 18 to 24 fathoms reefs do see a lot of fishing pressure when the weather is good so I always recommend to fish smarter in the higher traffic areas. Basically this means to use lighter gear, lighter and longer traces, good bait presentation and to spend a bit of extra time sounding around to locate the best spots to try your luck.
If you have any great catches or photos you would like to share, please email and let us know: email brett@coomerahouseboats .com.au