Conditions just peachy
HI everyone, hope you are all having a nice week. The weather forecast for the Gold and Tweed coasts would have to be the best I have seen in months with some light to moderate northerly winds and a decrease in swell offshore tipped to hang around for the next week at the time of writing my report. Just keep safety in mind during this busy time and everyone will have a great time. Let’s have a look at some fishing options for this weekend.
The new moon has combined with some of the biggest tides of the year this week making conditions a bit testing at times with large volumes of water moving throughout the local waterways. As we head towards the weekend the tide levels are starting to drop making fishing conditions much for favourable.
Last weekend the Gold Coast Game Fish Club held a light tackle tournament off the Gold Coast with good numbers of black marlin being caught and released given the windy conditions and swell offshore. Saturday saw the best numbers of fish with some boats catching double digits of marlin.
This weekend will be worth a look for a Spanish mackerel on first light around the bait grounds, the 18 and 24 fathoms reef off the Seaway, Palm Beach Reef and the Gravel Patch. Trolling hard body diving lures, dead baits and also live baits either unweighted and on the down rigger is a great method to cover ground and find fish actively feeding in the area.
This season has seen some of the best black marlin fishing we have had off the Gold Coast in the past few years. Fish have been scattered in depths from 18 fathoms out to 36 fathoms and also around spot X. Trolling lures is by far the best way to cover ground and find fish, small to medium sized skirted lures are the go-to as they seem to match the size of the natural bait source being yakkas and slimy mackerel.
Keep your eyes peeled for signs of life that may produce fish, bait on the sounder, birds working in the sky, splashing on the water surface and also fads either man made or debris floating in the water are all capable of holding marlin. Current dependant, having a drop for a bottom fish is always worth a go. The 18 and 24 fathom reefs have been producing snapper, moses perch, trag Jew, Maori cod, jewfish, tuskfish and cobia.
The big tides have not affected the whiting fish this week with some great catches being reported from local fishos. The size and quality of fish so far this summer has been exceptional, especially for those fishos willing to put in the time and effort to fish at night.
Whiting feed best when there is a good amount of tidal flow in the water stirring up the bottom to help to find an easy feed. The big tides this week have helped with the numbers of quality fish being caught. The best spots this week have been the Tallebudgera Creek, Currumbin Creek, Nerang River, Coomera River, Wave Break Island, Jacobs Well, Pimpama River, Tiger Mullet Channel and the Logan River.
When fishing deeper water try using a larger sinker to keep your bait on the bottom where the whiting are feeding, I usually use a size 4-ball sinker in most areas, but you can go up to a 5 ball to suit the conditions. Best baits are live bloodworms, beachworms followed by yabbies.
If you have any great catches or photos you would like to share, please email us and let us know how you went email brett@coomerahouseboats.com.au.
Stay up to date with all fishing regulations in Queensland https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/ business-priorities/fisheries