Be wary of the weather
After a wild week, it will pay to keep a close eye on the weather for the next few days as we seem to be getting plenty of storm activity this festive season.
As we head towards the weekend it looks like the showers will hang around and the south-easterly wind will pick up Saturday afternoon before easing Sunday and tending more easterly.
Just a reminder the waterways will be extra busy over the New Year period, please take care and have a safe time on the water. I always recommend having the most up to date weather forecast before heading out. Let’s see what’s been biting this week.
If you are thinking of heading offshore over the weekend getting an early start will be the go so as to avoid any unsettled weather like storms that may move through later in the afternoon.
The 18 and 24 fathom reefs have produced some good hauls of Snapper, Trag Jew, Silver Jew, Moses Perch, Tusk Fish, Maori Cod, Spangled Emperor along with a few Spotted Mackerel. Down south Mermaid Reef, Palm Beach Reef and the Gravel Patch have all seen catches of Spotted Mackerel and the Odd Spanish thrown in among them.
Cast metal slugs has seen quite a few fish being taken. If you prefer to bait fish WA Pilchards and also Live Yakkas are the best options.
Out wider the current has been pretty strong. Chasing some Dolphin Fish for a feed around the fads has been the go.
Little Black Marlin fishing has been pretty quiet the past week, so it’s just a matter of putting in the time and effort and hopefully you will come across a bait holding some feeding Marlin on in.
I find trolling skirted lures is the best way to cover ground when searching.
With the extra rainfall we have experienced it will be worth throwing in the pots to chase a feed of Mud Crabs around the Gold and Tweed Coast.
We have had enough rain to give the rivers a wash out and will get the crabs on the move and make them feed a bit more than normal.
It will be worth setting your pots in a few different positions from upriver to more down towards the entrance of the river where it meets the main channel until you can locate better numbers of crabs.
Fresh chicken pieces, mullet and also fish frames will all do the trick if you can be lucky enough to drop your pots in a good spot holding crab.
The Tweed River, Tallebudgera
Creek, Coomera River, Pimpama River, The Never Fails, Jacobs Well, Cabbage Tree Point, Logan River, Russel Island and Karragarra Island will be worth a look.
The moon phase has been good the past week for chasing a feed of Whiting.
The full moon usually fishes pretty well as the larger tides get the current going in the rivers, which helps the Whiting feed by churning up the bottom.
The Tweed River, Currumbin Creek, Tallebudgera Creek,
Nerang River, Wave Break Island, Crab Island, Coomera River, Pimpama River, Jacobs Well, Bedrooms, Tiger Mullet Channel and the Logan River have been producing some great fees lately.
Best bait is Bloodworms, Beach Worms and Yabbies. Night sessions have produced the better numbers of fish with plenty of elbow slappers from 38 to 40cm hitting the deck.
Day fishing will still produces a feed and is much easier if you are wanting to take younger kids out for some fun.
Happy New Year to everyone. St safe and enjoy some time on the water. All the best to those that experienced storm damage over Christmas I hope you are back to normal soon.
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