Welcome to Muddie Town
The rivers received a massive dumping of rain on New Year’s Day giving the system a big flush out. If you are on the water, please keep an eye out for debris while underway.
I always recommend having the most up to date weather forecast before heading out. Looking at the weekend ahead we will see the rain ease to a few showers and moderate S/SE winds on the forecast. Let’s have a look at some options for the weekend.
Given the amount of rain we have received, the creeks, rivers and estuary systems have had a massive flush out this week so chasing a feed of Mud Crabs will be a great option.
Mud Crabs will be on the move in numbers at the moment. When looking at spots to set the pots it will be worth starting at the mouth of the river where it meets the main system to drop your first pot, then work back up stream setting a few more test pots.
This will give you a good indication where the better numbers of crabs are holding.
The Coomera River gets the biggest flush out of all after a rain event.
It is also worth setting your pots in the Broadwater around where the South and North arm of the river runs out.
A few others areas to try will be the Tweed River, Tallebudgera Creek, Nerang River, Coomera River including the South and North Arms, Pimpama River, Tipplers Passage, Never Fails, Jacobs Well, Cabbage Tree Point, Tiger Mullet Channel, Canaipa Passage, Cobby Passage, Russell Island, Karragarra Island and the Logan River.
I always recommend to run a bait bag to limit small crabs, fish and eels from stealing your bait before the bigger crabs have a chance and getting in your pot.
Best baits are fresh fish frames, Mullet and raw chicken pieces.
Make sure you are up to date with all the current rules before heading out https:// www.qld.gov.au/recreation/ activities/boating-fishing/recfishing/rules/equipment. Black Marlin have started to show up in better numbers the past week with some lucky crews tagging up to nine fish in one session.
Try trolling skirted lures along the 36 and 50 fathom reef lines keeping your eyes peeled on the sounder for bait fish and water temp changes, the sky for bird activity and the water surface for current lines, splashing and also free jumpers.
A water temp change can be a good place to hunt for a while as the bait fish find it hard to pass through the change and get fenced up against it while the Black Marlin can pass through the change at will cashing in on an easy feed.
If the bait is sitting deep and you mark bigger fish on it, it will be worth dropping down a live bait.
The 18 and 24 fathoms reefs have also been producing a feed of Snapper, Moses Perch, Trag Jew, Tusk Fish, Maori Cod and good-sized Jewfish. Best baits are WA Pilchards, Whole Squid, Mullet Fillet, live Yakka’s and Slimy Mackerel.
Due to the amount of fresh water in the system this week fishing as close to the open ocean entrances will be your best bet at finding a mixed bag of fish.
On the run-in tide the system will receive a good dose of salt water from the ocean helping the fish to keep active.
The bait fish and prawns also get washed out of the system.
Most areas you will be able to spot where the fresh water meets the saltier water as there will quite a distinctive colour change on the tide line.
These are great areas to drop a bait or work your lures for a mixed bag of species like Jewfish, Trevally, Bream, Tarwhine, Squire, Tailor, Flathead, Moses Perch and Tarpon to name a few.
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