FLATHEAD have been caught in good numbers throughout Jumpinpin and the Broadwater this week, especially around the mouths of small drains and creeks.
At Jumpinpin, the Power Lines to Giant’s Grave and the entrance to Swan Bay have been the best area for flathead.
More have been caught in the Broadwater anywhere within sight of the Southport Seaway or on the western shoreline, at the mouth of Biggara or Loders creeks and marinas and canal developments to the north. There has also been quite a few caught in Moreton Bay around Manly Harbor, the Raby Bay entrance and Hayes Inlet.
There are a lot of whiting around, especially in the larger waterways like the Broadwater and Jumpinpin.
The Nerang River continues to turn up better quality whiting up river of the council chambers.
At Jumpinpin, there were good catches on the banks between Crusoe Island and North Stradbroke Island, in the Jacobs Well straight on the edge of the channels around the Power Lines and the channel which flows around the southern end of Russell Island.
There are still a few diver whiting on the western side of Moreton Bay, however the better catches have come from close to Moreton Island near the Sand Hills and Days Gutter area. Trolling throughout estuary waters has produced a good mix of species including trevally, chopper tailor and mangrove jack.
Spotty mackerel are still high on the list of target species at this time of year. There has been a few caught off the Gold Coast but not big numbers as yet. Offshore dolphinfish continue to be in good numbers on most of the wider reefs, FADs and wave rider buoys. Trolling has produced mainly yellowfin and mac tuna but also a few wahoo around rocky headlands and reef areas. Those dropping baits on the bottom reported good numbers of pan size snapper, pearl perch and trag this week as well. On the freshwater scene, North Pine dam is producing some great catches of bass. Most anglers are reporting excellent results on soft plastics, hard bodies, jigs and bait.