Lots of boat traffic on the water has made catching anything legal difficult, especially in the more popular locations throughout estuary’s waters.
The trick is to fish the deeper holes and backwaters, especially before light and in the early evening when many others have called it a day.
Crabs were hard to find before Christmas but we are finally seeing good numbers of mud crabs being caught. Jumpinpin and the Logan River system has been the pick of locations but it is worth putting crab pots in all waterways.
The main species to target are whiting, flathead and tailor and there are a few mangrove jack around, especially in the early evening.
If you are targeting whiting, the Nerang River is one of the best, consistently turning up quality and quantity. There have been good numbers around the Council Chambers and while the first few hours of the run out tide has been the prime time, anglers sitting it out have caught a feed on all tides.
Further north, land-based anglers using blood worms have caught whiting off Point Halloran, Manly and Wynnum foreshores, Tingalpa Creek, Hayes Inlet and in Pumicestone Passage.
It is the best time of year to target mangrove jack. Top spots include anything that disrupts the tidal flow including snags, rock walls and bridge pylons, especially around tide changes.
Brisbane River is fishing well for school mulloway and threadfin, with most action at night. Moreton Bay catches have been mostly school mackerel, snapper and a few longtail tuna. The mackerel are on the eastern side of the bay off the Sand Hills and top end of the Rainbow Channel.
Snapper catches have been best in the shallows of the bay islands before daylight but once the sun gets up and boat traffic increases, the wrecks and artificial reefs have been productive.
Offshore, the shallows off the Gold Coast have produced a few spotty mackerel and there has been plenty of dolphinfish close to FADs or buoys. Bottom bashing has been a little disappointing for most with a few trag and small snapper.
