Whiting season in full swing

Whiting season is in full swing and good catches will continue until the end of the summer months. Some of the better areas this week in the northern bay include include any sandbank in Pumicestone Passage, Hayes Inlet, Pine River mouth and sandy beaches around Wynnum and King island. Further south, the Nerang River continues to produce consistent numbers.

There's also been good catches in the north and south arms of the Coomera River, Jacobs Well straight to the Power Lines past Cabbage Tree and in the Logan River around Ageston Sands.

Flathead are also being caught in good numbers in all rivers and creeks. Weed is making it difficult to troll lures for them in some areas, but by moving around you will find areas with less or no weed.

On the Gold Coast, the prime areas are the Seaworld channel south to the trawler basin, Crab Island further north and from Jabiru Island through the north arm of the Coomera past Sanctuary Cove. There has also been good catches in the Pine River, Hayes Inlet and from the Bribie Bridge north in the Passage, especially around the entrance to creeks flowing in from the mainland.

We are starting to hear of the first few mangrove jack caught for the year. The reports came from the Stockyards just south of Slipping Sands at Jumpinpin, Coomera River rock walls and marina entrances and the Nerang River, especially around private jetties, rock walls and boat ramps.

Offshore catches have been dominated by snapper, pearl perch and trag for those float-lining or fishing the bottom.

Anglers fishing live baits are catching cobia, some over 20 kilos, lots of smaller kingfish to six kilo and a few similar size amberjack.

On the freshwater scene, there has been lots of small fish in Hinze, Maroon and Moogerah Dams. North Pine produced better quality although less numbers. Somerset is still the pick providing you do some scouting to find the schools.