2020, at least from an angling perspective, was a pretty great year on our coast.
What a snapper season we had. One local angler caught five snapper over 80cm and one of these was just longer than a metre.
My goal was to acquire an 80cm snapper fishing from my kayak, but the biggest one I caught was only 65cm in length. Something I still hope to achieve in 2021.
The increased boat traffic over the Christmas period saw the fishing drop off, and generally, anglers had a tough time. But still, some excellent fish were caught, including Tuskfish, sweetlip and the warm water brought on the grunter fish.
Quality grunter were found off Redcliffe and at the mouth of the Logan River. Huge whiting, flathead and bream were all caught around our Redlands coastal waters.
The pelagic fish have arrived, and anglers are enjoying good catches of mackerel. For a brief few seconds, I had one hooked in half a meter of water while whiting fishing using yabbies as bait.
After a few spectacular leaps from the water, it bit through my leader.
Mark McClamley sent us a photo of his four-year-old grandson Cooper McClamley's first mackerel caught on Boxing Day at the Tangalooma wrecks.
Cooper let out a floating pilchard from the back of his granddad's boat, and ten minutes later he was into a good fight.
Cooper's dad was on hand to help lift the fish onto the boat, but he reeled it in all by himself.
Cooper is from Moranbah and was looking forward to fishing with his granddad when he came down on holidays. Well done Cooper and also kudos to dad and granddad for being there for him.
While my New Years resolution is to land that 80cm snapper in 2021, it may be time to start thinking about your fishing goals.
If becoming a better angler is on your to do list then the best way you can achieve this is by joining a fishing club.
The Redlands RSL has a sub-club for anglers. Based in Cleveland, they have been in existence for over 50 years.
They are a family club with many children and grandchildren of past and current members.
The members have many years of experience fishing Moreton Bay and are always willing to assist new members with all the best tips and tricks needed to become a better angler.
A single membership is $50 and a family membership is only $60. Please contact club president Leon Joliffe on 0417 480 325 for further details.
If you have any fishing questions or photographs, please contact Michael on desdavidmichael@gmail.com.
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