Fisho's Weekly Fishing Report – 27th June 2025
by Fisho's Tackle World Hervey Bay 27 Jun 00:08 PDT
Chilly conditions returning next week
The past week was kinder to the weekday warriors than those limited to weekend escapades. This week will be different, yet rather limiting for all of us. Expect a little light rain at times in coming days before a vigorous polar blast plunges our temperatures early next week.
South to south-easterly winds of 15-20 knots will dominate our weather all day today and through the weekend. There is a chance of lighter winds Sunday, and that might offer the only reasonable day for some time. At this stage, the various weather models conflict, so you will have to make that call closer to the day. Otherwise, work around lighter southerlies to 15 knots early, building strength and tending south-easterly to 20 knots as each day wears on. Less than ideal, but still fishable in protected waters.
As bad as the weekend looks, the days thereafter are even worse. Monday will barely see less than 20 knots from the south, with frequent showers if not light rain. The precipitation will be blown away overnight as a gusty south-wester takes over and potentially blows to 30 knots. More of the same Wednesday will keep all but the crazy from fishing, and we will all be fully decked out in our winter clobber once again.
The new moon is passed and the moon is gradually waxing. Resultant tides are diminishing daily as we approach next Thursday's first quarter phase. Hardly tides to get excited about for some of us, but at least the moon will linger a little longer each evening as its glow intensifies.
Still no herring under the pier
Even though the full length of the Urangan Pier is accessible again, pier regulars are stymied by the lack of herring beneath. Without the hordes of herring, there is little reason for pelagics to visit the pier's waters, so mackerel, queenies and tuna have been scarce. The herring will return - nothing is surer - and when they do, expect mackerel and possibly tuna and chopper tailor to be hot on their tails.
Until then, it is all about bream fishing and the chance of a flathead or jewfish for pier-goers. Bream numbers are improving, but again, the lack of herring is failing to attract big numbers. The average size is okay, without really impressing anyone.
Lure fishos have an opportunity to test their skills against the pier's bream while the herring and pelagics are absent. Pike will be the only toothy critter taking swipes at lures for now, so you can mix it up with a range of small vibes and blades, along with the usual softies and Cranka Crabs.
Evening sessions will continue to appeal to the bait fishos, until the rains arrive, I guess. Softer baits such as yabbies and prawns are quite acceptable and successful after dark. The very same baits being destroyed by pickers in daylight hours, when hardier and more resilient baits such as strip baits and mullet gut are demanded.
It is after dark or pre-dawn that you might connect to a jewfish from the pier. Live baits are standard, and those pike that the bream fishos are trying to avoid are just the ticket. Only bettered by a live pencil squid, you can fish for jewies confidently under cover of darkness when the tide isn't raging. Otherwise, head on out there with a large prawn imitation softie on a suitable jighead or opt for a soft vibe to work the gaps in the pylons. Yes, in the dark!
Big things would normally be expected from pier flathead this time of year. The neaps next week offer prime tides, even if the wind does not. Flatties aren't fans of high winds in shallow waters, so expect them to retreat to the depths out the end when the big blow arrives. Before and after, you can look for them in shallower waters, such as the first channel, where they will be lurking in ambush, waiting for a pike or other morsel to swim too close.
Jewfish due to turn it on at River Heads
If they haven't done so already, the jewfish are due to turn up at River Heads. Days gone by saw keen jewie hunters braving the oyster and mud-covered rocks along the peninsula after dark, as they worked the low tide period with shallow diving hardbodies. The same techniques will still work, but since the pontoon was planted there years ago, the heads fishery has changed.
It seems more about soaking live baits from the pontoon these days, or maybe working soft vibes and plastics from that platform for the current band of regulars. Should a school of jewfish turn up, then it is on for young and old until they depart the area (one way or the other). Periods of slack tide after dark will see the jewies most susceptible to lure fishing tactics, though stray fish are possible at any time.
A howling south-wester, such as what is expected next week, will put the kybosh on the River Heads fishery momentarily. Avoid that blow, and things could get quite interesting. For the law-abiding fishos out there, the bag limit on mulloway jewfish is 2 only, with a minimum size of 75cm. Should you be so lucky as to catch a black jewfish (which is quite possible) then the bag limit is 1 only, with the same minimum size. As always, bag limits are possession limits, so don't be tempted to come back for more after you have stashed your limit in the freezer.
Shift your focus to catching a few blue salmon from the rocks at the heads and you could be vastly more entertained than those waiting for the jew to arrive. They will eat nearly anything, so just be there chucking lures and you are in with a chance. Bream are bound to make an appearance at some time soon, if not already, and no one should be surprised to catch quality flathead from the rocks either.
Turn your attention to one or more of our local creeks at present, and you will stand a very good chance of catching some flathead. One creek mouth in particular is apparently lousy with the lays of large flatties, so find that one and your chances are even better. Bycatch might include anything from bream and whiting, to blue salmon, grunter or queenfish, depending upon what bait or lures you are using. Squid might even join the party if you are lucky, so don't forget to pack a squid jig.
Burrum River fished well over the darks
Burrum River fishos enjoyed good fishing over the dark of the moon. It was quality sand whiting that had some folks excited, particularly when the best of those fish threatened the 40cm mark. Big flood tides over sandbanks not far upriver from the heads were favoured, and success came to a couple of river locals. The Gregory sandbanks also drew a little attention from those that know their way in and out of there in the dark.
Bream continue to impress throughout much of the lower Burrum. Big numbers of very reasonable bream are possible from a session, particularly when a little berley is used to attract and retain them. After dark sessions only add to the quality, as the larger and warier bream fall victim to presentations that they may have baulked at during daylight.
Enough flathead are being caught regularly to make them another viable target, and again, without having to drive far from Burrum Heads. Having said this, fishos working muddy banks, drains and rock bars well upstream can also catch flatties right through winter, so give them a try wherever you end up.
Still no word on the arrival of the queenfish and river GT schools of the past. It is early days yet admittedly, yet something to keep in mind and look forward to soon - hopefully. Blues and jews are both possible from the deeper holes in the Burrum, the Gregory and the Isis. A session sinking and working soft vibes will soon see if there are any at home, with the added bonus bycatch of barra and perhaps a few threadies.
Tailor schools terrorised any baitfish cruising the Burrum's lower reaches last week. They also terrorised a few folks trolling lures for flathead too! Bite-offs were all-too-common apparently, so be prepared to put some distance between you and the tailor if you aren't a fan. If you are, then you are in for a fat time between the heads and Buxton Hole at present.
Finally, snapper have arrived in the Southern Bay
They have been conspicuous by their absence so far this season, but finally, we can look forward to catching snapper in southern Hervey Bay. They aren't everywhere as yet, but quality fish have been caught at Moon Ledge and at the Simpson arti. Efforts west of there were met with constant attention from the bull sharks, resulting in the frustrating wastage of prime breeding knobbies.
The apparent lack of baitfish at a few of the super-popular hotspots (including those mentioned above) suggests the snapper may prove fleeting visitors. So, put some effort in there and elsewhere and pay particular attention to any reef system hosting masses of baitfish. Given the transient nature of herring, yakkas and pike inshore, baitfish schools may take up residence at the abovementioned spots, and elsewhere, at any time. They can vacate those waters just as randomly too, hence the need to do some miles at times to find the best aggregations.
Old snapper fishos like me will tell you that certain tides are better for snapper than others, and might poo-poo this weekend's tides for that reason. Pay no attention if you like, as hungry fish that have just traversed miles of ocean are more inclined to bite opportunistically than fish that have settled in to an area and been gorging at will.
If you have the vessel to handle the breeze, then get out there and have a crack this weekend. Remember, to time your efforts so that the wind is opposing the tide, or otherwise your soft plastic presentations will be quite ineffective in such a significant wind-assisted drift. Not everyone's electric motor will handle the wind, waves and current combined either, so consider your limitations there too. Switching to slow-pitch jigs or trolling ultra-deep divers at other times will be wise moves, and could just see you pick up fish you couldn't get a softie anywhere near otherwise.
I am told that Platypus Bay is alive with baitfish at present. The northern bay is harbouring vast schools as well apparently. This augers well for future snapper fishing forays into those waters, and the timing is just about right too. Many sectors of Platypus Bay have traditionally drawn snapper schools in July in the past, as have the waters in and around the 25 Fathom Hole. The presence of yakkas is a mandatory factor for those fisheries to flourish, and that box is ticked already. Don't forget the impending closure come 15th July, and make the most of your chances over the next full moon.
Northern Bay reefs about to be invaded
The darks produced a good bite over the flat country and 'gravelly grounds' of the northern bay. Nannygai bit well, as they should, and just about every other reefie was on the chew too. Sharks proved a hassle here and there, not surprisingly being at their most unsurpassable along the prominent ledges of the Gutters.
Baitfish have been amassing at the Gutters and this is drawing in the usual winter hordes of trevally. They haven't inundated the whole area as yet, but you can bet that they will. The trevally will be especially concentrated above the most prominent ledges and bommies of the Gutters, and many will head over towards Rooneys too. This annual invasion of trevors is an absolute delight for sports fishos that enjoy their jigging escapades, but not so much for the reef fishos.
Pack plenty of slow-pitch jigs and an assortment of softies and get amongst the northern bay's trevally population in coming weeks and months. Big numbers of just about every trevally species you can think of will swim into Platypus Bay soon too, so those with smaller boats also have plenty of jigging fun to look forward to this winter. In fact, with so many goldies lurking close inshore as well, the whole of Hervey Bay can be deemed lousy with trevally sometime soon, and these fish might be harder to avoid than they are to catch.
In the meantime, the Gutters has continued to give up a few decent coral trout. Those that the sharks let you have anyway. Nannies, cod, grassy sweetlip and tuskies are all welcomed aboard by gutters fishos, and a few of the lesser reef fish are accepted aboard these days too apparently.
Squire and a few decent snapper have also been on the chew out at the Gutters. Mostly along the fringes of the gnarlier sections of reef where the yakkas are concentrated. Sadly, these spots are also home to the worst of the sharks much of the time, so not all fish hooked are caught. Efforts at dawn and dusk are usually rewarded, and those fishing into the evening better their chances substantially. Head to the Gutters for a day trip in "bankers' hours" and you should not be surprised if you can't catch snapper (well, knobbies anyway).
Big cobia and spanish mackerel have continued to excite clients aboard charter boats, and given a real thrill to plenty of other fishos too. Both species can be caught by trolling tactics, yet vastly more are bycatch for reef fishos. Live baits will tempt both species, as will jigging a variety of lures (whether you like it or not). Some of the bigger cobia are a real handful and are usually released unharmed by experienced fishos. Those deciding to keep them will have their hands full, particularly the first time they haul one aboard. Be warned, big cobes are a weapon on board a small boat!
Catching spaniards on stickbaits is commonplace nowadays, but has anyone considered targeting cobia with the same weapons? Being such an inquisitive fish, that so often rock up to your boat for a look-see, cobia could be a sight-fishing target for northern bay fishos. Even if you don't plan a dedicated session hunting them on stickbaits, perhaps have a large model rigged and ready for when the cobes show up boatside.
Reef fish gain a week of reprieve
Reef fishing closer inshore has been a mixed affair this week. Failed snapper sessions, and a few successes were part of the mix. Brief bite periods saw coral trout and estuary cod tempted from their lairs when the tides were slack enough, and a diminished run of sweetlip kept a few families fed too. Nannies turned in on up the island over the darks, and the odd fish was caught in close as well.
Offshore; there was limited opportunity due to the weather, yet at least one crew made it beyond Breaksea Spit earlier this week. Deep dropping was favoured and the usual array of snapper, pearl perch, cod, flamies and other jobbies were hauled aboard.
Some crews headed for 1770 and the Bunker Group. The big new moon tides had the fish fired up and the usual hauls of quality coral trout and red emperor made the trip worthwhile. Stiff onshore winds followed by even stronger westerly winds will put paid to any repeat of those efforts this week, but a trip up the Bruce for a serious session on the GBR remains the saviour for many a Hervey Bay local these days.
Winter whiting catches are highly variable
On the winter whiting front, it has been a week of hits and misses. Some folks have scored big hits on plump whiting, whilst others have tuned up after the best of the fish have moved on and complained of tiddlers galore. It can be timing, location and technique, not to mention a bit of luck, that can make or break your day on the whiting.
One thing remains constant however, and that is that if you sit there catching small fish or few fish at all, and keep doing what you are doing, then you are bound to fail. Repeating drifts in an area after poor returns from previous drifts is just crazy. Being drawn to crowds of others is commonplace for many whiting fishos, yet possibly contributes to poor results often too. Working over a patch that others have flogged is pointless, particularly when it is so easy to drive a short distance and find un-tapped fish.
This tactic has served a few crews very well this week. Folks quietly sharing their results, where they filled creels with fat winteries to 28cm away from the crowds complaining about not being able to avoid the smaller fish. Bag limits were achieved by a small number of folks, sometimes right beside fellow fishos that struggled for a feed.
Most effort continues off Gatakers Bay, where the boat ramp is still a joke at low tide. Avoid launching or retrieving at low tide altogether if you can, and most certainly if yours is a larger vessel. Whiting have been found in various locations off Gatakers and Pt Vernon. There have also been schools found over at the NU2. No word from elsewhere this week, not to say that other grounds didn't produce.
Next week's cold snap will be welcomed by winter whiting fans. Not while it is blowing of course, but thereafter, as our waters receive an extra chill. A big south-wester such as what is coming will stir up the waters west of Woody Island, so a little prospecting somewhere south-east of Urangan could be quite productive closer to the next full moon.
Windy week at Fraser - but surf beaches looking prime
Harassing a returning customer from a week-long fishing mission on Fraser enables me to offer a little insight into the state of play over there at present. As far as the surf scene south of the Maheno is concerned, the line-up of low tide gutters is pretty impressive and inviting - when the wind isn't blowing and the surf crashing. There is no weed to be seen anywhere, and the waters are clear and cool.
Beach travel is generally good, but exposed rocks at Happy Valley need to be avoided from about half tide down. Yidney Rocks are also washed-out, so be prepared to use the alternative access tracks when necessary. Stay off the grog too, or sleep in if you over-indulge. Being breath-tested early in the morning is quite common on Fraser's surf beach, and the cops have been on the job big-time.
Pippies are very scarce apparently. Push-ups can be found, but no pippies beneath I am told. Strange! Worming is tough too, so it sounds like you had better have some back-up bait options if heading for Fraser soon. Those favouring lures for their foray in the surf won't have that issue, and can fish a selection of plastics without fear of too much attention from tailor.
Fishing wise, the crews that persisted in the wind and rough conditions last week did it very tough. Strong sweep along the beach made it very challenging to keep baits out in most gutters. Rocky areas offered little reprieve, and snag-ups thereabouts were common due to the sweep.
Various fish were caught, but not by everyone. Quality whiting were a feature in the odd catch, and some average dart kept things entertaining at times. Bream were quite abundant around the exposed rocks, and some of them were quite sizeable. Bust-ups added to the frustration of fishing rocky areas when gear was being lost to snags as well. A small number of tailor were caught, but just choppers and not in any numbers.
Perhaps other fishos fared better on Fraser last week by fishing the waters north of the headlands. This is a time when we would expect good catches of whiting over the full and new moons, a few flatties randomly, a few dart and increasing numbers of bream and tarwhine near any rocky outcrops. The tailor hordes are migrating north as you read this and will join the residing fish in coming months. If Fraser Island can turn on surf fishing anything even close to last year's efforts, then we are in for one heck of a season!
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