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Bass Bounce Back
  |  First Published: June 2011



For those addicted to catching bass, the good news is our local dam has started to fire!

This time of year the bass start to school in preparation for the up coming breeding season, usually in the deeper parts of the dam. Although they are not always easy to locate, the use of a sounder will definitely make life easier. Slow trolling spinnerbaits and deep diving lures through the schools should account for a few fish.

If trolling isn’t your thing, casting a spinnerbait or lipless crankbait lure into the schools can also work. But if the bass are playing hard to get, the use of live baits such as shrimp or worms will increase your chances.

Redclaw crayfish have been thick over the last couple of months but numbers will drop with the water temperatures.

A closed season applies to Australian bass in creeks throughout Queensland from 1 June to 31 August 2011 except in and from waterways upstream of Baroon Pocket, Bjelke-Petersen, Boondooma, Borumba, Cania, Cressbrook, Fred Haigh (Lake Monduran), Gordonbrook, Hinze, Lenthalls, Maroon, Moogerah, North Pine, Somerset, Wuruma and Wivenhoe dams, Claude Wharton and Jones weirs, Isis Balancing Storage (Lake Gregory) and Clarendon, Dyer (Bill Gunn Dam) and MacDonald lakes.

Estuary

Over the past month or so the Pine and Caboolture rivers have been producing plenty of quality bream, whiting and flathead. It’s encouraging to see that our local creeks and rivers systems are starting to bounce back after the devastating floods early this year.

The mouth of the Pine, particularly around the bridge pylons, has been a hot spot for bream and whiting. Deep water bend has also been producing its fair share of fish and is an excellent land-based option especially with younger kids.

Further upstream, a number of legal size jew have also been caught as well as the odd threadfin salmon. Paul Dymock our local blood worm supplier also had a great whiting session at the mouth of Jackson Creek recently. The trick is to not stand in one spot waiting for the fish to swim past, move around and look for the schools holding better fish. Once located, catches of 30-40 fish in one session are not uncommon.

There’s been good numbers of chopper tailor being caught from numerous spots around the bay. Land-based opportunities include the new fishing platform on the Houghton Hwy Bridge, Woody Point Jetty, and the eastern beach Bribie Island. For the boaties, try the northern end of Mud Island, Brisbane River mouth and Peel Island.

Whole pilchards rigged on a set of no. 4 or 5 gang hooks is undoubtedly the most popular method for tailor fishing. Large strip baits of bonito or mullet fillets are commonly used by anglers in the know for targeting larger specimens. Casting small poppers or slugs into working schools is another excellent form of targeting these hard fighting toothy little critters.

Mud crabs in particular have also been every where the last couple of months, but will now slow down as the water temperature continues to drop. Sand crabs have been slow, but the mouth of Pumicestone Passage has been producing a few here and there.

Brisbane River

Reports from the river this month have been a bit quiet. A couple of our regular customers have recently had some success on snapper using fresh baits and 5” soft plastics.

Large jew are definitely an option this time of year with night or early morning being the best times. Live baits of mullet or herring are ideal, and fresh mullet fillets or bonito can also work.

As usual, fishing as close to structure as possible or working the deeper drop-offs and ledges should increase your chances.

The Bay

Inside the bay, long tail tuna are still being caught over towards the eastern side of the bay and also between Mud Island and Harry Atkinson Artificial Reef. Although the schools are small and sometimes scattered, June usually sees bigger long tail enter the bay.

During the cooler months, the pelagic action can be a little tough, but the rewards will come to those who put in the time. The use of live bait will generally increase your chances.

Snapper have started to show their presence throughout the bay, with Mud and Peel islands being two of the more productive spots. As mentioned in previous reports, to be successful in shallow areas you need to be as stealthy as possible and fish as light as possible. Both baits and soft plastics have accounted for some quality fish being caught in these areas. Likely by-catch would include grassy sweetlip, bream, cod, tailor and mulloway.

At the Tackle Shop we are continually expanding our range. We now have a lot of new products in store at very competitive prices. Also, we still have the largest range of quality fresh and frozen baits in Brisbane. Our business hours are from 5.30am-6pm Monday to Friday, Saturday from 4am-6pm and Sunday 4am-4pm.
We now have our loyalty program in place. Loyalty card members automatically go into the draw to win a $60 gift voucher every month. This month’s lucky winner is Darren Wells from Brighten. If you would like more information on tips and techniques, locations or for an up to date fishing report please give us a call on 3862 9015 or just call in to say G’day. Myself and my team are all mad keen fishos and are always happy to help.
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