The fishing appears to be going from strength to strength on the Fraser Coast with good catches across the species spectrum.

The beaches, piers, reefs and creeks are all performing well giving every indication it’s going to be a cracker Christmas this year.

Reef fishing has improved with consistent catches of coral trout, cod, snapper, parrot, hussar, mangrove jack and a few red emperor at the Gutters, 25 fathom and Rooneys reef systems.

Sharks have been taking a hefty toll on table fish and live baits in most locations from the flats to the reef. With the current restrictions being one shark up to 1.5 meters it’s inevitable that the shark problem is here to stay and they are only going to get bigger in numbers and size.

Platypus Bay is alive with bait schools of all sizes holding predatory fish as varied as long-tom, tuna, trevally, mackerel and marlin. Casting lead slugs and plastics, trolling a spread of lures and live baiting are all working and the bait is spread from Coongal Creek to Rooneys Point.

On the flats whiting have been in good numbers on the building tides with live yabbies and worms being the best performers.

Flathead are in size and numbers taking plastics, baits and hardbodies, with plenty of oversize fish being released.

Golden trevally and queenfish are working the ledges and creek mouths with live bait, plastics and Flasha lures all working.

With barra off the menu there is still plenty happening with threadfin, jacks, trevally, cod and flathead taking lures and live bait. Around the mouths whiting, bream, flathead and grunter have been taking yabbies, worms and prawns.

The pier has been little quiet over the past few months but it’s back in true form with estuarine, reef and pelagic species all performing well.

Steve and the gang at Anglers Den reported recent catches of queenfish to 6.5kg, golden trevally over 11kg, giant trevally up to 30kg, grey mackerel over 6kg, blackall over 3kg, snapper over 1kg and a lot of crocodile sized flathead with the biggest pushing 3kg.

So there are plenty of festive fishing options for the silly season in Hervey Bay. Have a great Christmas and bring on 2012!