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Mixed winter bags
  |  First Published: June 2012



The bay has been fishing well, with Mud and Peel islands a definite stand out. Snapper are the chosen target for most, with size and quality normally on the increase at this time of year.

For the bait fishers these islands are great shallow rubble haunts for snapper, sweetlip and various other by-catch with some thumping 1kg+ bream thrown in as well.

Fresh mullet, yellowtail pike and squid are first class choices for this country, fished as light as currents will allow, using live bait or strip form. Plastics always work well around Mud and Peel Islands with Z-Man and Atomics the favourites for a lot of our customers lately.

Longtail tuna will still be present with size on the increase for these guys as well. The run between Mud Island and Harry Atkinson Reef can produce well for longtail and is a great starting point.

OFFSHORE

The offshore fishing scene has got a lot of anglers very excited of late with good catches from all popular destinations. Snapper are a main target for a lot of offshore fishos as they are in our bay and rivers at this time of year. However, only take what you need as many anglers are gearing up for what is tipped to be a cracker season.

Large cod move to deeper water as things cool down and large live baits like yellowtail pike will do the job nicely.

I notice a lot of customers dropping their jighead weights for offshore, in the past two months, mainly for shallow water around 20-30m. Basically, this just improves the action on some, plus holds the plastic in mid water for longer periods if desired.

ESTUARY

Winter is here, so it’s time to chase some our favourite cool water species. Redcliffe, Sandgate and Clontarf all fish well in June with bream, tailor and jew all in good numbers around foreshores in this area. Cabbage Tree Creek and the Pine River systems feed this region and entrances to both also hold good fish numbers in June.

The bottom end of Pumicestone Passage, around Donnybrook and Toorbul should only get better, if May was any indication. If snapper is your estuary target, Bribie bridge and the ripples further north are well worth a try. Keep in mind to be well lit when fishing in these areas during night sessions.

Jew are still showing up at the Ted Smout platform, on both plastics and bait. Tailor will be passing our coast soon and last year, Sandgate and Brighton saw fantastic action as early as the 25 May, so keep an eye on things in this section of the coast.

Luderick will mass in coastal areas from May until September and for those in the know, provide outstanding sport on light tackle from a variety of locations.

Deception Bay can also produce well but is often overlooked. This area has vast sand flats that give endless room for families to chase fish as tides fall and first class shoreline facilities, coupled with an extensive pushbike and walking track for high tide fishing.

After speaking to some long time residents lately, it’s worth a try, particularly for bream in June.

BRISBANE RIVER

The river through June is an interesting place, with many changes on offer. Water clarity will improve dramatically as temperatures cool and this should be considered in your presentation of bait and artificials alike.

Jew fish make an impressive show in the river at this time, with fish up to 30 lb plus a real possibility. Large plastics, fished from mid water to bottom, have accounted for many jew in recent years.

Live baiting is tried and proven for large jew with yellowtail pike, mullet and large worm baits always a good choice. Remember when using large baits a delay between pick up and strike can be a smart move as jew will often turn a bait in their mouth before trying to swallow. Bream and snapper will only improve this month, particularly with an early start and run-in tide.

FRESHWATER

As winter officially kicks off so does our closed season for bass, which starts June 1 and runs until August 31. Even though upstream options are still on, it’s a good time to look at other species in our dams, rivers and creeks.

Saratoga are still being caught in North Pine and Kurwongbah and while numbers drop in winter, togas are still obtainable. Silver and golden perch can be a good target around now, with small, tight swimming hardbodies very effective in areas like Forgan Cove and Bullocky Rest.

Below our dams has held up very well and all anglers spoken to have given good reports.

Tarpon in winter will often frequent shallow warming water below North Pine Dam, all the way to Sweeneys Reserve and can turn on great late morning bites on shallow and surface artificials. Be careful with tarpon as they don’t respond well to rough handling.

For more details on freshwater closed seasons and locations go to page 74 of the Queensland Recreational Boating and Fishing Guide.

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