What a difference a month can make with the first of the northerlies hitting our shores; you can feel the change in the air.

The fishing seems to have gone up another notch too with many species cranking it up lately.

Out wide the 25 fathom and gutters are producing coral trout, snapper, scarlets, jack, sweetlip, parrot, and hussar. There are also a few big cobia taking live and dead baits, plastics and jigs.

Spanish mackerel and mac tuna have been working the surface taking live bait, cast and trolled lures.

School and spotted mackerel numbers are on the increase around the bay at the usual hotspots, try Gatakers, Moon Ledge, the Arty, the jetties and beacons and up along the island.

The local reefs are still fishing well for small snapper, goldies, blackall and cod at Bagimba, Moon Ledge the Arty and Maringa bommie.

Good numbers of summer whiting have been caught along the front beach between Point Vernon and Urangan, and down the straits.

South of the Picnics, River Heads and the lower reaches of the Mary and Susan rivers have also fished well with many anglers bagging out on quality fish.

Flathead are hard to get away from lately and there are some big crocodile-sized lizards being caught. Quality fish between 50-75cm are common and a few fish are being released over 90cm.

Live bait and plastics work well but a great way to cover ground is slow trolling hardbodies. Lures in 70-120mm that dive to a 1-1.5m are perfect, and I prefer something with a bit of flash and bright coloured edges with dark vertical stripes. Troll these lures around rocks, mangroves, creek mouths and sand ledges for best results.

Barra, jack, threadfin and blue salmon have really fired up with the warmer weather. Plastics, hardbodies, Prawnstars and livebait all taking fish around the snags and rock bars.

Mud crab numbers are on the rise with plenty of bucks being potted. All the crabbers I’ve spoken to are saying how full they are.

It’s all looking good for the month ahead on the Fraser Coast.