"

Bring on the March rains
  |  First Published: March 2014



Well the unusually dry summer has slowed up the fishing, but as soon as those rains arrive then I’m tipping it is going to fire up! It will spill much needed nutrients into the system and I can’t wait to get out there and get amongst it.

where are they biting

For the outside fisher who can get a break in the weather, then there should still be some pelagics on offer as the water temp hasn’t dropped too much, and the water quality is still good. Macks, tuna, bonito dollies and the odd marlin should be out there cruising the coast looking for bait schools, which is exactly what you should be looking for when you’re out there.

There have been plenty of good flathead around taking 3-7” soft plastics in whites, pinks and lime, trolled hardbodied lures in the sandy/weedy shallows, and pilchards, whitebait, prawns and live mullet are the pick of the baits.

The sandy flats at the top of South Straddie are always a great spot to start searching, as long as it’s not too rough. Alternatively you could try in Cobby Passage, Kalinga Bank, around Tipplers Island, the stockyards or the mouth of the Logan. Best time is the first of the run-out tide as they sit in wait for food to wash past. They can be caught at any stage of the tide but they seem to feed more aggressively as the tide starts to run-out.

Small schools of tailor should be moving through the bar this month feeding on whitebait schools, so keep an eye out for birds diving or put a floated pillie out when fishing and you should pick one up. We have been picking up the odd one here and there while flicking plastics for flatties so if you ever get a hit on a plastic at the Pin and it comes in cut clean in half the chances are that it was a tailor. Haven’t had too much big stuff for a while but the better ones seem to be coming from the beaches of South and North Straddie at dusk and into the night.

If you like to chase whiting then try around the Gold and Green Banks, Slipping Sands, Flatrock, Browns Bay entrance, Ageston Sands and the junction in the river. Worms are the best baits to tempt these excellent table fish or you could try some squid, pipis or small peeled prawns. If you are ever out there and the water glasses out preferably late in the afternoon then try flicking small poppers or walking lures in 1-2ft of water for whiting is an exciting way to chase them that is really popular with the lure fishers.

Bream are going to be heavily targeted all month as there are a lot of fishos getting into luring these great fighting fish. Using light 1-2kg braid on a matched flick stick of your choice around canals, jetties, rocks, pylons and such is a great way to target bream. They are a very aggressive fish and will smash a moving or sinking lure. Vibes, small poppers, hardbodies and small plastics are all working. Be sure to put a little effort in and persistence and the rewards will speak for themselves. For the bait fisher, stick to all the usual bream haunts and fishing the last couple of hours of the run-in tide along a berley trail should produce some better quality fish.

If you are in search of a big mulloway then there have been a few around lately, up to the 50lb mark. There have even been a couple of stories coming from the Pin bar of fish that just can’t be stopped. Persistence is the key to mulloway fishing and those putting in the time and effort will reap the rewards. The Gazebo and Marks Rocks in the River, Giants Grave, Kalinga bank and the deep water off Swan Bay are the best spots, you just have to put the time in.

Muddies have been everywhere of late as they go on the march in search of food. After all the creeks and rivers have been flushed out they should go from strength to strength.

The mangrove-lined banks of the Logan River all the way to the Powerlines are great spots to start when chasing muddies. Lucky for us is that most of the Pin estuary system is lined with mangroves and perfect hiding holes for crabs. I would suggest trying new spots as you never know you could find your new favourite spot.

Sandies should be on the march too, so try Jacobs Well main channel right to Rocky Point and beyond to the Powerlines on the small drop-offs and holes for a feed.

Thanks for all your reports and fish weighed in and if you’d like any up to date info on what’s happening at the Pin drop us a line on 3287 3868 or email --e-mail address hidden--

Reads: 1288

Matched Content ... powered by Google