The Northern Bay has been absolutely humming this summer, and ample amounts of anglers have enjoyed the fruits of their labour during periods of good weather. For the past month we have been peppered with some solid southeasterly winds, which is a dream come true for anglers in our beloved Northern Bay as bait schools are forced into pockets along the Peninsula and filter into the mouths of our major tributaries – the Pine and Caboolture rivers and the Pumicestone Passage. Breaks in the wind patterns allow anglers to venture offshore, which have allowed extra fishing time for many keen anglers, and good catches reported in all corners of the bay.

The passage has fished quite well of late, and fishers have enjoyed the balmy summer days out on the water chasing good whiting and bream on the many sand flats in the area. Outgoing tide has been the most popular time to catch whiting, and freshly pumped yabbies are the pick of the baits. Sylvan Beach and Bongaree have been the best areas, and the Cockle Banks are a hit when the wind is down. Bream have scattered through the system with fuller tides allowing anglers to chase them up river and among the mangroves. The Banksia Beach canals have fired for bream at night, but remember to be courteous to homeowners while fishing outside their canal front homes.

Upriver, mud crabs have been caught, with the most productive sessions after rainy days (as short as they have been over the last month). Flathead numbers have slowed a little but should start to pick up towards the end of the month.

The Peninsula has been alive of late with solid bait schools holding up on the many bommies in the area. Juvenile snapper have shown the most promise over the last month, and when the weather is salubrious the North Reef resembles Queen St Mall on the weekends! Fishers make the most of the solid tides around the peak moon phases with overnight trips in search of good snapper roaming the peninsula. Fresh and artificial baits have had equal results with no time of day dominating in particular. As long as the southeasterly wind blows, key bommies around the northern end of the peninsula should always fire.

Bream have been a stalwart over the summer months with good solid fish reported through the peninsula. Hardbody lures like Ecogear CX40HS, Daiwa Presso Rolling Cranks, Atomic Crank 38 and Prolure D36 all attract constant bream attention in the area. Surface lures should continue to work well while water temperatures remain high.

Whiting are continuing their run, with Hays Inlet, the mouth of the Pine River and Eventide foreshore fishing well. Fresh worms and yabbies claim the title of most effective bait.

After a quiet start to the summer months, the Pine has started to fire alongside the warmer weather. Good bream have been found on the mangrove edges during the high tides, and the ebbing tides fish better in the lower reaches. Mixed bags of fish consist of whiting, bream and flathead and local anglers have reported common stories of hooking at least one stingray! Sand crabs have been pulled out of Bramble Bay, but with less frequency than before Christmas. While sifting through the many undersized crabs, patient anglers are at least rewarded for their tedious work with some decent sized crabs.

For the boaties that are kind enough to read my article, it never seems to be a good time to do this important bit of maintenance, but it’s better done at the start of the year than before it’s too late. I’m talking about trailer bearings. Arguably the most painful bit of boat maintenance, but one that holds the greatest consequence if not looked after. So roll up those sleeves and get your hands dirty before you are the one standing on the side of the road wishing you had listened to me!

Happy fishing!