The ‘Pin has been firing lately with some top catches of flatties, whiting, tailor and sand and mud crabs. The warm water temperature has helped to stir up the fish – hopefully this will continue in February!

Flathead are making up most of the catches especially for anglers flicking soft plastics. It really does work and for anglers who really get into it, and it’s relatively easy to learn and an enjoyable, proactive way to chase lizards. There have been some good quality fish around with plenty of 50-70cm specimens weighed in. Some larger 70cm+ fish have also been released to breed and fight another day. The pick of the spots have been the weed and mud banks near Pandannus Island, Kalinga Bank (as always), Cobby Passage, Mosquito Island and near the mouth of the Logan.

Tailor have shown up at last with schools of choppers available all day but they are much more active at sun up and sun down. They are chasing the whitebait that come through the ‘Pin bar and are easily found by the white birds diving into the water to feast on what the tailor have left behind. Spinning with any sort of metal lure should set you up for a feed but for the best results try to use a lure similar in size, shape and colour to what the fish are feeding on. If the fish aren’t actively chopping and there are no birds then drifting with a floated pilly is a good option. Larger greenbacks have been caught at night off the beaches of North and South Straddie on pilchards, gar and bonito flesh.

Some nice whiting are around as well – the best are well over half a kilo. They have been a little quiet but persistence will pay off for anglers who stay out all night on the Logan and Pimpama rivers, which have produced the biggest fish. Canaipa Passage, northwest Mosquito Island and the Gold Bank make up the other hot spots.

A lot of sandies are being caught along the deeper holes of Tiger Mullet Channel, Tabby Tabby, the mouth of the Logan River and near Diner Island. Muddies in the lower reaches of the Logan, off Cabbage Tree Point and behind Eden Island have been potted, making some great mixed bags of crabs for some lucky anglers.

Some decent sized bream, around 30cm, have been caught but there is nothing much to write home about. Most bream being caught are well undersize and are probably what has been knocking your bait off all day.

Jew have been slow with only the odd schoolie around 3-4kg mark being taken, which is still a nice fish from the Logan near Marks Rocks, Short Island and out front of Swan Bay in the jew hole.

I’d get in trouble if I didn’t mention my mate Ben’s 13kg yellowtail kingfish that was caught outside the ‘Pin. Well done son – just take me next time!

Thanks for all reports and if you have any questions about conditions or what’s biting, drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on (07) 3287 3868 or email --e-mail address hidden-- .