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The blending of the seasons means blending of the species
  |  First Published: May 2017



With summer leaving us and winter coming, we have a blending of species this month. Most summer species and winter species are able to be caught. Mulloway and snapper are mixing with summer species like jacks and mackerel. Now is definitely the best time of the year to wet a line on the Tweed.

We haven’t had the best conditions for fishing offshore and from beaches this month. Northerlies and big swell affect a lot of offshore and beach fishing. The estuaries, back creeks and rivers have been the pick for most anglers. The recent storms and rain have given a real shake up to these systems, which sees them fishing really well.

Offshore

Spanish, spotties and dog mackerel have really turned on this month, with good catches on Nine Mile and Kingy Reef. These fish are mainly being caught on trolled baits and deep diving hardbodied lures. The odd one has been caught on large metal lures. Small packs of tuna have been seen on the 50m lines, with black marlin not far behind these packs of tuna.

Blacks have been caught on the 24s and 36s as well. Blue marlin have been between 200-400m of water with the odd mahimahi around the FAD. Pretty boy bonito have been around Snapper and Kirra reefs. Troll baits or strip baits for a good starting place for your offshore adventure. These two little reefs hold a lot of bait, and a bait jig is best to get a live tank full.

Estuary

Rains and storms have given the system a good shake up recently, which means jacks and trevally are on the chew this month. Good numbers have been caught around the bridges and holes throughout the Tweed. Jacks are really trying to fatten up and can’t resist a big old strip bait. Mulloway are also showing up in these spots in good numbers as well. Bream are being caught around the rock wall of the river mouth. Drift baits and soft plastics are doing all the damage on these little silver brutes.

There’s still the odd whiting being caught. Try drifting a yabby over the shallow sand banks like the Piggery and Terranora.

Crabs are still running really well. Sandies and muddies can be caught this month. Look for big tides and the full moon for the best results. Restrictions apply, so remember to see what applies to you in your area.

Beach

The beach hasn’t been the best this month for fishing, with northerlies, blue bottles and large swell. Not a lot has been caught. There are still good gutters from the spit right down to Byron Bay. Mulloway, bream, dart, flathead and the odd tailor are being caught in the best gutters. Beach worms, pipis, pillies and metal lures are working the best.

Freshwater

The storms and rain have turned on the fresh system, with most creeks and rivers flowing again. Bass have really started to bite. These bass are trying to fatten up for the hibernation period. Cicada imitations, jig spins and hardbodied lures are working best. Crackbaits seem to be working well on Clarrie Hall Dam.

The blending of species this month should see more summer and winter species schooling up. The weather should start to settle down over the next month, which will give anglers a chance to get out and chase some pelagic species before they move back north. We should see more snapper and tuskfish showing up on close reefs, and the currents will slow down as winter approaches. This makes things easier for bottom bashing and jigging.

Estuaries will see more mulloway in the system and bream starting to school up. Tailor will start to show up in the rivers and on beaches and will thicken up as the month goes on.

If you would like any additional information on the region or advice on fishing, please see my fishing page on Facebook – Fishing Fun Gold Coast. I’ll be happy to answer your questions and steer you in the right direction.

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