The winds have been almost unbearable the past few months and for most anglers, like me, are itching to get back on the water. Here are a few options if you plan to wet a line this silly season.

The Arch Cliffs six mile has been producing golden trevally, Spanish mackerel and mac tuna on live baits. Schools of spotted mackerel, mac tuna and bonito have been feeding from Coongal creek to Wathumba and longtail tuna and black marlin have been scattered throughout the bay.

The Arty has fished well for blackall, coral bream and the odd coral trout. There have been a few cod around the larger structures and blue parrot are around if you feel like getting your arms stretched.

Big blueys are probably one of the hardest fish to land no matter what the location, but when you hook one on the artificial reef only the heaviest lines and brute strength will get them out.

Summer whiting and flathead have been caught in good numbers down the straits. A good place to find them is in the shallows on a full tide just after first light. The Mary and Susan river systems are worth a try for mangrove jack and jew and a few anglers have scored well fishing the eddy’s down current of snags, with lures and live bait on a full moon at night.

The Burrum River is a beautiful place to wet a line this time of year and there have been queenfish, cod, jacks, trevally and a couple of barra smashing lures around the black bank. Please remember it is closed season for barra so you have to put them back.

A few muddies have been on the move as well as the usual bread and butter species of the Burrum; whiting, bream and flathead.

No matter what the weather throws at us this Christmas break there are plenty of options for the Fraser Coast angler. Have a safe and prosperous Christmas.