Hopefully this month we’ll get a reprieve from the strong winds that have prevailed since Christmas. If the weather does settle, there are many options for the astute angler.

The outside reefs should perform well as they have had little fishing pressure from the trailer boat fraternity the past couple of months. The Rooneys, 6 Mile and the Coral Patch all fish well for scarlet sea perch and coral bream. Cod are a chance on live bait.

The southern gutters are much the same with a few different species depending on where you fish.

A few anglers have been catching big summer whiting and flathead in the shallows and February is one of the best months to chase golden trevally along the sandbank near Fraser Island. On light line, whether it be fly, spin or bait; goldens are a formidable adversary and a lot of fun.

Trolling is a good way to locate the fish when things are slow and quite often produces a few different species. I recommend keeping at least one deep diver in your collection as there are a few cod and coral trout amongst the bommies.

Tuna are abundant throughout the Sandy Straits and Platypus Bay this month and the Hervey Bay Boat Club Gamefishing Club holds its annual tuna challenge every February. This tournament is part of a tri-series in conjunction with Bribie Island and Mooloolaba Sports Fishing Clubs. The Hervey Bay leg is open to fly and spin competitors and both categories are 8kg line class. The tuna challenge is from February 24-26th and if you would like to know more contact Trevor Nye on (07) 4125 6279.

A double hook-up on mack tuna out from Wathumba Creek in Hervey Bay.