The fishing has been fantastic lately around the estuaries of the ‘Pin area, especially through the Bar.

When we’ve had good weather plenty of tinnies have headed out and some great catches of tuna, mackerel, cobia, sharks and the odd dolphinfish have been reported. A few ventured out even further and were rewarded with wahoo, sailfish and small marlin.

Back at the ‘Pin tailor have been on the chew chasing baitfish and smashing metal slugs on the surface. A few decent sized greenbacks (almost 3kg) have been seen. Early morning has been the best time to score a feed of choppers.

To make tailor fishing easier remove the treble hook and replace it with a single chemically sharpened size ½ hook. Tailor tend to swallow the whole treble when feeding so it’s easier to remove the single hook which causes the fish less damage. And it gets you back in the water and on to the next fish faster.

Flathead have been around in good numbers along the weedbanks near Pandannus Island, Cobby Passage, Kalinga Bank and near the Powerlines. Small pillies, whitebait and soft plastics have been working well with white, green or pink the best colours and natural baitfish looking lures working well also. Flathead are an ambush predator and they could be in as little as a foot of water, so don’t be afraid to get the lure right in there.

The Logan River has produced a few mangrove jacks on live banana prawns and herring around Marks Rocks. Jacks have been biting for the hour when the tide turns. Make sure you have heavy line up to 60-80lb and don’t give them an inch – they’ve been busted up plenty of tackle lately. There have also been a few good lizards, whiting, morwong, sharks and plenty of catfish on offer in the Logan River.

Good quality whiting are holding around the sandbanks near Crusoe Island, Slipping Sands and the Broadwater towards the Gold Coast. Stick with live worms if you can get them or try peeled prawns, squid or cured worms.

Plenty of small to medium bream are about, which is nothing new, so be sure to release the under-sized ones safely.

Thanks for all you reports and feedback, if you’d like any advice or info drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on (07) 3287 3868 or email --e-mail address hidden--