We are coming into prime reef fishing months that usually goes hand in hand with beautiful weather.

I can't believe we are still getting big catches of mackerel.

In early June Spanish mackerel were thick on our close northern grounds. Trolling live yakkas was absolutely blitzing them – great fun!

School mackerel have replaced the huge schools of spotted mackerel that were rampant earlier in the year. The schoolies are also in big numbers and are taking floating pilchards with aggression.

The reef scene has also stepped up a gear. On the close reefs, snapper, large-mouth nannygai and lots of Moses perch are biting well.

The reefs out wider have been a bit hit and miss; one day they are full-on, the next, the fishing is average. However, large parrotfish are in good numbers, along with snapper and pearl perch.

There have been good catches of tailor around Inskip Point, mainly in the evening. They are also being caught just north of the swimming area at Rainbow Beach.

Whiting are biting very well on the southern end of Fraser Island, with big catches around the full moon.

I have had reports of big bream being landed at night on the Teewah Beach side with chopper tailor in the mix with them.

The highlight of the Straits have been mud crabs. I don't think I have ever seen so many crabs potted this late in the year. It has been fantastic.

Winter whiting have turned up around Bullock Point and near the Bluff Reef on the inside of Fraser Island.

Good flathead are responding well to soft plastic lures, also in the Bullock Point area.

July is a great month. Last year big snapper were everywhere from our eastern grounds to way up on our northern grounds – so I will be gearing up for another great snapper season.

Don't forget the Rainbow Beach Fishing Classic will be on 23-31 July. Anyone interested in this great week should get their entry in early as it will be bigger than normal due to the absence of the Fraser Island Fishing Classic.

If you’d like to experience some of the sensational fishing Rainbow Beach has to offer, give me a call at Keely Rose Fishing Charters on (07) 5486 3150 or 0407 146 151, or visit www.keelyrosefishingcharters.com.au