Nugget
15-01-2002, 02:07 AM
The Bay shallows have been the star performer this week with plenty of anglers reporting good catches of squire and sweetlip around Goat, Peel, Mud and Green Islands.
Fresh squid or hardiheads seems to be the most successful bait and the earlier you are on the water the better chance you have of catching a feed.
A few spotties were caught from around the northern Bay beacons but they were flighty because of the boat traffic, mid week was definitely more productive than the weekend.
It was also difficult at times to get near the beacons because of the large number of anglers jigging baitfish to take home and eat: this foreign practise must have a detrimental effect on the number of mackerel that stay in the Bay.
A few schoolies also showed up in the Rainbow Channel on the western side of North Stradbroke Island, they were feeding deep so a weighted pillie or trolling a lure behind a paravane was the best technique.
Mud crabs improved on the new moon this week with the Logan and Albert Rivers and the Redland Bay Channel areas that anglers reported good catches from.
Sand crabs continued to be in good numbers with the deeper water in the central and northern Bay more productive than the southern Bay islands and the northern Broadwater from Couran Cove south to the Seaway another area that has turned up excellent catches.
Weekend weather has prevented most boats from heading offshore, those that have managed to sneak out reported good catches of sweetlip from the shallows of Cape Moreton, lots of pelagic activity around The Group off Point Lookout and big mahi mahi around any floating structure including the wave rider buoy.
There are still good numbers of chopper tailor around the Pin bar, the reason they are still hanging around is because of the large schools of whitebait.
An early morning run in tide with an on-shore breeze has seen excellent catches just inside the bar and from the beaches either side.
It's worth having a weighted bait on the bottom as well as a floating slow retrieved bait to maximise your chances.
ENDS
Dave Downie ><>
Fresh squid or hardiheads seems to be the most successful bait and the earlier you are on the water the better chance you have of catching a feed.
A few spotties were caught from around the northern Bay beacons but they were flighty because of the boat traffic, mid week was definitely more productive than the weekend.
It was also difficult at times to get near the beacons because of the large number of anglers jigging baitfish to take home and eat: this foreign practise must have a detrimental effect on the number of mackerel that stay in the Bay.
A few schoolies also showed up in the Rainbow Channel on the western side of North Stradbroke Island, they were feeding deep so a weighted pillie or trolling a lure behind a paravane was the best technique.
Mud crabs improved on the new moon this week with the Logan and Albert Rivers and the Redland Bay Channel areas that anglers reported good catches from.
Sand crabs continued to be in good numbers with the deeper water in the central and northern Bay more productive than the southern Bay islands and the northern Broadwater from Couran Cove south to the Seaway another area that has turned up excellent catches.
Weekend weather has prevented most boats from heading offshore, those that have managed to sneak out reported good catches of sweetlip from the shallows of Cape Moreton, lots of pelagic activity around The Group off Point Lookout and big mahi mahi around any floating structure including the wave rider buoy.
There are still good numbers of chopper tailor around the Pin bar, the reason they are still hanging around is because of the large schools of whitebait.
An early morning run in tide with an on-shore breeze has seen excellent catches just inside the bar and from the beaches either side.
It's worth having a weighted bait on the bottom as well as a floating slow retrieved bait to maximise your chances.
ENDS
Dave Downie ><>