Spring often marks a run of snapper offshore and squire in Moreton Bay and reports over the past week indicate that this year should follow the pattern.
Deep Tempest has been the pick of the offshore snapper catches with live bait on a floater rid up off the bottom producing the results.
In the Bay there have been good catches of squire by anglers anchoring on the western side of the Douglas light just off the red beacon on the coral fringe.
Best baits have been mullet, squid or hardyheads and the technique is to get your bait to the bottom then slowly feed out line bouncing it along the bottom away from the boat.
There have also been squire caught on rubble bottom patches just off the Cleveland and Wellington Point leads.
The first hour after dark seems to be a productive time in this area.
In the Logan River there has been a run of small school jew, they are chasing prawns on the deeper edge of sand banks and the drop onto deeper holes but a small poddy mullet should also entice them.
Small mullet have been plentiful by working any area on the lee side of fallen trees with a cast net.
Spots that have produced schoolies over the last week are the drop into deep water on the downstream side of the Elbow just up-river from Carbrook and the up-stream side of the sand bank at the Albert and Logan River junction as well as the usual Marks Rock but only on the turn of the tide.
Big flathead are still cruising close to bar entrances and river mouths, a live whiting, mullet or herring is the top bait but a pillie will also entice them.
Pick of the spots is the undulating sand off Reeders Point and the edges of the Rous Channel as well as Kalinga Bank, either side of Short Island and the Southport Seaway.
Judging by the catches, the summer whiting season is already in full swing with big catches down the western side of Moreton Island, at Aggeston Sands in the Logan River and the Nerang River especially between Budds Beach and the Council Chambers.
Only three weeks till the Brisbane Boat Show and Fishing Expo on September 19 – 24, this year’s line up looks like it will be bigger and better than ever.

ENDS
Dave Downie ><>