It’s been a pretty quiet week across the Whitsundays fishing scene, with patchy weather and cooler conditions keeping many anglers at bay. That said, those who have braved the conditions have been rewarded with some quality fish. Let’s hope next winter isn’t as cold as this one has been!
Dam
Thanks to poor conditions, the dam has seen limited traffic this week. Those who headed out managed to get a fish or two, but most catches were modest in size. We did have a couple of reports of nice barra though, which were landed by slow trolling along the edge of the weed beds.
Estuary
The standout this week has been the estuary fishing. Grunter have been around in both good numbers and size, with fresh bait proving to be the key to success. Creek mouths and deeper channels have been the most productive areas.
We’ve also had reports of decent mud crabs being caught. Dropping pots into deeper holes with fresh bait has yielded the best results.
Islands & Offshore
Offshore action has been sporadic but promising in patches. The charter boats have reported some quality coral trout and large nannygai coming over the side.
While bottom fishing has been steady, the real excitement has been on the surface. Mackerel and tuna are thick at the moment, and those chasing them on topwater lures have enjoyed some incredible air strike sessions – an absolute thrill for anyone keen on visual fishing.
The weekend is set to be a windy one, with wind easing during the week. Rug up and do your best to find somewhere protected!
Best of luck out there!
Contributed with thanks to Beth Hockley and Jason Fisher from Tackle World Airlie Beach
Whitsundays local, Nikki, ticking a Golden Trevally off her list. Photo supplied