Written by Andrew Chorley
June should see some more stability in the weather with our usual winter pattern, and hopefully being the norm. We are lucky to have those nice warm sunny days and afternoon glass outs.
Offshore
Good numbers of reefies have been reported over break sea spit. Winter is a great time to fish out there as generally we have calmer seas and there is less current. Brown maori cod, red throats, sweetlip, coronation trout, amberjacks, snapper, pearl perch, rosy job fish and more have all been reported. The closer wide grounds like the northern and southern gutters will also be worth a look for coral trout, snapper, hussar, parrot and sweet lip.
Burrum
Out the front towards Toogoom, winter whiting can be found in patches with yabbies working well along with gulp worms. Off Burrum, the 8 mile has produced a few squire with the odd larger specimen, blackall, golden trevally and school mackerel have been captured on the 8 mile with live baits. Around the river mouth, the usual bream, whiting and flathead can be found with some nice flathead moving in around the ramps.
Platypus Bay
The winter fishing can see a big range of species on offer around the Bay and up the Island. Platypus Bay has produced a few snapper and various trevally species. Snapper have yet to show up, but shouldn’t be far away. School, spanish and broad bar mackerel can be found on the reefs and drop-offs up there, they have been taken on metal slugs and live baits. Mac tuna and longtail tuna can still be found in small pockets with soft plastics casted to the working schools are doing the best.
Local Reefs
Local reefs have been producing some late season coral trout, mackerel, sweetlip, blackall and occasional snapper. Snapper catches will increase as water temps drop and more fish move into the bay. Working soft plastics has been very effective, and fishing with light braid and leaders has increased the hook up rates. Fresh cut and live baits have also been working well fished light as possible on the tide change. Good numbers of winter whiting have been coming in from their usual haunts, with the grounds off Dundowran being a favorite for many looking to get some protection from the south westerly winds. Squid are a favorite for many over winter and can usually be found on the rocky outcrops and local rockwalls and jettys as they hang around the bait schools. Clear water is the key to good results along as finding an area holding bait fish. Reports so far have been good with a some nice squid about.
Sandy Strait
The straits have been fishing well with some good flathead being reported, winter whiting can also be found down there along with grunter, bream, salmon and chopper tailor.
Urangan Pier
Off the pier some good bream have started to move in. Small live herring fished beside the pylon have produced the better quality bream with some big flathead also taking live baits meant for bream. Pilchards, hardy heads and small soft plastics have also been working well. Out towards the end of the Pier mac tuna, school mackerel and golden trevally have been taken on metal spoons, live baits and soft plastics.