Written by Andrew Chorley
April is a fantastic month of fishing as the inshore and offshore scenes fire for those targeting reef fish along with the bay for pelagics. The creeks and Sandy Straits also see some great fishing. Something for everyone!
Burrum
Plenty of Bream, whiting and flathead have been reported out at Burrum Heads along with some nice grunter and Barra .The mud crabs are still running in the river so throwing a few pots in will also be worth a go.
Point Vernon
Around Gatakers squire, sweetlip, blackall and grunter have been taken on soft plastics and cut baits fished into the reef. Early mornings have been the best with most fish being landed just before the sun comes up.
Wide Grounds
Out towards the fairway plenty of mac and longtail tuna can be found along with trevally and queenfish around the beacon. Soft plastics worked around the bait schools have been getting plenty of attention as well as surface poppers. Out wider the southern gutters were a little hit and miss over the Easter break with parrot, grass sweetlip, hussar and coral trout being the main catches. Over towards Rooneys and the coral patch a few early snapper have been reported, along with nanygai and a few grass sweetlip, but the sharks particularly in the coral patch area have been horrendous.
Platypus Bay
In Platypus Bay mac and longtail tuna continue their run, along with big golden trevally and a few broad bar and spanish mackerel. Sharks are still a problem and targeting the smaller schools of tuna. Heading away from the main action will improve your chances of landing a few fish.
On the deeper reefs around the bay, schools of queenfish have started to move in along with big golden trevally. Targeting areas holding good amounts of bait will be the best way to find these great sport fish. Using 5 inch jerkshads worked through the bait schools is a deadly technique along with blades and soft vibes like thready busters.
Local Reefs
On the Arty some squire size snapper often start to move in during April. Fishing around the wrecks with soft plastics is a popular technique along with good old reliable live bait. When fishing for snapper, fish as light as possible with lightly weighted lures and baits will see great results.
Sandy Straits
In the Mary and Susan River systems a few smaller Barra and Threadfin continue to be caught around the lower reaches, working the rock bars and drains has been a successful technique with the ever reliable gold bomber nailing a few fish. Flathead and grunter have been good targets for the bait fishos, the grunter have been responding well to live prawns with a few flathead coming in as a welcome bycatch. Along the western side of the Island the creeks will still produce some mangrove Jacks and can also hold some good grunter.
