Safe summer surface fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Neil Schultz

ABOVE: Creeks draining into tropical bays almost invariably hold barramundi, such as this lean salty caught by Kevin Clark at Cardwell.

We are only weeks away from the Christmas holiday period, when families dust off boats to hit the coast. When fishing with kids, safety is of course paramount, so less confident boaties tend to shy away from blue water, however the estuaries aren’t your only options.

Those of you who’d like to try bending a rod on some ‘fast fish’ but would rather not tackle a bar crossing, there are numerous options.

Much of Moreton Bay is classified as ‘partially smooth’ and can easily be accessed in most reasonable weather conditions.

We have more than two dozen species of trevally in Queensland, most of which will run down a surface lure. Rosemary scored a giant trevally north of Mackay.

My sons and I spent many days spanning a couple of decades on the bay during summer holidays.

In the years prior to and after those holiday trips with the youngsters, my wife and I would regularly venture further afield to other smooth water venues, including Hervey Bay – a favourite – Gladstone Harbour, Hinchinbrook Channel, Victor Island and Edgecombe Bay.

All of these locations offer a comfortable alternative to true blue water fishing, while still providing seasonal pelagic action.

Tuna are among the favourite surface feeders to chase in the bays, with mackerel tuna being the most cooperative and frigates often being the toughest to tempt onto a lure.

Being visual feeders helps keep kids – young and old – excited during the pursuit of tuna, even when results are not up to expectations.

Areas throughout the state experience a seasonal run of spotted mackerel, such as this average specimen captured on a 50g Lazer Lure byGraham.

Seeing the target fish leaping clear of the water keeps youngsters focused on the task at hand and they don’t miss their screens at all.

Though various tuna species can be taken using a variety of methods, spinning for them with metal baitfish profile lures is the most active and hands-on tactic.

This is the realm of fast-spinning reels, used to make long casts and then retrieve the lure as quickly as physically possible.

Once the boat is within casting range – and positioned upwind of the breaking fish – the motor should be kicked into neutral but not turned off.

The sudden cessation of background noise when the motor is shut down can be enough to make spooky schools of tuna stop feeding.

Neville Crawley with a typical Moreton Bay longtail tuna taken only a few hundred metres from shore.

Longtail tuna are a shallow-water species, frequenting most bays around the Queensland coastline.

These are the largest of our inshore tuna, with 20kg specimens not uncommon and, as an added bonus, are an excellent table fish.

Large longtails can be a very frustrating target, especially in hard fish water such as Moreton Bay.

The smaller year class fish tend to be much more cooperative, with those in the far north being quite easy to catch under normal conditions.

Other commonly encountered surface feeders in sheltered waters are the small mackerels.

Spotted mackerel are at their peak in southeast Queensland over the Christmas holiday period and are great sport and a first-class table fish.

A fine longtail tuna for Tony. Check out the water conditions in the background – very safe and comfortable.

Spotties respond to the same high-speed spinning techniques as tuna and will conveniently take the same lures too.

Locally made Lazer Lures 50g has been a consistent producer of mackerel and tuna in my boat for more than 30 years and I’m still yet to find a better product.

Further north, grey mackerel hunt very close to shore, being caught even from beaches at times when following baitfish migrations.

Along with tuna and mackerel, a variety of other speedsters will show up – depending of course on the latitude you’re fishing.

Many of the numerous trevally species live and feed in close, many preferring areas with a strong tidal flow.

Species that are regularly encountered in the shelter of Queensland’s bays form a comprehensive list, including queenfish, tailor, cobia, ribbonfish, barracuda, bonito and of course barramundi.