Brisbane

Moreton Bay spring mayhem continues

BRISBANE Gordon Macdonald

masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

With conditions recently starting to warm, we have witnessed a change in the prominence and aggressiveness of many species in the Moreton Bay area. Mangrove jack, threadfin salmon, school mackerel, flathead, tuskfish, crabs and several others will come to the fore over the coming month.

Continuing to be found in decent numbers will be snapper, sweetlip, mulloway, bream, whiting and many other popular species. Let’s explore some of the October offerings that you may wish to target.

SCHOOL MACKEREL

A favoured sport and table fish for many bay anglers are school mackerel. These are relatively plentiful, aggressive, fight well and great table fare. They are definitely the most commonly eaten fish for my family as they are not hard to source once you understand their habits. They have similar habits to flathead in many bay areas, especially the banks and channel areas of the central region.

On the lower stages of the tide they roam the major channels, patrolling the edges as the tide makes. Once the water on the flats is deep enough that they don’t feel conspicuous, they will then go up onto the banks to hunt baitfish, squid and crustaceans. As the tide falls they will again move back into the channels to feed on the food sources forced from the banks with the receding tide. Every area is a little different however, and the size of the tidal movement will additionally affect the timing of their pattern. Chances are if you catch mackerel in an area one day they will also be there the following day at the same stage of the tide.

Additionally, schoolies will patrol the fringes of the bay islands, artificial reefs, around the beacons and anywhere else baitfish are likely to be. Anglers fishing the banks areas for whiting or the bay islands for snapper are advised to have a pilchard aft to tempt any schoolie that happens by. If the current is strong then you may need a small sinker to keep the pilchard a few metres under the surface, however in slower currents you will need a float to stop it sinking to the bottom. A ganged-hook rig is optimal; I often make mine with a 4/0, 3/0 and 2/0 tapered configuration to suit a mid-sized pilchard. This presents a thinner 2/0 hook at the rear of the bait, which is less bulky in the thin section of the pilchard. Additionally, a thinner hook is more likely to set when the mackerel slashes at the bait. The leading 4/0 hook is pinned centrally down through the top of the head just in front of the eye. The remaining two hooks are pinned centrally down through the back. Make sure the pilchard is nice and straight and it should just waft in the current instead if spinning. This will definitely catalyse you more bites, as the offering presents more naturally.

Trolling spoons behind paravanes and trolling boards is another popular way to entice school mackerel. This rig can be trolled in the channels and along the edges of the banks where mackerel are likely to be found and is a great way to cover a good degree of water due to commonly trolling at speeds between 5-7kg knots. I prefer to use a 50lb handline for trolling spoons as it is convenient to have permanently rigged and ready for service plus it is nice to feel the strike of the fish. You will need a glove of some sort to prevent line burns, which is also the reason for the thicker mainline. Halco Barra Drones, Halco Kimberley spoons, Smiths Jigs and many others will work a treat. The coming months should see school mackerel numbers and average size on the increase. THREADFIN SALMON

As water temperatures rise, threadfin salmon numbers will increase in the lower reaches of the Brisbane River. Rainfall promotes this movement as it will push prawns down the system due to lowering salinity. Threadfin will be located in popular areas such as the Swing Zone, ledge in from the sewerage chute, Oil Pipeline drop-off, declines into the main river basin, around the dredge pipes and the dredge holes near the retaining wall at the mouth and adjacent most of the wharves and jetties (adhere to port distance restrictions). Those with side imaging sounders and good knowledge of their operation will soon be able to locate any threadies as they show prominently due to their large air bladders. However, getting them to bite can often be difficult, especially when the prawns are prevalent. Hopping or slow rolling soft vibes is a proven method although a good array of other artificials can be employed, including soft plastics (paddle-tail shads, crustacean profiles and jerk shads), blades, micro jigs, trolled minnow lures and an assortment of flies.

Live baits, such as banana prawns, mullet, herring, gar and pike can be deployed close to the bottom in these areas. These baits can be fished from an anchored or drifting perspective and are a more relaxed approach than lure fishing. Live baits will often produce when the bite on lures is slow, especially when the prawns are running. Threadfin move around quite a bit during the tidal phase therefore chances are heightened of them finding your offering.

MANGROVE JACK

Warmer water temperatures and rising barometer readings can really get the jacks fired up. Already this season there has been some creditable fish taken in the canals, rivers and amongst the estuarine snags. I have heard of quality specimens scored from systems such as the Pine River, Logan River, Raby Bay Canals, Scarborough Boat Harbour, Newport Waterways, Sovereign Waters and the Coomera River. However, there are plenty more areas that will produce the goods.

Lure casting to bankside structure and rock bars is a popular pursuit, however, live baiting around deeper holes and prominent structure such as rock bars, bridge pylons and mangrove snags can also work a treat. Banana prawns, herring, mullet and pike can all work well when presented in these zones with a minimum of lead. Late afternoon, early morning and night-time sessions will often produce the best action. Rapidly rising barometric pressure will really fire up the jacks and make them super aggressive. This usually occurs with impending storms however, caution needs to be observed when on the water in these conditions, even in the estuaries.

Estuary cod, trevally, flathead, mulloway and several other desirable species will be encountered whilst targeting mangrove jack.

As temperatures rise over the coming months, jack activity should increase accordingly with the bite getting more aggressive due to their metabolism increasing. MULLOWAY

Whilst mulloway are considered more of a cool weather species, there will still be some cracking fish to be caught over the coming months in the rivers and throughout Moreton Bay. In the lower reaches of the Brisbane River, mulloway will be most likely be caught in the same places and with the same techniques as the threadfin. Further out into the bay around the shipping channel leading into the Brisbane River, the artificial reefs and some areas around Mud and Peel islands, mulloway numbers will be healthy for some time yet.

Some target threadies by firstly locating them with the sounder, whilst others deploy live and dead baits in likely areas and wait. Obviously, snapper will also be caught in good numbers by those targeting mulloway. I tend to try and locate decent bait schools in these areas and then hop or slow roll soft vibes such as the Samaki Thumpertail around these zones. Soft plastic shads, blades and even micro jigs can all be put to good use. Wherever a good concentration of bait is found in the rivers it is highly likely that a mulloway or two might be lurking close by. Lighted areas at night will attract baitfish and are great areas to target. This can often be done from a land-based perspective. Submerged ledges and deeper holes are also likely to produce.

If there is one mulloway around, it is likely that there are multiple fish as they commonly school. In some areas such as the Peel Artificial Reef, sharks can be a big problem and will eat any hooked fish. Good numbers of these spectacular fish will be around for some time yet but now is a great time to get amongst them.

LONGTAIL TUNA

October can offer some decent longtail tuna fishing for anglers prospecting Moreton Bay. Whilst large surface feeding schools aren’t that common, longtails are still around to be caught. I have caught quite a few over winter, mostly taken as by-catch whilst targeting snapper. A soft vibe or soft plastic shad has often been eaten as it sinks, with all captures being early morning within 30 minutes of dawn. Specimens between 103cm and 112cm were eventually captured after a sizeable tussle on a 2500 sized spinning reel.

Many of these captures were around the artificial reefs or Mud Island where baitfish are common.

For those specifically targeting longtails, live baits fished around the major shipping channel beacons, current lines or other areas where baitfish are common, is a good ploy. Yakkas, pike, slimey mackerel, cowanyoung and several other species can be used.

I like to present one live bait mid-water and a second about a quarter of the way down, usually suspended beneath a balloon. Circle hooks are ideal for this type of fishing, especially when used in a snelled rig with the leading hook pinned through the nose and the trailing hook near the tail. (See my Tech Tricks article in this issue on making a snelled hook rig). Fish your reels in free-spool to allow the fish to run with the bait and then simply engage the drag and allow the tension to take up. This will usually result in the circle hook pinning the fish in the corner of the mouth, which is the best spot. Occasional surface feeding longtails might be sighted

This solid mulloway fell victim to a Nomad Vertrex Max that Chris hopped adjacent to submerged structure east of the Brisbane River.

and these can be targeted with cast and retrieve offerings such as stickbaits, casting minnows, jigheadrigged jerkshad plastics, baitfish profiled flies, metal slices and pencil poppers. CRABS

Crabbing has been decent over previous weeks with most returning home with a solid feed after setting four pots over a tidal change.

Blue swimmer and sand crabs are most commonly found around the outer fringes of the bay islands, in the major channels between the banks systems, along submerged contours and deeper ledges. Observing the depths at which the commercial sector are currently setting the majority of their pots will give a good indication of the depth at which the crabs are likely to be. However, do not set yours in the same area as the pros. Find a similar location some distance away.

Fish frames, whole mullet and chicken carcasses are some of the more popular baits that get results. Mud crabs will also be available for those setting pots deep in the mangrove systems and upper reaches of the creeks and gutters feeding out of the mangrove expanse.

At this time of the year, those who set their pots in the harder to reach areas will generally achieve the best rewards. Ensure you are aware of the difference size and bag limits for each crab species and have an accurate measuring device aboard. There are also regulations in regard to pots and the labelling of them that must be adhered to otherwise you risk a fine. SQUID

Providing we haven’t had any serious rainfall, there should still be squid to be caught throughout Moreton Bay including the foreshores, canals and harbours. Squid like clean water, therefore if murky it is unlikely that you will get results. Better specimens can often be taken later in the season. Arrow squid can be especially prevalent at this time of the year, especially in the major channels such as the Rous and Rainbow. Sometimes they are hard to tempt on egi and you will need a baited skewer to get results.

Good spots to try for tiger squid include the shallows of the bay islands, the weed beds and discoloured edges of the major channels, the weed beds north of Tangalooma and south of Dunwich and other areas where clean water flows over reef, rock, rubble or weed. CONCLUSION

October is a great month to get out on the water. Warmer conditions make those early morning sessions a lot more bearable and weather patterns are usually a little more stable. A great array of species will be on offer in the bays and rivers. Prime targets for the inshore fraternity are flathead, threadfin and mangrove jack whilst many bay anglers will have their sights on school mackerel, snapper, tuskfish and mulloway. Add in succulent seafood including sand, blue swimmer and mud crabs or some tiger and arrow squid and you have the best part of a feast. Get out and explore some of October’s offerings.

Jemma scored a nice tiger squid in the upper Rous Channel on an egi. There should still be a few decent ones around during October.

Jason Habchi caught this magnificent snapper off the coast of North Stradbroke Island using pilchards.

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