Southern
OLD
Uncertain times for everyone GOLD COAST
David Green
As I write this all of South East Queensland has been placed into lockdown, and working in the public hospital space and seeing the cases of the Delta Strain I feel this may be a prolonged situation until we achieve our
vaccination targets. As such it is a bit hard to predict what the fishing will be like this month, and there is also the real possibility that the upcoming Gold Coast Flathead Classic may have to be cancelled. Hopefully the lockdown will end and we can resume our normal fishing. September is always a difficult month to predict from a fishing point of view.
On the wider offshore grounds target species include striped marlin and blue marlin and big yellowfin tuna on the wider grounds. There are often schools of sauris around at this time of year, and if you find good bait stay in the vicinity. While trolled skirted lures are the commonest method used, switchbaiting using hookless lures with a belly strip from a
Franco Martinese with a pretty tailor.
Zali Boyd with a nice flathead.
Manning River Marine
www.tournamentboats.com.au 1/11 Knobel Ct SHAILER PARK QLD 4128
514 Canterbury Rd VERMONT VIC 3133
(02) 6552 2333
0427 326 464
(03) 9874 4624
13 Victoria St TAREE NSW 2430
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tuna sewn in generally gives a much better percentage of bites to successful hook-ups when chasing striped marlin. These fish can be notoriously hard to hook on lures as they tend to swipe the lure with their bill a lot. Out wider, there can be good yellowfin tuna action beyond the 1000m line, roughly 80km east of the Gold Coast Seaway. Most of these fish fall to trolled lures but casting large stick baits can also be effective. Most of these yellowfin are between 35-60kg and it is quite common to have multiple hook-ups. For those interested in chasing broadbill swordfish, September is a good month to try as the current is generally fairly minimal. This month should also be a good one for deep dropping chasing flame snapper, bar cod and big pearl perch. A lot of anglers are investing in electric reels to chase these fish in 200-400m of water. Local charter boat, Lucky Strike, has refined this method during the closed snapper season with great results. Just about everything caught in these depths is great eating. In closer to shore the 50
SEPTEMBER 2021
Regal Marine
