Palm Beach Mackerel Fishing

[glen20]

Hey guys dad and I are thinking about heading down to Palm Beach and chase some mackerel when they are biting. Never been fishing there before any tips on baits and on how to stop the mackerel from busting you of around other peoples anchors would be great. Would 30-40lb line be good to use with a wire trace or go heacvier?

[Shane69]

A mate of mine went last week there. He got about 12 macks. He got them on live slimys an yakkas. Try finding some bait ground and jig up some lives and float them out.

Im going next weekend sat morning if weather permits to palm beach reef and few other spots to chase macks and cobia. Come along if you guys want.

Words out that they been getting nice at 4 beacons too, i have caught about 4 two weeks ago but no size. To them. Im going to see it for myself this friday morning. Hopefully rain stays awat.

We normally use metal slugs for em if we cant grab hold of lives. Most people use wire trace i do too sometimes but i prefer using 60lb fluro carbon trace. You have more chance off hooking on to them with mono leader than wire.we used steeltrace last time not even a touch, put mono on got 4 so shows mono trace works better. Id rather lose a few than not catch any.

Shane

[marty]

A mate of mine went last week there. He got about 12 macks.

Shane

Were these spotties?

[Shane69]

A mate of mine went last week there. He got about 12 macks.

Shane

Were these spotties?

7 spotties and 5 spanish.

[billp]

Got picture proof of this catch? All the kayakers that normally clean up have said it has been really quiet after the hot cob bite a couple of weeks ago.

[Shane69]

I saw the fish at my mates place. They spotties were 55-60 and spanish 80-85. Il ask him if he took photos cz i didnt as they are only macks.

He got them real earlly too. I think he got there before your kayak mates haha

[tugger]

30lb line is good and pilchards or live yakkas and slimies are good for bait so take some bait jigs out with you the livies are often on this reef . I use single strand wire 27lb with a 4/0 hook with the pilchards and 8/0 hooks with 38lb wire for livies try to use the smallest black swivel you trust as they will hit the brass ones and snip you above the wire.

[billp]

Looks like the car park will be open for business again than, once this bit of wind and rain clears over the next week or so. :evil:

[dassa]

G'day Glen and welcome to the site you shouldn't have to much trouble finding info on palm reef and mackerel or cobia for that matter so good luck I have learnt alot of the guys that fish the area like tugger who live's there during summer,stradie brad and mick fillet so good luck

[tugger]

I hope they get a bit bigger than that there was a run of very small spots last year as well and spotties need to be 60cm min size in qld

I saw the fish at my mates place. They spotties were 55-60 and spanish 80-85. Il ask him if he took photos cz i didnt as they are only macks.

He got them real earlly too. I think he got there before your kayak mates haha

[billp]

I'd say that were doggies not spots, there have been big schools on the sunny coast taking every bait under the sun.

[mickzxc]

What is the closest boat ramp to palm beach reef? Actually what is the closest and safest place to launch to get to the reef? Keen for some macks.

[tugger]

3 choices 2 are very close 5 minutes run but they are bars you have to cross currumbin ck and tallebudgera ck then there is the seaway at southport but i would go to mermaid reef from there which is about 20 minutes from the seaway running along the beach to the south in front of jupiters casino you can't miss any of these reefs as the many boats give them away

[mickzxc]

I've had a look at currumbin ck and it looks bloody shallow. I think most guys hug the breakwall and make a hard left at the end into deeper pastures.I've only ever seen tinnies leave from there. I dont think I'd be very comfortable heading from there. What tallebudega like?

[straddiebrad]

i would think they will be on the chew in 2-3 weeks if the water warms up,they are getting small one at the moment.also try and get there early so you get some fish you go too late and you will fight for a good spot last time i was down on the palmy with mark i lost count of boats after 90 or so and that was around 7-30-8-00 in the morning so get in and out before the crouds or go during the week.brad

[Carter]

I'd say that were doggies not spots, there have been big schools on the sunny coast taking every bait under the sun.

First I've heard about them although I'm not doubting you :cheer:,

which part of the Sunny Coast, Very few if any in Laguna bay as of yet, I'm just waiting patiently.

Glen 20, forget the bait, too stinky Use slugs,plastics, fly or troll with some gold lures about 15cm long and a 4 inchs of 20-30lb wire trace. Tiger wire is knotable and works a treat.

[tugger]

I will have regular reports of the palmy in 2 weeks time will be staying down at talle ck park for 3 weeks from then on

[maccatuna]

yeah the spotties have started to move in although size is small and low numbers at the moment december thru to march is shaping up for some more big spotties to arrive this season.

last yeah was a good season with many days on the reef carpark bagging out in 1hr then getting the light gear out and having some real fun.. only problem with that is the 200 anchor ropes to worry bout

[marty]

yeah the spotties have started to move in although size is small and low numbers at the moment december thru to march is shaping up for some more big spotties to arrive this season.

last yeah was a good season with many days on the reef carpark bagging out in 1hr then getting the light gear out and having some real fun.. only problem with that is the 200 anchor ropes to worry bout

we found after we got our bag on the reef we moved outside the pack and found spotties smashing bait and had fun on the light gear and slugs...plenty of room to run there.

[maccatuna]

sweet marty i will give that a try next time im there.. cheers

[makaira71]

Hey Glen. 30-40 lb braid is fine for spotties. I use 30 but thats my preference and 80lb leader. Now I know a lot of ppl are going to say use wire, but I have had no probs fishing with that down at palmy and mermaid for them. Yes if your after spanyards, use wire but also maybe heavier line and of course a decent reel with a good amount of drag as they like running hard.My set-up consists of a Jarvis Walker Victor general purpose rod with a JW Royale 6500 spin reel. Cheap but have lost count as to how many spotties this has caught me.

[dhess]

You probably get more strikes runing mono leader but what percentage of spotties do you recko you lose to bite offs?

Do you use ganged hooks?

[tugger]

Spanish macks are just as likely to take a small bait so if you use anything other than wire your likely to lose good fish as spanish will swallow it a fair way down and snip you off thus losing good fish.

Light single strand wire 18/27lb mackerel do not shy away from if anything they will shy from gang hooks i use a single hook and thread it through the pillie with a bait needle as these fish have excellent vision with big eyes in offshore waters where its clear it doesn't matter to much in the bay if its a bit murky.

[daveylad]

I'd go the wire too, have caught some on Mono but as Tugger says youll catch bigger Spaniards on wire with a small bait also...I caught a Sail Fish on a wire with a small pillie so I'd rather go with the off chance that theres somethi ng bigger out there and you are rigged and ready for it.

[crazywalrus]

Hey Mark - where do you buy the bait needles?

[glen20]

hey guys thanks for all the advice should have lots of fun if or when we head out

[tugger]

I make my own needles out of coathanger wire but you have to file down the turned end to fit through the small swivels

[Leighton]

There have been a few boats cross Talle Bar on mid to high water, there are 2 channels one Burleigh side and the other Palm Beach side. I have crossed the bar many times and there is still to much sand for my liking. Currumbin is sanded up also but at worst you can run along the beach and then find you gap, worst case you will end up on the beach.

Until a few bigger tides deepens the Talle bar I would not recommend the inexperienced cross the bar with a swell on it.

BTW none of the locals/local Pro's have been bothered yet to fish Palmy.

[tugger]

Leighton early in the season i like to go out to the gravel patch which is a bit wider and a chance the water is warmer and clearer till palmy starts firing i'll be taking a long look at those bars as i haven't crossed them for 9 months

[Bri The Pom]

Leighton early in the season i like to go out to the gravel patch which is a bit wider and a chance the water is warmer and clearer till palmy starts firing i'll be taking a long look at those bars as i haven't crossed them for 9 months

Look forward to report on the bars Mark, alot of response on this topic a few people are getting excited, me included.

[Leighton]

Leighton early in the season i like to go out to the gravel patch which is a bit wider and a chance the water is warmer and clearer till palmy starts firing i'll be taking a long look at those bars as i haven't crossed them for 9 months

Watch out for a tinnie following you to the gravel :whistle:

[fishingnut]

Is it better just to take the run down from the seaway?

[makaira71]

Havent been bitten off yet.Ganged no, just a stinger rig

[sehrguht]

Im pretty keen for this too, with the bait do you run full drag setting because they strike viciously or do you let them run with the bait?

I got some bait needles off ebay a few weeks back that were about 6$ delivered, 4 of them in it, they look like they would do the job.

[maccatuna]

i like to fish with 10lb braid with a 3000 size reel 18 lb 7 strand wire leader, made with simple crimps bout 1 ft long ,avoid shiny swivels and wire as the mack tend to bite u off more times than not no sinker unless current is a problem,cast away from the boat and sit and wait drag set to half.

the first run is brutal on 10lb,but within 2-4 mins you have your self a 80-90cm spottie thrashin in your boat

its not hard to get one u just have to be an early riser ,as the boat ramps will be full by 5am

[aussie123]

I was told Talle Creek is being dredged atm but I don't know how true that is.

If it is correct hopefully it may be ok over summer.

I intend to chase the macks this summer too.

I am keen to try a few methods we use down south that don't seem to be used up here,well not that I have ever heard of yet.

[Leighton]

The Dredge finished in Talle Creek about 6 weeks ago, pathetic attempt at best. The dredge stopped 100m from the end of the rock wall.

It is now in Currumbin and has done the same, basically a $hit fight between local and state government where the boating public looses and and the potential for more harm to bar and entrance uses increases.

[tugger]

If the weather is good and you have a small swell the bars are alright and the run from the bar is only 5 minutes compared to 30 minuites from tthe seaway it can all come down to what the tide is doing for the early morning start as to what the bar will be like

Is it better just to take the run down from the seaway?

[fishingnut]

Only have a 4.2 with a 40 so would rather travel a lil but than chance it through the bar

[dhess]

Only have a 4.2 with a 40 so would rather travel a lil but than chance it through the bar

For those bars on a good day your boat is probably close to ideal.

You biggest enemy is bottoming out on a sand bar.