queensland Brisbane River Land Based

[Grmby]

Hi there I am new to Brisbane and am currently figuring out the best local land based fisheries. Have fished manly and Brisbane river at colmslie reserve. Had some luck with the bream. Wanting to know what are the best species to target coming into the cooler months, and is it worth targeting flathead in the Brisbane river?

[ellicat]

Targeting flathead landbased would be very difficult. Back before the drought broke in 2011 you could get them all the way up to College's Crossing. Now you're lucky to get one at the mouth (or unlucky since the spill).

There's plenty of places to fish landbased such as Dutton Park, Indooroopilly bridge, Newstead park. Species - bream, jew, King threadfin. pike eels, lost squire, catties ....

Google Earth/Maps is definitely your best friend to search for spots.

[Grmby]

Thanks mate, I was told by a guy at BCF that there is flathead to be caught in the river land based, but am also hearing/reading otherwise. Where would be the best place to target flatties, around Brisbane? 

[josha293]

10 minutes ago, Grmby said:

Thanks mate, I was told by a guy at BCF that there is flathead to be caught in the river land based, but am also hearing/reading otherwise. Where would be the best place to target flatties, around Brisbane? 

I like to fish the bribie passage for flat head. Plenty of good ground 

[Grmby]

What plastics are best for the flatties up there? Or is bait the go? Cheers

[josha293]

10 minutes ago, Grmby said:

What plastics are best for the flatties up there? Or is bait the go? Cheers

I only use plastics for them. Flathead aren't fussy so any plastic will do the job fine. My go to plastic is a 3inch zman minnow in the space guppie colour rigged on a 3/8th 3/0 jighead

[Grmby]

Thanks mate might try and get up that way on the wknd. Is the run out at dawn/dusk the best time?

[ellicat]

Around the bay - Victoria Point, Wynnum, Manly.

[Grmby]

Thanks ellicat, have been reading mixed reviews for which fish are best to target this time of year, any info on that? 

Cheers 

[josha293]

19 minutes ago, Grmby said:

Thanks mate might try and get up that way on the wknd. Is the run out at dawn/dusk the best time?

I was getting them all times of the day and tide but everyone always says the last of the run out and dawn/dusk 

[ellicat]

You'll get flatties year round, but peak congregations are in spring.

If you like chasing bream then late autumn/early winter is their 'prime' time.

[Grmby]

Okay cool, I've only been to bribie once for a quick drive, is the channel where the bridge is the best spot to have a flick?

[Angus]

One of our members @helibase catches plenty of flathead in the Brisbane River all the way to the city reaches.

[ellicat]

You could try Ningi creek on the way to Bribie also. Try Whitepatch and around the canals too. Everywhere is pretty close to the next there.

Another Bris River spot is Mowbray Park, East Brisbane. Potentially good if you have family tagging along.

[Grmby]

Thanks for the suggestions, will have to write these spots down, coming from Melbourne it's overwhelming with the variety of fishing so close to Brisbane. Would you suggest plastics or bait for bream ? Have caught a few already on bait but would really like to get some on plastics, bream are hard to find in vic, usually require a fair bit of travelling 

[josha293]

8 minutes ago, Grmby said:

Thanks for the suggestions, will have to write these spots down, coming from Melbourne it's overwhelming with the variety of fishing so close to Brisbane. Would you suggest plastics or bait for bream ? Have caught a few already on bait but would really like to get some on plastics, bream are hard to find in vic, usually require a fair bit of travelling 

Bream are very easy to target. The canal systems are a great place for them as almos every solingle pontoon will hold bream. Very early mornings, 2-2.5 inch zman grubs in motor oil colour, also run a lite leader(4-6lb)

[ellicat]

For plastics fishing - Light line (4lb) as light a jighead as is practicable for the conditions, 2-3inch plastics.

[Grmby]

Thanks guys, apart from the flatties and bream, what is a good, fun species to target with plastics on light gear and land based? Not big on keeping my catch just like to have an it of fun

[Junky]

Mangrove jack. 

Never get tired of catching Jacks. 

[Grmby]

Ah cool, only ever seen em on fishing shows look like a real good fighting species.. what's the best time of the year for them? Where's the bet places to target them? 

Cheers 

[Junky]

Warmer months.

Canal systems are a favourite for land based anglers however any creek or river system holds them too. They're pretty much as prolific as bream around here just harder to catch. Once you work it out though you'll love it.  

[Grmby]

Will definitely have to give it a crack when the weather warms up again. May have to stick to the bream for time being. 

[Fishaman]

Hey @Grmby 

 

Subscribe to this blog. Plenty of great tips and he shares his locations.

https://landangler.net/category/fishing-reports/

 

I find one of the most satisfying parts of fishing is exploring and learning as you go. Use google maps and just get out and about and have a go. Most of the spots shared on fishing forums are pretty well known and fished regularly. Finding your own spots a bit out of the way is part of the fun!

 

Good luck. Get into the pumicestone passage and explore. Heaps of flatties and bream etc in there!

[Grmby]

Thanks mate appreciate the suggestion. It's like starting fishing all over again moving up from vic. Really looking forward to hitting up some estuaries as they are few and far between down south.

cheers

[Do$tylz]

The classic lure for Brissie river fishing for me is an Ecogear SX-40. It's the hardbody that caught me my first bream and continues to work.

Find any bit of the river that has a boulder/rocky edge and super slow roll an SX40 along the edges. The waters edge along West End between the last ferry terminal all the way to the Parmalat factory will work. Small cod and flatties are around there too. There's heaps of water like that all up and down the river that'll keep you busy for MONTHS and there are sneaky jewies, threadies, jacks and bigger cod hanging around that will smoke you.

I never figured out what tides were best ... they seemed to all work. Certain spots produced at certain tides based on being exposed at low tide or not. You'll see those and they're worth having a go at over high tide.

 

edit - just saw your location is morninside... all along the waters edge there is fishy. Plenty fishy. There's even luderick there.

 

 

 

[Grmby]

Thanks for that mate, will have to give that lure a go, good to know that the tides are not crucial. Do you recommend the hard body over soft plastics? 

[Do$tylz]

For fishing along the rocks on the edge of the river I do. I'd snag a rock too often.

For spots like downstream from the Pinkenba Boat ramp, I'd throw plastics. That's another good spot to fish. A good km of rockwall to fish.

[Grmby]

Does anyone have any info of bait to use in a trap for prawns?

cheers

[Junky]

Our traps don't need bait but a good strong arm for throwing the trap is a must. 

 

We use cast nets. 

[ellicat]

4 hours ago, Grmby said:

Does anyone have any info of bait to use in a trap for prawns?

cheers

'Traps' are illegal in Qld tidal water/saltwater.

 

[Binder]

Normally Boggy creek is the flathead mecca of the brisbane river, and has good land based access - but with the recent spill, not recommended fishing in there for a while.

Prime bream season in the River is a month or two away, but you might find early success. Unfortunately best spots are also in the spill affected area.

[Binder]

On 03/05/2017 at 8:45 PM, ellicat said:

'Traps' are illegal in Qld tidal water/saltwater.

 

Since when? They change the law?

The blokes in the Caboolture club used to use opera house traps for prawns all the time. They also use clear plastic mullet traps for catching livies.

[ellicat]

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=fisheries queensland

 

 

Saw this the other day. A look on DAF's website seems to make them illegal by exclusion from what IS allowable.

https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/fisheries/consultations-and-legislation/legislation/upcoming-legislation-changes

Excerpt -

Changes to rules relating to funnel and round traps

Funnel traps, including opera house traps, are often used by recreational anglers to target freshwater crayfish. These traps are cheap, extremely popular and are an effective means of catching freshwater crayfish. It is estimated that more than 200,000 of these traps are purchased in Queensland every year.

Even with strict design requirements around their construction, protected species are still being captured in these traps, most commonly in abandoned equipment in flowing waterways. The most recent example was reported in 2014, when two platypus were found drowned in an opera house trap in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

To minimise the potential for interactions with protected and non-target species, the use of certain funnel and round traps east of a line following the Great Dividing Range and the Gore Highway (Highway 39) is prohibited outside of 44 listed impoundments (see map).

This means that:

• Funnel traps and round traps with a rigid opening size of up to 5cm maximum in all its dimensions can be used in all Queensland non-tidal waters.
• Funnel traps and round traps with a rigid opening size between 5cm and 10cm can only be used in listed impoundments east of a line following the Great Dividing Range and east of the Gore Highway (A39) or in non-tidal waters west of the aforementioned boundary.

Open top pyramid traps can be used in all Queensland freshwater areas provided they have:

• A single, rigid top opening, parallel to the base of the trap with a minimum size of 15cm in all its dimensions;
• A mesh size of no more than 25mm;
• A maximum base size of 60cm in length and width; and
• A minimum height of 15cm (measured in a vertical line from the base of the trap to the height of the opening).

There is also this (which doesn't state they ARE legal; pretty tricky) -

https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/boating-fishing/rec-fishing/rules/equipment/

Recreational fishing rules and regulations

Fishing equipment

In order to protect fish stock from overfishing, there are restrictions in place on the type of equipment you can use in fresh and tidal waters. It is also your responsibility to ensure a piece of equipment you are using is not prohibited for the species you are trying to catch, or the location you are using it in.

Equipment and restrictions for fresh and tidal waters

Piece of equipment	Location and restrictions
Breathing devices	Freshwater and tidal water Apparatus (other than a snorkel) is not permitted when taking fish by spear, spear gun, hand or other means.
Canister trap	Freshwater The trap must not exceed 60cm in length or 50cm in width, height or diameter. It must open at one end. Size of the mesh must be no more than 25mm (if not made of rigid material). When the width, height or diameter is measured anywhere along the length of the trap, it must not exceed the diameter of the trap’s opening.
Cast nets	Tidal water Must not exceed 3.7m from the point of rope attachment to the rest of the net, the net lead line or the bottom of the lowest pocket of the net. Mesh size should not exceed 28mm.
Collapsible trap	Freshwater and tidal water (crab apparatus only) The trap should be made of rigid material and have at least one collapsible side.
Crab pots and dillies	Tidal water No more than four pots, dillies or a combination of both may be used per person. There must not be more than four pots on a boat per person when on the water. You must have an identification tag on your pot highlighting the owner’s surname and address. All crab equipment must have a light coloured solid float attached when not tied to a fixed object. The float must not be less than 15cm in any dimension and also identify the owner’s name. When the pot is tied to a fixed object a tag must be attached to a part of the rope (above the high water mark) that identifies the owner’s name. A dilly for spanner crab fishing should be made of solid steel with a thickness of at least 6mm and not exceeding 1m in each dimension.
Dilly nets	Freshwater The net must not have a diameter of more than 125cm and a mesh size of more than 25mm.
Fishing lines	Freshwater No more than six fishing lines should be used alone or combined. A fishing line should not be set as a cross-line. Only one hook or artificial fly/lure can be attached to a line. You can’t be more than 50m away from any of your fishing lines. Tidal water Up to three fishing lines are permitted consisting of a total of six hooks. A fly or lure is considered equal to one hook. A cross line, drum line, free-floating line or set line is not included as a fishing line. You must be present with the line at all times.
Funnel traps	Freshwater Maximum length of 70cm and width or height of 50cm. A maximum of four entrances, with each measuring no more than 10cm in any dimension. Trap entrance must be made of rigid material. Size of the mesh must be no more than 25mm (if not made of rigid material).
Hand pumps	Tidal water To be used on foreshores for collecting yabbies only.
Open-top pyramid trap	Freshwater Must have a single, rigid top opening, with a minimum size of 15cm in all its dimensions, parallel to the base of the trap Must have a mesh size of no more than 25mm Must have a maximum base size of 60cm in length and width
Scoop or dip nets	Freshwater Must not exceed 1m in any dimension. Handle should be no longer than 2.5m. Mesh size should not exceed 25mm. Tidal water Must not exceed 2m in any dimension. Handle should be no longer than 2.5m. Mesh size should be at least 25mm. You can use a gaff or landing net to secure a line-caught fish.
Marking traps	Freshwater A tag must be attached to the trap with the owner’s surname and address marked. A light coloured solid float should be attached to the trap if it is not fixed to a stationery object above water level. The float must feature the owner’s first and surnames and be 15cm in each dimension.
Round traps	Freshwater No longer than 70cm in diameter and 50cm in height. A maximum of four entrances, with each measuring no more than 10cm in any dimension. Size of the mesh must be no more than 25mm (if not made of rigid material).
Seine nets (bait or drag nets)	Tidal water Must not exceed 16m in length and 3m in drop. Mesh size should not exceed 28mm. The net must not contain a bag, pocket or anything similar. It must not be anchored, staked or fixed. The net should not be out of the water when containing fish other than to remove and release them. All regulated fish not intended to be taken should be released into deep enough water to allow escape.
Shell dredges	Tidal water Mouth of the dredge must not exceed 60cm across Teeth should be no longer than 7.5cm Conditions should be checked further in the Fisheries Regulation 2008
Spearfishing and spear guns	Freshwater and tidal water (selected locations only) A power head is not permitted unless in defence against a shark. You are not able to hunt barramundi between 6pm and 6am.
Tropical rock lobster fishing gear	Tidal water Free-diving using a mask and snorkel and a rubber-powered spear or spear gun is the only form of breathing and equipment apparatus permitted.
Worm digging fork	Tidal water To be used on foreshores for collecting worms only.

[Binder]

Well it looks like they screwed us over again doesn't it! I wonder what their justification for no use in the salt is, probably drowned to many dugongs......

The boys who used to use them to catch prawns will have to find a small species of crab with no size restrictions suited to being caught in opera house traps wont they.......

 

[Milpool]

I found this book yesterday;

http://afn.com.au/product/landbased-fishing-guide-to-brisbane-area/

 

I'm on the Gold Coast so couldn't tell you how accurate the Brisbane section would be but it's a pretty handy book. Didn't help me catch a damn thing this morning but I don't think that was the books fault. 

[Grmby]

Thanks mate actually bought it on Friday, definitely a good buy, as i am unfamiliar with state, and has some good tips