queensland Paravanes - what fish to expect other than Schoolies

[Ryannnnnnnn]

Hey all, 

Had a great time trolling paravanes with spoons for the first time in SEQ recently. Ended up getting 11 Schoolies which was heaps of fun.

What other fish can I expect to catch on paravanes, do other mackerals like spotties or Spanish take them, or do they like lures that are trolled closer to the surface? What about tuna, trevally and reefies? 

 

Looking forward trying the trolling boards over some reefs / headlands 

 

Cheers

 

Ryan 

[Old Scaley]

Grinner.

[Ryannnnnnnn]

1 hour ago, Old Scaley said:

Grinner.

Hahaha yeah I found a few of these on the end of my line while trolling 

[Jono4500]

Just gonna go google paravanes...  

[Ed.]

I would imagine that most fish will take a lure on a paravane, all it does is make the lures go down much deeper.

[Jono4500]

Deadset never heard of it till now but makes a lot of sense.

[Drop Bear]

You will get bonito as well. Very welcome by catch. 

Spotties will take them not sure about spanish but when they are fired up I would expect them to take anything. 

And yes plenty of grinners. 

[Ryannnnnnnn]

19 hours ago, Old Scaley said:

Grinner.

Hahaha yeah I found a few of these on the end of my line while trolling 

 

Thanks guys. Would be happy to put the grinners to work as live baits anyway

[kmcrosby78]

11 hours ago, Drop Bear said:

You will get bonito as well. Very welcome by catch. 

Spotties will take them not sure about spanish but when they are fired up I would expect them to take anything. 

And yes plenty of grinners. 

Yep, I think on the right day/conditions a large variety of fish would take them. I know Spero (from Fishing Monthly Moreton Bay reports) caught a huge queenfish just east of Green Island when he stopped to wind in a mackerel (it hit his other spoon as it descended). I've heard of spoons being used in the surf/off the rocks for jewies, so again, in the right situation I'm sure it would work. 

I caught my first ever (and still my best) coral trout whilst trolling with a spoon out from Mackay as a young teenager - was on a heavy trolling handline (chord and then probably 100-200lb mono and a big barrel sinker to sink it down) when fishing with a family friend so if they go for that, I'm sure they'd go for a better presented spoon on a paravane.

Perhaps some of us could try them in different locations and see what we come up with over time .

Oh and I just remembered I caught a nice grey mackerel using them just north of Peel Island a couple of years ago .

[kmcrosby78]

Just remembered that Spero has also reported catches of longtail and mack tuna too .

[Ryannnnnnnn]

On 01/10/2021 at 8:21 PM, kmcrosby78 said:

Yep, I think on the right day/conditions a large variety of fish would take them. I know Spero (from Fishing Monthly Moreton Bay reports) caught a huge queenfish just east of Green Island when he stopped to wind in a mackerel (it hit his other spoon as it descended). I've heard of spoons being used in the surf/off the rocks for jewies, so again, in the right situation I'm sure it would work. 

I caught my first ever (and still my best) coral trout whilst trolling with a spoon out from Mackay as a young teenager - was on a heavy trolling handline (chord and then probably 100-200lb mono and a big barrel sinker to sink it down) when fishing with a family friend so if they go for that, I'm sure they'd go for a better presented spoon on a paravane.

Perhaps some of us could try them in different locations and see what we come up with over time .

Oh and I just remembered I caught a nice grey mackerel using them just north of Peel Island a couple of years ago .

Very interesting mate - going up on a trip to Central queensland in a few weeks I might give them a go over some reef and see what happens. I will report back

[Ryannnnnnnn]

Did some spoon trolling using paravanes yesterday while up in Central queensland. Caught a stack of bludger trevally and heaps of these tuna. Pretty new to catching tuna. Anyone know what species they are? Can't tell if both Tunas in the photos are the same or different. One looks darker on top

[Andrew_P]

Finny scad https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4275

[Ryannnnnnnn]

Thanks Andrew! No wonder I had trouble identifying them - was researching specifies of tuna

[kmcrosby78]

That's a new one to me too. Did you eat one?

[Ryannnnnnnn]

23 hours ago, kmcrosby78 said:

That's a new one to me too. Did you eat one?

I didn't as I wasn't quite sure what it was at the time and if there was a legal size limit. I hear they are great baits for trolling for Spanish. Going to give that  a try tomorrow if I catch another one