Autumn in the bay

[Wayne-o]

Hi everyone,

still getting my head around what to do and where in Moreton bay. Am heading up to Bribie in a couple of weeks so keen to see what’s around. Is it too early for snapper and flatties? Understand people not wanting to share marks but a little nudge in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Btw, I’m in a 6m bayliner, so pretty capable if the weathers good!

thanks in advance,

Wayne-O

 

[ellicat]

I'd drive the length of the Bribie East coast, about a nautical mile or two out. You will likely come across tuna, so have a couple of rods rigged with slugs to throw at them. While you're moving north watch your sounder and you will likely come across sections of coffee rock and/or sharp depth changes with obvious reef on the floor. Try them for a bit of bottom bashing. You may be lucky enough to see some other anchored boats about, that will give you the clue to investigate the bottom nearby.

Eventually you will come to the Blinker at Caloundra. Again, there will likely be other boats testing their luck. There is plenty of ground here to suss out. Some days are better than others here. I've had great days with snapper, grassies, Venus tuskfish, cod, and other reefies. Other days it has been very quiet. Never a guarantee.

The whole trip will take at least an hour each way (@ 20 knots) plus time to chase tuna on your way.

If you take the view that it is an explore day, with a bit of fishing thrown in, it should make future trips better for you.

Late thought - take a Sabiki bait jig with you, as often there are livies hanging around the reef areas. If you find some, drop the jig down, catch some, and then fish there using livies. If you don't find livies, use cuttlefish heads for bait.

[mangajack]

I used to spend lots of time in the area on reefs and chasing tuna and macs....usually end up with a decent bag for the day.

Currents can be painful....SW to NW breezes work best for me in the area.

 

[Huxstang]

If you have Navionic mapping this might help.  As Brian said the coffee rock runs up the beach line.  My old man used to love this spot which was just off the outlet pipe from the marine centre at the northern end of Woorim.  Havent been there for 20 years but essentially its just in that coffee rock reef area.

Once you head over towards Moreton you can head through the inner Freeman channel and in @ 10m there is a vast expanse of coffee rock reef.  Never caught anything super large there but usually plenty of bait hanging around.

North of that @ 2km is the North Moreton artificial.   Last trip got donuts but good jew hanging over the structure.   Other times good sizes grassies and cleaned up by unstopables.  Also you can get some schools of yellow tail kings.  Just a matter of seeing if any bait is holding over the structure.  Haven’t tried Wild Banks artificial yet - its not a very old artificial but from what I have heard hold pelagics.

Then north off Cape Moreton is Hutchison Shoals and others structures to the south (Smiths Rocks etc which run down the outside of Moreton Island).  Quite easily reached in your Bayliner on a half decent day the only tricky part if through Freeman Channels although you can go the long way through the marked channel and then west. One section of green zone at southern end of Hutchies which is exposed and breaking and often you see dive boats anchored.  14-35m is the general depth….usual reef species.  Have gotten some nice pearl perch there and some good schools of Kingy’s at times.

Ultimately these days I just go to general areas and then sound around until I see something, otherwise you can just drift through and see what you can get.