GregN70

My goal is to catch a Spanish Mackerel, I’ve been chasing these for years with no luck, especially out of Yeppoon in Central Qld of late where they appear to be extinct there.
So the plan is this: I have 2 weeks off in January/February and Im planning a trip down to Mooloolaba Sunny Coast area. From my research that time and place seem to be my best chance of running into one of these oceanic speedsters.
I’m taking my 581 Mclay Crossover Cuddy Cab, 140hp Suzuki and plan to pester the local tackle shops for info on where and when while there. Will mainly troll, lures, and rigged swimming dead baits. But will mix it up depending on conditions etc.
I am taking the following offshore type rods,
1.       PE3-4 Demon Blood OH Rod, with a Saltiga 30HA Star Drag running 50lb braid (250m)
2.       PE4-5 Demon Blood OH Rod Saltiga 35 Lever Drag with 60lb Braid. (330m)
The overheads will run a top-shot of 50 0r 60lb nylon/flurocarbon for a bit of shock absorption, perhaps 20m or so.
Also taking a Nomad Blue Water 7” spin stick, PE 2.5-4 with a Certate SW 10000-H and 47lb braid (300m) for throwing small stick baits and flasher lures etc.
 Is there anything im missing, or recommend I need for this mission?

Yep, thanks. I've become quite good at rigging baits and can get them to swill really well, up around yeppoon where I have been trying for the last couple years, I've used Tailor/Bonito/Ribbonfish/Yellowtail Pike. Make up a rig with front hook, stinger at rear, chin weight, sometimes a skirt or an islander style trolling head, etc. So i'll start there.
The inner gneerings are so close, I thought you'd have to get out to the barwon banks to do any good. That's great if the fish are that close. Here at Yeppoon the closest Mackerel area is 31km East from the Marina, but the better mackerel areas are 50-60km from the ramp.
 

I'd have a rod setup to jig for livies and some floats to hang the livies or dead baits under.

As it should be. The top dog always looks down on the rest.

Yeah, each to their own. It's a bit like cars, GM, Ford etc isn't it? Some love Shimano, some hate them, some love diawa, and on it goes. I'm not a fan of shimano at all, but that's just me.
Enjoy whatever it is you like hey.
 

Yeah, each to their own. It's a bit like cars, GM, Ford etc isn't it? Some love Shimano, some hate them, some love diawa, and on it goes. I'm not a fan of shimano at all, but that's just me.
Enjoy whatever it is you like hey.
 

Yeah, each to their own. It's a bit like cars, GM, Ford etc isn't it? Some love Shimano, some hate them, some love diawa, and on it goes. I'm not a fan of shimano at all, but that's just me.
Enjoy whatever it is you like hey.
 

Black Jew Here

The easiest way to determine Black Jew from Mulloway is that the southern Jew or Mulloway, has a pronounced black spot where the Pectoral Fin joins the body. The black jew does not.
Also Keep in mind that Black Jew are Currently a NO Take species in Qld and have been since March 2021. This is due to a quota system in place. The fishery will re-open in Jan 2022.
Mulloway here....
 
 

melville jew 610.jpg.crdownload

Black Jew Here

The easiest way to determine Black Jew from Mulloway is that the southern Jew or Mulloway, has a pronounced black spot where the Pectoral Fin joins the body. The black jew does not.
Also Keep in mind that Black Jew are Currently a NO Take species in Qld and have been since March 2021. This is due to a quota system in place. The fishery will re-open in Jan 2022.
Mulloway here....
 
 

melville jew 610.jpg.crdownload

The easiest way to determine Black Jew from Mulloway is that the southern Jew or Mulloway, has a pronounced black spot where the Pectoral Fin joins the body. The black jew does not.
Also Keep in mind that Black Jew are Currently a NO Take species in Qld and have been since March 2021. This is due to a quota system in place. The fishery will re-open in Jan 2022.
Mulloway here....
 
 

melville jew 610.jpg.crdownload

SPOT on GregN!
(pun intended)

Black Jew Here

The easiest way to determine Black Jew from Mulloway is that the southern Jew or Mulloway, has a pronounced black spot where the Pectoral Fin joins the body. The black jew does not.
Also Keep in mind that Black Jew are Currently a NO Take species in Qld and have been since March 2021. This is due to a quota system in place. The fishery will re-open in Jan 2022.
Mulloway here....
 
 

melville jew 610.jpg.crdownload

The easiest way to determine Black Jew from Mulloway is that the southern Jew or Mulloway, has a pronounced black spot where the Pectoral Fin joins the body. The black jew does not.
Also Keep in mind that Black Jew are Currently a NO Take species in Qld and have been since March 2021. This is due to a quota system in place. The fishery will re-open in Jan 2022.
Mulloway here....
 
 

melville jew 610.jpg.crdownload

Black Jew Here

The easiest way to determine Black Jew from Mulloway is that the southern Jew or Mulloway, has a pronounced black spot where the Pectoral Fin joins the body. The black jew does not.
Also Keep in mind that Black Jew are Currently a NO Take species in Qld and have been since March 2021. This is due to a quota system in place. The fishery will re-open in Jan 2022.
Mulloway here....
 
 

melville jew 610.jpg.crdownload

The easiest way to determine Black Jew from Mulloway is that the southern Jew or Mulloway, has a pronounced black spot where the Pectoral Fin joins the body. The black jew does not.
Also Keep in mind that Black Jew are Currently a NO Take species in Qld and have been since March 2021. This is due to a quota system in place. The fishery will re-open in Jan 2022.
Mulloway here....
 
 

melville jew 610.jpg.crdownload

yes I use eBay. BCF and other tackle shops are to expensive its much cheaper to buy hooks online I mainly use mustad 

Nevermind Greg, i'm pretty sure they are aspirational bag limits, like a box of crackers with a serving suggestion on the front, or driving with a 0.05 blood alcohol level 😉 . Aspirational!

I'm just wondering if you all actually get to your bag limits often?
I've only managed it a couple of times/
1. Came across a big school of Blue Salmon hold up in a creek mouth over at Curtis Island near Gladstone. Hit 10 fish in 10 casts.
2. Bribie island after some good rain, got to my 10 Mud crabs in about and hr and a half (back in 2005)
3. Hit my bag limit of tailor of the beach at double island point a couple winters back.
That's about it.
 

Looks like I might need to do a trip south soon.
Getting keen to catch some reef fish.

Wow, that's excellent, Im really keen to get a Trout. Never actually got one yet. Tried heaps but no luck. 

Nice. How good are RTE flapping around the boat with trebles or snells lol. They punch above weight