This page proudly supported by: OPEN EARLY 7 DAYS!BUDDS BAIT & TACKLE, SHOP 3/30 SHORE STREET WEST, CLEVELAND 4163PHONE: 3821 1240 FAX: 3821 2611 Main Beach Fishing for this week - Nikki Wilson ReportsIntroduction:Hello fellow anglers,Allow me to introduce myself - my name is Nicole (most know me as Nikki) and I will be compilingweekly reports on fishing and beach conditions for North Stradbroke Island and I am honoured tobe working with such a great team as Straddie Online! Together we will work towards providingthe most up to the minute and accurate information to assist you in planning your next visit to Straddie.Have a look at our latest photography competition on the Your Straddie page and send in yourentry for the "One that didn't get away" and show off your catch!Read more about Nikki on the Meet the Locals page in the Straddie Towns section of this site.If you want any specific questions answered in this column, you can contact Nikki by email atoffice@straddieonline.com.au
FISHING REPORT - What's Biting Where?
Main Beach
Well folks, fairly quiet this week on the fishing front. Firstly the large swell which moved through late in the week through to the weekend, didn’t help the situation much, with a lot of the fishing clubs and lone fishermen, coming home with little to show for their efforts. There are some Tailor still on Main Beach, but like the last 2 months, they have been mostly staying out wide on the outer banks with only the odd one being caught if you are lucky. There is a large gutter that runs from about 5kms south of Point Lookout, through to the start of the camping areas (8kms south of the causeway). Other than that the better spots are up near the ‘George Nothling’ Access Track entrance to the beach, and down at the Pin. There are some small holes around the camping areas, but nothing to brag about. These gutters have produced some good size Bream and nice Whiting, but very few and far, with a lot of hard work for a little feed. Pippi’s seem to be the go, but unfortunately there are not a lot to be found on the beach at the moment, so try worms for the Whiting and a little bit of blood fish (like mullet squares) for the Bream and Dart (yes surprisingly the Dart are taking Mullet more so than the worms at the moment). There have been reports of the odd Jew Fish around, so best to give these fish a go around the low tide with a lot of nice worms piled up on your hook. Try a 6/0 hook for starters and work from there. The weather forecast is cold and windy for the rest of the week with the winds moving from the west through to the east and back to the west again by end of the week, as the high is moving fairly quickly. 15 knots seems to be the average with slightly windier conditions throughout. The last quarter moon is approaching which should see the high tides drop a little and by Thursday night a change should move across Brisbane which hopefully should bring the fish on for the weekend.
Flinders Beach
Again, pretty quiet on the fishing front, folks. The only reports are some Tailor spotted up at the bar (just on the inside) and in the odd gutters about a week ago, however most of the gutters are sanding up now, so try for a bit of Dart. As for the Tailor (if any), keep a look out for them chopping the surface as there is still some bait fish causing a stir amongst them. If this is the case try for Tailor with a lure or throw a ‘Pilly’ out. You never know.
Amity Point
There have been large numbers of Bream being caught over the last week, but still only small ones, with the odd larger one floating around. The weather has been cold and choppy on the bay with the westerly winds dominating the weather, so mostly diehard fishermen are the ones out there giving it a go. The Chopper Tailor are still working around the rocks at Amity, and silver lures and soft plastics have been working well with good bag catches. There have been sightings of some smaller Tuna working around Amity banks, Rous Channel and along the rock wall at Amity, pending on conditions. There are some excellent size whiting being caught off the banks so if you have a boat, that’s the way to go. Some small Snapper and Sweetlip have also been landed on the Jetty with the odd undersize reef fish being caught. The dolphins are also making times hard for the fishermen at Amity, with them landing your catch before you get a chance to pull it in. So be aware of the Dolphins (Indo-Pacific Dolphins) as they too are hungry, and if you see them it is best to pull up your rod for a half hour or so and wait for them to move on.
I just want to pass on my thanks to Darren from Budds Bait and Tackle and the guys (and a few ladies) of the Redlands RSL Fishing Club. Although I had never met these folks before, I was invited into their campsite down Main Beach on Saturday night, welcomed with a lovely Pig and Lamb on the spit and a couple of goldy’s, while sharing some fishing stories (but not from this weekend). They made me feel more than welcome and a great time was had by all. OK folks well that’s it for me for another week, best of luck folks with the fishing. Times are a little slow at the moment, but be patient, it can only get better. Next report will be early next week. Remember you are welcome to send me an email with any questions you may have about fishing or Four Wheel Driving on the beach, as I would be only too happy to answer your questions. Nikki
Cost:
Beach permits must be displayed on your windscreen in a place clearly visible to the patrolling officers.Beach driving: it is illegal to drive on any beach 1 hour either side of high tide on North Stradbroke Island! Fines will be issued to anyone found driving at these times.BaitNorth Stradbroke Island has a wide range of bait available.Point Lookout:
Catch it yourself Yabbies can be readily pumped from the low tide sand flats at Amity and Dunwich.Pippis (eugarie) can be collected on Main Beach at low tide.But please note that only 50 eugaries are allowed per person – should you be caught with more than this a substantial fine and an unwanted court appearance will soon follow!Swan Bay: Swan Bay is located at the southern tip of the island near Jumpinpin and is a protected fish sanctuary which is regularly monitored by the Department of Fisheries. This area is a complete no go zone and must be treated as such.Tackle: Fishing tackle and lures can be bought from Foodworks and the Point Lookout Store at the Point, and in Amity from Amity Point General Dealers. In Dunwich, if you can’t find what you want at Dunwich Sports and Hobbies, then it is not on the island.Tide times Point Lookout: Deduct one and a half hours from the tide time at the Brisbane bar (this is the time shown in the daily paper) for the correct high and low tide on main beach.For example: 10.30am Low Tide at Bar = 9.00am at Main BeachAmity Point: Deduct half an hour for the correct high and low tide times for Amity and Flinders Beach.For example: 10.30am Low Tide at the Bar = 10.00am at Amity & Flinders BeachConditionsCheck our webcams for live beach conditions along Main Beach and at Home Beach, Flinders Beach, the South Passage Bar and offshore.