QUEENSLAND The Tweed

THE TWEED Leon McClymont

Spring has arrived, so long winter! As the water temperature starts to rise again, the target species will start to change for the anglers of the Tweed. However, don’t rush into to it too early there are some good winter species still to be had and it can be slow going fishing for those spring/summer species early in the mix. we were out fishing one of the FADs when another boat was just constantly on the motor trying to remain in front of the FAD driving into the current while flicking lures or baits out the back just metres from the FAD. After watching this fellow struggle as we drifted by the FAD, he has then proceeded to motor a figure-of-eight around the FAD then motor straight over the top of our lines/baits. I had to restrain myself – I threw my hands into the air in disbelief and will ensure not to spook the fish and leap frog each other giving each boat time and space to catch a feed.

Starting well above the FAD is the best, this gives you time to get your baits ready and sneakily drift into the fishing zone and the fish will just focus on the drifting baits that are presented – not the revving engine that’s going to distract and spook them. If the skippers on the day are onto it, it will work in the angler’s favour giving everyone space to

This GT was caught by the author at Central Queensland while on a fishing trip.

Spanish mackerel were on the chew up north, even though the water temp was 19°C.

Winter whiting are still on the chew and are in great numbers. They are a simple bread and butter species that all anglers can appreciate.

Tailor are also still in good numbers along the beach gutters and estuaries. The top five greenback captures this season, that I know of, would be 66, 70, 78, 90cm and a whopping 96cm. Some real trophysized tailor in the mix.

Snapper are on the chew from the 50 fathoms right into the headlands. A few good mates managed to pull half a dozen snapper landbased in one hour using the drone to drop baits out 200-250m. Pearlies, trag jew and tuskies have been found on the 36s in good numbers and there are still plenty of mahimahi hanging around the FADs.

Speaking of the FADs and mahimahi, I thought it would be a good chance to bring up a technique some of the anglers of Tweed should adopt. Just recently disgust. The skipper has then replied ,“You guys stopped right where I was going,” which I’m unsure how we did or how that is even a valid response, as fishing out there you drift through pretty quick so it’s not like you’re stopping in anyone’s spot. He then motored back over to just metres from the FAD and repeated his poorly thought-out technique (as I never saw him catch one). So what I’m getting at is the fish don’t like to be driven over and have the motor revving over their heads they will move down the chain or move on and not feed so neither of us are going to catch a feed.

If you’re fishing the FAD and particularly with other boats around, pick your line, turn the motor off and drift down into the fishing zone. This will allow your baits to drift down and look natural, once past the zone then proceed to motor around the FAD leaving a 50m+ radius from the FAD. This work. The fish will remain excited and keep feeding with the constant berley and bait in the water and less motor noise. I have fished commercially for mahimahi and they will just keep feeding if this technique is performed properly and you keep a good stream of berley up to the school. So hopefully that gentleman is reading this or any other angler that may perform like this on the water and gain something that will work for all on the water, we all need to be more courteous of each other on the water.

There are plenty of amberjacks and kingfish being found on the 50 fathoms. They are eating just about anything, live baits, jigs, cut baits, squid and pilchards.

As mentioned at the start of the issue, changing species just yet can be a bad choice. September is probably the hardest month of the year to catch a mackerel here off the Tweed as the warm currents push this time of year. The islands just north of us, such as Fraser, Moreton and

Straddie direct the current carrying the warm water wide off the Tweed reefs and comes back in just south of Byron. Places like Wooli and Coffs will often see the first mackerel of the season caught down there before the Tweed anglers manage to capture one.

Heading real wide, there has been some talk of big yellowfin out on Chincogan Canyons and up off the sea mounts off the Gold Coast, which is a bit earlier then normal so we could see an early start to the season on the big barrels. Finding the good water, bait balls and birds are the keys to success when chasing big yellowfin. AFTA Fishing Expo just passed and it was a beauty. It was great to see so many new products and what treat

the anglers will have testing some of the gear once they hit the shelves. The best part was seeing how much the companies/exhibitors were getting involved handing out free merchandise, stickers, lures, it was endless. And not just freebies, they had hands on activities for the kids, such as lure colouring comp and photo comps, tackle testing stations, and fishing simulators to test your arms on. So if you didn’t get down there this year, make sure you lock the date in for next year.

David McAndrew caught this mulloway off the beach on a cut bait.