Cold mornings, foggy skies and Ugg boots, yep it is winter on the Fraser Coast. Well, if the truth be told, winter on the Fraser Coast only really lasts for a few days, usually around the end of June when night time temperatures drop well below 10 degrees. July then sees the air temperature slowly rising well into August as we prepare for spring.
If you’re a fisho however, your attention is drawn to the water temperature on the Fraser Coast during winter. Which by the end of June generally drops below the magic 20-degree mark. Meaning that throughout late June, July and into August our pristine waterways swell with our winter fish species.
Winter Species
Snapper, who many say are present all year round, seem to swell in numbers and become a more frequent catch, along with tasty sweet lip, winter whiting, tiger squid and various trevally species. It is a great time of year to be fishing on the Fraser Coast. Especially if you are restricted a little, through boat size or even land based, as the cooler water temperature seems to entice the above mentioned prized fish species, to visit the closer, easier to reach, inshore reefs.
I must be honest, at the time of writing this article, I am yet to venture north past Moon Point fishing. The stars have simply not aligned to gift me with the time, but I have managed a few good fishing sessions closer in, particularly around Big Woody Island. And while larger snapper specimens have alluded me to date, it seems that no matter where I go to cast a lure, I am finding diamond trevally.
Diamond Trevally
These gorgeous fish are impressive to gaze upon and put up a decent fight, especially when you are only fishing with light gear. Once hooked I have noticed they attempt a few bullish runs for freedom. When this does not work they then lay on their sides and use the entire surface area of their bodies like a sea anchor in an attempt to wear you down as they circle around your boat.
Along with plenty of diamond trevally I have also noticed and landed plenty of smaller pinkie snapper, legal sized grassy sweetlip and juvenile golden trevally with the occasional 5kg+ golden joining the party.
Technique
The technique I have been using to find and land these fish is one which I have refined over the years and which involves drifting soft plastic lures along pressure points. The key point I would make here involves jig head weight and the need to test and adjust your jig head weight to ensure you are achieving the fine balance of making your soft plastic look like a natural bait. While also having enough weight to get your offering into the strike zone, which 9 times from 10 for me has been on the bottom.
The tidal movement of water around Big Woody Island can make achieving this fine balance a challenge. I tend to start with a 1/4oz jig head and slowly make my way up, in terms of weight. Lately I have found the sweet spot to be a 3/8oz jig head with a 100mm soft plastic. A few fishing mates have been using 1/2oz jig heads and achieved good results, so it really is a matter of test and adjust.
Areas to Target
I aim for the edge of pressure points which sees water moving quickly past underwater rock ledges. I tend to cast up current at an angle which will give enough time for my offering to sink down in the water column and eventually hit the bottom in the area I want to target. The beauty of this approach is that you don’t need to do too much. If you have your jig head weight correct the lure will simply sink and display its natural action.
I have found that just before my lure hits bottom I can feel a couple of taps through my ever-sensitive platypus braid. Which I suspect are smaller fish inspecting my lure before the larger fish come along. Once on the bottom I let my lure rest for a good five to ten seconds before starting a steady single hop retrieve back towards the boat. Due to current flow I find my retrieve line takes the shape of a slight curve. It is a great way to search ground for fish.
The Fight
Once located, no matter what species, trevally, sweet lip or pinkie snapper, the hit on my lure always feels abrupt and violent. From there I take note of location, land the fish and then reset drifting my soft plastic to hit the same spot.
Sometimes the bite period will last a good hour and other times a few fish are boated and then everything goes quiet. I make a note of tide time, weather conditions etc for my fishing diary and then head to my next location and commence the process again.
What Next ?
As the August days slip by we will see the water along the Fraser Coast slowly heat up and by mid-August into September a changing of the guard will start to occur. Our winter species will slowly head out into deeper water and our spring – summer species will start to stir. If you enjoy chasing flathead, threadfin salmon and barramundi then late August and into September is an exciting time.
All the best folks and as always if we cross paths at the ramp or on the water, make sure to say g’day.
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