Bass numbers are on the up at the moment, as well as the tandanus catfish numbers around the 50 centimetre mark.
Kayak fishing tip for this week is always to secure your rods, scissor, and pliers with lanyards. A sudden strike by a fish of only 40cm could see your rod and reel go flying off into the water.
I put a length of pool noodle onto the handle of my landing net, so if it slips out of my hand, it will float and not sink.
Catches of summer whiting featured in many fishing trips these past few weeks.
Consistently, good-sized whiting are showing up in Moreton Bay and along Redland shores.
Yabbies are the preferred bait for most anglers, but worms are still the premium bait for whiting.
I noticed very few small whiting, with most of the catch over the legal size of a minimum of 23cm in total length.
Whiting are active when the water is smooth and not chopped up by the wind. So, find a sheltered section of water, and you may be rewarded.
Flathead are also on the bite and will be hiding out on the water depth changes.
Any ledge may hold a flathead as they wait for smaller fish to swim past. They will quickly dart out and grab their prey. If they pick up the vibrations of an injured fish, they will be alerted to an easy meal.
Artificial lures catch many flathead because they mimic an injured baitfish as the lifting and dropping action of the lure attracts the flathead.
James Sampson went fishing with Jason Morgan on his last day in the Redlands before departing for Western Australia. A flathead of 61cm fell to a pilchard on a set of ganged hooks. With 70 stitches in his hand, Jason could only give verbal support as James landed the first flathead he has ever caught.
The Port of Brisbane is once again fishing well. Live herring is the bait of choice for anglers having success catching large threadfin salmon, mulloway, and snapper.
Anglers are fishing at night, and before the first light as it is the optimum time to catch these prized fish.
Offshore, dolphin fish are showing up at the FADs, and numbers and size will increase as we approach the summer months.
Mackerel fishing has been a bit disappointing after a promising start, and hopefully they will pop up once again. I have noticed an increase in baitfish activity over the past few days, so this should fire up overall productivity.
If you have any fishing questions or photographs of your catch, please get in touch with Michael at desdavidmichael@gmail.com
