February to May

September/October

(Closed season 1st Nov to 1st Feb midday each year)

Baitcast/Spin Tackle

20lb/30lb Braid (Fins, Nitlon or Rovex Viros)

50lb to 60lb Mono Leader (Instinct XTS plus)

Lures: Strada (Varoius), Bolt Omega, Barra Classics, RMG Scorpions, Lead’s Hi-Jackers/shads, Lance’s Lures, Soft Plastics (Squidgys, Gulp & DOA Prawns)

Live bait: Prawns, mullet & mud herring.

When casting lures put plenty of tip action twitches in a slow retrieve for you hard body lure letting them suspend or slowly float in the target area.

Target areas include the flats, oyster rocks, snags and gutters. Trolling is also very effective with lures capable of bumping the bottom of the water depth fishing, also use plenty of tip action working the lure. Ideal trolling structure includes snags, rock bars, creek mouths and drop off edges. Many lures need treble upgrades and must be kept sharpe.

Live Baiting: target structure holding fish. Owner Mutu light Circle or Instinct Octopus hooks are very effective. Prawns can be fished under a float when fishing structure while mullet and herring are best fished on the bottom.

Ask your local Tackle World store for the hot locations & best tides.

March/April

September to December

Baitcast/Spin Tackle

20lb/30lb Braid (Fins/Nitlon/Rovex Viros)

40/50lb Mono Leader (Instinct XTS plus)

Lures: Strada(various), Bolt Omega, Lead’s Hi Jackers/Shads, Mann’s Stretch, Soft Plastics (Squidgy’s, Gulp, DOA Prawns.

Live Bait: Prawns,mullet & fresh mullet fillet also effective

Look to target heavy timber and often way at the back of structure is their preferred ambush position. Rock Bars are another popular home for these strong fighting fish. Quick reflexes and strong drag require to prevent being bricked into the snag & structure. Diving lures usually most effective but will take shallow lures such as Lead’s Hi-Jackers. Lure action similar to barramundi technique.

Live Baiting: Instinct Octopus hooks with size dependent on bait size

Ask our expert staff for the hot locations & best tides.

Headlands: October to February

Estuary Creeks: February to May

Baitcast/Spin/Jig

Braid/Jigging  Braid or Mono live baiting (as stated previous/ Mono Instinct Lexis/Asari Pearl

40-80lb Mono Leader (dependant on location and fish size)

Lures: While can be caught on hard bodied lures both trolled and cast more commonly caught on jigged soft plastics than hard bodies.(Gulp New Squid Vicious)/Squidgys

Live Bait: (Best Method)

Headlands:Squid(fresh caught), large sardines & mud herring

Creek: Prawns, sardines & mud herring.

When fishing the Estuary Creeks fish the deep holes with rubble particularly if bait is marking. On the Headlands look for isolated rocks in deep water and the drop area of a rock plateau where bait is marking. Live baiting vary hook to bait and target fish size 3/0-8/0 (Instinct Octopus/ Owner Mutu Circle Light/ Gamakatsu SL12S). Jigging soft scented plastic lures very effective and exciting on spin Tackle.

May to Nov

Overhead/Spin Tackle

10-15kg Mono Trolling   30-50lb Braid Jigging (As previous)

60-100lb Mono Leader (dependant on method) Instinct XTS plus

Lures (Trolling)

Strada Tracka 160/140, Bolt Mystique, Dog Tooth Wolf Herring, Halco Laser Pro

Lures (Jigging)

Dog Tooth Saxon, Arma Anchovy, Bumpa-Bars, Spanyid Raiders and large soft plastics

Trolling Baits: Garfish & Wolf Herring

Floating: Pilchards, Garfish & Slimy Mackerel

Live baits also effective under a balloon.

Troll the reef edges and pinnicles holding bait schools. Ensure you float out a pilchard or live bait out while bottom fishing and use burley. Jigging the wrecks with a high speed retrieve very effective. Big Mackerel love a slow trolled rigged Wolf Herring.

March to November Prime Time Aug to Oct

Overhead/Spin Tackle/Handline

50lb Braid (As previous) 80LB Mono Leader

60-80lb Handline

Best Bait: Pilchard & Squid combination. Strip fillet bait also good with pilchard.

Coral trout are predominately caught bottom fishing the reef bommies in depths ranging from 10-40m. A running sinker on top of the hook is the preferred rig to help dislodge if snagged on the reef. Hook sizes from 6/0-8/0 with Instinct Octopus/ Gamakatsu SL12S/ Mustad 540 all suitable models. Burley is recommended & a floater out the back to target Mackerel. Coral trout will also take poppers & minnows cast over the shallow bommies & jigged soft plastics.

May to September

Overhead Tackle/Quality Spin/Handlines

50-80lb Braid/80lb Mono Leader (Instinct)

80-100lb Handlines

Best Bait: Pilchard & Squid Combination