Author: Chris Rippon

What a month it has been and how about these conditions we have been having the last few weeks!!  From the end of July & for most of August we have seen back to back days of consistent weather patterns and for most anglers that has meant getting offshore and catching a feed of quality table fish.  Reds, Trout, Snapper some big Cod and Grassies have all been pulled from the depths.

Fresh Squid baits, floating Pillies & Mullet strips have been doing the job.  We have started to see more anglers opting for using slow pitch jigs to mix it up after boating a few for a feed.  The Explorer & Samaki centre balanced jigs have been working well.  Mixed in with all the reef fish have been Cobia & some good size AJ’s.  There is still the odd Spanish getting about with a few Longtails. 

For the guys & girls looking to have a bit of fun in the slower bite times we have started to stock a few knife jigs at The Chandlery Bait & Tackle.  200gm & 300gm Black Magic jigs have been getting a few runs on the board for the crew chasing an arm stretching with the hard pulling AJ’s that are out there in good numbers.  Using your electronics to sound up tightly packed bait schools is a sure fire method.

For the Whiting fishos the Winteries are still out in force and for the crew willing to put in the extra effort pumping Yabbies and fishing into the night have been rewarded with some nice size Summer Whiting.  Squid are still being caught in good numbers also.  Flathead have been on the menu too and the boys have been testing out a few new plastics soon to hit the shelves so watch this space. 

Mangrove Jacks have started to make an appearance.  Even in the cooler water Jacks’ gotta eat.  There were a couple of days early in the month where we saw the water temp pick up a couple of degrees for a few days and those in the know got out and targeted the Red Dogs with success.  This time of year, and this goes for Barra too, look for exposed structure as this will often have sightly warmer water around it as the sun heats the exposed snag.  Exposed rock bars, pylons and the sunny side of the bank are good places to start looking for a winter Jack.

So, we popped down to the AFTA trade show a couple of weeks ago to have a look at all the new & exciting toys on offer later in the year.  I must say it was nice to see some “new“ gear coming on the market.  Heaps of new innovative lures for the Flathead fisho to guys casting big top water lures at our Aussie natives.  Like we said above watch this space.  Don’t forget that if there is something you want us to get in or stock, be it fishing, or chandlery just ask the team.

That’s all for now Crew & if you have not heard we are now running a monthly photo competition on our Facebook page.  There is a $100.00 voucher up for grabs each month and the winner will be announced on the 1^st of every month on our FB Page

Find us at the Tin Can Bay Marina, Emperor St for all your boating and fishing needs.

Cheers & Tight Lines

The Chandlery Bait & Tackle

G’day Folks,

Hope you are all well and staying warm.  It is starting to feel like winter is here at last and we all know what that means…?  That’s right, break out the Uggies & Beanies, get outside and catch a feed in the deep water.

For those that got offshore there have been good catches of Big Reds, Pearlies, Grass Emperor, good size Moses Perch and solid Amberjack being caught.  The AJs have been a common catch lately.  Although not looked at as a table fish, they are quite tasty if bled properly and cooked right.  If you don’t like eating them, they make a great sports fish.  Sounding up tightly packed bait schools is a good place to start.  Dropping a metal jig down through the school and retrieved in a twitching motion will work on AJs and the likes.  The Explores jigs rigged with BKK Twin Assist hooks are going to work a treat offshore this season.

The Snapper are starting to show up but not in huge numbers just yet.  Floating for Snapper seems to be a popular past time for most Fishos but they are also great fun on slow pitch jigs and plastics in the 3 – 5’’ sizes.  Come in and see the boys if you are keen to try something different this Snapper season.

Reports of Squid have been thick and fast the last couple of weeks and the standout jig of choice for most locals has been the YamashitA Egi Sutte R, 2.2 & 2.5 in Orange, Pink & Natural Prawn.  The usual spots have been firing, the mouth of Carlo, around Lady Woodward and we have also been told that between Big Mick and Kauri on the ledge has been a hotspot too.

With the dropping water temp the Bream should be showing up in good numbers and so should the Sand Crab.  Crabbing in the deeper water with fresh baits should see you take home a feed.  I tend to run a string and check them an hour later, if there are not Sandies in that area, I’ll move my pots on till I find a patch and get a feed.

There have also been some nice Flatties coming off the flats the last few weeks.  Using shallow running hardbodies like the Storm Slow Run 95’s has been working really well.  Burn the lure over the flat for a couple of meters then pause it and allow it to float up to the surface then burn it again.  Don’t worry if you are hitting the ground & kicking up the dust because that’s where our target lives.

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for our migrating southern friends if you are heading offshore.  We were fortunate enough to have a good size big one come right up to the boat and say hello a couple of times the other day at the Bar Reef.  I am always in awe when I see them swimming past and when you are in a 5m tinny you suddenly realise how small you really are.

That’s all for now Crew and we hope to see you on the water or in the shop soon & feel free to post a couple of pictures of your catch on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/thechandlerybaitandtackle/

Find us at the Tin Can Bay Marina, Emperor St for all your boating and fishing needs.

Cheers & Tight Lines

The Chandlery Bait & Tackle

G’day Folks we trust you have all be keeping well, catching a few and dodging the rain that has still been a presence in the weather pattern.

So, what’s been on the chew the last few weeks.

Offshore Fishos took advantage early in the month with some stable weather and smaller swell to get out over the Bar.  They were treated to some solid Mackerel Schools & everyone was getting a feed of Spotties & Spanish.  Floating Pillies is always a sure fire way to get a feed.  For those that were feeling more energetic, casting Stick Baits like the Rapala Longcast SXRLS-14 & Williamson GFX Surface Pros into feeding schools resulted in the bigger fish being caught.  Casting Samaki Torpedo V2 slugs in 35gm/50gm has also been a winner, especially targeting the Spotties & Longtail Tuna.  Retro fitting these with an inline single hook will see you dropping less fish.  If you want any advice on retro fitting lures with single hooks pop in and see the boys in the shop & they will point you in the right direction.

There have also been some quality catches of Reefies with some big Trout showing up on the closer grounds.  Pearlies, Snapper, Grass Emperor and Tuskfish all being caught in good numbers, but you need to be quick as the Taxman has been playing his role very well lately.

With all the rain we have been having it has slowed the squid up a little the past few weeks, but the rain is welcome, and I guess we would be complaining if it wasn’t…

Winter Whiting are now showing up in numbers.  Fishing the mouth of Carlo & Kauri Creek with Beach Worms or stripped Squid should see you catching a feed.  There are still plenty of Summer models around.  Fresh Yabbies fished on the rising tide on the flats have seen good numbers of fish caught, local Beach Worm has also been producing good fish.  Flatties & Bream have also been showing up in good numbers with the cooler waters.

Up the Straights there have been reports of a few Tuna schools kicking around.  Looking for cleaner water is the key for these fish.  Finding birds working, with fish busting up, and getting yourself in casting range should see you with a nice plate of Sashimi for your efforts.  Between Big Mick & The Bluff is still producing Spotty and Spanish Mackerel.  A few clued up Fishos have even been Jigging up Grassies & just legal Nannies using Vibes & Small Jigs on some of the rubble patches.  Keeping an eye on your sounder for broken bottom and then marking fish will work with this method.

If you are heading out to the dams, Bass should be on the radar. With the cooler water, you will need to sound up schooled up fish in the deeper water.  This will require the use of heavier Jig Heads, Spinner Baits & Flies.  The Keitech Swing Impact 3.5’’ in Gold Flash has been working well along with the Todd Vampire Flies in darker colours.

That’s all for now Crew & don’t forget that if you get on to a few, feel free to post a couple of pictures of your catch on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/thechandlerybaitandtackle/

Find us at the Tin Can Bay Marina, Emperor St for all your boating and fishing needs.

Cheers & Tight Lines

The Chandlery Bait & Tackle

Rain Rain Go Away!!!

So Easter 2019 was a wet and windy one, for a change…  That said it was to be expected really. 

With not too many weather windows offered in April for a chance to get over the WBB many anglers stuck to the creeks inside the straights for most of the month.

To say the Crabbing was good would be an understatement!!  Anglers keen to get on the water and chase a feed of Muddies found the crabs were on the march & rewarded with some solid numbers of A Grade Crabs being caught.  Setting your traps up in the shallows around the Mangroves with nice fresh bait was the winner.  Most punters have been averaging 3 to 4 legal crabs a pot.  The locals and the holiday makers all getting amongst it.

Even with the water temp dropping 3-4c in the last couple of weeks, Snapper & Kauri Crk have still been producing some good catches of Mangrove Jack in the high 40’s.  Smaller live baits and fresh strip baits have been the go for the cooler waters.  There were even reports of a few rat Barra in the upper reaches of Kauri Crk taking live baits also.  The creeks on the western side of Fraser have seen a few nice catches of both Blue & King Salmon and again the standout lure has been the Molix 3.5’’ RT Shad.  The welcome bycatch of Estuary Cod has also been mixed up with a few nice QLD Grouper being landed lately.  Don’t forget that the QLD Grouper is a No Take Species in Queensland, so a quick pic and back in the drink for them.

We have started to see some good Pelagics turn up in the bay around Big Mick & The Bluff in the last few weeks with the cooler water temps.  Trolling lures like Halco Laser Pros have been working well along with trolled Gar rigged with a nose cone and a squid skirt on a short length of single strand wire.  Don’t disregard the humble floated pilchard either.  The fisho’s in the know have been catching some great eating Spanish Mackerel up around the meter mark using this method.  Mixed in with the Spanish there have been some monster Queenfish well over a meter, GT’s and Longtails caught.

We hope you all had a great Easter and were able to get amongst a few yourselves.

Also don’t forget that if you get on to a few, feel free to post a couple of pictures of your catch on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/thechandlerybaitandtackle/ #thechandlerybaitntackle

Find us at the Tin Can Bay Marina, Emperor St for all your boating and fishing needs.

Cheers & Tight Lines

The Chandlery Bait & Tackle

Hi Everyone, hope you’ve all had a fantastic March.  The cooler nights have been lovely and we’ve had some stunning weather lately with light winds and plenty of sunshine in between a few wet days.  Let’s have a look at what’s been on the chew.

Fishos keen to get offshore and catch a feed have finally had a chance to get over The Bar.  There have been reports of good catches of Spanish around the 10kg mark on 190mm & 160mm deep divers like the Halco Laserpro & Williamson Speed Pro.  There’s been some great catches of Pearlies, Tuskfish & Grass Sweetlip in the past couple of weeks too.  Fresh Squid bait and Pillys are working well along with an assortment of Jigs & Soft Plastics

With the water temp still around 28-29c the creeks have been fishing well with good catches of Mangrove Jack being reported.  Fresh cut Flicker Mullet is proving to be the go-to bait.  The diehard lure fishos have also been holding their own when it comes to the Jacks.  Although a much harder target around Tin Can Bay on lures, with persistence, a viable option.  Smaller suspending hardbodies like the Lucky Craft Pointer 78XD and 3-4’’ plastics like the Molix 3.5’’ RT Shad rigged weedless, have been working well for people that spend the time peppering the snags.  Crabs have been plentiful this season with lots of A graders being caught.

With the cooler weather on the way we have even started to see some early season Squid turning up the last couple of weeks. Jigs around the 2 & 2.5 sizes working a treat.  Flatties are sure to start to fire up as well.  The 4’’ Easy Shiners & 3.5’’ Swing Impact from Keitech have proven to out fish most other plastic in the last few weeks. 

Anyway, we hope you all get a chance to get out and wet a line over the upcoming Easter break.  Don’t forget The Chandlery Bait & Tackle is your local boating and fishing store right here in Tin Can Bay. We are open 7 days a week offering a huge range of Fishing Tackle.  We’ve got bait, ice and on the water fuel available from our fuel wharf. Find us at the Tin Can Bay Marina, Emperor Street. For all your boating and fishing needs.

Cheers & Tight Lines

TCB&T