Catching a Feed in the Bay Nugget

Season Planner Summer Main species - whiting, flathead, mangrove jack, bull sharks Secondary species - tailor, mulloway, trevally, mud crabs, prawns Autumn Main species - whiting, flathead, prawns, crabs Secondary species - bream, tailor, bull sharks, mulloway Winter Main species - bream, mulloway, tailor, luderick, Secondary species – flathead, trevally Spring Main species – mulloway, bream, flathead, whiting Secondary species – tailor, bream, mud crabs

Observations

Dirty Water Very discoloured water - after floods Fish close to River mouth The run in tide Fish where the dirty water meets the clean water Main species – mulloway, bream, estuary cod

Clean Water Very clean water - Scarce in the Logan! Fish spook easily Fish the deeper holes in stealth mode Move further into the estuary / up river

Tidal Flow Very Strong Tides – Full & New Moons Fish the tide changes Fish upper reaches of creeks and drains Fish the shallows Main species - mulloway, bream, mangrove jack, tailor, whiting

Run In / Run Out Tide Most species have a preferred tide to feed on Run in Main species – tailor, bream, flathead Run Out Main species – whiting, flathead Tide Changes Main species – jewfish, cod, snapper

Species Guides

Bream Winter for quality and quantity Run in tide Deep water snags during the day or bright nights Shallows on dark nights 2 rigs – casting and anchored Local flooding will get them biting outside of winter Strong tidal flow BAITS Yabbies Mullet / Chook Gut Fillets / cubes Bread, Squid, Ox Heart, Chicken, Liver Technique Drop Back Snags Eddy / Ripple lines Bottom Formations & Hardness Move Often – Keep Looking –Come back on a different tide

Whiting Summer season Strong tidal flow Edge of channels on the run out tide Night better than day Move out of dirty water after floods Yabbies best bait in discoloured water Worms best bait at night Best Tide Run out Big tides are usually best Best Time After Dark Best Time Moon Phase Lead up to the new and full moons Baits Yabbies Blood Worms Prawns

Flathead Spring / summer species Bait or lure must be on the bottom Any object on a sand bottom will hold them Bait / lure must be moving Natural colours in clear water, dark colours in dark water The mouth of creeks, drains on the run out tide Edge of main channels on the run in tide Dead baits Pilchards Hardiheads Whitebait Prawns Cut bait Live baits Herring Diver whiting Mullet Bony bream / silver biddies Prawns

Mulloway Winter / spring After floods Ledges, deep water snags, bar entrances Tide change on the big tides Long trace rig Live mullet best followed by pike, whiting or herring Fresh slab of luderick, tailor, mackerel or tuna or squid Baits Live Bait - Mullet, Pike, Tailor, Herring, Other Dead Bait - Fillets, Prawns, Squid Techniques Best Tide Run out at the Pin Bar Smallest tide of the month Best Time Dusk, Dawn, Tide Changes, Floods Best Time Moon Phase Any

Rigs Whiting – No 4 or 6 hook, 1m trace & running sinker Bream – No 1 – 2/0 hook, 20cm trace and running sinker or casting rig Mulloway – 4/0 – 10/0 hook, 3m trace and No 8 sinker Flathead – 1/0 – 4/0 hook, 50cm trace, 1 ball sinker or trolling rig

Species Summary Whiting - Bloodworms, run out tide, move often Bream - Mullet gut, run in tide, on the bottom Mulloway - Live bait, tide changes, ledges Flathead - Baitfish, on the bottom, moving bait

Evaluate the Situation What month is it ? What is the tide ? What is the current flow ? What are the other influences? This information creates your fishing plan