Rain - and its effect on the fishing ?

[rogersto]

Some advice from the experts here, we've had some nice rain here on the Gold Coast over the past days, not a major downpour (I think we need a 1-in-a-100 year flood every year or two to solve our water woes ?),

But generally speaking, how would the rain affect the fishing in general in the estuaries, if at all... ? does the fresh water from the rain affect things in any significant way, especially in the lower ends of the estuaries, ie: Currumbin, Tally River, etc, around the Broadwater ?

[calamari]

Yes, rain does affect fishing, but don't ask me how! I fished Currumbin Inlet for many years, sun, rain, hail, and snow - Woops, forget the last! - and could never figure out a predictable response of fish to "the flush" - I read repeatedly that estuarine species will be pushed down river and therefore be present in higher numbers at the mouth of inlets and surrounding coast after rain - jewfish are the species most mentioned, I recall - but whether they will feed and bite seems to be another matter - I am also interested in the "experts" opinions - ...

[Noelm]

if you have had a lot of "flooding rain" for those that remember that! it can indeed setup some great fishing, especially in the big Northern Rivers, where big Jewies and such will be lurking around down near the breakwalls waiting for all the poor little Mullet and stuff to come swirling by, using big lures and live baits at these times can be very exciting, some of the "bread and butter" fish can still be found, but will be (if not flushed out to sea) in the deeper places where the salt will still be on the bottm (the freash water will be in a layer on the surface) also a lot of fish that are normally hard to find (big Mullet and stuff) will come on the bite eating all the little worms and bits and pieces that are swished off the bottom, the fishing around the closer reefs will also fire as well, because all the prawns and things will be washed out to these areas, Snapper can be an easy target at these locations.

[Synful]

Hi Rogersto,

Well most people will tell you that the rain brings fish on the bite but to be honest here in Cairns the only thing I have found after amount of rain we've had over the last month is this:

• One or two days rain will turn things on and generally provide lots of prawns for a feed or livies
• Three to four days of rain will generally ensure that you can get a good feed of muddies
• Beyond this (and I know for sure it is the case in Barron river), there's too much fresh and pretty much a waste of time, bait and effort chasing anything even at the mouths of rivers.

Maybe others have other experiences, but these are mine.
Things are just returning to normal in Barron River so I may go for a prawn session in the next day or so just to see what i can get.

That being said this is my worst year for fishing yet and nothing seems to work for me lately, going through a bit of a drought unless you count sharks or catties

[manchild]

I can only speak of my local river the Logan.It needs at least 6 inches of rain to give it a good flush .Fishing generally turns off for a period of 3-4 days but after that you cant put a feet wrong.Everything from jews to whiting usually fires for at least a month .
George

[the gecko]

If theres been no rain for a while, fish in the upper river. If theres been rain, fish around the river mouth. If theres been too much rain, like 7 days of it, then leave it go for about 2-3 days after it stops.

I used to blame rain for my lack of fish, but now I view rain as just one of many factors that influence catch. Location, depth, current, tide, moon, air pressure are all factors.

I reckon fishing is like golf. I like to play new courses in any weather conditions, as it makes you a better golfer. I just fish whenever Ive got time off, and I learn to read different conditions.

Stuff the weather, just go fishing.

cheers
Andrew