I spent the recent long weekend at RainbowBeach and then went on for the following week to FraserIsland. I was with the kids and therefore could not keep my usual unsociable fishing hours and had to keep them close by on Fraser.
The scenery was beautiful but the fishing was disappointing. At RainbowBeach we did best directly out the front of the township, using live worms and managed about two or three keeper whiting in each session. In fact we got a fish with almost every cast but they were nearly always dart in the 10 cm range. We tried the lagoon at the far end of the beach without much luck although we could see some very sizeable bait schools moving through. We also spotted some monster squid and a huge shovel nose cruising up and down. I scored nothing from plastics in the surf or at the lagoon, the dart bit the tails off the Gulps and the sturdier plastics did not attract any attention.
Up at Frazer we fished at a couple of spots on the way to Eurong - where we stayed. The small Dart were the only constant. Every now and then I could see a decent chopper as the wave came up to break but they were just too far out to cast too and after filling up the waders with cold water a couple of times. I gave up on the slugs and returned to fishing the worms close in. From then on it was Dart Dart Dart.
Next time I will head up to Indian Head and beyond – perhaps without the kids. Great fun but I am longing for a proper 4.30 am start!
sounds like you had a great family trip though.
I,ve found the choppers tend to turn up up that way in numbers from next month onwards.from then they increase in size till october then wean of again.so the next few months are the best time for that next trip
good luck
rick
the plague of small dart hey!
i fished up at fraser in late May up north of Indian and the fishing was ordinary off the beach. Lots of small dart that was about it and i fished right up to the Cape.
Fished over at Straddy over the June long weekend and it was ordinary still - caught 5 fish after some pretty serious time on the water - and all ordinary size. Saw lots of fish in the waves but no interest or bites. In fact, i only saw one other dart landed... maybe something to do with the low pressure system putting them off the bite.
Could be a seasonal thing - later then usual winter may have thrown the fish somewhat? Off to Moreton this weekend so lets hope it has improved.
just one more cast........
Not sure what gear you were using or how far you were casting, but I usually find the bigger dart are out the back and if you are getting heaps of small ones you either need to move gutter, or cast a bit further out the back - not sure how far but I'd guess 80+m.
Nice place to be even if the fish weren't really "on".
Those bloody Dart! We had a hard time catching anything but dart on Fraser as well last September. A couple of whiting and a Tailor, but easily a dozen dart each day. Bit of fun on the light gear, but on the massive alveys there's no fight, you just drag them in.
Went for a day Trip last Thursday over the Island. Fished a Few Gutters south of Dilli Village, advised by some Locals only place to Fish. Caught 8 Nice Whiting and some Big Dart. Also caught this strange looking Fish which actually looks like a Whiting, quite big too. I believe it to be a "Bonefish". Will try and post a Pic. A Local fished around Yindey Rocks last Wednesday Arvo and landed a 10KG Snub Nosed Dart. It was truly a Large Specimen.
Going up there myself in a few weeks.
High speep spinning with a slug seperates the tailer from the dart to a certain degree, though I have caught plenty of dart like that also.
So how are conditions over there at the moment?
Much of that snot weed in the water?
Can you still drive aound hook point (legally) or do you have to take the inland route.
I drove around Hook point and there were no signs saying it was illegal - there was no weed to speak of.
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