Fishing report Tin Can Bay
by Jim Cole, Tin Can Bay Boat Hire, 0408 329 167
As the weekend draws near again it’s time to start planning the important stuff like fishing!
The fishing has been a little quiet over recent weeks with only a few reports of flathead around the entrance to the creeks such as Alligator and Dinnies. Whilst others are reporting catches of a few nice sized whiting have also been about with better specimens coming from the sand flats around Ida Island.
Mid month, good quality mangrove jack have been taken in the creeks along with a few threadfin salmon and barramundi. Live baits of herring, silver biddies or mullet working best.
A few reports of quality flathead have been coming through with fish up to 60cm being common. Anglers who hit the water early are being rewarded with pan sized squire on the shallow reefs around Tin Can Bay. The best time to target these fish is in the low light periods usually about an hour or so after first light.
A good berley trail is essential the help keep the fish nearby. Readymade berley is available from most tackle stores although if you have the time making your own berley is always best. Try using old bait rather than discarding it at the boat ramp, at the end of the trip take it home and freeze your leftovers and when you have time grab an old blender or mincer (not the one from the kitchen) and blend it all up.
I use any old bait I have in the freezer like prawns, squid, fish frames, pillies etc… add some chook pellets, tuna oil and even a bit of beach sand in the mix. Once the berley is all made I store in a 20lt bucket with a lid and place in the chest freezer. I then take the bucket with me and use a kitchen ladle to spoon out berley every couple of mins to create a solid berley trail. Best of all if you don’t use it all you can put the lid back on and back in the freezer for next time.
The neap tides last month provided the ideal conditions for fishing areas like Bluff Reef. With reports of school, spotty and even the odd Spanish mackerel have been taken in this area or try bottom fishing for squire, sweetlip and parrot.
Reports from the creeks are of barramundi, jack and cod being taken on a mix of live bait and lures. Creeks such as Teebar, Kauri and Carlo fishing well.
Some large elbow slapper whiting have been caught in Carlo creek using surface lures in shallow water.
Inskip Point has also been fishing well with large golden trevally, school mackerel and sharks being taken on live baits.
The offshore fishing scene has been firing on all 8 cylinders last month with heaps of spotty and Spanish mackerel being caught. Up side has been a number of nice red emperor also being caught. On a recent trip offshore we landed 4 nice reds with the biggest going 12kg.
Tin Can Bay Boat Hire showed our support for the nationwide 2014 Pirtek Fishing Challenge last weekend. We donated 10% from all hires to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Don’t forget about our fish of the month competition win a $50 voucher to spend in store. Just by submitting a fish you go into the random prize draw. Drop by the store located at 6/6 Scullett Drive in Tin Can Bay (near Mitre 10) for details.
Until next time stay safe on the water.
