We went up there early April this year and around high tides, fishing at the boat ramp was good fun. Take a few baitfish rigs (you know the ones with 3+ small hooks with little fluros on them) with you. Get the smallest hooks you can. They're only a couple of bucks each.
Then around high tide, catch yourself some Hardyheads to use as live baits. They're everywhere. Use about a 6/0 hook through the mouth and out the head or bottom of mouth and cast out a few metres. We caught a few Queenies (good fun) and saw a few Spangled Emperor caught too.
I'm no expert, so others will have a better idea where to head but off the rock walls and jetty at the ramp is easy with kids. Just be careful though - I think you're not really meant to fish off the jetty but no one seems to mind as long as you get out the way when a charter boat comes in and you clean up after yourself.
took my kids out deep a couple of times and slayed a few reds spanglies etc but everyday as we are coming back in "Dad can you keep some bait so we can fish while your walking the 200 miles up to get the car"!
And they had just as much fun, caught a parrotfish about 2kg and numerous other small ones.
as said beware of the charter boats. The odd person seems put out that a boat "intrudes" on their fishing space and it will spoil it for all.
watch for Merv the potato cod, comes in sometimes and smashes the hardy heads only feet away from the jettys-watch ya kids faces when he does!
my brother just came back from coral bay last week and had a ball. they went out on mahi mahi II with Bernie, got heaps of nice fish with the charterreds, spang, robby sea brim & jobfish). they also fished north of coral bay and got lots of nice spangled emperor, just have to check for santuary zones
Thanks for that Shorty, yes we have had a couple a really good weeks up here of late, good weather and lots of fish, although it has been raining this weekend, time for a few days of. And yes anyone coming up to fish, who hasnt been up here before check at the DEC office for no go sanctuary zones and make sure you talk to other fishos about getting in and out of the reef.
wazzbat
Posts: 977
Date Joined: 19/01/10
We went up there early April
We went up there early April this year and around high tides, fishing at the boat ramp was good fun. Take a few baitfish rigs (you know the ones with 3+ small hooks with little fluros on them) with you. Get the smallest hooks you can. They're only a couple of bucks each.
Then around high tide, catch yourself some Hardyheads to use as live baits. They're everywhere. Use about a 6/0 hook through the mouth and out the head or bottom of mouth and cast out a few metres. We caught a few Queenies (good fun) and saw a few Spangled Emperor caught too.
I'm no expert, so others will have a better idea where to head but off the rock walls and jetty at the ramp is easy with kids. Just be careful though - I think you're not really meant to fish off the jetty but no one seems to mind as long as you get out the way when a charter boat comes in and you clean up after yourself.
Good luck.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
117wiseones
Posts: 27
Date Joined: 03/06/11
sound great
thanks bud will give it a go appreciate the feed back hope 2 have sum photos stay tuned
dan1
Posts: 379
Date Joined: 11/07/07
beach fishing
night fish at point maud for sharks and some big ones
smash
Posts: 434
Date Joined: 01/12/10
second the boat ramp
took my kids out deep a couple of times and slayed a few reds spanglies etc but everyday as we are coming back in "Dad can you keep some bait so we can fish while your walking the 200 miles up to get the car"!
And they had just as much fun, caught a parrotfish about 2kg and numerous other small ones.
as said beware of the charter boats. The odd person seems put out that a boat "intrudes" on their fishing space and it will spoil it for all.
watch for Merv the potato cod, comes in sometimes and smashes the hardy heads only feet away from the jettys-watch ya kids faces when he does!
Shortylook
Posts: 221
Date Joined: 07/05/11
my brother just came back
my brother just came back from coral bay last week and had a ball. they went out on mahi mahi II with Bernie, got heaps of nice fish with the charterreds, spang, robby sea brim & jobfish). they also fished north of coral bay and got lots of nice spangled emperor, just have to check for santuary zones
CAPTAIN BERNIE
Posts: 187
Date Joined: 09/01/08
Thanks for that Shorty, yes
Thanks for that Shorty, yes we have had a couple a really good weeks up here of late, good weather and lots of fish, although it has been raining this weekend, time for a few days of. And yes anyone coming up to fish, who hasnt been up here before check at the DEC office for no go sanctuary zones and make sure you talk to other fishos about getting in and out of the reef.