As the weather cools across South East Queensland, things really start to fire up. Over the next few months, bridges, jetties and any decent bit of structure – especially at night – will produce Tailor (Pomatomus saltatrix), Jewfish (Argyrosomus japonicus), and some proper big winter Dusky Flathead.
Tailor are best known from the beaches of K’gari (Fraser Island), but this time of year, they start pushing right into the bay. There’s been solid numbers getting around Redcliffe and Shorncliffe, with most fish in that 30–50cm range. They hunt in packs and when they’re on, it can be chaos – in a good way. They’ll smash lures, pilchards, live baits, whatever you throw at them. Just don’t forget – they’ve got a serious set of teeth, so don’t fish too light. Bleed them, ice them, eat them fresh – simple as that.
Winter Hotspots and How to Target Them
Jewies, or Mulloway – the “Silver Ghost” – are the ones everyone hopes to tangle with. They love hanging around structure at night and will happily eat a decent live bait. With a 75cm minimum size, most you hook are proper fish and pull hard. They’re regularly getting caught on live baits and lures around Woody Point Jetty, Shorncliffe Jetty and Hornibrook Bridge if you put the time in.
As it gets colder, big flathead start showing up more too, sitting on drop-offs and edges waiting to ambush a feed.
Fish the night tides, stick to structure, and you’ll be in with a real shot.
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