subject: The Sunshine Coast The Best Deep-sea Fishing In South East Queensland [print this page] The Sunshine Coast might be known for its beaches, shopping, hinterland and mountains, but its real claim to fame is its fishing. With endless creeks, rivers, dams and surf beaches, there is something for everyone, seasoned fishermen and beginners alike. But as any angler will tell you, the jewel in the Sunshine Coasts fishing crown is the offshore area, where the deep sea fishing Mooloolaba happens.
The easiest and most affordable way to experience deep-sea fishing at the Sunshine Coast is via a fishing charter such as Top Catch Charters, based out of Mooloolaba. The following is a little rundown theyve put together about what kind of fish you might encounter during your fishing adventure.
Marlin
With smaller specimens catchable just a few hundred metres from shore (although smaller could still mean 30kg!) and larger 200kg behemoths a little further out, the Sunshine Coast is known as South East Queenslands capital of marlin fishing. Ask your charter operator to take you to the known spots and you may well get the chance to land the fish of a lifetime. A tenacious adversary, the marlin is the holy grail of gamefish, and is worth all the blood, sweat and tears it takes to land it.
Sailfish
A little smaller than the marlin, the Sailfish averages out at about 30kg, though its aerial acrobatics and blinding speed make it a difficult critter to land. Although they have been taken within a kilometre of shore, the majority of catches take place about 10km out, or further. Favourite spots include Chardons Reef and the trench at the northern end of Moreton Bay.
Tuna
Pound for pound, tuna are some of the most powerful fish in the ocean. Numerous varieties school off the coast, the most common being the yellowfin and northern bluefin. Known for being incredible eating, tuna are comparatively common, so make sure you have your esky and filleting knife ready!
Mahi-mahi
Large numbers of mahi-mahi (also known as dolphin fish or dorado) are caught off the Sunshine Coast each year. An extremely fast-growing fish, it is relatively easy to find fairly impressive-sized examples just look for debris floating in the ocean, and theyll most likely be sheltering nearby in a small group. Once on the line, mahi-mahi are extremely lively fighters, so make sure theyre well hooked before fully engaging, or youll be left telling tall stories about the one that got away.
Wahoo
Wahoo are the slightly longer and slenderer cousins of tuna and mackerel, but with a mouth full of splinter-sharp teeth and a mean turn of speed, they are a force to be reckoned with. Their teeth can be a problem, as they make short work of most tackle this can be annoying when youre out targeting marlin or tuna! Like billfish and tuna, large wahoo are more prevalent towards the continental shelf.
This is just a short list of what is out there. For more information on deep-sea fishing off the Sunshine Coast, contact Mooloolabas Top Catch Charters at bookings@topcatchcharters.com.au.
