subject: An Introduction To Fishing On The Sunshine Coast [print this page] Lying just over an hour north of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast is an idyllic stretch of rivers, dams, beaches and reefs offering an unrivalled range of fishing options. A true fishermans paradise, it is a favourite with beginners and veteran anglers alike, whether theyre looking to fill their trophy rooms or just their cooking pots.
Although the Sunshine Coast has more freshwater and inland fishing options than you can shake a stick at, its when you get to the ocean that things really start getting exciting. And to experience the pinnacle of what the Sunshine Coast has to offer, youd be best advised to get into a boat and head to the reefs and schooling spots that skirt the entire coastline.
The following is a quick guide to fishing this beautiful stretch of ocean, kindly provided by the folks at Mooloolaba fishing Charters.
Reef Fishing
With some reefs just a few hundred metres from shore, reef fishing is a quick, easy and safe way to get out there. Reefs are natural gathering places for all manner of marine life, which attracts the bigger creatures such as snapper, red emperor, amberjack, yellowtail, jewfish, morwong, parrotfish, pearl perch, teraglin, cod, tailor and shark. Simply drop a line and wait!
Estuary Fishing
While it is possible to fish from the shore, to get the most out of the estuaries around the Sunshine Coast, a boat is highly recommended. With a combination of depths, currents and habitats, estuaries are great for river cod, mangrove jack, moses perch, sea bream, tailor, trevally, jewfish, mackerel, whiting and flathead.
Game fishing
Reef species are great fishing (and eating!), but if youre after that open-ocean thrill, nothing beats the big gamefish. These are still accessible around the reefs just offshore, but for the larger specimens, youll have to get your charter boat to take you out a bit further. Think lightning-fast, powerful predators like marlin, sailfish, wahoo, cobia, mahi-mahi, mackerel and tuna.
Spanner Crabs
For something a little more sedate, theres always the Sunshine Coasts famed spanner crabs. Simply drop some crab traps on your way out to the reefs, and when heading back to Mooloolaba, you should have at least a few healthy specimens to go with your dinner.
Top Catch Charters runs daily fishing charters out of Mooloolaba harbour. For more information on fishing the Sunshine Coast, send an email to bookings@topcatchcharters.com.au.
