Rock walls

Using pilchards for bait off the sailing club and Port of Airlie has seen some good mangrove jack and the odd coral trout being caught.

Fishing live baits during early morning or late afternoon into the evening is still your best chance of catching a barramundi around the rock walls. Whiting are being caught during the run-in tide at Cannonvale Beach on peeled prawns or garfish fillets.

Shute Harbour

During the day queenfish and trevally have been readily taking metal lures, surface lures and live baits.

Prawns and pilchards are producing trout, sweetlip and tusk fish. Squid are still available during the night. While fishing for squid it pays to have a live bait out as barramundi are still an option at the moment.

Islands

The squid have tapered off a little but are still available for those wishing to fish through the night. Stonehaven and Nara Inlet have been reliable spots.

There are plenty of coral trout and sweetlip about, fishing that 10 to 15 metre mark using pilchards and squid has been doing the trick. If the weather holds out with these dropping tides, it will be ideal to head wide to chase reds and nannygai out in the deeper waters.

Rivers and creeks

Smaller tides will allow for easier fishing in the rivers and creeks with all the usual techniques producing fish.

Crabs have slowed down a little but if you work your pots and move them around a good feed of crabs is still a possibility. If leaving pots in overnight be careful of where you put them so they don't get carried away with the tides.

Also make sure you have ample bait in your pot. Once the bait is gone the crabs will find a way out, that usually means they will end up tearing the pot.

Peter Faust Dam

Trolling the main basin with 5-8 metre divers has been the most reliable technique lately in the dam. The fish are also taking a liking to shorter stocky lures like the Storm Arashi and Halco Poltergeist. For a real challenge venture up into the sticks and try casting deep divers, big plastics and surface lures around the sunken timber or weed beds.

The challenge of a big fish in this environment can be very rewarding.

Ryan Fuller, Whitsunday Fishing World

Reef

The good weather has continued which is pleasing for those fishing the reef. The tides over the full moon made fishing challenging with four metres of change to deal with.

Some good reports of coral trout, emperor and nannygai coming through. This week sees the tides easing and winds also favourable. The good fishing should continue.

Ash Matthews, Sea Fever Sport Fishing

Weekend weather

Saturday will be partly cloudy with a medium (50%) chance of showers in the morning and afternoon. A chance of thunderstorms in the south in afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20kmh during the day.