Bribie Island Fishing update: Autumn action with whiting and school mackerel

As we head through April, southeast Queensland is firmly in the autumn transition. Cooler nights, persistent southeasterly winds and occasional showers have created variable conditions around Bribie Island and northern Moreton Bay. While strong winds have limited some outings, protected inshore areas, passages and clearer bay waters are delivering solid results. Prawn runs remain strong (especially from the saltworks to Nudgee and Tingalpa Creek), whiting have shifted eastward and school mackerel numbers and sizes are improving as waters cool and clarity increases with smaller tides. Estuary favourites like flathead, grunter and bream continue to perform well, making this a great time for mixed sessions. 

Best Fishing Spots Around Bribie Island 

Focus on wind-protected zones during blows: 

Bongaree Jetty: Reliable for bream, flathead, mulloway, juvenile snapper, cod and parrotfish. Live prawns or pilchards on outgoing tides work well in the deeper sections. 

Bribie Island bridge: Strong night bites for mulloway (jewfish) and grunter; daytime trevally and bream around the pylons using soft plastics or live baits. 

Sandstone Point, Skirmish Point and Toorbul Point: Boat anglers find flathead, whiting and estuary cod on rock bars and drop-offs. Nearby creeks like Ningi Creek hold mangrove jacks and grunter on the tide push. 

Beaches and surf zones: Woorim Beach, Banksia Beach, Red Beach and Bribie Dog Beach produce bream, flathead, dart and whiting in the gutters, especially with worms or prawns. 

Pumicestone Passage and Rous Channel: Flathead and grunter persist here. Whiting have moved east from Chain Banks into Rous Channel, Amity Banks, Banana Banks and are heading toward Fisherman's Gutter and closer to Wynnum. School mackerel are active throughout the bay, including wider Green Island to the eastern side of Hope Banks. 

Other productive areas include White Patch, Donnybrook Jetty and Old Oyster Jetty flats for flathead and squid. Multiple boat ramps offer easy access when conditions allow. 

Recent Catches and Reports 

Reports from late March to early April show improving school mackerel action as waters cool and clear — good-sized fish are widespread in Moreton Bay, with better inshore potential on smaller tides. Tiger squid are thick in spots like the eastern side of Green Island (in 4–9 ft depths), just before the dogleg in the Rous Channel and around Wellington Point. A few nice crayfish have also been noted. 

Whiting numbers are solid after shifting eastward — drifting peeled prawns or worms in Rous Channel, Amity Banks and Banana Banks is proving effective, with fish expected soon in Fisherman's Gutter and closer in. Prawns are running well, providing fresh bait and attracting fish. Sweetlip and squire are holding on shallow reefsaround close-in islands, while grassy sweetlip appear on inshore patches during calmer spells. 

In the Pumicestone Passage, flathead and a few grunter remain catchable, with bream and flathead taken even in showery conditions. When winds ease, offshore edges yield squire, snapper and sweetlip around areas like Cleveland, Peel Island and Goat Island. 

Consistent local hauls include bream, flathead, cod, parrot, mulloway, juvenile snapper and moses perch. 

School mackerel techniques 

I have read a number of local articles and posts about catching these fish and listed below are what I can deduct from these. 

School mackerel (minimum legal size 50cm, bag limit 10) are a highlight right now and respond well to several light-tackle methods in the relatively shallow bay waters: 

Trolling: Use trolling boards or paravanes to get lures down 3–5m. Troll at 5–6.5 knots along depth contours or around bait schools. Chrome or chrome-gold spoons (e.g., Halco) on 10–15ft of 30–50lb fluorocarbon leader work best. Spread lines at different distances to avoid tangles. 

Casting/jigging: When marking bait or seeing surface activity, cast metal slugs (Halco Twisty or Raider) and retrieve as fast as possible with upward rod sweeps. Let the lure flutter down and repeat. Approach schools quietly from up current. 

Bait fishing: Live bait (herring, small pilchards, or whitebait caught on sabiki rigs) is highly effective. Gang hooks (3/0–5/0) allow the bait to swim naturally — fish un-weighted or with a small sinker. Drift or slow troll near beacons, bait balls or structure. Dead pillies also work well when floated or sunk. 

Stealth is key in shallow water — use the electric motor and avoid motoring directly over fish. Mix techniques on the day, as some sessions favour live bait whileothers suit high-speed spoons. 

Tips for success 

Tides and weather: Strong SE winds push fish into protected passages and creeks. Smaller tides later in this period improve clarity and bring mackerel closer. Target incoming tides for whiting and outgoing for flathead/grunter/mackerel. Monitor forecasts for calm windows and check solunar peaks. 

Baits and lures: Peeled prawns and worms for whiting; live prawns/pilchards for estuary species; chrome spoons/slugs for school mackerel. Fresh bait (net your own prawns where possible) makes a big difference. Soft plastics excel around structure in variable clarity. 

Regulations: Observe Queensland bag and size limits (school mackerel 50cm minimum). Practice catch-and-release for sustainability, especially larger flathead or jewfish. 

Gear up: Stock up at local spots like Bribie Island Fishing Supplies for fresh bait, prawns and current advice. 

Abundant prawns, eastward-moving whiting, building school mackerel and reliable estuary fishing, all offers excellent autumn opportunities around Bribie Island — particularly in sheltered waters. Pick your days carefully, stay safe in the variable weather and enjoy the mixed bag on offer.  

Tight lines! Share your catches for future updates, and check Fishing Monthly, Coastwatch or local groups for the latest reports.