Fishing Report: Late August to early September 2026 – Bribie Island & Pumicestone Passage

G’day all, hope your last month of fishing has been a cracker. Having a look around the area and the reports coming through, here’s my general overall take on how things have been fishing for land-based anglers in the Bribie Island and Pumicestone Passage channels and flats from late August through to early September. 

Winter is starting to ease off and we’re getting the first hints of spring. Water temperatures have begun to lift a little, we’ve had a mix of showers and southerly to south-easterly winds, and the tides have been building nicely. When the wind dropped and the tides lined up, the passage and accessible shore spots have fished consistently for this time of year. 

Overall picture by species 

Whiting: Still one of the most reliable. Good numbers and some solid yellowfin and sand whiting have been coming from the shallower flats, channel edges and spots like Coochin Creek and the Sylvan banks. Peeled prawns, worms and pumped yabbies have been the go. The last few hours of the incoming tide have produced the best sessions for most anglers. 

Bream: Holding well around structure. Better-sized fish are showing around the Bribie Bridge pylons, mangrove edges, Bongaree Jetty and rock walls. Fresh bait and small plastics have both worked, especially around the tide change. 

Flathead: Very consistent on the flats and shallow channels. Areas around the oyster jetty flats, mainland side south of the bridge, White Patch and drop-offs have produced good numbers, including plenty of keepers in the 40–50cm range. Soft plastics fished early morning or late afternoon on the run-out tide have been effective. Prawns at White Patch have also done the job. 

Other action: Tailor have been turning up around the bridges and deeper channels — mostly chopper size so far, with the odd, better fish. Tarwhine mixed in with the bream and whiting. A few school jewfish/mulloway reported around Bribie Bridge after dark or on slack water. Squid numbers are still reasonable in the channels in low light. With the snapper and pearl perch closure finished mid-August, a few juvenile snapper have been picked up in the deeper holes. Early signs of mangrove jack starting to stir in the creeks as the water warms. 

Crabbing has stayed fairly reliable for both sand and mud crabs in the passage after the recent flows.  

General takeaways 

The land-based fishing has been steady and worthwhile rather than spectacular, with the best results coming on the change of tide in the shallower protected spots. Fresh local baits are still hard to beat, but soft plastics have accounted for plenty of flathead and the odd grunter. Popular easy-access areas include the Bribie Bridge surrounds, mainland flats south of the bridge, Bongaree Jetty, White Patch and the Sylvan Beach flats. 

Overall, it’s been a decent late-winter into early-spring transition in the Pumicestone Passage. The whiting and flathead have been the most reliable, bream are still on the chew around structure, and the first warmer-water signs are starting to appear. Looks like good signs ahead as September progresses. 

Tight lines if you’re getting out there — check the tides and weather and stay safe on the water. Let me know how you’ve been going, email me (Design1@islandandsurrounds.com.au) your catches and stories,  

I’ll make you famous! 

Roger