PLEASE NOTE: This planner is intended as a guide only. Trends indicated in this calendar are subject to seasonal variations and changeable climate patterns. For more up-to-date and specific information, always talk to the staff at local tackle shops in the regions you visit. ALSO, be sure to stay across all current rules, regulations and seasonal closures* in the areas where you intend to go fishing.

It’s very important to note that new and sometimes temporary or fixed-term closures, restrictions and bans apply to certain recreational fisheries around the country, and that these can and do change over time, often with little advance warning. Examples include (but are certainly not confined to) restrictions on the snapper fishery in SA, the Spanish mackerel fishery in QLD, and the demersal (bottom or reef) fishery in WA.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMPLETELY AWARE OF THESE CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS!

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Talk to the staff in local tackle shops and visit the on-line sites of relevant fisheries management authorities for updates.

Offshore waters are cool and often rather green this month, but there’s still some good fishing to be had. In southern waters, the bluefin tuna run may continue right through the month, and there could even be a few solid yellowfin out wide, especially north of Jervis Bay. Snapper, morwong and most other reef species are biting well, and sand flathead remain a good inshore stand-by. In the estuaries, dusky flathead are shaking off their lethargy and the big females now begin congregating on shallow flats near the entrances to many systems in preparation for spawning. This action moves steadily south as the weeks pass. Yellowfin bream are still returning to the estuaries in numbers, with bright silvery/white flanks and empty stomachs, and should bite well. Luderick or blackfish are also present in large schools. The bass and estuary perch season opens, and these fish begin hitting well in upper tidal waters.

Inshore snapper fishing slows now, but some good fish are available from the shore, especially after storms. Skippy (silver trevally) remain abundant along inshore reefs and squid are still a great option. The mid-west beaches are fishing well for mulloway, tailor, sharks and even the occasional snapper. Trout season opens, with streams and dams producing both trout and redfin. In the north-west, the land-based mackerel season comes to an end as southerly winds take over from easterlies.

While nights can still be cool to cold, days are warming noticeably and native fish are becoming more active. This is especially the case with golden perch or yellowbelly. Trout fishing (where permitted) is improving, and will continue to do so as insect activity increases. Many rainbow trout are only now running to spawn and will continue to do so for at least another month.

Temperatures and humidity levels begin to rise noticeably, especially later in the month. This heralds the arrival of the “build-up” and with it, increasing barramundi action and much improved catches. Saratoga are active and aggressive in freshwater rivers and billabongs, while mangrove jacks and fingermark (golden snapper) are biting better in the estuaries. Offshore, mackerel fishing is often at its very best now, and mackerel tuna (kawa kawa) and longtail tuna are still present in good numbers. The first big black marlin of the season also begin to arrive off the outer Barrier Reef, north of Cairns.

Offshore waters are cool and often rather green this month, but there’s still some good fishing to be had. In southern waters, the bluefin tuna run may continue right through the month, and there could even be a few solid yellowfin out wide, especially north of Jervis Bay. Snapper, morwong and most other reef species are biting well, and sand flathead remain a good inshore stand-by. In the estuaries, dusky flathead are shaking off their lethargy and the big females now begin congregating on shallow flats near the entrances to many systems in preparation for spawning. This action moves steadily south as the weeks pass. Yellowfin bream are still returning to the estuaries in numbers, with bright silvery/white flanks and empty stomachs, and should bite well. Luderick or blackfish are also present in large schools. The bass and estuary perch season opens, and these fish begin hitting well in upper tidal waters.

Shimano Australia Fishing (SAF) and Steve Starling (River & Sea Pty Ltd) accept no liability whatsoever for injuries, loss, expenses, legal prosecutions or any other damages or inconvenience caused or contributed to by adherence to the general advice offered in this calendar, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, that information. Before acting on any general information of this type, carefully consider the appropriateness of the information provided, and any specific circumstances applying at the time. In particular, it is incumbent upon the individual using this general advice to be fully aware of all current rules and regulations, as well as all other existing conditions or potential issues.