Lure Fishing In Caloundra. David Granvilles Top 5 LandBased Fishing Spots

Fishing At Caloundra’s Boardwalk

The boardwalk area has long been synonymous with fishing in Caloundra. Recent changes to tidal and flow patterns have changed the target species, but made it more family-friendly for those wanting to take kids fishing.

• Species: Bread and butter species such as whiting, flathead and bream are typical. Cale cale trevally made a rare and welcome appearance last year and and small queenfish are on the cards.
• Tides: Ideal fishing conditions persist through various tide stages, with the area’s unique geography minimizing water flow and enabling easier fishing.
• Lures: Anglers are advised to use a mix of small soft plastics, microjigs, and metals to mimic the small baitfish these species feed on.
• Notes: Since the old bar closed and the new one opened this area no longer experiences strong tidal flow. This spelt and end to luderick fishing in Caloundra, but improved fishing opportunities south of the new Bribie Island Bar.

Fishing Military Jetty

Fishing at Caloundra’s Military Jetty has been an institution for decades, but the recent opening of the new Bribie Island Bar has increased tidal flow and made this area fishier than ever.

• Species: Home to pelagic species like Trevally, Tailor, and Queenfish, making for an exciting fishing challenge. Flathead, whiting and bream are also worth targeting, with mangrove jack and barramundi a possibility.
• Tides: Offers consistent fishing opportunities on all tides but due to strong currents it is necessary to fish the southern side on the run in tide and vice versa. The run-out tide is preferred as it allows lures to be cast into structure near the mouth of the pelican waters canal.
• Lures: Effective lures include soft plastics, particularly the Rapala Crush City Imposters and Heavy Hitters. The imposters are a great prawn and yabby representation, two of the most prevalent fish foods in the area. Fish them deep and in contact with the bottom. The heavy hitters can be slow rolled to target flathead and barramundi or worked faster for pelagic species.

Fishing the New Bribie Island Bar

A walk south from the main township along the surf beach will bring you to the newest spot for fishing in Caloundra…. the New Bribie Island Bar. This area can be fished by fanning casts along the beach, but expect to lose some tackle due to the amunt of timber washed from Bribie Island into the channel during floods.

• Species: Anglers can mostly expect to catch flathead, trevally, and queenfish. The flathead in this area include some monster “crocs” as well as plenty of smaller table fish.
• Tides: The changing tides, especially high tide, provide optimal fishing conditions by bringing fish closer to shore. Around the turn of the tide is best for bottom fishing for flathead as the water flow slows enough to allow the lure to be worked near bottom. As the flow increases it’s best to target trevally, queenfish and other species with faster lure fishing techniques.
• Lures: The use of soft plastics and jerk baits on half-ounce jig heads is recommended for bottom fishing around the turn of the tide. Paddletails in the 4-5″ range are perfect, as are soft prawn lures. During higher flow periods it becomes necessary to increase the weight of jig heads used and switch to soft plastic jerkbaits or even metal lures worked quite quickly. 

Fishing at Caloundra’s Shelley Beach Area

A great thing about fishing in Caloundra is that tourists can walk out of their accommodation and onto a beach that offers some pretty spectacular fishing, especially during the southwest winds that often predominate during autumn.

• Species: Shelly beach offers whiting, bream, tarwhine, snapper, and sweetlip, even pelagic species such as mack tuna and mackerel at times. 
• Tides: High tide is best for beach fishing, while low tide exposes rock platforms for those preferring to targeting reef species from the rocks.
• Lures: Light tackle is preferred, with long rods and high-capacity reels paired with braided line for long casting. Stickbaits and poppers can work for surface species, but soft plastics and metal lures are more commonly used. The water is not super deep and snapper will rise off the bottom to take a lure, so it’s not necessary to be making constant contact with the bottom. Expect to lose the odd lure here due to the rubbly bottom you’ll be fishing. 
• Notes: Fishing from the rocks in this area can be dangerous, and many of the same species can be caught from the beach anyway, when fishing near headlands. During glass-out conditions the area is a prime place to chase calamari squid. 

Fishing in Caloundra’s Canals

The canals of Caloundra’s Pelican Waters area can throw up a lot of species, and locals would be hard to surprise with the species that turn up from time to time. Gold Spotted cod, trevally, and even barramundi can turn up at times, as well as the usual flathead, bream and whiting. However, it’s the presence of quality mangrove jack that’s the main attraction of fishing in Caloundra’s canals.

• Species: The canals are teeming with Mangrove Jack, Brim, and Trevally, providing a mix of sport and table fish.
• Times: Fishing during early morning or late afternoon is best, aligning with the natural feeding times of Mangrove Jack. During the hours of darkness jacks leave cover and can be caught almost anywhere in the system, but once the sun gets up they retreat to cover around bridge pylons, pontoons and other hard structure.
• Lures: Topwater lures like the Lucky Craft G Splash and MMD Splash Prawn are effective, along with the JAD 4 inch Tough Prawn for a realistic bait presentation.

General Information About Barramundi Fishing In Caloundra

• Species: Barramundi, a prized catch for any angler, is becoming increasingly common in the area.
• Tides: While specific tide information is not provided, understanding local conditions is key.
• Lures: Utilizing modern electronics can significantly aid in locating these elusive fish, though specific lure recommendations are tailored to Barramundi’s habits and habitats.
• Notes: David is happy to share more details on how to find and catch barramundi around Caloundra for those who come into his store and ask.