Moreton Bay Fishing Report Post Cyclone Alfred – April 2025

Well Cyclone Alfred who was predicted to be either a Cat 1 or Cat 2 Cyclone. When it made landfall but thankfully it was classified a “Low”.

If you have never experienced a Cat 2 Cyclone, be thankful, it is a memory that never really leaves you! Although there was a lot of damage done, it really was minor compared to what could have hit us encountered.

During and for a few weeks after, Rain, rain and more rain. The upside to the rain is that it puts much needed nutrients back into our waterways as a food source. Hopefully we will see a dryer period in April, we really are just a bit waterlogged at the moment.

Even with Alfred and the rain, the fishing has actually been really good if you were brave enough to venture out and about. I went out during a few light showers and produced some cracker Bream, Whiting and Grunter.

This 32cm Bream fell to a piece of Scented Bream Bites (Still in the testing phase, getting the mix right, it will be called “Magic Mullet”)

There has not been a lot of opportunities for the boaties to get out into Moreton Bay, however, there have been a few good days. Ryan again got out there with a score to settle with the Taxman and he did just that!

Admitedly, he dropped a couple of nice fish but still managed to bring home a feed with the very nice Cod and a mixed bag of Reefies!. Well done Ryan, let’s hope that April with the cooler weather coming in is another good month for you.

Product Testing

Now I normally show a bit of favouritism to the Kumho #2 Octopus hooks. I decided to give the Kumho #6 Wide Gapes a crack and see how they perform. After a couple of dedicated sessions of using these hooks, I’m actually very surprised as to how well they caught fish.

Bream, Whiting, Flathead and Grunter have all fallen victim to these hooks. They do look a little weird when you first see them and I was a be sceptical about the design but, they actually worked flawlessly!

I use the Bream Bites and Local Prawns, normally unweighted if the weather and wind are playing the game. I found that the Prawns had more of a natural shape to them using the Wide Gape hooks. Being very sharp, they pierced through the Mullet Skin with ease and stayed on well.

So, if you want to try something a little bit different, Kumho Wide Gapes are the ones to pick up and try out.

Harvey’s Antics

Young Harvey is still at it, this time he picked up a nice little Snapper on the Shorncliffe Pier. Harvey loves catching his own live bait and is a wizz using the Bait Jig. There was a little concern using the six-hook bait jig but Harvey is always proactive with his fishing. Harvey will never accept being told “You can’t do it” he will always find a way to achieve what he puts his mind too.

Harvey has a knack of convincing his dad (Sam) that they need to go to new fishing places. This time Dad and Harvey hit Bribie Island for a session, and it paid off. Harvey nailed this very nice Grunter in the pouring rain! Well done Harvey, that is a cracking little fish on light gear!

Cyclone Alfred Encourages Flathead!

Just prior to Alfred hitting landfall on the Saturday, the lads were out in force chasing Flathead. In front of the old Church on 2nd Ave Sandgate right through to the Ted Smout Bridge, Flathead were in very thick numbers and also quality fish!

It seemed that Cyclone Alfred put them on the chew and with the Bay so flat and water crystal clear, it was a bit eerie..

We got out just after Cyclone Alfred, just to check out the water quality and to see if the fish had returned. The Bream in Cabbage Tree Creek did not muck around, they smashed every bait I put out there. I even made a rookie mistake and dropped a large Lizard as well. It was a hectic session and I even managed to lose a bit of tackle with the Bream inhaling my hooks.

Shorncliffe Pier Over Fished – Not a Chance!

People continually state that the Shorncliffe Pier is fished out. Well this certainly not the case, yes some days it is hard to turn a reel, but this is the same in most places. The regular crew gathers on most Mondays at the Pier, not for a feed but more a relax.

I took Aaron and Ian out there a couple of times during the month and it fished well. I taught Aaron how to use a Gang Hook setup with Blue Bait and he mastered it pretty quick. Before long he was hauling good Bream over the rails.

Ian at the same time decided to a little different and used Prawns, even though it was great seeing him get busted up a few times, Ian finally landed a fish. This nice little Sole came over the rails and it put Ian on the scoreboard.

What it lacked in size, it certainly made up for in weight and awesome markings up close. We returned the days catch to fight another day.

During the rainy days, I decided to get out and see if there were any Whiting about. I was using my Okuma 1-4kg LRF a 2000 sized Okuma reel, 6lb React and a 6lb Daiwa Fluorocarbon Leader.

The Grunter that hit me certainly knew its stuff, I did not stand a chance, it headed straight under the pier! This is where it popped my on a pylon.

New Junior Fisho!

We also watched young George hook up and bring in this cracker Bream. Dad Codie was on hand to bring it over the rails but it was all George’s work.

I even nabbed to get a “Double Thumbs Up” from an excited George!

Great to see dad and son spending some quality time together on the Pier. Well done George and Codie!

In a nutshell, Cyclone Alfred certainly stirred up the waters and put the fish on the bite, even with this happening. I don’t want to see another one for 50 years!

If you would like us to cover anything in particular, or if you would like to see your photos included, leave a comment below for us!

Stay safe out there and lose some tackle!