Welcome to The Sportfish Project Blog

Every week we update you on the Sportfish Project, post the latest fishing reports, check out some great gear, step aboard a Sportfisher boat, profile crew and anglers; and offer the lastest event, fishery research and conservation news - so follow it all on The Sportfish Project Blog.

Monday, February 21, 2011

NSW Sked - 21 Feb

No fishing reports.

Sea Surface Temperature Summary:

15.02.2011 - Northern NSW to the mid NSW Coast is dominated by temperatures of 26>27 degrees. Evidence of 23>24 degree sub-surface temperatures being squeezed inshore by the strong southerly current. South of around Sydney the remnants of the hot current 28>29 degrees can be seen. Strong cold currents of 23>24 degrees is seen flowing NW from 157E > 154E.

16.02.2011 - Reformation of a strengthening southern current dominated by patches of 27>28 degree water. Increasing cold northern current 23>24 degree is seen inside 157E.

GBR Sked - 21 Feb

No fishing reports available.

Sea Surface Temperature Summary:

15.02.2011 - Patchy temperatures inside 156E. Temperatures in the range of 27>29 degrees.

16.02.2011 - Increasing temperatures can be seen over a wide area inside 157E ranging 27>29 degrees.

South East QLD Sked - 21 Feb

No Fishing Reports available.

Sea Surface Temperature Updates:
15.02.2011 - Constant 25>26 degree surface temperatures throughout the southern Queensland waters. The remnants of the hot southern current with patches of 27 degrees found inside 154E.

16.02.2011 - The reformation of a warmer southerly current is seen inside 154e. A warm oscillating current is located around 156E. The inshore current is carrying 27>29 degrees.

17.02.2011 - The warm water current has now filled in right along the coast inside 154E right down to southern NSW. This current has strengthen being squeezed up by the northerly cool current now inside 155E.

Monday, February 14, 2011

NSW Sked - 10th February

No Fishing Reports

Sea Surface Temperature Summary
07/02/11 - Water 21>22 degrees is showing close inshore. The tail end of a warm current 27>28 degrees is found inside 154E. The cool water found off SE Queensland can be seen moving south under the influence of two strong oscillating currents.

08/02/11 - Similar patterns to yesterday.

09/02/11 - Cold water, 21>22 degrees dominate in close. the warm water stream has now broken down due to cool 23>24 degree water mixing with the surface flows. The oscillating currents have also pushed further south to the east.

GBR Sked - 10 February

No Fishing Report

Sea Surface Temperature Summary
07/02/11 - Generally cooling of surface temperature in the lower GBR region. There are very slight events within the GBR feeding this cooler water into the southern regions.

08/02/11 - Warmer conditions have appeared on the surface. Patches of 27>28 degrees located in the oscillating current on the southerly current. Decreasing cool water patterns breaking through the surface.

09/02/11 - Slight currents in the lower GBR has seen cooler temperatures flood the region with 27>28 degrees on the surface dominating the area.

Gold Coast Sked - 11 February

No Fishing Reports

Sea Surface Summary
07/02/11 - cooling of surface temperature because of cooler water feeding down from the GBR. There is the exposure of colder sub-surface temperatures 22.24 degrees showing up through surface currents.

08/02/11 - Similar surface temperature conditions to yesterday. A strengthening oscillating current pushing more evident cool water close to shore. There is still a moderate southerly current carrying 26>27 degree. Cool 24>25 degree water close inshore in the southern region.

09/02/11 - Surface temperature generally around 25>26 degrees with patches 28 degrees present in the top of the fishery off the Sunshine Coast. Evidence of sub-surface cool water showing through the surface.

10/02/11 - Based on a limited number of observations, there is evidence an increase of warm surface currents expanding in the GBR region and increasing this movement into the SEQ region. There is a distinct possibility of expanding areas of warm water into SEQ during the next few days.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Gold Coast Sked - 08 February

At last weather conditions settled down enough to allow some fishing to take place. Friday, Saturday and Sunday found some really good snapper on the bite. These catches could reflect the existence of the cooler water detected in the close in reef areas. Sunday found some excellent small black marlin in the close in fishing areas. Measurements of one fish indicated a weight of around 70kg.

Sea Surface Temperature Summary

03/02/2011 - The column of cool sub-surface water has broken up the warmer surface currents. This includes the warmer currents coming down from the GBR. Sub-surface temperature range is 22>24 degrees with a very slight current.

04/02/2011 - Cool sub-surface water is still present, however warmer surface currents have increased throughout the region. Slight currents are still present.

05/02/2011 - Colder water 21>22 degrees in close, however the surface current has increased bringing with it water temperatures of 27>28 degrees. Cool sub-surface water is showing its presence throughout the region.

06/02/2011 - Surface currents and temperatures have increased. This warmer water can be seen building up in the GBR region. There has also been an increase in the strength of offshore oscillating currents.

Possibilities - the conditions found on the 5th and 6th are predicted to continue for the next day or so. However the cool sub-surface water showing through the surface currents could break up the warm surface currents.

Southern GBR Sked - 08 February

No fishing reports available.

Surface Water Temperature Summary

03/02/2011 - Surface temperatures in the southern GBR are quite cool for this time of the year. Temperature range is from 25>27 degrees. There is also evidence of sub-surface cool water currents in the region. There are oscillating currents either side of the warm water currents moving warm water in the southern regions.

04/02/2011 - The oscillating currents have produced a stronger warm water current which is flowing into the southern Queensland region.

05/02/2011 - Warm surface currents are now visible throughout the region.

06/02/2011 - Warm surface currents continue to expand. This is intensifying the warm surface flow into the southern regions.

New South Wales Sked - 08 February

No fishing report available.

Surface Water Temperature Summary
03/02/2011 - The northern areas of NSW show a lot of cool water showing through the warm current causing a lot of disruption to the surface current. Mid NSW shows the reformation of a 27 degree warm water current.

04/02/2011 - Northern NSW has come under the influence of the build up of warmer water coming down from the GBR. Close inshore along the mid NSW coast has 21>22 degree water. Outside of this cold water, is the southerly 27>28 degree current.

05/02/2011 - The cool water has extended right along the coast. Strong oscillating currents are holding a strong warm water current close inshore.

06/02/2011 - Conditions are the same as yesterday.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Southern Great Barrier Reef Sked - 02 February

No fishing reports available.

Surface Water Temperature Summary:
27.01.11. Surface temperature for the lower GBR is dominated by 27 degree water.

28.01.11. A 28 degree current beginning to feed through the region around 154E.

29.01.11. Similar temperature mix to yesterday and little development of currents.

30.01.11. Again no change to the past two days.

South East Queensland Sked - 2 February

No Fishing Reports available.

Surface Water Temperature Summary:
27.01.11. Warm current 26>27 degrees inside 153E>154E. Outside of 154E surface temperature is generally around 25>26 degrees and a cooler sub-surface temp ranging 23>24 is showing up.

28.01.11. The sub-surface cool water reported yesterday has now become apparent south of Stradbroke Island, mainly around 24 degrees.

29.01.11. Similar cool currents to yesterday with evidence of warmer surface current again extending into the southern area. An extensive cool water band is showing up well offshore.

30.01.11. Warm surface temperature around 25>26 degree within 154E. The body of cool water wide offshore is pushing closer inshore with a temperature range 22>24 degrees.