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.

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.

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.

New On The Sportfish Project Blog

Starting this week, and expanding over the next month, The Sportfish Project Blog will post twice weekly Skeds (Fishing Reports) for the Southern Great Barrier Reef, South East Queensland and New South Wales. The skeds will include some of the latest catch information as well water temperature information. Plus once a month the FishStats Lab will post an overview of its data for the regions available.

Charter boats wanting to be part of Skeds can email catch information and photos to david.joyce@pacificmarinelife.com, text results to 0412761016 or completed a FishStats Log.

New South Wales Sked 01 - 28th January

Word from the around the wharf is that Gold Coast boat Mistress fished the canyons south-east of Tweeds earlier this week. Reporting 2 from 3 blue marlin.

New South Wales Water Temperatures.
24/1/2011. Two oscillating currents off mid NSW is transporting 23 > 25 degree water onto the coastal regions.

25/1/2011. The offshore currents have linked with the warm water feeding down from Queensland increasing surface temperature 25 > 26 degrees. There is evidence of much cooler layers embedded in this current.

26/1/2011. The two oscillating currents from the 24/1/2011 have now joined and pushing the warmer currents much further to the south. The cool lower layers have now started to replace the warmer surface temperatures inside 158E.

Gold Coast Sked 01 - 28th January

Last week Dreaming On found good Blue Marlin in the wide areas raising 6 for 4. These fish appeared to be on the edge of a body of water 21-23'C. The following two days of fishing resulted in no sightings possibly because of hot water currents reaching the area previously fished. This week, Kekoa fished for Blues getting 3 from 4. Sea Probe report dirty water continues to plague activity for reef fishing particularly in the close in reef zones. Small number of spotty mackerel have been taken along with some Spaniards. Fish the Deep and Gone Fishing report reasonable size snapper have also been taken east of the Seaway.

South East Queensland Water Temperatures
24/1/11. Moderate to strong current 27>degree water out of the GBR / Coral Sea east of 154E. This movement is inside an oscillating current carrying a surface temp 25>26 degrees and sub surface currents of 23>24 degrees.

25/1/11. Slight current 27>28 degrees within 153E. Oscillating current moved further west inside 154E, surface temp 25> 26 degrees. Sub-surface current showing cooling water 22>24 degrees.

26/1/11. Warm current now being replaced with cool water 22 > 24 degrees. Oscillating current pushing inside 154E, pushing the warm surface water further to the south.

Outlook. If these conditions remain reasonably stable for t next 24 hours, a current stream from the GBR could replace the cool current with 26 > 27 degrees inside 154E.

2010 GBR Marlin Year Book

The Fishing Museum (part of The Sportfish Project) will release the GBR Marlin 2010 Year Book in March. Charter boats, anglers and tournaments involved in the Great Barrier Reef marlin season still have time to submit information for inclusion in the Year Book. The first edition of the Year Book will be available as a free download, as well as an interactive edition available on DVD and limited edition coffee table version. Sportfish Project Supporters receive a discount on the price of the DVD and coffee table editions. So sign up as a Supporter today.

Snapper Closures For SEQ

Fisheries Queensland has announced fishing closures for snapper, pearl perch and teraglin from the 15th February 2011 to 31st March 2011. The closures apply to charter, recreation and commercial fishing. Pacific Marinelife Institute as part of The Sportfish Project  will undertake angler consultation to develop a submission for the associated RIS as well as undertake research on the affects of the closures to the fish populations and socio-economic impacts of the closures on the charter fishing industry.

For more information on the closures visit the Fisheries Queensland website:
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/28_3055.htm