This Hi Tide Fishing Show, brought to you by Blake's Marine, is packed with fishing reports, Christmas gift ideas for anglers, and essential safety tips!
The show opens with hosts Grant and the team welcoming listeners and noting the week's weather—a little rain and some hot weather. They're all thinking about fishing this weekend, except for Lisa, who's putting together an easy plum pudding to go with her Sue and Dev's Seafood.
Fishing Reports and Forecasts
- Sunshine Coast: Kieran Reekie reports the forecast is 28 degrees with light showers. Offshore fishing is okay, with all species available, including Marlin. The Maroochie River, particularly the creeks, is the place for mangrove jack and flathead.
- South Coast: Greg Reed from Pro-Lure Australia mentions the South Coast is dry and could use a little rain to help with the prawn run. The Basin is a standout, with plenty of good mulloway being caught and released by many anglers. The shallows have heated up to about 24 degrees. Fishing is good now, but Greg warns that the fish will become noise-shy once the holiday influx of boats and people begins.
- Ross O'Brien (Captain Roscoe) on the South Coast: Mentions a catch of snapper, herch, bonito, trawler tuna, and Mahi Mahi. Flathead fishing is good up the river under the train line and Minnamurra. There's also good snapper near the Kiama blowhole. The segment notes the bag limit for Mahi Mahi: a limit of 10, a minimum size of 60cm, and only one fish over 110cm.
Christmas Gift and Gear Talk
- In-Depth Christmas Gifts: Steve Baller, visiting Suffolk Sports in Lismore, discusses great, personalized Christmas gifts for fishermen of all ages. He recommends avoiding big chain store gift vouchers. Popular items include lures matched to where the person fishes, multi-tools, braid scissors, fillet knives, and the handy ceramic line cutters that can be glued to a bait board.
- Kids' Starter Gear: For younger anglers, kits with everything needed are available. Steve advises on a light rod and upgrading the reel on combos to avoid "dodgy" reels with springy line.
- Empire Fishing and Boating: Tyler joins the show to talk about his store in Woy Woy and fishing spots like Edelong Beach (for tailor on gang hooks and pillards) and the Woy Woy area (for flathead on soft plastics).
Boat and Safety Talk
- Tech Tip of the Week (Life Jackets): Alan Blake focuses on the importance of life jackets. Tips include reading instructions, adjusting them to fit properly, adding a name, and using a crutch strap to prevent the jacket from riding up in the water. He also suggests a Man Overboard (MOB) device for offshore fishing and a saltwater-activated light. Special attention is given to children's life jackets: they must be the correct size, brightly coloured, and foam-type (like Type 1) are recommended over inflatables for small kids to support the chest and head.
- Blake's Marine Holiday Hours: Blake's Marine is open over the Christmas break but closed on public holidays and Sundays.
This show is an essential listen for getting ready for the Christmas break, whether you're shopping for a loved one or planning your own fishing trip!
