Here’s what you must know when targeting them:
- They take live bait well, especially prawns, herring, and small mullet.
- On bigger tides, they may move around the estuary more and push back toward the flats.
- On smaller tides, they often seem to sit tighter in the deeper holes.
They are also a great alternative when barra are being painful. A lot of fishos struggle with barra once the cooler weather settles in, but blue salmon can give you a really good target while you wait for things to warm back up again.
If you have doubts that they’re not worth being chased, consider this:
- They fight hard, much like their cousin, the king threadfin.
- They are a great fish to get kids into.
- If bled quickly and put straight on ice, they are decent table fish, too.
I’ve also got an older video where blue salmon were almost a nuisance because we couldn’t get past them, but it’s a fun watch and shows how thick they can be when they’re stacked up. 👉🏼 WATCH HERE!
2. More Species Move Inshore And Shallower
When the weather cools, shallow water that may have been too hot or uncomfortable in summer can become much more usable for fish. If that shallower water also has bait, current and structure, it can become an easy place for fish to sit, feed and save energy.
Some fish may move more inshore. Others may simply become more available in shallower areas than you might expect.
Up here in North Queensland, that can open up good opportunities around islands, headlands, inshore structure and pressure points.
That does not mean everything is suddenly pushing right up the creeks either. With species like snapper and fingermark, winter can see more school-sized fish move into inshore or nearshore regions, while the bigger adults often remain a bit further offshore in deeper water.
When it comes to finding them in these areas, remember that the fish still need the same basic things:
- structure, so they have cover and protection
- bait and current so food comes to them
- comfort, so they are not wasting energy sitting in the wrong water
If those things line up inshore or in shallower water, that is where the fish can be.
I’ve had some great winter sessions around headlands over the years. Even Spanish Mackerel, Black Jew and Cobia can all turn up in places a lot of people would not expect.
Offshore Species Can Move Shallower Too
It is not just inshore fish that can shift around in winter. Out wide, plenty of demersal species can also move up shallower during the cooler months.
But a lot of anglers keep fishing the same deeper reef drop-offs they fish through the rest of the year, then wonder why things are not quite happening.
They might be able to catch a few, but without realising they’re not fishing in an area where they could’ve done better. That is where it pays to think outside the box a bit.
Instead of automatically heading for the deeper edges, it can be worth putting some time into shallow opportunities up towards the reef lagoons and flats.
The obvious parts of the reef get most of the pressure, but fish like coral trout often use smaller bits of country around the system too, little changes in bottom, current, cover and bait that many fishos drive past.
I cover that properly in our coral trout course, but the simple takeaway here is: don’t assume the deepest or most obvious edge is always the best winter option.
3. Cleaner Water Makes Fish And Bait Easier To Read
After the wet season, once the floodwater starts to clear out, the whole system can become easier to read.
That does not mean every creek suddenly turns crystal clear, because this is still North Queensland. But as the heavy run-off drops out, visibility improves and bait starts to return in better numbers, especially things like herring and garfish.
Some species also respond well to the higher oxygen levels that colder water can bring. So it is not just about seeing better. The whole system can become more comfortable and more productive for certain fish.
Fish Can Hunt Better
Cleaner water gives predators a better chance to see and track bait.
If herring and garfish are moving back into the system in larger groups, fish have something worth gathering around. They do not need to swim around randomly looking for a feed. They can sit near bait, current and structure and wait for food to come past.
You Can Read The Water Better
Cleaner water also helps you make better decisions.
You might start to notice bait flicking, garfish skipping, herring schools holding along an edge or even your target species for lure presentation.
And in winter, when fish may not feed for long periods, finding those signs can help you narrow things down much quicker.
That is the real opportunity for winter fishing. Cleaner water, returning bait and cooler, oxygen-rich conditions can all help create better feeding conditions and more predictable fish behaviour.
4. Less Pressure Can Work In Your Favour
A lot of people mentally write winter off.
They either don’t fish as much, or they keep fishing the same summer patterns and get frustrated when it doesn’t work.
That can leave certain areas with less boat traffic, less noise and less flogging of the same banks, holes, headlands and bait schools.
But it doesn’t mean you’ll have the whole place to yourself, but compared with the warmer months when everyone is out chasing the obvious stuff, winter can give you a bit more breathing room.
Fish Notice Pressure
In busy areas, especially inshore, fish can get spooked by excessive boat traffic, anchors, trolling motors, cast nets, lures, bait and everything else we throw at them.
So when an area gets a little quieter, that can work in your favour.
5. Night Fishing Can Be Worth A Look
Another reason fishing in winter can be worth your time is that cooler water and seasonal behaviour changes can lead to better night bites.
It is not a magic rule, but in winter fishing in North Queensland, some fish can feed better after dark, especially when daytime conditions are bright, clear or quiet on the bite.
There can also be fewer sharks in some areas, which is always a nice bonus (Especially nowadays!).
So if you are wondering where to fish in winter, don’t only think about location. Think about timing too. A night session, or even a low-light window, can be one of those winter fishing tips worth testing when the conditions line up.
The Real Trick Is Knowing What You’re Looking At
Winter fishing can be more predictable, but only if you can tell what’s actually under the boat.
Fish might be sitting in deeper holes, holding around bait, pushing onto headlands or moving up onto shallower reef edges. But if you can’t tell the difference between fish, bait, rock, rubble or dead water, you’re still guessing.
And in winter, when bite windows can be shorter, guessing costs time.
Need help reading your sounder?
If finding fish with your sounder is not your strong point, Sounder Skills 1 is a good place to start.
It’s a simple course that helps you understand what your fish finder is actually showing you, so you can stop scratching your head and start making better decisions on the water.
At the moment, it’s only $20, about the price of a takeaway lunch and takes around 40 minutes to watch.
Stop guessing what’s on the screen and start finding fish faster.
