Where Have all the Fraser Island Fish Gone

[Wizard52]

Over the last 5 or 6 years the tailor catches have crashed. Everyone used to catch heaps but now in October catches of 3 or 4 per session is the norm.
The big tailor schools seemed to have stopped their northerly migration at Stradbroke or Moreton Islands and the best guess is increasing water temperature.
Still catch plenty of dart and whiting on eastern beach but the real reason we go to Fraser is to catch Tailor.

[Maxhead]

We went to Fraser last year chasing those big tailor but got none. Plenty choppers around and catches of 20 plus fish in an hour session was not unusual .
Good fishing the reefs out off double island point in around 40mts of water.

But yeah no big tailor for us unfortunately







................on the move

[TPC]

Have beeb to Fraser a couple of times and not only never caught a fish there but nobody else within sight of me has caught any. I think I bring a curse with me when I go fishing.

[Plasnart]

Global warming, I hear tailor are going off in Hobart. :)

[Avo]

Global warming, I hear tailor are going off in Hobart. :)

must be on drugs,only hippies go to tassie

[Plasnart]

must be on drugs,only hippies go to tassie

God's own. Spying for property in the Apple Isle.

[Wizard52]

Went to the Island 4 times last year, Anzac Day week, End July early August, late September and again Early October. Caught about 20 or so in July but only 1 average fish at 58cm in September.
April has always been only for dart and whiting but from June to late October used to be great for tailor and September/October was for the big ones.
Was reading reports on Fisheries Research & Development Corp website (frdc.com.au) and they say nothing has changed but I think they are a bit behind the times. Some snob types say tailor is crap after being frozen but a professional fisherman mate has shown us how to kill the fish instantly instead of just letting them bleed out and releasing the enzymes into the flesh. Handled properly, it still tastes great 3 mths later.
During the 90's when my son was still at school we used to go in Sept holidays and everyone was catching their bag limit but now it would be very difficult to catch quality fish.
If weather is good,they launch up to 7mtr boats from the beach at Waddy and go out wide and bring back some incredible reef fish.