April is a fantastic fishing time of year at the Pin with cooler weather, dropping water temperatures, and plenty of fish on offer. There should still be some banana prawns around in the main channel between Jacobs Well and Cabbage Tree Point, the Logan River, and all the way to the top of Macleay Island. These prawns will attract bigger fish like snapper into the Pin area which makes now a great time of year to catch a few.

Snapper up to 6kg can be caught using live banana prawns around Karragarra, Rocky Point, Cabbage Tree, Steglietz and Jacobs Well. There is usually the odd threadfin salmon lurking about as well in the mouth of the Logan River to Marks Rocks as they absolutely love a feed of prawns as well. Some of these threadfin are well in excess of 1m and over 10kg so be sure to use the appropriate gear. Bream will be in the thick of it, and as the water temperature starts to drop off, the bigger fish will start to feed up in preparation for breeding season. Targeting bream is a fun and relatively easy way to get into fishing and the calm protected waters of the Pin provide a haven for them. This is why they are the most caught fish species – hands down.

If you are chasing bream then prawns, squid, worms, yabbies, gut and flesh are the best baits and will almost guarantee a feed. Deeper holes, especially those with structure should hold good schools of bream, and berleying up will improve your chances. Try chasing mulloway on the smaller tides with live mullet, pike or large flesh baits around the deep water of the Pin bar, the Grave or in the Logan. They are not easy to catch and put up a great fight so don’t be discouraged as the fish of a lifetime could be just one more cast away. The flathead season continues to roll on with thumpers to 80cm caught. April should be no exception.

I’m mad on trolling for flatties, and there is nothing better than that first hit of the day. Trolling allows me to cover a lot of area in a small space of time and by doing this you can learn where they congregate. I use lures that dive 2-6ft and only work the areas where there is weed and the lure is in contact with the bottom. Try around the back of Mosquito Island, the flats near the Powerlines and the Pandannus weed banks – it won’t be long until you’re hooked on trolling too. If you love a feed of whiting, then arm yourself with some bloodworms, beach worms or yabbies and head out to the sand banks off Rocky Point, Tabby Island, Fishermans Channel, Slipping Sands, the Gold Bank or the Never Fail Islands.

There should be tailor about at the Pin bar, with small schools chasing baitfish. Try using small slugs if you can see the fish feeding or try feeding out an unweighted pilchard into the current and see if they will come to you. Muddies should still be around in good numbers, so try for them around the mangrove lined banks and drop-offs around the top of the tide. Be sure to keep an eye on your pots and be respectful of other peoples’ property.

• Thanks for all your reports and keep those fish coming in. If you’d like any advice or up to date fishing information drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on (07) 3287 3868 or email --e-mail address hidden--