Best Months
Feb – Nov
Best Time
First two hours of daylight is the feeding window — be on the reef at dawn
Tide
Incoming tide and the top of the tide is most productive on reef structure
Top Locations
51 regions
How to Catch Coral Trout
Incoming tide and the top of the tide is most productive on reef structure
First two hours of daylight is the feeding window — be on the reef at dawn
Clear water, light wind; coral trout are sight-sensitive and prefer high vis conditions
Coral bommies, gutters between reef structure, rubble edges, coral heads in 5–30m
Cast soft plastic past a bommie and hop back along the bottom; live bait held just above coral structure is deadly
Coral trout are lazy ambush predators — a lure that stops right in front of them is irresistible. Park it next to the coral and twitch in place.
Best Regions by Month
Seasonal ratings across all Australian regions. Click a region to see the full calendar.
Working soft plastic lures on jigheads through estuaries, flats, and inshore areas.
Presenting bait (pilchards, squid, cut fish) on the bottom over reef structure.
Presenting live baitfish (yakkas, mullet, mackerel) to attract larger predators.
Australian Lure Fishing Podcast
Greg Vinall — Doc Lures
- Whitsundays Land-based Coral Trout – Ep 377
- Hinchinbrook Coral Trout – Ep 320
- Townsville Coral Trout – Ep 291
- Yeppoon Coral Trout – Ep 158