Best Months
May – Jul
Best Time
Night fishing around the full moon produces biggest black jewfish; peak from 9pm–midnight
Tide
Top of the high tide in creek mouths and estuary channels; the first run-out is peak
Top Locations
14 regions
How to Catch Black Jewfish
Top of the high tide in creek mouths and estuary channels; the first run-out is peak
Night fishing around the full moon produces biggest black jewfish; peak from 9pm–midnight
Warm water 24°C+, turbid from tidal flow; black jewfish hunt by sound in low visibility
Rocky reef adjacent to sand bottom, creek and river mouths, channel edges in 5–20m
Live mullet or garfish drifted back with the tide under a balloon; or a large soft plastic slow-rolled along the bottom with pauses
Black jewfish make a distinctive 'knocking' sound — locals call it 'drumming'. In the right estuary at night, you can literally hear where the fish are before you cast.
Best Regions by Month
Seasonal ratings across all Australian regions. Click a region to see the full calendar.
Presenting live baitfish (yakkas, mullet, mackerel) to attract larger predators.
Traditional bait fishing in estuaries using prawns, worms, and cut bait.