How To Catch Prawns In South East Queensland

There's a reason why these tasty prawns are such hot property over the Christmas period across supermarkets and fishmongers around the country. And let's not get started on the old, 'Put another shrimp on the barbie' colloquialism.

Regardless of where you sit on that one, prawns are as quintessential as snags and tinnies, and if you're still craving the delicious crustaceans after the festive season, you're in luck, as the annual prawn season is kicking off from January to March.

For those fortunate enough to reside in South East Queensland, Gold Coast and Far Northern NSW, school and banana prawns make themselves known in late summer and autumn, with good numbers attracting hordes of boats and anglers to some of our most popular rivers, bays and creeks.

The prawn season generally begins at the end of January and runs through till late March and even into April. The recent rain period has accelerated the nutrients in the coastal systems which has meant plenty of food for the prawns to feast on and obtain size at a rapid rate.

If you've never experienced a prawning season, there are a few things you need to know to give yourself the best chance of experiencing success, so let's delve a little deeper.

Quick Links:

• Where to find prawns in South East Queensland
• Where are the best prawn locations?
• Prawning gear guide
• How to throw a cast net for prawns
• Caring for your catch
• Know your limits

Where To Find Prawns In South East Queensland?

It's important to note that when it comes to prawning locations in South East Queensland, there are few secrets and when you arrive at a known location, there's a good chance you'll be joining a raft of boats. We have some great tips and notes on where to find prawns:

Be prepared to join a crowd:

Prawns can be found in most coastal systems in the region, but the popular spots have been showing signs of good activity and will be going gangbusters over the popular months. If you’re heading to the popular spots ensure you get in early to optimise your position and catch.

Use a quality Fish Finder to improve your chances

As tends to be the case with most forms of fishing, the first step to getting fish (or in this case prawns) into the boat involves finding them. To improve your chances, a good quality fish finder should be your first port of call for finding prawns, particularly in the deeper sections of creeks, rivers and bays.

A sounder can give you an advantage:

A good quality sounder, such as those in the Lowrance and Garmin range will provide the advantage of revealing the whereabouts of prawns before your net hits the water, taking out the guesswork and making sure you're hitting the mark when sounding around likely areas. And the good news is, if you're new to the game or on the market for a prawning sounder, you don't need to empty the bank, as even the low to mid-range models will suffice for this style of fishing.

Check out this video for a visual depiction of what to look out for on your sounder when searching for prawns. You'll notice a scattered show of arches or symbols, depending on the sounder you run, as well as your preferred settings.

In shallower sections, such as the banks or over sand flats, prawns will often do themselves a disservice and reveal themselves in a similar fashion to baitfish fleeing from pelagics. With that in mind it's worth keeping an eye and an ear out for any surface activity while sounding around as a school could breach the surface at any given time.

Get your timing and tide right:

Generally speaking, prawns are best targeted during the hours before and after low tide when they school up in the deeper water and holes found in various systems. Use your sounder to find shows of prawns and take note of the depth as you may need to have a longer rope attached to your cast net to get down to where they are.

Where Are The Best Prawn Locations In South East Queensland?

There are a myriad of excellent locations for prawning in South East Queensland. Whether you want to venture to the south side for a leisurely trip or try a more remote location far north, there are great options. Below we have summarise the best locations by region:

• South Side: On the south side, for those with access to a boat, Tingalpa Creek, Jacobs Well and the Brisbane River near the Colmslie boat ramp are known to produce plenty of prawns, while Logan River and the power lines have also been producing good catches.
• North Side: Areas to go and try your luck on the north side include Caboolture River from Monty's down to the mouth and Pine River around Deep Water Bend and upstream of the highway. Out front of Nudgee Beach is another hot spot for prawns. Just look for the boats and you should get yourself among the action.
• Further North: Further north still, Caboolture River and Pumicestone Passage are both popular prawning haunts and can hold good numbers at times. Listen out for reports or pop in to your local Anaconda store and chat to one of the friendly staff members for updates.

For those without a boat, the good news is plenty of land-based opportunities also exist. Places to focus your attention include lit boat ramps at night, creek mouths and from jetties. Just be mindful of what you are casting into and always give way to boating traffic.

Prawning Gear Guide

For those just starting out in the prawning game, you'll be glad to know that you don't need a lot of gear. In fact, it's as easy as equipping yourself with a cast net and getting out to one of the popular locations in the region to start casting. Some great tips and options when it comes to prawning nets include:

• When prawning it's ideal to use a 10' or 12' top pocket or a drawstring net. Top pocket nets are ideal for those looking at a prawning-specific net as the crustaceans swim in an upward trajectory once caught. This makes it faster to get the prawns out, meaning you can get that next cast in sooner.
• For those looking for a multi-purpose net, a combination of top and bottom pocket nets are also available and make for good options if you target live bait such as herring.
• A net with a chain bottom is ideal as they throw better, sink faster and really work the bottom to get the prawns mooching on the seafloor.
• The Wilson Ezi-Cast monofilament cast nets are ideal for entry-level prawners. It is a dedicated prawning net that features an oversized top pocket as well as a bottom pocket for extra prawns to be gathered. The full range is affordable and will do an admirable job of getting prawns onto the plate this season.
• If you're looking to step your game up and want a top-quality hand-stitched custom net, check out the Pro Throw cast nets and ropes.
• These nets are hand sewn with 4 reductions using UV stabilised Dyneema for all panel joins to open with ease when thrown. They also feature a large functional pocket to quickly remove your catch. Designed by a gun angler and local to the South East Queensland region, they're made from high grade monofilament mesh and have proven highly successful in recent times.

Top Tip: choose a net without wide gaps in the mesh:

Regardless of the net you choose, look for something that doesn't have wide gaps in the mesh as you want to reduce the number of prawns that slip through. Something around the 27mm mark is ideal. You want something with a reliable top pocket that captures the prawns and keeps them there during the retrieval process.

Top Tip: keep your prawning gear away from salt water:

Salt water is not a friend when it comes to fishing gear unfortunately, so a good tip is to give your nets a soak in fresh water after use to ensure it stays in tip-top condition throughout the season.

Recap of prawning gear to maximise your catch and properly store prawns:

• Quality 10' or 12' top pocket or a drawstring net
• Baits for prawning: common baits used in prawning will be cockles (hum) and chicken liver/heart
• Fish finder to efficiently locate
• Sounder to gain an advantage
• Waders to stay dry and comfortable
• Fishing gloves
• Lamps or torches for low-light prawning
• Buckets
• Icebox or portable fridge/freezer for storing prawns

How To Throw A Cast Net For Prawns

Casting a net is akin to riding a bike. It can be difficult to master in the beginning but practice makes perfect and once you get it, you won't forget how to do it. There are different methods for casting a throw net and once you find a way that works for you, stick with it.

It's a good idea to watch some videos online or feel free to ask someone in-store for tips and advice. Practice in your backyard or a park if room permits before hitting the water and keep doing so until you're comfortable with a casting technique that you can implement all day.

Caring For Your Catch

Once caught, you want to care for your prawns as best as possible to ensure they stay fresh and taste delicious once you're ready to eat them.

As you should when keeping fish for the table, it's best to keep prawns in an ice slurry where they'll cool down quickly without placing too much stress on their bodies. If you don't plan on eating them fresh, they can be stored in the freezer in an airtight container.

When it comes to eating them, well the sky's the limit as prawns are super versatile and can be used in many ways, so get creative in the kitchen and knock something delicious up. You really can't beat the taste of fresh prawns! Some great ways to enjoy your prawns include:

• Classic BBQ
• Garlic prawn skewers
• Prawn curry
• Fresh prawn salad
• Cajun prawn boil
• Prawn stew

Know Your Limits And Understand Local Regulations:

Before you hit the water, make sure you're up to speed with the latest regulations in your region. Containment areas can also change due to white spots, so you need to be privy to this information. Queensland regulations limit your possession bag to 10L per person with a total of no more than 20L per boat, regardless of how many people are casting.

Gear Up For You Next Prawning Adventure In South East Queensland

For all the gear and tackle you need to get among the prawns this season, check out our prawning essentials collection. Prawning is a great activity for the whole family, and you can enjoy a well-earned feast afterwards and have plenty left over. Whether it’s your first time prawning or you’re looking to upgrade your equipment, shop all your fishing and marine needs online or in-store at Anaconda to elevate your adventure and maximise your catch. Discover essentials such as fishing nets and gaffs, waders and fishing clothing. Get more great fishing and boating tips on the Adventure Centre and explore great articles such as:

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• 10 Best Fishing Spots in Brisbane
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• Ultimate Guide To The Best Fishing Spots In Adelaide