Noosa fishing is firing

Craig Mullet with a nice jack.

By JACK MANGROVE

WITH the start of summer, Noosa fishing has really been firing, whether it be offshore, in the river or on the beach, now is the time to plan your attack.
Offshore, mackerel are pretty much everywhere, spotted mackerel are in great numbers around the reefs with spanish mackerel amongst them, most of the spanish are around that 1m mark and 6 to 7 kg but there is the occasional larger one.
Looking for a bird activity is one way of getting onto some pelagics, as the fish force the bait to the surface birds will attack from above. Floating Baits and live bait have also been very popular and is producing good quality fish as pelagics tend to swim a little more mid water. Using this method you also have the opportunity of picking up some nice billfish as well as tuna and wahoo.
On the bottom, Sunshine Reef has been firing with good-quality coral trout, live baits fished hard to the bottom have been the most successful option. Micro jigs have also held their own with the Shimano Colt Snipers claiming some quality fish. North Reef has seen some fantastic dolphin fish (mahi mahi) over the last couple of weeks as well as good snapper, trout and sweet lip on the bottom.
In the river things have been equally good with warmer water temperatures. There have been a great number of quality jack caught in the last week with some outstanding fish amongst them, fish over 50cm are not uncommon. Live bait, soft plastics and surface lures have all worked well with the early morning and night fishing producing most of the fish.
Fishing structure is the key, Tewantin Harbour and the pontoon is around the Noosa Sound a perfect habitat for jacks. If you are heading up-river, check out the areas around John’s Landing and between the lakes, soft plastics like the squidgy whip baits in the pro range have claimed some quality fish. Down towards the mouth there have been some really nice whiting taken on surface lures, baits like blood worms, sandworms peeled prawns and yabbies have also been responsible for some big fish.
The rock wall at the mouth has also been firing with trevally, jacks, jewies and good sized bream. Around in Woods Bays it has been manic for trevally with the bigger morning tides, large giant and bigeye trevally have been monster in baitfish on the surface. On the crabbing front anglers have been getting some good bucks up towards the lakes and around the Weyba Creek area, just remember to tag your pots and to be sure that you only take the bucks and they make size.
So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures!