By JACK MANGROVE
It was an Easter fishing Bonanza.
Both the Noosa’s river and offshore reefs have been firing over the past week. Some exceptional weather over the Easter break saw many boats heading out over the bar, and there were some amazing captures.
With the sun shining brightly, light wind and moderate swells, the offshore crew have cleaned up. Jew Shoal has been a hot spot for mackerel as well as reef fish like sweet lip and squire. Sunshine reef has also seen some great fish come over the side; spanish and spotted mackerel have been the main targets with small slugs doing most of the damage.
Baits on the bottom are getting some nice coral trout and sweet lip. Other anglers headed to North Reef, getting a great bag including big Spanish, Maori cod and long tail tuna and snapper. Trolled lures are a great way to target Pelagics: the Samaki Pacemakers and the River2sea Turbo 160 are a couple of lures you should take a look at if you are heading offshore. Both these lure can be trolled up to 12 knots and come in a great range of colours.
In the river, mangrove jack have been lurking around jetties and rock walls at night and with the steamy weather there has been some good-sized fish caught over the past week. With the amount of prawns in the river, prawn profile lures have been the go, the Squidgies paddle prawn in the 80mm size is a perfect fit, they come in a great range of colours perfect for doing battle with a jack. Trolling deep diving lures around Noosa sound and Weyba creek has also seen some results. Elsewhere in the river, flathead has been on the chew with some good catches along the Tewantin ski run and up towards the lakes. Down along Gympie Terrace and Munna Point good-sized bream have also been on the chew, small fish baits like hardy heads and frog mouthed pilchards have claimed some quality fish. The dog beach and Frying Pan continue to produce some quality whiting, live baits like worms and yabbies have got the best results.
On the beach, whiting, swallow tail dart, and small tailor have all been inhabiting the gutters. If you are up for a night fish, fillet the sides off a tailor and use as a bait for a large jew, with ganged hooks, heavy sinkers and a little patience you should see a result.
So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures.
