By JACK MANGROVE
WITH the favourable weather we have experienced over the last couple of weeks the Noosa River is fishing exceptionally well.
Areas like Weyba Creek, the river mouth and the frying pan have produced some outstanding fish. Good numbers of quality tailor have been on the bite around the frying pan and Woods Bays. Using baits like pilchards, hardy heads and whitebait have all been ideal. Surface lures like the zip bait skinny pop 70mm and Zerek Poparazzi 50mm poppers have been producing the quality fish.
Mixed in with the tailor have been some nice trevally. Hopping small micro jigs along the bottom has been a great way to tempt them as the sun gets a little higher in the sky.
As we get closer to spring, it usually means bigger flathead are active in the system, areas like the Tewantin ski run, the area opposite the sailing club and Weyba Creek have all produced the goods. Drifting strips of fresh mullet, frog mouth pilchards and prawns have been gaining the most success; as well as slowly hopped 4” & 5” soft plastics along the bottom like Squidgy 100mm paddle prawns and the gladiator prawn.
Remember, you must release a flathead which exceeds the limit of 75cm and the legal length is 40cm.
Heading further upstream has seen the jew on the chew with the holes along the Tewantin ski run one of their favourite haunts. Using baits like fresh mullet strips, small live baits and soft plastics have been working a treat.
Along the local beaches, bream, whiting, dart and flathead have been prevalent along the gutters, with live worms and fresh pipis the best bait options.
Fishing the white water in the gutters has seen the best catch rate.
Tailor and jew have also been on offer with the early mornings and late afternoons the most productive.
On the offshore scene, water temperatures are still a little higher than normal but we are still seeing some nice fish coming from the reefs.
Anglers making the trip to the Barwon Banks have been well rewarded with snapper to 5kg some cracker pearlies and some sensational cobia.
Sunshine Reef being a favorite for the anglers with smaller craft; there have been some great snapper and trout taken from this reef with soft plastics being a favorite amongst anglers.
North Reef is also producing some great catches, with snapper and jewies really giving anglers a workout. The good old floater is a great way to fish and depending on the amount of run will determine the size ball sinker you need to slowly get that pilchard to the bottom. Micro jigging has also been making its presence felt with some great jigs on the market. The Slow blats from Zetz and the Shimano Colt Snipers have been working extremely well with good size squire, sweetlip and a stack of other reef dwellers all falling victim to them.
So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures.
