By Jack Mangrove
FISHING offshore this week was tough with conditions less than perfect for chasing reef fish and pelagics.
There were a couple of mornings where the wind let up and anglers managed to get out to the closer reefs.
There were good numbers of fish on offer with spotted mackerel and the odd Spaniard showing up.
The majority of the action has been around the bait schools.
Trolling hard body lures along the edges of the reefs has also been productive.
One of the best value for money lures on the market at the moment has to be the Samaki Pacemakers, they come in a great range of colours, sizes and trolling depths.
When you pull up, the good old pilchard floater has been working well with most of the pelagics swimming mid water.
Another species of fish that is hanging around the bait schools are long tailed tuna.
These fish are a great test for anglers and can really stretch the arms.
For the anglers that are bouncing the bottom Sunshine Reef has given up some great trout of late, these fish sit deep within the reef so fishing hard to the bottom is a must.
Big ball sinkers right the way down to the hooks will make all the difference.
In the river, mangrove jack are still in good numbers, getting up early and heading up the river pitching hard body lures at the banks is a perfect way to target these fish.
Give the River2sea Live Minnows a go in the 95mm size, these are perfect on the baitcaster, using a baitcaster outfit will give you the pinpoint accuracy you need to get close to the snags where these red devils love to live. Elsewhere in the river, there has been some great flathead taken with the drop off near sand and mud banks the perfect place to start your search. Plastics are perfect on the flathead with the slow roll and double retrieve seeming to work well.
Good size whiting are right through the lower parts of the river, the shallows of the Frying Pan and Weyba Creek are a great place to start.
Fresh worm, yabbies and pippies should see some great results.
Crabs are also plentiful in the upper reaches of the river, if we see more rain over the next couple of weeks this will get them up and walking, remember you can only take the bucks and they must make size,15cm across the widest point of its carapace.
On the beaches, the dart are still in great numbers, yes there are quite a few smaller fish but there is the odd stonker with them so keep working those deeper gutters.
Whiting, flathead, bream and the odd trevally have also been taken from the surf.
There are still some big tailor about with most fish taken under the cover of darkness, best bait has been fresh mullet.
So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures!
