Well, this week has certainly seen some wild weather.
We have finally started to see some good rainfall across the region with local dams and lakes over 100 per cent and spilling or very close to it. We have been waiting for the rivers to flood again and although murky they are very much fishable.
Offshore has been quiet because of the weather, and the winds have been blowing up mid-morning. This has seen only bigger boats heading out to fish the local grounds of North and Sunshine reefs. The fishing has been a bit quiet but with the new moon on Saturday things did improve a little.
Fish on the menu were cobia, snapper, cod, sweetlip and pearlies. The inshore reef belt including Halls and Sunshine usually fishes really well after a rain. For lure anglers dropping a prawn lure down can work wonders as the rivers get a good empty out with the spiring tides. Often not used this way, you can take a ChaseBaits prawn and remove the weedless hook and insert a standard jig head around 4/0. This will allow you to drop it deep and quickly and who knows you may get to tangle with a big coral trout. Sweetlip love prawns so this method is worth a try. Soft vibes are also top performers offshore with the bigger Samaki lures proving top of the pick. Be sure you use around 30lb leader as bigger fish are drawn to these lures.
With pelagics starting to show up, now is a great time to get your rigging done. The first big mahi mahi weighing 12kg was caught around one of the wider fads so do the prep now while we are all waiting. With the weather looking to be perfect next week, don’t get caught out.
Surf fishing has seen a few good gutters opening up with the bigger spring tides peaking on Saturday. The water is a bit murky which bigger fish feel more at home in. The most popular method of fishing is casting small worm, mullet and prawn baits into the wash. After a big rain, big fish will patrol in close so you can expect to hook into a bigger dart or bream. If you have tried to pull live beach worm and are struggling, we sell Alvey worming pliers which some anglers swear by.
The rivers are murky now and carrying a lot of sediment so fishing with heavy vibration lures is a must. Bigger flesh baits and live baits will be top of the list too. We have mentioned the use of soft vibes in previous reports as they really have fish catching capability. If down at the mouth, the smaller Samaki and Berkeley options will work wonders. Flathead and trevally are a sucker for these lures when hopped along the bottom. Twin hook, snell rigs on whitebait and hardy heads will work very well too. Cast bigger baits upstream and let them drift along in the current to make them look natural. Fishing around the turn in the high tide will see the cleaner water start to run out. This turn is often a great trigger for fish to start feeding so pay attention to tides while the waters are dirtier.
Freshwater dams and lakes in the region are very close if not over 100 per cent capacity. While the levels are at their highest in a long time, now is a great time to explore these new areas as fish are often doing the same. Go in with stealth and lighter lines around 8-12lb and cycle through surface to subsurface lures and finish off with jigs especially on schooled up bass sitting deep. The Hot Bite spoons are deadly on schooled up bass. To fish these you need to bring the lure through the school and let it drop through them as this is often when the bites come.
Now, for all the latest information log onto fishingnoosa.com.au for up-to-date bar and fishing reports, don’t forget to drop into Tackle World Noosa, Noosa Boating and Outdoors and Northshore Bait & Tackle in Marcoola for all the right equipment, bait and advice to get you catching. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and remember Tight Lines and Bent Spines!
