Finally the weather gods smiled down upon every angler across the east coast this week! With light winds, dropping swell and cloudless skies, it was a case of getting out there.
With the waters still pretty dirty, it was a case of searching around for the bait to find the fish, but they were found in good numbers.
Offshore, Spanish mackerel were in close along the Sunshine Beach and Halls Reef stretches. Most fish were taken on slow trolled baits including sauri, garfish and XL slimy mackerel. Pre-made or ready made troll rigs like the TT troll rig retro fitted with a rear treble or stinger got the job done. Look at Owner ST66 and BKK raptors for heavy duty treble hooks capable of holding big fish.
Reef fishing was also great with pearlies, coral trout, moses perch, snapper, cobia and tuna from the Sunshine Reef area out wide to North Reef. Out wider beyond the banks, some big snapper around 80-90cm have been showing up in the deep 70-90m plus water depth range. These fish are taking soft plastics and big strip baits of tuna and frigate mackerel. Hooking one of these fish will provide you with some massive head shakes and big runs so ensure your knots are rock solid and you are running 50lb+ leaders.
The fads have had smaller 60cm Mahi on but it can be a case of first on the spot gets the fish. Mahi will take a variety of lures, plastics, jigs and baits. Just try not to drop one as they can go off the bite for a while. Keep gear light and leaders long, and use extra sharp hooks. The Owner 2x strong cutting point trebles will offer you great hook setting and strength on these smaller fish.
Beach fishing has seen an improvement with some snapper coming from areas with rocks in the surf zone like Yaroomba and Sunshine Beach. Sweetlip have also shown up with most fish taken on fresh baits and a single paternoster rig. Using bait elastic is a must when casting big baits to prevent them from coming off. Come in and check out our range of long cast reels to help get you out beyond the breakers.
Noosa River is still cleaning up with some cracking trevally and jacks getting caught once again. The bulk of the fishing has been in the lower part of the river from the Marina toward the mouth. Small soft vibes and blades have been claiming a few good fish including flathead laying in wait.
Concentrate your efforts around the mouth, the dog beach and the main channel of Noosa Sound and the river. Soft plastics will also be working well with a noticeable morning bite period as we push toward the new moon. As the tides build you will see more bait getting pushed into the river making for some excellent surface lure fishing. Small Zip baits skinny pop lures worked across the surface during first light should see you onto some good fish.
Freshwaters are now open with a few anglers reporting good bass and a few yellow belly from Borumba. The dams are still dirty and settling down from the excessive flow that stirred up the bottom. Keeping in mind the water is still dirty you are best advised to use spinner blades and Ecogear ZX blades so the fish can zone in on the heavy vibration.
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!
