As we enter the final week of school holidays it certainly turned on weather wise for those lucky enough to have a break. With the start of the holidays pouring with rain we now have offshore winds, no swell and clear sunny days. This is the time of year when the fishing is going through a good phase and now is the best time to go and have a flick.
With snapper anglers making the most of the weather offshore, results have been varied. The standard pan size fish which make the best eating continue to be present. The trophy fish are still yet to arrive and are possibly in the deep cold waters of Barwon and the Hards. For those fishing the local reefs these fish are taking soft plastics and jigs along with pilchard and squid baits on lighter gear. Try using 20lb gear as this doesn’t stand out with the clear visibility and presents exceptionally well. Check out the new Penn pursuit combos if looking for a fast action graphite rod and matching reel with graphite drag washers capable of stopping big fish.
On the reefs, the continued run of tuna down deep, tuskies, pearlies, jewfish, cod, sweetlip and cobia continue to provide anglers with a quality mixed bag. With pilchards at XL size there is no better bait than a pilchard floated down into the depths. This method of presenting a bait appeals to so many fish. To get the best from this method , bait runner reels are best used along with mono fishing line around 20-30lb. This lets your line slowly sink and present the bait to the fish. For those on braid try extending leaders to 4-6 meters. Platypus has a new mono leader in hard and soft varieties which is proving very popular so check it out on your next visit. If looking to experience something different to eat why not grab a few spanner crab traps on your next visit. These only need to be set for 45 mins or so and all too often pots are full in little to no time.
From the surf we are hearing reports of golden trevally and long nose trevally in bulk numbers around the rocky headlands. They have been taking super small micro jigs, stickbaits and soft plastics. With most fish around the 40-50cm size they certainly provide lots of fun on lighter surf gear. If looking for lures check out the many options of long cast lures from Rapala which also appeal to queenfish and tailor.
River fishing is also seeing a run on the trevally with goldens and GT in bigger numbers. These fish have pushed in on the building tides and with them, tailor and maybe a mangrove jack after dark. Jacks will often hunt out in the open at night with trevally so for those casting soft plastics try slowing down your retrieve speed to fish hard on the bottom. Small paddle tail plastics can be fished both fast and slow with the Keitech range perfect and come loaded with squid scent. To have a crack on these fish you can try your luck around the Woods Bay, Munna point and Noosa Sound area. Try to fish first and last light and with early morning high tides there is no better time.
Freshwater is starting to improve as we push closer to the peak time where the bass begin to school up. With the waters a lot cleaner and clearer than months before. With light winds and big swell predicted now is a great time to check out your local dam or lake. Don’t forget to get your SIPS permit and enjoy the dams at 100 per cent capacity meaning a lot of the timbers are way under your boat making for safer travel.
Now for all the latest information log onto www.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!
