New moon rising

On a recent trip to North reef the angler on charter boat Trekka 2 was happy with a solid mauri cod.

With the new moon on Saturday night there was certainly something in the air.

This time it was more for the surf anglers than those who ventured offshore. Offshore had some solid southeast swells rolling around making things a bit rocky for those in smaller craft.

Out wide currents were against the winds making sitting on anchor hard work, but the rewards were there with some solid snapper, pearlies, jewfish and various tuna species.

In closer around North, Chardon’s and Sunshine Reef, the continued run of snapper and pearl perch has been keeping the larger boats busy. Our current pilchards continue to be perfect for 5/0 gang hooks and make the perfect bait for floated baits. If on the drift, you can have a pilchard drifting for big mid water fish and fish the bottom with a soft plastic for reefies. With many options available the new bite science plastics are proving popular with a wide range of colours and sizes. These are best fished with 20-30lb fluorocarbon leader for protection against the reef.

Surf fishing saw some great catches of whiting for those on lighter gear. With the moon, reports of solid jewfish turned up from anglers fishing all along the coast. Some fish were reported to be over the meter mark with most below that size. These are great eating fish although most do have worms these can be easily removed and do not effect the taste. Big jewies love a big mullet slab or squid bait and fishing around 50+lb leaders is more than enough to land such a fish.

Fishing the Noosa River is going through a change with flathead already starting to row up in preparation to spawn. Most anglers are keeping fish around the 50-55cm size with the bigger breeding size female fish released. With the lack in rainfall the river system is fishing well around the lower estuary. Prime baits have been whitebait and mullet strip on lighter gear fished in the current during the turn of a tide. Winter bream haven’t showed up in force yet but reports of fish around 36cm are common and love nothing more than a prawn bait. We have XL prawns which make excellent peeled baits if the fish aren’t taking your baits.

In the flats of the frying pan you will find whiting, flathead and bream. The frying pan can be an excellent place to flick small surface lures like the fish craft snoop dog on light 1-3kg rods and 6lb lines. If you need help with tying braid to leader knots, then be sure to pop in for some help. We have a big range of braids to suit all styles of fishing.

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!