Well as the title suggests Australia Day started off in perfect weather but soon turned into squalls and a lot more rain than predicted.
Those who made it offshore were rewarded with a mixed bag of species from mackerel to cobia and some standout reef fish came off the bottom.
North Reef has been fishing well following the extended break and some huge pearl perch have been on the list. Mid water and on the bottom cobia have been picking up livies and soft plastics. If ever you are planning to go offshore, always have a few live bait rigs onboard as they can help turn a bad day into one of the best.
Around the pinnacles, smaller jewfish around the metre mark and under have been caught again on plastics and live baits. Soft plastics like the new Berkley Gulp shrimp will always work wonders on the reef in the larger sizes as what reef fish doesn’t love a prawn?
Sunshine Reef and south heading toward Coolum has seen the pelagic action with mackerel showing up. Things are a bit on the warm side for longtails, however, there have been reports of yellow fin tuna out wide around the banks so always be prepared with a stickbait or casting slug on a rod. The successful TT hardcore slug continues to get smashed by standout fish.
Off the beaches we continue to see whiting around the 20-35cm mark with most fish taking beach worm. For those able to cast out further, smaller mackerel have been taken off the rocks around Coolum with fish taking a liking to pilchards and metal slugs.
The Noosa River has been fishing well with some solid flathead and jacks getting caught after dark. For lure anglers bigger soft plastics with a big paddle tail have been working well like the Keitech Fat swing impact in the 5.8 inch size rigged on 3/8th jig heads and slow rolled along the bottom on the tun in the tide. You will need bigger rods to cast these lures, but they certainly attract the big fish. Take a look at Samaki Zing G3 rods as they have a lot of power able to deliver a big cast.
Daytime fishing is providing smaller flathead in the 40-60cm size all along the sandy drop offs toward the mouth from the boat ramp. Flatties are a great target species for new lure anglers as they aren’t too fussy. Try various grubs and paddle tail plastics in the 3 inch size with Berkley Power bait having some proven options to get you started.
If you have some crab pots, then it is well worth putting these out as the crabs continue to show up. We always carry an extensive range of pots, rope and floats to get you started as well as rigging tips and locations for those new to crabbing.
Freshwater is warming up and starting to clear up on the big dams and lakes in the region. The bass are still harder to find while things clear but there has been a noticeable topwater bite period during the end of the day and first light. A constant performing lure has to be the Lucky Craft Sammy 65 which everything will hit and is by far the easiest to work. For those fishing deep grab a few Storm micro blades and work the schooled up fish and timber drop off’s for the bite.
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!
