Unless you have been completely out of touch, you will know that SEQ has received record flooding rain. The local rivers are flooding causing major disruptions across the entire state.
So how is this going to impact the fishing for the weeks to come?
Offshore was showing signs of longtail tuna showing up with the occasional Spanish mackerel. The usual spots of North Reef and wide from Sunshine Reef were producing the much sought after pelagics.
Right now, the rivers are spewing dirty water out into the oceans. This will push the clean water line out to the 40-60m line, especially as we approach the spring tides on Thursday.
There is a silver lining for offshore anglers. Reef fish love a heavy flush and often there is an offshore thermocline where dirty water sits as a layer often leaving a lower cleaner layer.
The big flush will push bait out and as such reef fish often fire up with sweetlip a great target. If you don’t have any, then Samaki soft vibes in the 100mm + sizes work exceptionally well. Another great option are large prawns with the Chasebaits prawn excellent. You can take the included weedless hook out and use a standard jig head to get it down deep and hop along the bottom. Coral trout will smash both lure styles, often favoring them over bait.
Bait anglers will have great success with mullet and pilchard but try a single hook paternoster as big reef fish may be very hungry!
Surf fishing is going to see a few changes with bigger fish stalking the shallows for misplaced baitfish. Jewfish will be prowling along the coastline looking for whiting and mullet, especially after dark. Break out your big 12-foot rods and long cast reels as it could be excellent fishing around the moon. If bait fishing, worm and squid mixes or mullet strips will be the go. Be sure to use some bead elastic to secure baits for better casting distance.
The Noosa River has seen some serious flows with levels flooding over Hilton Terrace on the high tides. If you are looking to go out on the water, please travel slowly, especially if you are crossing the bar. There has been a lot of debris and rubbish washed down and this could hole a boat hull. The focus will be around the river mouth, Woods Bay and Noosa Sound.
Likely targets will be flathead that will be sitting hard on the bottom away from the cooler, dirty rainwater. Mangrove jacks will be feeding as they can tolerate anything from fresh to salty water although these fish may need some time to adjust before they start feeding again. Fishing around the push of the high tide will see the saltiest waters coming across the bar which fish will be chasing.
For bait anglers, larger than usual baits of mullet, pilchard and squid will be the go as they are oily and smell. Lure anglers will want to use soft vibes and big paddle tail plastics loaded with some S-Factor scent. You can also try the squid scented Keitech 4-inch easy shiner in Sight flash which is a pure white colour perfect for the current conditions.
If you own a few crab pots, now is the time to put these out. Remember to tie these off or heavily weight them with bricks as the currents are going to be the strongest, we have ever seen from mid-week onward. We carry a wide range of crabbing gear including starter kits which gives you all you need in one box. If you need mullet frames or heads, we always hold a large supply to kick things off.
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!
