As mentioned last week, winter is renowned for light offshore winds, clean seas and great fishing.
The start of winter did not disappoint, and many anglers found themselves offshore after what has felt like a very long time.
With conditions nothing short of excellent, the mid-week brigade got stuck into a great mix of summer and winter fish. With water temperatures sitting around 23C you can expect to find Spanish mackerel alongside snapper. The bigger snapper will mainly be holding in the deeper colder waters but reports of bigger fish are starting to come through.
For the majority of offshore anglers, Double Island, Barwon banks and the Hards were the popular spots. Anglers are quick to catch anything from mackerel to cobia and pearl perch. The humble pilchard floater on a Tru-Turn gang hook has accounted for some cracking fish with Spanish the main target. Using a small length of single strand wire is advisable if you are losing fish. It is best to try and catch one without wire as they can be put off if not in a freeding frenzy.
Snapper are on the increase with many in the 3-4kg range. These fish will hit everything you can offer them. Deep dropped pilchards on Black magic paternoster rigs has been working around Sunshine and North Reef for those on anchor. If this is you, be sure to run a light burley trail. Mackerel will follow a burley trail to the point of hanging around the back of your boat waiting for more. Big snapper will also come off the bottom in search of a feed so keep your polaroid sunnnies on as you never know what could be under your boat.
Longtail tuna are also showing up with numbers of fish showing up at the beginning of the week only a few metres off the shore line. This is the time of year when big fish in the 20kg+ range will take plastics intended for snapper so be sure you are running enough line to cope with these speedsters. If you need new braid we can put this onto your reel with any additional backing required.
Beach fishing is seeing a few anglers head north and fish for tailor. A few are turning up along the open beaches, as are jewfish, but you have to work hard at times to find them. This is the time of year where 12-14ft rods are the norm and the gang hooked pilchard with some bait elastic is a must do approach. If you are looking to get started then be sure to come in and check out our range of surf casting gear.
The Noosa River has seen a change with the clean high tide waters around the mouth. This has caused the fish to congregate and feed on the incoming baitfish. Running live herring and small pody mullet has been doing well with the flathead and big bream.
With the river still running dirty, try to fish around the mouth, the dog beach and the sound. With the neap tides now in place you will find the currents will slow down and the waters should start to clean even further. Trevally will also be holding around these areas with big eyes and diamonds popular targets.
For lure anglers the small Jig parra jigs will work well when hopped along in the current as these resemble small baitfish. Aim to use long 6-8lb fluorocarbon leaders like DFC Nitlon for the best presentation. With the full moon approaching toward the end of next week we should see fishing intensity increase. This means between now and then a great time to head out.
Freshwaters are still recovering from the huge influx of flood waters. With the clarity still very low the dams are going to have to be explored and fished hard to locate the fish. Much likes the previous weeks, you would be best to use high vibration lures like Jackall TN60’s and TT Vortex spinnerbaits.
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!
