Well last weekend really did feature some great conditions early. Monday to Wednesday were the pick of the week as the winds intensified and the swell arrived. For surfers the main beach of Noosa looked like anyone with a board descended for a ride of the moderate 2-3 foot North easterly swell and strong South Easterly winds.
Offshore Sunshine Reef was on fire with pretty much everything on the catch list. There were Spanish mackerel, spotty mackerel, big coral trout, sweetlip, pearlies, cods and much more. Most fish were caught on bottom bashing rigs using 50-60lb mono and 6/0 octopus hooks. If you need rigs but can’t tie knots we stock a big range of ready to go rigs. Top baits are local Morton Bay squid topped off with pilchards.
For those wanting mackerel, be sure you have a slug rigged up and ready to go as the tuna appear to come and go quickly, especially when the water is busy. Look at 20lb outfits and 20g slugs as the baitfish are around 50-60mm in size. You can try searching around the Halls reef stretch heading north or around Peregion and Sunshine.
With big swell expected to continue into the week be sure only skilled skippers take on the Noosa Bar. Ensure you have lifejackets on in smaller craft and check all safety equipment is up to scratch and in date. If you need anything last minute don’t forget to pop in.
Surf fishing has seen some really good quality dart showing up on lighter 6kg outfits. If you know how to find them there are some pipis showing up along the Sunshine Beach stretch which always makes great fresh bait. For those unable to find them we have lots of beach worm and squid baits which are the favored options right now. With the bigger swell there should be plenty of gutters on offer no matter where you decide to fish.
Estuary fishing is seeing a good run of golden trevally which usually show up in larger numbers once the water temps start to drop. They are a sucker for soft plastics loaded with S-Factor and chunky baits of pipi and prawn. Soft plastics that will work well include Squidges paddle prawn and Keitech swing impact in 3 inch sizes. Goldens love to dig around sand areas making woods bay, Munna Point around to Noosa Sound some great starting points.
Flathead willlalso be found in these areas and will take the previously mentioned plastics and baits. For trevally, leaders should be 6lb but with flathead 10-12lb are better. If after flathead, you should always strike your bites. This is to prevent the fish from taking your bait or lure deep and then rubbing through your leader resulting in lost fish.
Mangrove jacks are starting to quieten down a little, but they are always around. Noosa has so many areas where good structure is present, so it pays to target these places. Think about the rocks of the river mouth as a starting point. You can use big paddle tail plastics and big oily baits like mac tuna fillet on a 4/0 hook and 30lb FC Rock leader.
Away from the estuary the dams are sitting pretty. With cleaner waters and the week of hotter weather, water temps are steady. Much like last week the best options are going to be surface lures early morning if the winds aren’t too strong. Yu can follow these up with smaller hardbodies and heavily weight Keitech easy shiners in 2-3 inch sizes. Next week is looking favorable so get out there.
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!
