With another week of cool temperatures and sunny days its been a case of watching the weather and timing your bar crossings for some great fishing.
The swell has been present but holding around a metre. This has allowed for most offshore anglers to have a crack.
North reef has been popular and for good reason. With more species than you can shake a stick at, anglers have been doing well on baits and lures. The usual run of cod, moses perch and sweetlip was overshadowed with some cracking spangled emperor and venus tusk fish.
On the jig even an iron jaw job fish was caught which shows more northern species are showing up. There have also been some chunky kingfish and cobia showing up. All of this lined up with a run towards the full moon.
Out wide around double island the sharks are making their presence known however the amberjack and longnose trevally continue to stretch arms. These fish are both great eating and although thought as poor table fish you may well be very surprised with the sweet flesh trevally offer.
Bait anglers were doing well with pilchard, fresh strip baits of mac tuna and mullet on heavy paternoster rigs around 50lb. Lure anglers have a wide range of choices from jerk shad style soft plastics in deeper water with 2-3oz jig heads. Jigs have also been working well with the rear weighted Berkley skid jigs in 100 grams a popular choice. They come equipped with a single strong VMC hook so you need not change this. Combine this with a long length of Shimano Ocea leader and see what you can tempt.
Surf fishing has seen some cracking dart to 45cm landed as well as some bream getting near 40cm’s in length. Both of these fish are exceptional fighters on lighter surf gear. Try to keep lines around 6-8 kg and a suitable rod like the Shimano Mikuro light surf. Tailor are plentiful around Bribie and are starting to push toward the coast so trips to Fraser should be planned soon.
River fishing continues to see a continued run of trevally, flathead, bream, the odd chopper tailor and even jacks. With the river changing its course the usual holes and drop offs have seen them fill in with sand but new ones are always forming. Its always worth exploring the river around the turn of the tide as this can be a trigger for fish to feed. Using your sounder can really help you discover new spots to fish and those with live mapping can build up an accurate map of the bottom. This not only helps you navigate, but find likely fish holding spots.
Bait anglers have continued success with prawn and herring as well as mullet chunks for bream. If you are finding baits become picked off easily try switching to mullet. Lure anglers will find a huge array of options instore so be sure to ask us how the river is fishing and what colours are working best. If you are looking to get a cast net we can show you how to throw one and even spool your reel while you wait.
Freshwater continues to be quiet with the cold air temps. If you are intending to fish the local dams, be sure to fish those areas that receive the most sunlight. The majority of fish are seeking out the warmth and this will boost their metabolism. Once you find the fish be sure to try small lures like 2-3inch grubs and use suspending lures in the smallest of sizes. Zerek tango shads or Jackall squirrels are great starting lures. Keep leaders light so these lures suspend for long periods of time as fish may be less aggressive and take longer to hit a lure. Don’t forget that Mary River cod are in closed season and snapper are back on the catch list as of Tuesday 16 August.
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!
