As the title says the westerlies have started to show up as they often do this time of year. Fortunately for us the rains have abated and this means the sea conditions will clean up with water clarity improving. This can only mean tuna time offshore and Spanish a lot closer. Westerly winds clean up the sea state and all the suspended matter should fall away.
The reef fishing is certainly improving with some solid snapper starting to show up in the 80cm range as well as tuskies and jewies. sweetlip or lipper have been on the catch list for just about everyone dropping baits and plastics on the reef. These fish range from 37-48cm and are pretty good fighters on lighter 15-20lb tackle with 16lb fluro leader. When buying leader it is important to buy one suitable for the task with FC Rock one of the best in the rough stuff. If you need help with how to tie a braid to leader knot be sure to pop in and ask us how as this is an essential skill often overlooked with the use of a swivel which is incorrect.
Coral trout also feature consistently all along the coast line. These fish are commonly found around the 25-35 meter line. They love live baits but will also take slow pitch jigs, soft plastics and dead baits. Make sure you up your leader size and be ready for the take as these fish will have you back in the reef real quick.
The pelagic activity is still plentiful with a lot of anglers targeting both tuna and mackerel. The tuna are feeding hard at the moment but are very flighty so it is best to get ahead of them and cast to them as they approach. The bait they are feeding on is quite small so small slugs in the 10 – 20 gram size is perfect.
For those of you chasing mackerel slow trolled dead bait of bonito or gar have been getting the job done. Working these bait along the pressure edges of the reefs is where most of the fish have been congregating.
For the beach anglers the condition were also pretty good with only slight winds coming into play. There are some reports of tailor schools starting to move up from the south, pilchards and mullet are the prime baits with the high tide in the evenings the best time to fish. Metal slugs cast into the surf during the day have also seen some good results with trevally and larger dart taken on the turn of the tide.
Whiting are in good numbers with plenty of fish taken around Peregian and Marcus beaches, freshly pulled beach worms or pippies have gotten the results..
The Noosa River has been producing some great fish, trevally have been in the systems in good numbers, surface poppers and walkers have been the way to go with plenty of fish taken on the morning tide, these predatory fish following in schools of bait in on the tide so areas like Woods Bays, the current line and the mouth of the river have all been prime spots. If you are going to fish the river mouth, have a go with slugs on a fast retrieve, you may also see a queenfish feeding on those bait schools.
Whiting have been in good numbers around the river mouth flats and along Gympie Terrace. Live worms, yabbies and peeled prawns are the go to bait.
Fishing the mid-sections of the Noosa River has also paid dividends, drifting down with the runout tide flicking prawn profile like the very popular Flick Prawn from River2sea and paddle tailed soft plastics like the Keitech Easy Shiners has seen anglers picking up some nice flathead whilst working the drop offs near the sand bars.
Heading up river and fishing between the lakes we have seen mangrove jack being taken on a wide range of live and dead baits including mullet strip and prawns. Lures to try are the Samaki thumper soft vibes, Jackall Squirrel 79SP suspending divers as well as slow rolled plastics. Upsizing your leader is a must with 20lb fluorocarbon the best choice.
In the Fresh, the bite windows appears to be later this week with the fish feeding around midday. The surface bite has slowed dramatically around the cooler mornings but once the sun is high overhead it can certainly worth throwing a range of smaller walker style lures like the Sammy 65 and Berkley Bender which is a subsurface lure sure to get fish just sitting out of range but ready to pounce. Try around any timber for bass as the wood heats up the surrounding water which these fish love.
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!
