By Jack Mangrove
With a wave of bigger snapper along the coast the fish have been in the 4-7kg range. They are hitting everything from lures to lives so there is something for everyone. Pilchard floaters are also working very well on 4/0-5/0 hooks during lighter current runs and or course live baits sent down and fished hard on the bottom too. The local reefs of Sunshine and wider to North Reefs is holding pearlies, sweetlip, tusk fish, longtail, school mackerel and cobia. If you are in a smaller boat then Halls reef heading north toward Teewah is the safest most comfortable option due to the winds.
For those not heading offshore the continued run of bigger flathead continues in the river and catches in the 60+cm size range are common. These fish are taking a range of flesh, dead and live baits as well as soft plastics and hardbodies. This is the time of year for breeding and fish this size and bigger should be returned. Soft plastics in the 3-4 inch size and 1/8th-1/4oz jigheads are getting some great results depending on current and water depth. Another great option are soft vibes as these require little skill to get them to work. We are also seeing undersized jewfish, chunky GT and queenfish in the system. These fish love a fast paced surface lure or diving lure so set drags to allow these fish to run and have lots of fun.
On the beaches whiting, bream, dart and flathead can be found around the Noosa and Maroochy river mouths. These fish are best approached on light surf combo’s with live worm and mullet strip baits. There are also some good gutters along the coast so persist and move around if yours is quieter.
Lastly the local dams are seeing a rise in water temps due to no significant rainfall. The fish are harder to locate so turn sounders on and have side scan units running. A great time to hit the Noosa Everglades is from Sunday as the wild bass closure is over as of 31 August. These fish may be found lower down in the more brackish water following their breeding so surface lures and grub style soft plastics should be used here. This is a great place to kayak and enjoy the natural beauty.
So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures!
