By Jack Mangrove
With the winds picking up slightly we saw only the larger boats or experienced skippers crossing the bar as the swell was very close together and combined with a fading ground swell so slow and steady was the best approach. Toward the end of the week we had westerly winds and super clean waves so it was game on! North reef was popular for the charters and they came home with a mixed bag of cobia, snapper, pearlies, lipper and some sizable jewfish. Mixed baits dropped down on paternoster rigs proving the popular choice with squid, mullet and pilchard baits the popular choice. In closer sunshine reef had smaller squire, lipper, coral trout, pearl perch and longtail tuna. Anyone who has a baitrunner style of reel would do well to use it here as these reels are perfect for floating baits in a burley trail.
Surf fishing was also quieter in the lead up to the new moon, however a few small jewies have been landed around the mouth of the Maroochy and Noosa rivers. Anglers have reported higher numbers of tailor along the North Shore and are taking whole and cut pilchard baits and squid on strip bait rigs. During the daytime, bream, whiting, dart and flathead are around with a few big flathead landed and released as we approach their breeding season.
In the Noosa River the trevally are on the move throughout the lower reaches and the clear water requires baits and lures to be presented on the lightest possible lines. Anglers using 4lb will excel during these conditions and this makes a great time to put your skills to practice when fishing this light. Lower down in the water column small micro jigs work well for getting the bite when the fish are sitting on the bottom. If headed up river the ski run is worth sounding around as trevally and jewies are often found schooling up here. Live baits work well as do soft vibes and 4 inch paddle tail soft plastics. Adding scent really helps too as does tying a loop knot to help free up the lures action. Be sure to find out how to tie one as picky fish will spot a poorly presented lure. Further upstream the mouth of Cooroibah and the channel that is the start of the stretch known simply as between the lakes holds good flathead this time of year. The sand flats on either side can also hold good whiting too so flick small surface lures onto the flats and work them off into deeper water.
Freshwater continues to be consistent with fish schooled up in the deeper warmer waters of Lake MacDonald and Borumba. Their natural response to want to get downstream and breed is only halted by the dam walls and schools can be of epic sizes so have a look in these areas. Check out Lake MacDonald and 3-ways as well as botanical gardens for 2 great areas. Borumba is a little harder to fish due to its size but bass can even be caught at the boat ramp so before you head up into the arms, be sure to nose around closer to home. Surface lures are still getting hit in the afternoon and soft plastics with a creature look also work well as do the smaller micro jigs.
So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures!
