By Jack Mangrove
With the winds and rain keeping most anglers on land this weekend a few boats managed to get offshore early in the week. Halls reef, Sunshine reef and Jew shoal were the picks with some pelagics and chunky reefies around. These fish taking live bait, flesh bait and also hitting slow jigs with upgraded 3/0 hooks. Keeping leaders around 30lb will help prevent you from getting reefed as the coral trout have been upward of 7kg. Other fish included spotty mackerel, mac tuna and longtail tuna. These fish hitting slugs cast out and allowed to sink before making a rapid retrieve. One way to target mackerel is let your jig hit the bottom and rip it up as fast as you can. You may get bitten off a few times so be sure to use a bit of wire from time to time.
Surf fishing is starting to fire up with good numbers of small/medium sized jewfish reported all along the coastline. Finding a gutter and going down during an incoming tide is one way to really set yourself up at night. Using strip baits on snelled rigs works well on lighter leaders of 16-20lb. The smaller fish are also taking smaller shad style soft plastics which allow for longer casts and a flicking action that jewies love.
Stronger currents in the Noosa River provided the river with a much needed flush and with that, the upper reaches of Lake Cooroibah toward Coortharaba has started to fish well. Smaller Jewies, trevally and bream have been reported along this stretch and through the ski run. Other fish to find on the flats between the lakes are whiting and these can provide some of the most exciting fishing on ultra-light gear. The frying pan and around the boat ramp at Gympie Terrace also provides some red hot action at times too so break out the surface lures or beach worms. If after flatties then take a walk around the dog beach and woods bay and look for deeper darker waters with current. This indicates a good drop off that flatties love to ambush their prey and soft vibes cast out and hopped off the shallows works very well.
Mangrove Jacks are cooling down, but taking live baits and soft vibes cast under overhanging structure. The river mouth rocks offer great cover and an ambush point and 15-20Lb leaders are vital here. Be sure to upgrade your hooks and split rings on lures as they can bend easily against these hard fighting fish. Trevally will be around woods bay and Munna Point toward the bridge and micro jigs bounced along the bottom create interest that will trigger a bite. Mud crabs are still moving around and picking up some fresh mullet and loading up your traps up is a great way to catch a good feed.
The freshwaters of Lake MacDonald and Borumba Dam are providing anglers with some chunky bass down deep. Using a sounder will help find the fish schooled up on the bottom where the warmer waters are. Dropping small jigs, metal vibes and 3 inch soft plastics on heavier 3/8th jigheads will help entice a bite if they are shut down. Saratoga will be quieter on surface and will be taking suspending hardbodies. These are best given a long pause after working them down as toga are slower to respond during cooler water temperatures.
So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures!
