Earlier in the week a few of the larger charter boats made it Sunshine Reef and had great success. A mixed bag of reef fish including sweetlip, pearlies, some cracking coral trout and a big Spanish mackerel hit the deck. These fish taking live baits and whole gang hooked pilchard dead baits fished hard on the bottom.
Inside the river, whiting have been on the move around the mouths of both Noosa and the Maroochy and reaching mid 30cm mark. Simple running sinker rigs with 4-6lb lines provide the most fun and taking worms, yabbies and small strip baits of squid. Don’t forget to use a length of red whiting tube to emphasize your bait and give you a bit of bite protection should you pick up a feisty flathead.
Around the river mouth bigger flathead have been found along the deeper drop offs of the dog beach and current line. It is wise to step up leaders to 12lb or more and try using light gauge gang hooks with whole hardy heads or pilchards as bait. These bigger whole fish baits will get the attention of the bigger fish. Be sure to safely handle and release the bigger fish as they are fattening up for the winter breeding season.
Mangrove jack are still getting caught further upstream between the lakes and around the various bridges and jetties around the lower river area. Most of these fish are now taking live baits of poddy mullet and herring after dark and on the higher tides. In the same area smaller school sized jewies are taking soft plastics and vibes. These fish are really drawn in by vibration so slow roll paddle tail plastics. If getting live bait then be sure to use a drawstring cast net, especially if over rocks. If you need help throwing a cast net this holidays feel free to drop in and let us show you how it’s done in a few easy steps. In the lower estuary around woods bays, Noosa sound and along the current line the trevally have been giving anglers a run for their money.
These fish taking a wide variety of baits with small herring live baits the go too along with 70-90mm surface walkers and poppers for the lure anglers. These fish love to feed off the surface during the early mornings so get out there and be sure to have something ready to throw at any bust ups or schooling fish. Take a look at Bassday Sugapens and Atomic K9 walkers a well as Rapala x-rap poppers. If wanting to chase these fish under the surface the Keitech easy shiner in silver flash minnow and wakasagi have been smashing the diamond and golden trevally.
Lastly the crabs are on the move and now is the time to put a pot or two in the water. Make sure your pots are compliant and clearly marked as fisheries will be out on patrol this holiday season. Be sure to leave your pots along the mangrove edges and not in the main boating channel and hopefully you could be dining on a big buck!
So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures!
