Rough seas wash anglers upstream

Tobias Crew's 30cm bream which was taken from the river.

THE swell over past week’s fishing offshore can only be seen as challenging so this left most anglers focusing their efforts on the river.
Noosa is blessed with one of the best river systems in the country!
From the huge Everglade at the top of the river right the way down to the lower reaches there are a multitude of different styles of fishing to fulfil every anglers’ needs.
Starting up at the Everglades, good numbers of wild bass have been smashing small hardbodies right on the edges of the everglades and the Eco Gear SX40 and CX35s have been perfect for the job.
Quality Jacks are inhabiting the structure that lines the river edge between the lakes and suspended hardbody lures, soft plastics and the new Samaki Thumper tails have been doing the job.
Another style of lure not often used but which can be very successful are the cicada style.
These lures are designed to imitate a cicada as it falls from a tree or lands on the water surface.
A little further down river the lakes are home to some big momma flathead some touching the magic meter mark.
Brightly coloured soft plastics and hardbodies worked close to the bottom can see some outstanding results.
There are often jew up to about the 80cm mark in the deeper holes that occur upriver.
These fish are also happy to take live baits or a well presented soft plastic.
Heading down river, mangrove jack have made a home around structures such as bridge pylons and under jetties where casting hard bodied and soft plastic can see good results.
Of course, live bait is also one of the top performers with small hearing and poddy mullet both excellent baits.
Down towards the river mouth and Woods Bays, trevally seem to be everywhere.
They have been enjoying prawns and small baitfish and tend to feed more prevalently around the high tide or the low light periods.
The bread and butter species of whiting and bream seem to be in good numbers with the river banks along Gympie Terrace being perfect for families.
Prawns, yabbies or worms will get the kids catching.
For those looking for a good feed of elbow slappers (larger whiting) the Frying Pan and the Dog Beach have been producing some nice fish.
Crabs have also been on a lot of anglers’ minds and if they set their pots in the deeper channels close to the mangroves they should see some quality crabs.