By Jack Mangrove
With the drop in evening temperatures the water in the Noosa River is really starting to drop and the winter species are really starting to fire up. Catches of bream have increased with some nice size fish being taken on mullet gut and fowl gut. Anglers are also targeting these fish with small plastic around structures with the Tewantin harbour and pontoon holding some nice fish. Flathead are in great numbers with good catches still being recorded on the run out tide. For the lure anglers diving 40 to 60mm hard bodies in bright colours like hot pink seem to be the go-to lure for flatties. Lizards have also been taking large prawns, small pilchards and mullet baits. Trevally have been in great numbers and some good size fish have been taken. The current lines at the entrance to Woods Bays is the go-to place. Golden, big eye, giant and kale kale have all been accounted for, in the 50mm to 60mm sizes have been working well on the surface, while soft plastics have worked well down deep. A fast twitchy retrieve off the bottom seems to be the best retrieve. Whiting are still in good numbers with the Dog Beach and the Frying Pan both fishing well, worms, peeled prawns and yabbies are still the go-to bait.
With the southerly winds picking up last weekend and the swell not playing the game, most anglers have been fishing in Laguna Bay and the closer reefs. Longtail Tuna and Mac Tuna have been the main targets using metal slugs in the 20g and under range. The Mackerel have also made a show with some decent sized spotted and Spanish mackerel being caught. Try using a small 3” length of single strand wire and small black rolling swivel above your lure to avoid bite offs. Just around the corner, Sunshine Reef has been holding some cracking trout. Soft plastics have been working with the 7” jerk baits a standout in conjunction with 3/4oz jig heads. Sweetlip have also been in good numbers as well as Maori cod and the odd good snapper starting to show up. Lightly weighted live baits have been working well in a well maintained burly trail. Make sure you don’t hit the water without a couple of bait jigs rigged and ready to go.
On the beaches; the beaches just to the south of Double Island Point fished well early last week. Dart, tailor, bream and trevally were caught on slugs. The closer gutter have seen some nice whiting and bream and the odd flathead with most fish taken on prawns and worms. A few good tailor have been caught on the eastern beaches on whole pillies and metal slugs. For the rock hoppers the northern side of the Noosa National park afforded some relief from the southerly breezes and sweetlip squire, tailor and even small mackerel were taken.
So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures!
