By Jack Mangrove
Early mornings and big high tides have allowed many surface anglers to get into the trevally, tailor and queenies around Woods bays and Munna Bridge last week. Surface lures including popper and surface walkers have got the runs on the board. With the clean water coming in with the high tides plenty of whiting have been on offer around Dog Beach and the frying pan. Live baits like sand worms and yabbies have claimed some good elbow slappers. It’s also a great time to chase whiting on surface with the frying pan the perfect spot. There has been good numbers of large flathead being caught in the river at the moment. Fishing curly tailed soft plastics has been very effective. Fish them deep on heavier jig heads during run out tides to get the best results. For the bait anglers prawns and small fish baits have also been deadly on the flatties. Jacks continue to be caught with most anglers doing battle in the evenings. Fishing structure with live baits has been the most productive.
On the beaches: There are large numbers of small dart getting caught as well as tailor. Fishing the deeper gutters that have formed after the bigger swells has seen the better results. Baits like mullet, pilchards, and bonito fillets have been perfect. Whiting are in good numbers and fishing the gutter has been paying off. Pippies worms and prawns have all claimed some good fish. During this upcoming new moon period there is always the chance of catching a big Jewfish on quality flesh baits like fresh tailor or local squid. The most successful Jew anglers are the ones that leave the rod in the rod holder and wait for the fish to run.
On the offshore anglers have had a hard time getting outside to chase those pelagics. This is that great time of the year where we see those much larger mackerel, tuna and wahoo all gracing our local reefs. Some of the best results we have seen have come from trolled live and dead baits. Hervey Bay garfish, Sauri’s yakka’s and pilchards have all got the runs on the board and rigged on a weighted chin guard with a squid skirt teaser has been the most popular method and has been getting the results . Bigger Spanish and tuna love this presentation and fishing the northern end of Sunshine Reef and Jew Sholes should produce some nice fish. If we get some better weather conditions then heading out wide should see some good results with very little fishing pressure. The Barwon banks and the Hards should see snapper, cobia, cod, pearl perch and Jewies. On the Southern reef things will also come alive with Coolum, Gneerings, and Currimundi Reefs al holding good schools of tuna and mackerel.
On behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures.
