By JACK MANGROVE
NOOSA is a great place to plan an attack on some great reef species.
Snapper, sweetlip, tuskies, pearl perch and cobia are all species we like to target in the cooler months.
In close, Sunshine Reef is one of the favourites for smaller craft. Fishing close to the reef is the key, getting those baits right down there and this will really improve your catch rate. Whether it be soft plastic, baits or even micro jigs, if the bait is not on or close to the bottom you’re not in the game. Burley is also key; once you have found some good ground a frozen burley bomb sent to the bottom will also help the cause.
Deeper water will quite often result in larger fish, so reefs like Chardon’s, North Reef, Barwon banks and Double Island will all produce larger snapper and pearl perch. Pelagics are also still hanging around, so anglers are getting the best of both worlds at the moment, with the dirty water running out of the river.
At the moment you will however, have to find clean water to tangle with the pelagics. Spotted and spanish mackerel have been taken around North Reef as well as quality tuna. Slugs, floater pillies and trolled diving lures are all working well.
In the river it’s all about finding the cleaner water. With the large tides we will experience over the next week, this should help to clear up the river.
Concentrate your efforts down towards the river mouth on the run in tide. Trevally, jacks and school jew have all been taken on the making tide.
Woods Bay has also been fishing well for trevally, tailor and bream. Poppers and surface walker have been working well in the mornings with soft plastics on the bottom during the middle part of the day.
On the beach the water will soon clear, with the big tides and beach fishing to go off, with a lot of small bait fish moving out of the rivers.
With the fresh, they tend to find their way into the deeper gutter and close reefs. Because of this the larger predators have a fine old time, jew, large tailor trevally and even snapper will all be taken off the beach over the coming week.
Look for those deeper gutters and fish larger baits. Time this with a morning tide and you should see a result.
On behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures.
