By Jack Mangrove
With the swell and wind finally abating, offshore anglers were able to make the run outside. One of the best things about this time of the year is seeing the best of both worlds, with the warmer currents sticking around keeping the pelagic bite hot. Tuna have been very active around the reefs in close to Noosa. They have been in schools of large numbers around Jew Sholes, Halls Reef and Sunshine Reef. The trick is to keep a good range of metal slugs in the tackle box so you can match what they are feeding on. For the small craft that don’t feel comfortable making the trip to the Barwon Banks or the Hards Banks then Sunshine reef is a great option with sweetlip, Maori cod, squire and quality trout hanging around. Sunshine Reef is also a great place to give Mico Jigging a go, with the shallower reefs you can use some of the lighter jigs. North Reef has also been firing with Moses perch, hussar, grass sweetlip, Venus tusk fish and smaller snapper all hitting the decks. Double Island reefs would be where I would be heading in the hope of bagging some big pelagics. Spanish mackerel wahoo and large tuna have all been reported. The Barwon Banks have also been giving up some nice fish including Mauri cod, trout, pearl perch, snapper, cobia and jew.
On the beach there have been some good sized bream in the gutters around Sunshine Beach at the top of the tide. Flathead have also been amongst them taking frog mouth pilchards on gang hooks, as well as fresh mullet and Bonito strips. Dart have been seen in great numbers spread all along the eastern beaches, with the better fish coming from the top of the tide. The kids love catching dart as it is one of the easiest fish for the little ones to catch. Peeled prawns, live worms and squid have been the baits to use for them. The southern beaches around Coolum and Yaroomba are a great spot to chase whiting. Live worms, yabbies and fresh pippies have all done the job on the whiting. The best tide to catch them has been the start of the run out.
The Noosa River has been producing some great fish. Trevally have been in the river system in good numbers. Surface poppers and walkers have been the way to go with plenty of fish taken on the morning tide. These predatory fish follow schools of bait on the tide so areas like Woods Bays, the current line and the mouth of the river have all been prime spots. If you are going to fish the river mouth, have a go with slugs on a fast retrieve. You may also see tailor and Queenfish feeding on those bait schools. Fishing the mid-sections of the Noosa Rivers has also paid dividends. Drifting down with the tide flicking prawn profile and paddle tailed soft plastics has resulted in anglers picking up some nice flathead in the drop offs near the sand banks. With the rain we have been having and the water colour of the river at the moment, it is also a good idea to head up river and fish for threadfin salmon as they can become active in these conditions. Crabs have also been in good numbers with the deeper sections near the mangroves holding the bigger bucks. Fresh mullet has been the go with bait.
So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures!
