by Mangrove Jack
ON the river, the bread and butter species have been keeping anglers busy – good numbers of bream, whiting and flathead have been on the bite around the river mouth and frying pan area.
Using live worms and yabbies have been getting some good results, if you haven’t got a yabby pump give peeled prawns and cured worms a go.
Woods Bay has been producing quality tailor, tarpon and trevally during low light periods, poppers and surface walkers like the River2sea Skinny Dogs and Zerek Poparazzi have been getting the job done. Mangrove jack have been on the prowl in the lower reaches of the river responding well to live and fresh flesh bait.
Larger flathead and trevally have been caught around the Tewantin council chambers and ski run, using soft plastics like the Squidgy Pro flick baits.
Crabs are still on the move with some good sized bucks getting taken around Lake Doonela and the Tewantin Ski Run. The crabs have been nice and full and very sweet. Make sure you mark your pots and meet all the regulations in regard to size and bag limits. There is some hefty fine for those found to be doing the wrong thing.
On the offshore front, for the angler with a larger boat heading straight to the Hards or the Barwon banks has seen some great results, with good size snapper, pearl perch, parrot and the odd red all being caught.
In a little closer Chardons Reef and the northern end of Sunshine reef have both been producing good numbers of squire, sweetlip and the odd big coral trout.
If you have a smaller craft or just aren’t willing head out to far, then Halls Reef and jew shoals are perfect with plenty of spotted mackerel, the odd bigger spanish and plenty of tuna around that area – floating pilchard baits is a sure fire way to get them on the bite.
Noosa’s north shore has been fishing well with plenty of bream and whiting inhabiting the gutters and holes, there have also been a few quality tailor moving through the gutters and smashing the smaller baitfish.
Davo’s Tackle World is running a mackerel mania competition during January. With the spotted mackerel coming on the bite you’ll have the chance to win a $500 gift voucher. To be eligible, bring in your best spotted mackerel to be weighed, measured and photographed. There will be points awarded for length, weight and condition of the catch and bonus points for best smile and best story. The winner will be decided on 31 January and announced as soon as possible after that date. Both Davo’s stores (Noosa and Marcoola) will be accepting entries.
So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures.
