By JACK MANGROVE
YES the rain will get them walking … it’s amassing the amount of ground the good old muddy will cover when the fresh water starts to infiltrate the normal saline water that the crabs like.
As the fresh water makes its way down the system, the crabs will also head downstream looking for a little more salt.
This is the time to get the pots out – they are out of the holes and on the move.
There is nothing more attractive to a muddy than a bit of rotting fish on the bottom of a crab pot, it’s like a drivethrough without an exit.
Remember your size and bag limit of 10 per person, you can only take the bucks and they must make size 15cm across the carapace. Elsewhere in the river, the mouth has again been the place to be with some nice tailor reported as they chase the bait on the incoming tide. Slugs, and pilchards have been responsible for a lot of the captures.
Tailor have also been taken in Woods Bay on surface lures, again first thing in the morning.
Along with the tailor the trevally has also been on the prowl, the Noosa sound has been going off with the sound of these ravenous feeders hitting bait fish on the surface.
Upriver, the jack are also out to play. The fresh water in the system tends to upset the bait fish and the jacks can’t help themselves. Surface and suspending lures along the edges first thing in the morning and diving lures, paddle vibs and soft plastic in the deeper water as the sun rises is the way to target the red devils.
Offshore, thing have been a little quiet with the weather and the swell earlier in the week, but the weekend saw some nice fish boated. Coral trout were a nice prize for anglers who headed out to the Reefs, with sweet lip and cod also in the mix.
The mackerel have been a little quiet with the northerly winds we have been having, but will soon be back on the chew as the wind swings around to the south-east.
On behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures.
