Wind havoc hits offshore

Richard Allan from Hamilton, New Zealand, with a 15kg mulloway which he boated on a Cougar One charter to North Reef.

By JACK MANGROVE

THE offshore crew have been up early to beat the wind.
Offshore the wind is still a factor, it’s tending to pick up midmorning, and this has seen the offshore angler heading out early. For the smaller craft, the inner reefs have been the place to be, with bigger fish feeding, as we have just had a new moon the ideal time to fish is the morning bite. Reefs like Sunshine, Halls and Chardon’s have all seen some outstanding results with good-sized snapper, maori cod, cobia and sweetlip all on the menu. If you are going to head out to the Banks, make sure you check the weather it’s a long home if it blows up, the bigger boats that have made the trip have been spoilt with big snapper and pearl perch. The bay again has been fishing well with the tuna hitting the bait schools just offshore.
The river mouth has been the place to be for those of us stuck onshore, trevally, tailor and good-sized flaties have been feeding on schools of bait with the early tides. School Jew have also been smashing small slugs and fast moving soft plastics. Heading upriver good sized whiting are still around the dog beach and Frying Pan area. The Gympie terrace stretch has seen good-sized bream with the odd trevally thrown in. Between the lakes has again been producing the good with tarpon smashing vibes, these fish really crack up when they are hooked and can put on quite an aerial display keeping a tight line is the key to landing a big tarpon, another fish we are seeing more and more are threadfin salmon they have a liking for live bait and are quite often caught in the same area. Noosa’s North Shore has again seen good schools of tailor, nice bream and the odd Jewfish, again this has been a little wind affected but the early tide has brought good results. On behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures!