By Mangrove Jack
This is the time of the year that we really tend to focus our efforts on those cool water reef species.
Snapper, sweetlip, tuskies, pearl perch and cobia are all species we will target at this time of the year.
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.
The deeper reefs like Chardon’s, North Reef, Barwon banks and Double Island are all producing larger snapper and pearl perch.
Another way to bag hungry reef fish are large soft plastic fished hard to the reef.
A couple of tips when using soft plastics – use the lightest jig head to get you to the bottom, make sure you plastic is rigged straight, use braided fishing line and keep in contact with the lure.
Bait is also a mainstay for a lot of anglers, floater rigs with large pillies and yakkas work well, while good local squid and flesh baits are perfect for the bottom bouncers.
The Noosa River has to be one of the best systems in south east Queensland to fish at the moment, with the deeper section very productive as the predators feed on bait on the incoming tide.
On these cool mornings we have seen over the past couple of weeks, plenty of rods have been bent over as large schools of tailor and trevally move into the river.
These fish are taking a wide variety of baits and lures with anglers having a lot of success with slugs and soft plastics.
A big cast and medium to fast retrieve see these slugs looking for all the world like a fleeing baitfish which is chocolate to a predatory fish.
Soft plastic can be worked in a similar fashion with paddle tail plastic working best.
Upriver things have also be firing with nice sized flathead on the run out tide. There are some sensational paddle vibes on the market at the moment so try the brighter colours like the reds and pinks in the dirty water with the more natural colours in the clearer water.
Flathead being an ambush predator will half bury themselves in the sand in order to disguise their presence, as the soft plastic is pulled past their nose they can’t help but have a crack.
School jew have also been inhabitant of the same area and will quite often be a by-catch when you are fishing for flatties.
Whiting have also been plentiful with some nice elbow slappers taken around the Dog Beach and the Frying Pan. Worms and yabbies have been the prime baits.
On the beach it’s all about the tailor, with the start of the migration to the north the Sunshine Coast coastline has a couple of real hotspots, to the south the area around Pincushion Island on the Maroochy North Shore is really firing, a little further up the entrance to Stummers Creek just north of Coolum is also a great spot to try.
The Noosa North Shore is possibly one of the best spots with its proximity to Fraser Island, with the area north of Teewah is a real haven.
Look for those deep gutters with the best fish caught on the incoming tide early morning or late evening.
Baits like large pillies, fresh mullet strips and locally caught squid should see good results.
Bream, whiting and large dart are also on offer so don’t forget those smaller baits like worms and prawns and whitebaits.
So on behalf of Jack Mangrove, best of luck on your fishing adventures!
