Plenty of big flathead in the Noosa River!

September 21, 2018

With the winds causing plenty of boats to pick up and head out at last minute only the local reefs have been the go to spots this week for those anglers in smaller craft. Bigger boats have managed to head out wider into the deeper waters of Double Island and Barwon banks. With the bite being a little slower it is important to use burley and a double paternoster rig if bait fishing. On offer on the wider reefs some solid snapper, pearl perch, tusk fish, cobia, amberjacks and longtail tuna have been caught. In closer North Reef has been holding patches of smaller snapper, wrasse, cod, tusk fish, cobia and longtail tuna. In closer sunshine reef has been showing frying pan sized snapper, sweetlip, pearl perch and a mix of longtail tuna and mac tuna especially around halls reef and up toward Teewah. To target Tuna the traditional method is to cast smaller metal slugs or chromes toward them as they feed. You only need 20lb braid at the most so you have enough on your spool and 30lb leaders are the go. Take a look at River 2 Sea, Sea Rock and Arma Metalik slugs in 20-30g weights.

The estuary has shown some cracking catches of bigger flathead with lots in the mid 50-60cm size. These fish are mainly falling for fresh baits but hardbodies are working well too. If land based try fishing around the sandbags and sunken trees of the dog beach. The new Daiwa double clutch lures are flying off the shelves so be sure to try these suspending lures while we have them. Further around Munna Bridge and the entrance to woods bays we have seen small tailor and various trevally including GT, big eye and golden trevally. Golden trevally are a bottom feeder and love small grub style soft plastics like entice bungy baits and Zman grubs on 1/6-1/4 #2 jig heads. If out at night or early morning, throwing smaller poppers like River 2 Sea baby bell and zip baits skinny pop usually get taken down pretty quickly by big eyes. We have also seen some sizable mangrove jacks getting landed and these fish love nothing more than a live bait so be sure to go in heavy. Use no less than 20lb leaders and similar main line coupled with some extra sharp Mustad Penetrator hooks of size 4/0 and above.

In the surf some cracking jew fish have been caught further down the coast around Point Arkwright. These fish will take a wide range of hardbodies, soft plastics, live baits and fresh dead baits. Be sure to have the correct line to stop these huge fish which will certainly brick you in a heartbeat once they know they are hooked. Heavy leaders of 50lb or greater are a must and a rod with a solid backbone will take you toward landing one of these silver ghosts. Around the river mouth of Noosa expect to find some sizable whiting and a mixed bag of bream, dart and flathead. Further north and south of the bar some decent sized tailor have been caught during the evenings. These fish are tending to feed hard under the cover of night and are taking whole pilchards on light gang hooks.

Freshwater has been heating up with the bass taking down hardbodies and surface lures along the calm water edges early mornings and late afternoons. OSP Dunk and Ecogear SX48F lures get down deep to where the fish are and work well when twitched away from the snags. Out in the middle of Lake MacDonald the bubble line is holding smaller fish that have been taking micro jigs. Try Blue Blue sea ride and Major Craft Jig Para are two great go to options.

Now for all the latest information log onto www.fishingnoosa.com.au for up to date bar and fishing reports, don’t forget to drop into Davo’s Tackle World, Davo’s Boating and Outdoor in Noosa and Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola for all the right equipment, bait and advice to get you catching. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and remember Tight Lines and Bent Spines!