Good reports of red emperor and coral trout

October 17, 2019

BUNDABERG OFFSHORE

The weather around the Bundaberg area is looking good for this weekend for those guys wanting to get offshore. There are good reports of red emperor, coral trout and red throat sweetlip having been caught during the past weeks. For those anglers wanting to get out and have a crack, always check the current forecast before heading out because things can change from day to day.

BUNDABERG INSHORE

For the smaller tinnies wanting to get to the inshore reefs like the Two Mile and the Cochrane Artificial Reef, casting out Flasha spoons or slugs should pick up a feed of school mackerel for you. Finding where the bait is should save you time on the water. Floating out a pilly or trolling one of the large diving lures like a Halco will give you a chance of catching a good-sized spanish mackerel.

THE BURNETT RIVER

Bring on the summer!! Water temperatures are rising which in turn is really turning on the barramundi and mangrove jack. Good reports of barramundi and a few good-sized mangrove jack have been coming in from the Burnett. Using 20g soft vibes or casting out 4” soft plastics along the rock walls should produce the goods if you keep persisting. Also, a few good-sized grunter have been caught using the same types of lures. Anyone looking to bait fish, one of the best baits with it’s oily flesh is mullet. Live sprat is another option. Remember, when lure fishing throw the crab pots in. The little bit of rain we’ve had may flush the crabs out of their hole and get them moving.

LAKE GREGORY

For the fishermen who don’t mind an early start, surface fishing at Lake Gregory should produce a few top water strikes on poppers or a Zippin’ Ziggy which is a “walk the dog” type lure. When worked properly it is very deadly on bass. As the sun rises and the fish move into the weed, try casting spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and jerkbaits around the drop-offs of the weed. As the sun rises higher and the water gets warmer, try moving out into the deeper water to about 20 feet. Once you find the fish on your sounder, cast back over the top and let it sink to the bottom. Using a 3” soft plastic or blade lure, slow rolling back to the boat should produce the fish. Remember – the slower the better.

LAKE MONDURAN

Water temperatures have been on the rise and so has the fishing and the size of the fish being caught at Lake Monduran. Fish in the mid-to-high 80cms have started being a regular catch. Also, the number of lures lost to unstoppable fish is on the rise. Fishing Jackall Squirrels off the wind-blown points with timber and weed have been the best options. The odd couple of fish have been reported by trolling with shallow diving lures like the B52 along the timber-lined creeks and rivers.

With the Tackle World Bundaberg Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic on this weekend, Lake Monduran is the place to be. You can register at http://masa-fishstocking.org.au/2019-registration-form/

Anglers will also have the chance to catch that golden barra over the weekend as the Bundaberg Toyota Golden Barra Competition has started and is running until 19^th February 2020. This year there is a $190,000 prize pool. You can register to be in the running, and also see the Terms and Conditions at https://www.goldenbarra.com.au/

For those who will be at Lake Monduran this weekend, best of luck and we may see you there.

Keep on casting