Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
New moon rising
With the new moon on Saturday night, there was certainly something in the air. This time it was more for the surf anglers than those who ventured offshore. Offshore had some solid southeast swell rolling around, making things a bit rocky for those in smaller craft.
Out wide, currents were against the wind, making sitting on anchor hard work, but the rewards were there with some solid snapper, pearl perch, jewfish and various tuna species.
In closer around North, Chardon’s and Sunshine reefs, the continued run of snapper and pearl perch has been keeping the larger boats busy.
Our current pilchard continue to be perfect for 5/0 gang hooks and make the perfect bait for floated baits. If on the drift, you can have a pilchard drifting for big mid-water fish and fish the bottom with a soft plastic for reefies.
With many options available, the new Bite Science plastics are proving popular with a wide range of colours and sizes. These are best fished with 20-30lb fluorocarbon leader for protection against the reef.
Surf fishing saw some great catches of whiting for those on lighter gear. With the moon, reports of solid jewfish turned up from anglers fishing all along the coast. Some fish were reported to be over the 1m mark, with most below that size.
These are great eating fish, though most do have worms, these can easily be removed and do not affect the taste. Big jewies love a large mullet slab or squid bait and fishing around 50lb plus leaders is more than enough to land such a fish.
The Noosa River is going through a change, with flathead starting to show up already, in preparation to spawn. Most anglers are keeping fish around 50-55cm, with the bigger breeding size female fish being released.
With the lack of rainfall, the river system is fishing well around the lower estuary. Prime bait have been whitebait and mullet strip on lighter gear fished in the current during the turn of a tide. Winter bream haven’t shown up in force yet but reports of fish around 36cm are common and this species love nothing more than a prawn bait.
We have extra-large prawns, which make excellent peeled bait, if the fish aren’t taking yours.
In the flats of the Frying Pan, you’ll find whiting, flathead and bream. The Frying Pan can be an excellent place to flick small surface lures such as the Fish Craft Snoop Dog on light 1-3kg rods and 6lb lines.
If you need help with tying braid to leader knots, be sure to pop in for some help. We have a big range of braids to suit all styles of fishing.
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 Tackle World Noosa, Noosa Boating and Outdoors and Northshore Bait & Tackle in 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!
