Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
Welcome to this week’s Sunshine Coast Fishing Report. Fishing conditions continue to be tricky, with the remnants of the previous week’s flooding still affecting local fishing. Wind and swell should make offshore a no-go until a brief reprieve next Wednesday, after which conditions look to deteriorate again. Hot and muggy conditions look as though they’ll continue into next week, with showers and wind also predicted.
Offshore
Opportunities to venture offshore over the next week look limited but, as always, check conditions to stay up-to-date. Over the past week, Smithy’s Charters reported catches of spotted mackerel around the Caloundra reefs, along with sightings of spanish mackerel. Remember the spanish mackerel southern closure currently in force (February 1-21). The fish aggregating devices continue to be the spot for mahi mahi. Marlin and sailfish were reported at the 18-mile mark, while the Barwon Banks delivered catches of hussar and tuskfish.
Maroochy River
Fishing the Maroochy River has required patience this past week, with the water remaining murky from recent heavy rain. However, persistence has paid off in the lower stretches where whiting and trevally are making their presence known. We’ve also had reports of jewfish, grunter and decent-sized flathead catches. Proving successful are 7g micro jigs, slicing through the less-than-clear water with promise. The dirty water doesn’t bother mangrove jack, with some nice catches reported over the past week. Anglers are advised to be on the lookout though because increased shark activity has been reported.
Noosa
The Noosa River continues to be hit and miss due to less-than-ideal conditions recently. In the lower reaches, anglers have found success with grunter and whiting, while Lake Cooroibah has been a hotspot for trevally. Flathead and whiting have been reported at the mouth, while trevally have been spotted in Woods Bay.
Mooloolah River
In the lower reaches of the Mooloolah River, sand whiting were a common catch, particularly when the tide was rising, bringing them closer to shore.
Caloundra
Caloundra continues to fish well, despite the recent weather, with catches of grunter and whiting reported. Mangrove jack catches were reported in good numbers, with some decent sized models caught in the canals and Currimundi Lake.
Freshwater
The freshwater fishing scene is currently quiet, with the Mary River and surrounding creeks recovering from recent flooding. The increased water levels and turbidity have made conditions challenging for anglers, with many areas still inaccessible or offering limited fishing opportunities. As the waters gradually recede and clarity improves, fishing conditions in these freshwater areas are expected to slowly return to normal, but it may take some time before they fully recover from the impact of the floods.
As we wrap up this week’s fishing report, we note that due to a temporary issue with our tank system, we won’t have live beachworms available this weekend. However, we’ve got you covered with a wide selection of frozen bait and cured worms to ensure your fishing trip is still a success. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to helping you with all your fishing needs.
Tight lines!
Trent & Corinne
Bait Master Fishing and Tackle
