Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
Inshore Fishing
We have certainly had a cracking run of weather again this week and the weekend is also looking primo! Plenty of really good sized spanish, grunter and snapper are being caught on our inshore reefs! The spanish have been best targeted in the early mornings and late afternoons as this is when they are higher up in the water column and feeding.
Trolling garfish or floating out live yakka has by far been the most effective bait for these spanish. The snapper and grunter have been caught on reefs holding plenty of bait, these fish are often shown as solid arches sitting underneath or behind schools of bait. Curl tail soft plastics and vibes have worked really well on both of these fish however nicely presented strip bait is a great alternative.
caught off Burnett Heads
Offshore
After a pretty average run of weather for most of the year it is so good to finally get a few really nice days in a row and the weekend is looking good once again! Reefs further North from us like Sykes, Lamont and ground around Musgrave has been producing some cracking trout and red emperor. These fish have been chewing really hard on isolated patches of ground especially during a tide change.
Getting some live bait or fresh flesh baits and dropping them down has worked a treat. For anyone fishing the wrecks big cobia should be on the menu as there has been plenty around. These cobia love big flesh baits and whole squid but they will also smash a soft plastic or metal jig.
Of course plenty of reefies such as sweetlip, red throat emperor, venus tusk fish, hussar and stripeys have also been chewing on the usual pilchards, squid and mullet fillet. Drifting over patches of rubbly ground has been working really well this week and with the small tides this weekend this method should continue to produce.
Burnett River
The Burnett has still been fishing well and there is plenty of grunter and blue salmon around the rocky structures and bridges in the Town Reach area as well as the North Wall. These fish have ate whole prawns, sprat and soft vibes. The rock bars and bridges have also produced some great quality flathead, cod and big bream this week.
Whole prawns or sprat have been the baits doing the damage on these fish. Finding schools of bait hanging around the rocks is a really good place to start as these predatory fish will usually be close by. Great numbers of crab have been found in the main sections of the river with whole mullet or fish frames being the ideal baits to be using.
Kolan River
The Kolan is definitely fish well this week, the flats fishing at the mouth of this system has seen good sized queenfish and trevally caught around the snags and schools of bait. Flicking small soft plastics has by far been the most effective way to target these species. Floating out whole sprat rigged with a very small sinker of even no weight at all has got some great results as well.
Some big flathead and grunter are still around too, fishing the edges of the shallow flats during the run out tide has been the best way to target these fish. Either whole sprat and prawns or once again small soft plastics have done the trick.
A few mangrove jack have been on the chew this week around heavy structure like rock bars and fallen trees. Slow rolling soft plastics through the structure has got some jack to bite, sinking prawn imitation lures into the snags is also a great way to get a bite from these fish.
Elliott River
The Elliott River is fishing very well at the moment. This river is offering some great variety with species like queenfish, school mackerel, flathead and big grunter coming on the chew. The queenfish and schoolies have been caught at the mouth of the river especially during the last half of a run in tide. Casting topwater lures or erratically retrieving soft plastics around the mouth of the river along the rocks has encountered a fair few of these species.
The flathead and big grunter have ben caught mainly from the deep holes and rock bars on whole prawns and sprat or soft plastics. The sand bars and yabbie beds in this river are also great places to soak a bait especially during the incoming tide. Good numbers of flathead are around in the shallows as well, and even some quality bream.
As the tide runs off these flats flicking the drop offs will put you in with a great shot at some cracking fish as they chase the bait coming off with the tide. This river is also crabbing really well, heading up the river with the incoming tide has been the go as you can get right up the back of this system and into the action!
Baffle Creek
The standout fish on the chew in Baffle over the past week has definitely been some late season mangrove jack and plenty of quality grunter. The mangrove jack have been smashing live bait presented near heavy structure during the last of a run out tide. Any of the rock bars in this river are well worth a shot whilst these fish have been on the chew.
If you are into lure fishing a slow rolled paddle tail or a slowly retrieved prawn imitation lure will both be great options. There has been plenty of grunter caught all throughout this system but the mouth seems to be the hottest spot. Slow rolling paddle tail or curl tail soft plastic’s over the shallow sand bars preferably spots that have yabbie beds or small timber structures on them has got some really good results.
There’s also been some cracking whiting being caught so be sure to have the whiting rods packed to fish the incoming tide. Just like the other rivers the Baffle is also crabbing really well so be sure to put the pots in for an overnight soak if you can!
Lake Gregory
The bite at Gregory has definitely slowed down compared to a few weeks ago as these bass have absolutely chewed their heads off! Some good sessions are still being had for plenty of anglers fishing the lake this week. Soft plastics slow wound through the schools of fish has been a sure way to get a bass to bite, soft and hard vibes however have been the deadliest lures.
Targeting the edges of the lake has still caught plenty of fish for those who have persisted, some good mid 40cm bass have been caught on hardbody’s and soft plastics along the edges this week. Utilizing this style of fishing late in the afternoon has got the best results.
CATCH OF THE WEEK
If you would like your catch photos published to be in the running for a $50 gift card every week, email your details and photos of local catches only to accounts@tackleworldbundy.com.au
From the team at Tackle World Bundaberg
Live the Tackle World L.I.F.E – Local Independent Fishing Experts
