Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
Happy holiday to all of our readers and we hope you are managing to get out among some fishing action. For the most of you fishing the estuaries it is that time of year where boat traffic and people on the water increases dramatically. For those looking to throw a line in and have a go while the kids take a dip the stretch along Gympie Terrace between the boat hire jetties is a great spot to catch a few whiting and bream. Another spot that offers some shade from the sun and wind is Weyba Bridge. Here you can also expect to find trevally, bream and flathead.
These fish will take worm, pilchard, mullet and pipi baits fished on light running sinker rigs with a size 4 worm hook. For the anglers flicking lures then smaller poppers like the popular Storm chug bug and Rapala mini poppers work well here for trevally and tailor in the lower light periods. Woods bay and the dog beach is also a great place to swim and fish for flathead and bream. If using lures try stepping down to 6lb leaders and lighter 1/8th jigheads and smaller Zman streakz 3.75 in various colours for greater casting distance.
For those chasing jacks then getting your bait or lure deep into the snags and rocky points Noosa has to offer is key. Be sure to run heavier leaders of 30lb or more and be on the water early before the sun rises. This is the golden time especially as the new moon is on Sunday. If headed up the river then stopping off at the mouth of Lake Cooroibah is a great place to find flathead and whiting along the sandy flats further north. Be sure to drop a few crab pots in the water this time of year as some cracking crabs have been caught.
Offshore, the consistent 1.5-2 meter swells continue to hit the Noosa bar. This is seeing only the bigger boats and the brave head out. There was a window of opportunity mid-week and those that went out stayed in close due to the ground swell and possibility of the winds picking up. For the most part everyone got into the pelagic’s and the spotty mackerel were dominating around the closer reefs of Sunshine, Jew Shoal, Halls reef and down toward Castaways beach. These fish are still relatively small and are taking 20-30g slugs cranked back to the boat at speed.
For these fish you can use estuary sized rods of 6ft10- 7ft and spin reels loaded with 12-15lb braid and 20lb leader to keep it really fun. For those targeting spanish mackerel then floated or down rigged livies are best especially if staying in the shallower waters of 12-25 meters. The headlands, Jew Shoal and northern end of sunshine are great places to find them. Besides mackerel there are some solid coral trout on Sunshine Reef, some line burning cobia as well as various tuna species. There are also a mixed bag of reef fish getting caught on paternoster rigs with chunk and flesh baits working best for sweetlip, cod, snapper and pearlies.
Freshwater has been quieter with the early mornings and late afternoons the better times to get out there. If fishing off the top then larger lures in the 90-110mm size are calling up the bigger saratoga along the edges. Make sure you are running 14lb leaders or more to ensure the bigger ones don’t break you off as they know how to find the submerged timber. Out in the deeper water then smaller spinner baits, vibes and blades are getting the hits from the bass with reports of mid 40’s coming from Borumba deep in the trees around the entrances to the main arms. If out before first light try casting out into the open as the bigger fish will patrol around looking for fallen insects and stray baitfish.
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!
