Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
With Christmas Day next week, this weekend will be the last chance to catch yourself some delicious seafood for Christmas lunch. At this stage the weather is shaping up well with light winds forecast for the Bundaberg area, but as always, check the local up-to-date forecast prior to heading out.
THE BURNETT RIVER
Even though it’s been one of the hottest weeks of the year, the good old Burnett continues to produce plenty of nice fish. Mangrove jack and estuary cod have been smashing both lures and baits fished close to the many rock walls in the Burnett. Flathead have slowed a little but anglers who are willing to put in the time have been rewarded with some monster flathead. Let’s hope 2020 brings some welcome rain for the farmers and in turn, improves the fishing for the next year.
BAFFLE CREEK AND THE KOLAN RIVER
Both the Baffle and the Kolan will be popular destinations over the Christmas break. The good news is that both of these systems are fishing and crabbing well. Mangrove jack and big grunter are always a welcome capture at this time of the year. The new weedless Zerek Fish Trap Vibe fished over rock bars has already produced a number of quality mangrove jack in both of these systems. Some nice muddies have been on the move as well, so don’t forget the crab pots this weekend. There’s nothing better than a feed of mud crab for Christmas.
LAKE GREGORY
This little impoundment continues to be a cracker! The quality and size of the Australian bass and saratoga is amazing. At this time of the year, it’s always worth getting to the lake as the sun is coming up to try to tempt both of these species to take a surface popper, which is one of the most exciting methods to catch these fresh water species. Trolling the edges or casting spinnerbaits or lightly-weighted soft plastics has also been working very well.
LAKE MONDURAN
With the super-dry conditions, Lake Monduran’s current capacity sits at 66.91%, and care needs to be taken as many trees and stumps are starting to show themselves. A lot of barramundi have been active early in the morning between 5.00am and 8.00am, then once again in the afternoon as the sun goes down. With the warm water, try targeting tree tops in about eight to ten metres of water, casting Jackall Squirrels and Lucky Craft Pointers. Vibing can also be a deadly technique with barra in the deeper water.
Just finally, from the team at Tackle World Bundaberg, we wish you all a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.
Fish with confidence and make the most of this last chance to hit the water before Chrissy!
Dale Smith
