Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
Recently the offshore crew went out and enjoyed all the local reefs had to offer. Double Island is still a great option for those boats heading wide and the pelagics are definitely thicker there. There have also been some really nice reds and scarlet sea perch along with medium sized snapper, amber jack and even a wahoo or two to keep your arms stretched! In closer, North reef has had some great fishing for the bait crew with solid pearl perch, cobia, small snapper, longtail tuna, sweetlip, tuskies and school mackerel. Even though it is cold it still pays to have a pilchard or live bait just floating around out the back. If you have a baitrunner style reel this is the best reel to use for this style of fishing. In closer around Sunshine Reef we have still seen some quality coral trout come off the reef along with big sweetlip and pearl perch. There are smaller snapper cruising around and if on the drift be sure to try a slow jig like the Blue Blue sea ride or Palms slow blatt oval. Fish these lures on lighter 20-30lb leaders depending on water clarity and work the first 5-8 meters off the bottom. In closer around Halls Reef and Jew Shoal the big Spanish and longtail are still hanging around but will be headed north soon so get out there. These fish are still taking big slow trolled dead and live baits. They will also hit a smaller diving lures like the Nomad DTX are Rapala X-Raps. While they are in lower numbers it would be best to tie straight to leader rather than using wire to get the best presentation.
Surf fishing is starting to improve with early signs of tailor, big bream, whiting and flatties coming from the gutters all along the north shore and down south around Yaroomba and Point Arkwright. Having a slug ready to fire at any bird action is a must as is a gang hooked pilchard wrapped in bait wrap. This lets you fire your bait out and not see if fly off. Keep an eye out for birds and
The estuaries are waking up from the full moon phase and quality flatties and bream are making their presence known around the rock walls and deep drop offs of the river mouth and dog beach areas. If after whiting then hit the frying pan up or the flats of the dog beach. Small grub plastics and micro jigs hopped along the bottom can work well if not hitting surface lures. This will also see you land a few flathead too! The new Zerek absolute shrimp is the newest prawn style lure to hit the market and with different size and weight options available it is sure to be a hit with many species in the river and offshore. Further upstream bigger flatties have been caught on live herring and whitebait as well as various soft vibes like the Berkley Shimma shad. Queenfish and trevally will take a liking to these lures too which are also very easy to fish, especially for those new to using lures.
Freshwater has seen a great run of bass in both Lake MacDonald and Borumba with big fish coming from the weedy edges. Suspending lures and slow sinking jerk baits are a must as are slow rolled soft plastics like the baby bass slim swim 2.5 inch on 3/8 jigheads. The afternoon bite appears to be stronger right now which is due to the afternoon sun getting high enough to warm the shallows and turn the bite on.
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 Outdoors in Noosa and Davo’s 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!
