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. It’s been another week marked by rain and less-than-ideal conditions for our local anglers. Unfortunately for estuary enthusiasts, it seems we’re at least another week away from seeing the dirty water fully flushed from our river systems, and that’s if we have no more rain. Despite these challenges, there are still opportunities for successful catches, especially offshore, with today and tomorrow presenting ideal conditions. The combination of hot weather and big tides, amplified by Saturday’s full moon, is setting the stage for a promising week. Looking ahead, the overall conditions for the next are looking pretty good – we’re just keeping our fingers crossed that the rain gives us a break!
Offshore
Offshore fishing over the past week has been relatively modest, with anglers reporting catches of spotty mackerel, mahi mahi, sweetlip, and tuskfish. Notably, marlin were caught off the 18-mile mark, while amberjack and pearl perch were found at the Hards. Additionally, the government FADs have been productive spots for mahi mahi.
Maroochy River
The Maroochy River has seen its challenges this week, with continued rainfall resulting in dirty water that’s slowed down the fishing pace. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, there have been some bright spots. Whiting have been biting at the river mouth, while the stretch from the Cod Hole to Bli Bli has been a decent spot for trevally and flathead enthusiasts. Some good mangrove jacks have been caught over the past week. They don’t tend to mind the dirty water, so cast around structures and bridges for your best chance.
Noosa River
Despite the challenges posed by dirtier water conditions in the Noosa River, there have been some reports of success. We’ve had reports of a few bream and flathead about, with some nice mangrove jacks on the chew as well. Whiting have also been reported at the mouth. Live bait is your best option in these dirty water conditions.
Mooloolah River
In the Mooloolah River, the presence of dirty water has also influenced fishing conditions. Despite this, reports of a few sand whiting being caught in the lower reaches along with the odd mangrove jack in the upper reaches.
Caloundra
In the Caloundra area, the influx of dirty freshwater continues to challenge anglers, making it tough to entice a bite. Despite the difficult conditions, there’s a silver lining for those hitting the beaches, where some fish are still being caught.
Freshwater
In the freshwater regions, recent rainfall has significantly raised river levels and muddied the waters, making for some challenging fishing conditions. Despite these challenging conditions, when fish are located, they tend to be selective, so try soft plastic paddle tails to entice bass, tilapia, yellowbelly, and sooty grunter.
Moving Update from Bait Master Fishing and Tackle
The countdown to our move is on, and we’re excited to share some key details with you:
Last Trading Day at Bli Bli: Sunday, 25th February. Make sure to swing by before we close!
Closed for the Move: We’ll be closed from Monday, 26th February to Monday, 4th March, as we transition to our new home.
New Shop Opens: Mark your calendars for Tuesday, 5th March, when we open the doors to our new location at Shop 3, 99 Aerodrome Road, Maroochydore, right opposite Aldi. You’ll find parking right in front of the shop, with additional spaces on Second Ave and Hinkler Parade.
While we’re on the move, our online store will stay open, so you can still get all your fishing essentials. Plus, click and collect will be available for added convenience. We’ll continue selling bait throughout the move, except for a brief period when we’re moving our freezers. We’ll keep you posted on those specific dates.
A huge thank you to everyone for your patience and support during this exciting transition. We can’t wait to welcome you to our new location in Maroochydore and continue serving all your fishing needs. See you there soon!
Trent & Corinne
Bait Master Fishing and Tackle
