Nelson Philips with a cracking 56.5cm bass caught at Lake Gregory!
Congratulations Nelson, please call into the store to collect your $50 gift card.
Catch of the week winner - Nelson Philips
Inshore & Offshore
We did see some good early morning opportunities late last week and again on Saturday, with those who got on the water early able to get out the front and fish our inshore grounds before the wind came up. This time of year the low light periods are very much your friend, often the Westerly winds will blow early, allowing you to find shelter in close, and they are also renowned for dying off in the late afternoon.
Spanish mackerel have been high on the radar recently with these fish pushing in closer as the water temperature continues to drop. There has still been a good amount of bait holding in close and the spanish have not been far from it, so finding the bait has been the first step to finding the fish. Trolling whole garfish or bonito has been the most consistent method for getting bites and covering ground while doing so is a great way to work out where the bait is concentrated before committing to working a particular area. Most fish being caught are still sitting in the 10 to 15kg range however there have been some encouraging reports of fish nudging the 20kg mark filtering through, and with a few more weeks of cooler water ahead of us the bigger models should be caught more regularly. The snapper have not pushed right in close just yet with the fish that have been caught coming from grounds around the 20 metre mark, however as the water continues to cool we expect these fish to push into the shallower grounds in the 12 to 15 metre range so it will not be long now.
School mackerel are still scattered along the coast in good numbers, particularly south off Elliott Heads where a Flasha spoon has been a very reliable option once you have located fish. If you are still prospecting, trolling a metal spoon on a paravane setup is the most efficient way to cover ground and track them down. Some quality grunter and grass sweetlip have also been caught at our common inshore marks with the 2 Mile off Bargara and the Artificial Reef off Elliott Heads the standouts, and early mornings and late afternoons on whole prawns have been the most productive approach for both species.
Unfortunately the wind has not cooperated for this weekend, however the forecast for next week does look to be settling down so fingers crossed we get some opportunities. If you do get out keep an eye out for bait schools and birds working as there have still been some whispers of longtail tuna around, though they have been very scattered and spooky so long casts to reach the school before they are aware of you will give you the best chance of a hook up!
Nixon Loader with a pair of quality red throat emperor
Graham Deacon with a nice 1.2m cobia
Burnett River
The Burnett continues to impress and is shaping up to be one of the better winter seasons we have seen on this system in recent years. The bread and butter fishing has been the real highlight over the last few weeks with bream well and truly leading the charge. This system is without question our best local river for targeting quality bream during winter and it has been living up to that reputation, with some impressive fish over 45cm already being caught along the rock walls, bridges and jetties throughout the system. Strips of mullet fillet, whole sprat and whole prawns fished as naturally as possible have been the standout baits, and for the lure anglers small curl tail, prawn and crab imitation soft plastics worked with a light and finesse approach around the same structures have been getting some great results.
Grunter have also been a very consistent capture throughout the system with the rock walls from Kirbys Wall down to the North Wall all producing quality fish on the same baits. Fishing the late afternoon and into the night has seen the more quality fish caught particularly towards the mouth of this system. The estuary cod and mangrove jack are still being encountered by those targeting the heavier and deeper structure with a well presented live bait. Again, fishing the afternoon and into the night is when most of these fish have been caught.
With the bigger night tides this week it is also well worth throwing the crab pots in for an overnight soak as the crabbing has been firing as of late. And the prawns have also been super thick around Strathdees and Millaquin Hole, be sure to target them towards the bottom of the tide during the slack water.
Steve Davidson with a ripper flathead caught locally
Kolan River
The Kolan has been producing some really enjoyable fishing over the last few weeks as the winter species have well and truly come to the party. Bream, whiting, flathead and grunter have all been caught consistently throughout the system with the areas towards the mouth in the cleaner water producing the most reliable results. The incoming tide has been the prime time to be on the shallow sand flats and yabbie beds with fresh yabbies the standout bait for the bream and whiting, and whole sprat or strips of mullet fillet the preferred options for the flathead and grunter. For the lure anglers the incoming tide has also been the prime time to venture up onto the shallows and cast small hard body lures and soft plastics. A 2.5 to 4 inch curl tail soft plastic has been a great all rounder for these species, with the bloodworm colour being a standout. As the tide turns, shifting into the deeper drop offs and channels surrounding the flats has been the reliable move as these fish retreat into deeper water with the draining tide.
The barra and jack have gone quiet as expected with the cooling water but live bait fished on the deeper structures remains the best option for those still keen on chasing them. Areas further up river and in Yandaran Creek are worth a look for these summer species with some nice estuary cod being reported from the deeper holes as well. If you do venture up river, the run out tide should be your best bet, but with the big tides be careful as to not get yourself trapped, the low tide in the afternoon is very low!
With the bigger night tides this week be sure to get the crab pots in as we saw this system absolutely fire on the last set of big tides so fingers crossed they get on the move again.
Daniel Duncan with a solid jack caught locally on live bait
Elliott River
The Elliott has continued to produce plenty of quality fish all throughout the system and the diversity of species on offer in this river right now is genuinely impressive with bread and butter species like bream, whiting, flathead and grunter all firing alongside the summer species that are still hanging around in the deeper holes and rock bars.
Those getting on the water early or fishing into the night have consistently been having the best sessions, and with the bigger night tides this week the whiting fishing in particular is going to be well worth the effort. Pumping fresh yabbies at the afternoon low tide and then fishing the incoming tide right through into the night has been the formula for success on these fish, and the quality of fish after dark has been noticeably better than during the day. The tides over the next few days are perfect for this style of fishing so be sure to give it a crack! If you can't secure fresh yabbies, beach worms and soldier crabs are your next best options. There has also been really good sized bream, flathead and grunter caught in the same areas as the whiting. Again, the incoming tide has been the best time for those fishing the yabbie beds and shallow flats however the run out tide is a great time to fish the drop offs and deeper holes particularly for the flathead and grunter. A soft vibe or a curl tail soft plastic hopped along the bottom is sure to find one of these species.
The pelagic action around the mouth has also continued to be a real highlight with schools of queenfish and GT showing up regularly in areas of strong current during the middle section of the incoming and run out tide. These fish have been providing some fantastic sport for both boat and land based anglers and it is well worth having a light rod rigged and ready at all times when fishing around the mouth of this system. Further up river the estuary cod, mangrove jack and grunter have continued to show up along the rock bars and in the deeper holes for those fishing live bait or fresh mullet fillet. And with the bigger night tides this week do not forget to get the crab pots in as this system has been producing some quality bucks for those making the most of the bigger tides!
Hamish with a 56cm flathead caught in the Elliott
Baffle Creek
The Baffle has been fishing really well over the last few weeks and just like our other local systems the bread and butter species have been the backbone of most sessions throughout the system. Flathead, bream, whiting and grunter have all been caught consistently with the shallow sand flats and yabbie beds around Pig Island, Winfield and down towards the mouth the most reliable locations. The incoming tide has been the prime window for targeting these fish up on the shallows while the run out tide is the cue to shift into the deeper drop offs and channels where the flathead and grunter in particular have been setting up. Whole sprat, strips of mullet fillet and fresh yabbies have all been reliable bait options and having a couple of different options out at once is always a smart approach as these fish can show a clear preference for one bait over another on any given day. For the lure anglers a lightly weighted curl tail soft plastic between 2.5 and 4 inches has been a very consistent lure as of late, with bloodworm working best in the clear water and a motor oil in the dirty water.
The mangrove jack have pushed into the deeper structure as expected with the cooling water however a well presented live bait or strip of mullet fillet on the rock bars and deep holes is still producing the occasional quality fish for those putting in the effort. A few reports of some big estuary cod is an encouraging sign as these fish are usually a welcome by catch for most as they are a great eating fish for those chasing a feed!
The pelagic action around the mouth has also been worth keeping an eye on with the bigger tides this week likely to stir things up and push some queenfish and GT through the system during the incoming tide. And with the bigger night tides this week it is absolutely worth throwing the crab pots in for an overnight soak, the crabbing in this system has been very solid further up river especially up Oyster Creek when the tides are in good form so make the most of it!
Tom Martin with a cracking GT caught locally
Lake Gregory
There is no question that Lake Gregory is fishing at an extremely high level right now and has been consistently producing some outstanding sessions over the last month or so for those who have been putting in the time. The seasonal transition into winter has well and truly taken hold and what we are seeing now is exactly what experienced anglers on this lake look forward to every single year.
The bass have been schooling up in increasingly better numbers with each passing week as the water temperature continues to drop, and the quality of fish coming from these schools has been exceptional with plenty of fish in the 45 to 50cm range being caught on a regular basis. Finding these schools has been the key and those running sounders have had a clear advantage, however following the wind and targeting any bays, banks or points that have been receiving consistent wind pressure remains one of the most reliable strategies for those fishing without electronics as the bait gets pushed into these areas and the bass are always close behind it.
The late afternoon bite has been the standout session by some margin with these fish switching on hard in that last hour or two of daylight. Hard vibes, blade lures and strolling soft plastics have all been getting consistent results once the schools are located, with the Barambah Viben8or and Jackall TN60 both proving to be excellent options. A slow roll with the occasional short sharp twitch mixed in has been the most effective retrieve for these lures. The early morning bite along the shallow weed edges has also been worth getting out of bed for, with topwater lures still producing some exciting strikes right at first light for those who get on the water early. Any shady areas and weed pockets are always worth a few extra casts during this window. Get on the lake while this is all happening because this winter season is shaping up to be a ripper!
Don Patterson with a quality saratoga caught in Lake Gregory
Lake Monduran
Lake Monduran sure has been producing some great fish over the last month. As we have been saying for a few weeks now, do not let the cooler temperatures put you off heading up there because if anything winter is shaping up to be a cracking opportunity to fish this lake with the minimal boat traffic.
The most significant change over the last few weeks has been the shift in fish behaviour as the water has continued to cool. These barra have become noticeably more spooky and cautious which means finesse presentations are now the order of the day. Strolling lures and fly lures have been accounting for some impressive numbers of fish and a simple slow steady roll has been all that is needed to get bites. Those who have adapted to this more subtle approach quickly have been the ones getting the most consistent results while those persisting with more aggressive presentations have found the fishing a lot tougher. The Raid Super Fish Rollers, Rapala Crush City Freeloaders and any fly lures have been the standouts. Often times the key has been that first initial splash, with these lures the splash is minimal and very natural which helps immensely.
For those running live scope the late afternoon right through into the night has been the most productive window on the dam by a long shot. As the light drops these fish rise higher in the water column, become far more active and are considerably easier to both locate and present a lure to. Once you have a fish turned and following, maintain your retrieve and keep winding until you either get a bite or the fish pulls away, that will tell you exactly what speed is required and you adjust from there on every subsequent cast. The areas around Insane Bay, Hearts Bay, 2 Mile and H up the back of the dam have consistently been holding the best numbers of fish over the last few weeks and are always worth spending quality time scoping through. For those without live scope, targeting windblown points with a deep channel running alongside them during the early morning has been the most reliable edge bite approach. These fish are spooky in the clear winter water so stealth and patience are every bit as important as lure selection right now!
Team member Karl Eliason with a nice barra caught locally
From the team at Tackle World Bundaberg
Live the Tackle World L.I.F.E - Local Independent Fishing Experts
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