**CATCH OF THE WEEK **
Ryan Barber with his PB barra which measured 110cm caught at Lake Monduran!
Congratulations Ryan, please call into the store to collect your $50 gift card.
Catch of the week winner - Ryan Barber
Inshore & Offshore
School and grey mackerel have been thick across the inshore reefs, with the Bargara 2 Mile and Cochrane Artificial Reef proving to be the hot spots. Pilchards have been a great bait option, while vertically working metal slugs from the bottom with a fast retrieve has also been producing some excellent results. If you're heading out for a session, these areas are well worth checking out while the mackerel are in good numbers.
There has also been some cracking late-season snapper around the 15 Mile. For the best chance, try fishing around first light in the morning or the last light of the afternoon, when these fish are more likely to be active. Further offshore, the shallows around the Bunker Group have been producing some quality red throat emperor and coral trout. Hopping prawn-imitation soft plastics along the bottom has been working well, with pilchards also proving a reliable bait choice for anglers chasing these reef species.
Andy Gatt with a nice red emperor
Beau Britton with a cracking red emperor
Burnett River
The mangrove jack and barramundi fishing in the Burnett has really started to fire up this week, with the consistently warm water temperatures helping get the fish moving. The town reach around the bridge pylons has been one of the standout areas, particularly when fishing one hour either side of low tide. Twenty-gram soft vibes and live poddy mullet have been doing most of the damage, so it's worth having both options ready if you're planning to target these elusive fish.
Prawns have also been showing up in good numbers throughout the river. The deeper holes have been worth targeting, with one hour either side of both low and high tide proving to be productive times to get the net out. Keep moving between likely holding areas until you locate the prawns, and you could be in for a good feed.
Henry Walmsley with a nice 61cm blue salmon
Kolan River
The recent rain has helped get the mud crabs moving in the Kolan, with a few cracking bucks starting to come through. It's a good opportunity to get the pots out and see what's on offer while the crabs are active.
The barra and mangrove jack have also started firing in this system, with prawn-imitation lures producing results around the shallow rock bars. Live sprat has been another effective option when fishing these areas, so it's worth having some bait ready for a session around the heavy structure. There have also been good numbers of bigger flathead turning up, with trolling small hard-body lures over shallow sandbars working a treat. With a mix of crabs and quality estuary fish on offer, the Kolan is well worth a visit this week.
Team member Corey Hanks with a nice mangrove jack caught locally
Elliott River
The Elliott has been producing some cracking whiting, including fish pushing beyond the impressive 40cm mark. Fresh yabbies and beach worms have been the go-to baits, with the incoming tide providing the best opportunity to target these quality fish. If you're keen on a tasty feed, it's worth spending some time working the sand flats as the water pushes in.
There have also been plenty of big grunter caught around the sandbars and gravel beds. Curl tail soft plastics and prawns have been getting plenty of bites, giving anglers a couple of good options depending on whether they prefer fishing with lures or bait. Focus on these sandy and gravelly areas and keep an eye on the changing current, as the grunter have been providing some great action throughout the system.
Team member Nick Kenny with a ripper threadfin salmon
Baffle Creek
Mangrove jack has been the standout fish in Baffle Creek this week, with plenty being caught on hard body lures worked around heavy mangrove roots and rock bars. The upstream sections on the outgoing tide have been worth concentrating on, particularly where the water is dirtier. There have also been a few cheeky barramundi mixed in, so be ready for an unexpected bite from one of these fish when working these snaggy areas.
Mud crabs have also been on the move, making it a good time to put a few pots in while you're exploring the creek. Closer to the mouth, queenfish have been hanging around and are well worth targeting on surface lures. The Halco Rooster Popper has been a standout favourite, so make sure you pack one if you fancy some exciting surface action. With jacks, barra, queenfish and crabs all in the mix, Baffle Creek is offering plenty of variety at the moment and is shaping up for a great summer season!
Team member Zander Magin with a healthy mangrove jack caught locally on a Daiwa 4in Herring
Lake Gregory
With the warmer weather settling in, Lake Gregory is shaping up nicely for anglers keen to get stuck into some bass on surface lures. Frogs worked through the weed have been producing well, particularly when fished around the weed edges and shallow water during the early morning and late afternoon. These lower-light periods are a great time to focus on the shallows, working your lure through the weed and keeping an eye out for signs of feeding fish.
As the day warms up and the surface action eases, switch things up by tying on a small diving lure and working it along the same weed edges. This is a good way to keep targeting bass holding around the shallows once the sun gets higher. Having both frogs and small divers ready will give you options throughout the day and help you make the most of the changing conditions.
Chace Maher 40cm bass Lake Gregory
Lake Monduran
The Tackle World Bundaberg Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic was held over the weekend, with plenty of quality barra caught over the magic metre mark. Fly lures and strolling lures were the standout choice for anglers chasing the bigger barra, with a slow-roll retrieve proving very effective. Hard-body diving lures were another good option for those fishing the edges, and trolling through the basin was also part of the action. It was great to see plenty of fish caught across the event, with anglers putting a range of techniques to work to find success.
A couple of standout catches came from the competition, with Brock Honor landing the longest barra at an impressive 111cm. Our junior team member, James Cocking, took out the Barra Buster award for the greatest combined total length of five barramundi. There were also plenty of tilapia, bass, eel-tail catfish and fork-tail catfish caught during the event, with live worms from Blinks Bait proving a real hit over the weekend.
A massive thank you to the Monduran Anglers & Stocking Association for putting together such a successful event. Competitions like this don't just happen without a huge amount of hard work and countless hours from volunteers in the lead-up and throughout the weekend. Your efforts are what make these events possible, and it's fantastic to see the fishing community come together. Well done to everyone involved!
With plenty of barra caught and a variety of techniques producing results, the lake has certainly provided some exciting fishing. Monduran continues to offer plenty of opportunities for anglers keen to get amongst these iconic fish. If you're planning a trip, call into the store and have a chat with your local fishing experts about what's working and how to make the most of your next session!
Team member Mason Obst with a 117cm barra caught at Lake Monduran
Team member James Cocking with his Barra Buster trophy for the greatest total length of up to 5 barra at the recent Tackle World Bundaberg Lake Monduran Family Fishing Classic
From the team at Tackle World Bundaberg
Live the Tackle World L.I.F.E - Local Independent Fishing Experts
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