**CATCH OF THE WEEK **
Raewyn Sliwka with a ripper flatty measuring 82cm caught in the Elliott River!
Congratulations Raewyn, please call into the store to collect your $50 gift card.
Catch of the week winner - Raewyn Sliwka
Inshore & Offshore
School and grey mackerel have been biting well across our inshore reefs, with the artificial reef off the Elliott River standing out thanks to the clearer water in that area. Fast-retrieving 50g Flasha spoons vertically from the bottom has been an effective way to get amongst the action. If you prefer bait fishing, try sinking pilchards down with a size 3 ball sinker and 6/0 gang hooks. Both techniques are well worth trying if you're heading out in search of a few mackerel.
The coral trout and red throat emperor have also been chewing out at the Bunker Group. The Samaki Live Shrimp 127mm in Golden Carrot, rigged on a 1oz jighead, has been doing the trick, while pilchards remain a deadly bait option. The most productive depths at the moment have been between 15 and 25 metres, so concentrate your efforts around this range for your best chance of getting onto some quality reef fish.
Team member Zander Magin with a monster spanish mackerel
Burnett River
There have been some cracking grunter and flathead caught around Strathdees over the past week. Fishing the mudflats and gravel beds on the incoming tide with 3-inch paddle-tail soft plastics has been producing plenty of action. If bait fishing is more your style, prawns and sprat have also been doing the job. Mid-morning this weekend is shaping up as a good time to get out and target these fish, so it's worth planning a session around the incoming tide.
With the recent rain, it's also worth focusing your efforts closer to the mouth of the river, where the water is saltier. The port is worth a look if you're chasing a tasty feed of prawns, with both the top and bottom of the tide providing opportunities. Keep an eye out for where the prawns are holding and be prepared to move around until you find them.
Gus with a nice flatty caught in the Burnett River recently
Kolan River
There have been some cracking whiting caught towards the mouth of the Kolan. Pumping yabbies around low tide and then fishing the incoming tide across the shallow sandbars is a great way to target these tasty fish. If you're keen on a fresh feed of whiting, this is a good approach to try over the coming days.
The recent rain has also got the muddies on the move. The main river channels have been producing better opportunities than pushing right into the backs of the drains, so focus your pots along these deeper channels. Fresh mullet makes a great bait option, so grab some bait, get the pots in and see if you can secure a feed.
Trumpeter up to 50cm have also been caught near the river mouth around high tide, with fresh sprat proving the preferred bait. It's another great option to target while you're fishing the lower reaches of the Kolan, so be sure to have some fresh sprat on hand if you're keen to give them a go.
Luke Bowden with a barra caught locally
Elliott River
There have been some cracking mangrove jack caught in the Elliott lately. Hard-body lures have been producing well, with the Samaki Redic DS80 in brighter colours standing out as a favourite. For those who prefer bait fishing, live poddy mullet and sprat have been the standout options. With the river still running quite fresh, concentrating your efforts around the incoming tide is a good approach when targeting these hard-fighting fish.
Some late-season bream have also been showing up around the Riverview boat ramp, with gut proving to be an effective bait. It's worth keeping a bait rod handy if you're fishing this area, as you might pick up a few bream while targeting other species.
With the fresh water moving through the system, it's also worth getting the crab pots out. The main channels have been looking like the spots to focus on, so set your pots in likely holding areas and see if you can secure a feed.
Hayden Peall with a cracking 113cm spanish mackerel
Baffle Creek
There has been plenty of queenfish action around the mouth of Baffle Creek, and chasing them on surface poppers is one of the most exciting ways to target these fast-moving fish. Halco Rooster Poppers have been the standout lure, with first light providing a great opportunity to get amongst the action while baitfish are active. If you're heading out early, have a surface rod ready to go and keep an eye out for signs of feeding fish around the mouth.
Fingermark and mangrove jack have also been caught around the snags near the mouth. Prawn-imitation soft plastics and 20g soft vibes have been accounting for plenty of bites. Fishing around the top and bottom of the tides is a good option to avoid the stronger tidal flow and focus on the more productive bite periods. Work your lures around the structure and be ready for a solid hit.
Don't forget to throw the crab pots in while you're exploring the creek, either. Mud crabs are worth chasing for a tasty feed, and the main channels have again been the areas to concentrate on. With queenfish, fingermark, jacks and mud crabs all in the mix, Baffle Creek is offering plenty of variety and shaping up for a great summer season!
CaC
Cassandra Chalk with a healthy 70cm flatty
Lake Gregory
The warmer weather is creating some great opportunities for bass on surface lures at Lake Gregory. Early mornings and late afternoons have been the prime times to target these fish, particularly around the weed edges where bass are feeding. Cicada imitations and frogs worked through the weed are great options to get these fish interested and create some exciting surface action.
As the day warms up and the bass move a little deeper, switching to small jerkbaits and crankbaits worked along the same weed edges has been an effective way to keep getting bites. Having a selection of surface lures and small divers ready will give you options throughout the day as the fish change their feeding patterns.
Team member Darcy Reeves with a nice bass caught locally
Lake Monduran
Lake Monduran has plenty of barra holding throughout the system, with fish being found in the main basin, along the timber lines and up in the shallow lily pads. There are several lure options worth having ready, including 5-inch jerk shads worked with a strolling technique, jerkbaits, vibes and flies. With fish spread across different areas of the lake, mixing up your presentation and covering likely holding spots is a good approach.
Wind-blown points are well worth investigating, particularly if you're using LiveScope or side-scan technology to locate fish before making your casts. Early mornings and late afternoons are prime times to get out on the water, but don't overlook fishing after moonrise at night, which can also provide opportunities to hook up. With fish spread across the lake and a range of techniques to try, Monduran is well worth a visit for anglers keen to get amongst these iconic fish.
Steve Davidson with a slab of a barra caught locally on a soft vibe
From the team at Tackle World Bundaberg
Live the Tackle World L.I.F.E - Local Independent Fishing Experts
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