Stefano Deanoz with a nice spanish caught off Burnett Heads

Congratulations Stefano, please call into the store to collect your $50 gift voucher. 

Catch of the week winner - Stefano Deanoz
 

After back to back weekends of cracking weather the SE has unfortunately made its return and has been hanging around longer than most of us would like. The good news is that this time of year does tend to throw up plenty of windows between the fronts, and the forecast early next week is showing some promise so it is well worth keeping a close eye on it as the weekend progresses. When it does come good, make sure the boat is ready to go!

During the previous weather windows both our inshore and offshore grounds produced some outstanding fishing with a really impressive variety of species on offer. For the smaller boats the inshore action was red hot with plenty of bait schools scattered along the coast keeping the pelagics fired up. Longtail and mac tuna were spotted in schools between Burnett Heads and Elliott Heads however these fish proved to be very spooky, going deep the moment a boat got too close. This is where lures like the Malosi Marksman really proved their worth, casting significantly further than a standard slug and allowing anglers to reach the schools before they were disturbed. As always keeping your eyes peeled for birds working and bait busting on the surface is the most reliable way to locate these schools. The Spanish mackerel have also been showing up consistently with fish around the 10kg mark being caught regularly, live yakka or slimy mackerel on a balloon rig floated out the back of the boat has been the standout method with trolling whole garfish on a reaper rig a very effective second option for those wanting to cover ground and find where the fish are sitting. The Artificial reef off Elliott Heads also delivered some great pelagic action with big queenfish and golden trevally being the standouts for those using their sounders to locate fish holding around bait schools away from the main structure, with a soft vibe or soft plastic worked through these bait schools getting the bites.

For the bigger boats heading wide the offshore reefs fired up nicely with coral trout and red throat emperor on the chew across the Bunker Group, Warrego's and Heralds Patch. Whole pilchards or yakka on gang hooks were the standout rigs with live bait also proving very effective. Cobia have continued to show up in good numbers with the wrecks holding the most fish, though the sharks have been quite active in these areas so fishing heavier gear and being ready to pressure these fish early has been the key to getting them to the boat. As the water continues to cool we should start to see some snapper pushing in along our coast, reports have been limited so far but when they do show up a lightly weighted jerk shad fished during first and last light will be your best option. Fingers crossed the next weather window is not too far away!
 

Cayden Raines with a solid red throat emperor

Gid Johnson with a nice cobia caught at the Kolan patch  

Burnett River

The Burnett is well and truly on the mend and while the upper reaches of the system are still carrying some colour the fishing throughout has been really impressive with quality fish showing up across a wide range of species. The signs continue to point in a very positive direction and the outlook for this system over the coming weeks is exciting.

The grunter have been the real talking point this week with these fish showing up all throughout the system, even right up river in the dirtier water where they absolutely thrive. Rock bars and walls have been the most consistent locations with the run out tide proving to be the prime window for targeting them in these areas, while the incoming tide has been worth fishing the shallower sand flats as these fish push up onto the shallows with the rising water. Whole sprat and strips of mullet fillet have been the standout baits across the board. Down towards the mouth some great estuary cod and mangrove jack have been showing up along the rock walls, and there have even been a few rare fingermark thrown into the mix which has been a very exciting bonus. Anglers who have put in the time to source live bait have had the most consistent results though a well presented sprat, mullet fillet or prawn is still well worth a try if live bait is hard to come by.

The bream fishing has also been showing some very promising signs with quality fish up to 40cm already being caught, mostly along the rock walls and man made structures around the Town Reach area and down river around Kirbys Wall and the Fairymead stretch. For the lure anglers targeting these fish specifically, small crab or prawn style lures are the way to go with the Rapala Trickster and Daiwa Bait Junkie Prawn 2.35 inch both being standout options. And for anyone after a feed of mud crab, this system is still absolutely red hot with plenty of quality bucks around. The big night tides this week make it a great time to get the pots in for an overnight soak!
 

Henry Walmsley with a stonka 65cm grunter caught at Turkey Beach 

Kolan River

The Kolan has cleaned up really nicely and is fishing exceptionally well at the moment with both summer and winter species well and truly on the chew throughout the system. There is a great variety of fish on offer right now and it has been fantastic to see so many quality sessions being reported from this river.

The barra around the mouth have been one of the real highlights this week with most of the action concentrated around the fallen trees at the mouth and in the deeper holes further up river during the run out tide. A lightly weighted prawn soft plastic has been working well on these fish and for those into bait fishing, a live prawn or poddy mullet timed around a tide turn is about as reliable as it gets for getting one of these fish to bite. The mangrove jack have also been firing, particularly in the super shallow mangrove lined creeks at the mouth of the system. Skip casting lightly weighted paddle tail soft plastics and topwater frog lures right into the heavy cover and winding them back with a bit of pace has been triggering some great reaction strikes with fish ranging from undersize all the way up to 50cm and beyond. Some blue salmon have also started showing up in the deeper holes up river for those hopping soft vibes along the bottom, and while they are still a bit scattered at this stage we should see them congregate in much better numbers over the coming weeks.

The bread and butter fishing across the flats has also continued to produce consistently with bream, whiting, flathead and grunter all on offer throughout the day. The incoming tide has been the most productive time to be up on the shallows with the rising water pushing bait and fish into these areas, while the run out tide is the cue to shift into the deeper water surrounding the flats and target the drop offs and sandy channels as the fish use these to navigate back out. Whole sprat, prawns and fresh yabbies have all been reliable bait options depending on what species you are chasing. And don't forget to bring the crab pots as the big tides this weekend are going to have the crabs on the move and there are definitely some quality bucks to be caught!
 

Daniel Duncan with a nice grunter caught locally 

Elliott River

We might sound like a broken record but the Elliott continues to fire on all cylinders and is producing some of the most enjoyable and consistent estuary fishing in our region right now. The diversity of species on offer in this system at the moment is genuinely remarkable and those getting on the water early or staying out into the night have been reaping the biggest rewards. This system is quite small and once it gets a bit of boat traffic through it the fishing can go quiet quickly, so the early starters and the night owls have consistently had the best of it.

The whiting have been the fish on a lot of anglers wish lists lately and this system has been delivering them in good numbers throughout the day with the night time bite absolutely the standout session. The big tides this week have been creating a great opportunity for anglers to pump yabbies during the afternoon low tide and then fish the incoming tide right through into the night, and this coming weekend is shaping up to be another perfect opportunity to do exactly that. Mixed in with the whiting have been some very welcome by-catch in the form of quality bream, solid flathead and grunter all being caught along the yabbie beds and shallow sand banks. Fresh yabbies have been the go to bait for all of these fish however having a whole sprat or prawn also rigged out is a smart move as it gives the bigger flathead and grunter something more substantial to eat when they pass through. The pelagic action around the mouth has also been providing some fantastic fun with schools of queenfish and GT smashing bait in areas of strong current, particularly around the pressure edges created by the small islands and river bends as the current pushes through during the middle section of the tide.

Further up river the fishing has also continued to impress with estuary cod, mangrove jack and grunter all being caught along the rock bars and deeper holes. If you can get your hands on live bait you will give yourself a significantly better chance at the quality fish however for those who can't, fresh local prawns from the shop are a great option and well worth grabbing before you head out. The crab pots are also well worth throwing in this weekend with the big night time tides set to get some quality crabs on the move!
 

Jack Bowman with a monster 81cm flathead caught in the Elliott River 

Baffle Creek

The Baffle has rebounded really well and is once again fishing great throughout the system. With the school holiday boat traffic now well and truly gone this is a fantastic time to get out and enjoy this river with plenty of space and a lot less pressure on the fish, which always makes for a much more enjoyable session.

The mangrove jack have been one of the standout stories in this system lately with these fish firing up along the shallow mangrove lined banks despite the cooling water temperatures. Skip casting paddle tail soft plastics and topwater frog lures into the heavy cover and winding them back with some pace to trigger a reaction bite has been the most productive technique, and first light and last light have been the prime windows to be doing this style of fishing. For those willing to put in the time to source live poddy mullet and fish them on the rock bars during the run out tide, the quality of fish being caught has been excellent. A well presented prawn soft plastic or slow rolled paddle tail have also worked in these same areas for those without live bait. The grunter have also been showing up in really good numbers throughout the river with these fish adapting their location depending on the tide. The run out tide has pushed them into the deeper rubbly holes and rock bars while the incoming tide has seen them move up onto the sand flats and yabbie beds, so adjusting where you fish based on what the tide is doing is the key to finding these fish consistently. Whole sprat and strips of mullet fillet have been the most reliable baits and don't be afraid to push further up river where the water is still holding a bit of colour as the grunter absolutely love those conditions.

The pelagic action has eased off a little this week compared to previous reports however the bigger tides this weekend may well fire things back up again. Keep an eye on any areas of strong current and particularly where that current hits a bank and creates a pressure edge as this is always where these fish set up to ambush bait. It is also well worth throwing the crab pots in for an overnight soak with the big night time tides likely to get some quality crabs moving through the system!
 

Daniel with a solid cod he caught recently 

Lake Gregory

Lake Gregory has had another outstanding week of fishing with some genuinely red hot sessions being had by those putting in the time and effort. The seasonal shift into winter is well underway and as we have been saying over the last few weeks this is actually one of the most exciting and productive times to fish this lake. The cooler weather this week has accelerated the schooling process further and the schools of bass are only getting bigger and more concentrated which makes for some extraordinary fishing when you find them.

The real advantage right now belongs to those running modern day sounder technology, and in particular those with live scope have had a very clear edge on the rest of the field. The ability to not only locate where a school is sitting but to watch individual fish respond to your lure and make real time adjustments is an enormous advantage. That said the bite has still been tough during the middle of the day with the late afternoon window proving most productive. Junior team member Max had a ripper session with his mates last weekend and the key to their success was a surprisingly subtle one, cutting down their Rapala Crush City The Jerk 3.75 inch soft plastics to make them slightly smaller. This small adjustment was all it took to start getting bites and it is a brilliant reminder that sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.

The technique that converted the most fish was using just enough weight to get the lure down into the school and then working the rod tip with subtle twitches to keep the lure moving with minimal but realistic action, before speeding up slightly once a fish was interested to trigger that final commitment. For those fishing without sounder technology, following the wind, targeting windblown points and watching for any bird activity on or near the lake are your most reliable tools for putting yourself in the right areas. Get on the water soon because this lake is shaping up for a cracking winter season and the crowds will not be far away!
 

Junior team member Max Harris with a quality bass caught
during a red hot bite at Lake Gregory 

Lake Monduran

The cooling water temperatures are starting to change things up at Lake Monduran and as we have touched on over the last few weeks, do not let this time of year put you off making the trip. The charter operators who are on this dam more days than not will tell you that winter is actually their favourite time of year on the lake, and for very good reason. Less boat traffic, fish sitting much higher in the water column, and the ability to catch fish more consistently throughout the entire day rather than being limited to the low light periods are all factors that make winter a genuinely exciting time to be on the dam.

For those fishing the edges of the lake the topwater bite has slowed down but has not completely switched off, with a handful of local anglers still managing some great fish and plenty of follows right at first light by pushing right up the back of the dam into the dense weed areas. Stealth is absolutely everything for this style of fishing so take your time getting into position and keep noise to an absolute minimum. For those continuing to fish the edges throughout the day, following the wind and targeting points that have a deep channel running alongside them is a very reliable strategy as these fish use those channels like highways and will move up onto the adjacent flats to feed before retreating back into the deep. Working the Samaki Redic DS80 or the shallower Samaki Redic MS80 with ultra slow twitches and long pauses is the way to go in these conditions, keeping the lure in the strike zone for as long as possible and giving these spooky winter fish every opportunity to commit.

For those running live scope the next few weeks are shaping up to be a great time to fish the dam. Winter brings a great early morning and mid morning bite window with these fish cruising the deep channels but sitting very high in the water column making them far easier to locate and present a lure to. Lures with minimal action are the key in these conditions whether that is a strolling lure, a fly lure or a big shallow diving hard body with a slow wide wobble. The areas up the back of the dam around Insane Bay, Hearts Bay, 2 Mile and H have been holding the best numbers of fish and are well worth spending some time scoping around. The night time bite is also still firing for live scope anglers with fish very willing to turn on a lure in the darkness, and once you have a fish turned the best advice is to keep winding until you get a bite or the fish turns away. That will tell you exactly what speed these fish want it at, and you adjust from there on every subsequent cast!
 

Steve Davidson with a nice barra caught locally on a hard body lure