**CATCH OF THE WEEK **
Jack Sullivan with a cracking pair of red emperor!
Congratulations Jack, please call into the store to collect your $50 gift card.
Catch of the week winner - Jack Sullivan
Inshore & Offshore
The pelagic action along our coast has been the real highlight this week with some solid weather providing plenty of opportunities to get out the front after a frustrating run of south easterly winds. School mackerel have been showing up in good numbers with trolling metal spoon lures on a paravane setup the most efficient way to find the better concentrations of fish. Once you have found them, dropping down Flasha spoons is one of the easiest way to secure a feed, and when they're thick it doesn't take long at all! Big schools of queenfish and numerous species of trevally have also been keeping anglers very busy with areas towards Elliott Heads producing the best numbers so far.
Some nice cod and spanish flag have also been caught along the coast for those fishing the right structure at the right time, and with a few more squid starting to show up it is well worth having some squid jigs in the kit before heading out too. Finding clean water has been the absolute key to getting amongst the squid with the areas towards Elliott Heads again producing the best results. The cobia around the wrecks have continued to show up in good numbers eating just about anything that gets in front of them with dawn and dusk the prime windows. The gutters east off Bundy have also been worth a look for those getting out a little wider with venus tusk fish, grass sweetlip and coral trout all coming from these areas for those drifting and covering ground with fresh flesh baits and live bait. Fingers crossed we see some better weather soon to give the big boats another run out wide!
Lilly Myles with a nice spanish flag caught off Burnett Heads
Luca Felesina with a big queenfish caught inshore
Burnett River
The Burnett continues to produce some nice variety for those fishing this system, and this week has seen some exciting barra activity which has been the real talking point in the Burnett this week. Plenty of fish have been found schooled up throughout the system, however like always, getting them to bite is another story. In saying that, some local gun anglers have been catching a few by targeting them on soft vibes and prawn imitation soft plastics with targeting these fish around a tide turn proving to be the most reliable approach for getting a bite.
The prawns are still very thick in the river and are well worth targeting towards the bottom of the tide for the best results. The grunter have remained a consistent capture with the rock walls and sandy drop offs around Kirbys Wall and the areas around Fairymead and Strathdees all producing quality fish on strips of mullet fillet, whole sprat and whole prawns. The bream continue to show up along the rock walls and rubble patches towards the mouth with lure anglers slow rolling deep diving hard bodies tight along the structure getting the most consistent results, while bait anglers fishing with as little weight as possible for that slow natural sink rate have been doing well on whole sprat and chook gut. The blue salmon are still around though not feeding as aggressively as earlier in the season with a tide turn approach also working best for these fish. With the full moon bringing some big night time tides this week it is absolutely worth getting the crab pots in for an overnight soak as the crabbing has been producing some quality bucks when these tides are running!
Don Patterson with an XL tarpon caught in the Burnett
Kolan River
The whiting have been showing up in reasonable numbers throughout the Kolan this week with fresh yabbies, chook gut and beach worms all producing results depending on the day. Having a few different bait options on hand is always a smart approach as these fish can be quite fussy, and fishing the incoming tide across the shallow sand flats and yabbie beds has been the most reliable window for finding them consistently.
The flathead have been well spread across the system with those covering ground on soft plastics and shallow diving hard bodies during the incoming tide finding the most consistent numbers up on the flats. As the tide runs out the bigger models have been retreating into the deeper water, with more fish being caught on the drop offs and in any sand undulations on top of the sand flat. Targeting these areas with a soft vibe or prawn imitation soft plastic during the last half of the run out tide has been the most reliable way to find the better quality fish. The grunter have continued to be caught in good numbers with some impressive fish being found on the sand drop offs and rock bars as the current funnels bait through during the run out tide. Live bait, mullet fillet and whole sprat fished on a simple running ball sinker rig have all been reliable options with a soft vibe or prawn imitation soft plastic also getting consistent results for the lure anglers. The mangrove jack have continued to show up in the deeper sections on live bait and strips of mullet fillet around the rock bars and snaggy banks during the run out tide with estuary cod and some solid grunter also mixed through these same areas. With the full moon this week bringing some serious night time tides it has been a great few days to have the pots in, these tides will start receding now but it is still well worth a shot!
Daniel Bacon with a nice mangrove jack
Elliott River
The Elliott has had another solid week of fishing and there is a new species on the cards for anyone fishing this system with signs of a a few tailor being caught around the mouth getting a few anglers very keen for the next few weeks! Dr Mays Island is where most of these fish have been caught, however at times, particularly towards the top of the tide these fish can be caught slightly up river around Sharks Nest. The pelagic action has also continued to impress with queenfish, GT and school mackerel all showing up in the areas of strong current during the incoming tide, with Dr Mays Island again being the standout location. Positioning yourself on the pressure edges around this area during the top of the tide has been the most reliable approach for intercepting these fish as they move through.
Up on the shallow sand flats the flathead fishing has remained impressive with some seriously big fish still being caught from very shallow water. With these fish keying in on the summer whiting that are around, upsizing your lure or bait has been paying off with fish well into the 80cm range still being encountered. The whiting themselves have been showing up across the shallow flats and yabbie beds on the incoming tide with fresh yabbies the standout bait and adding some pink tubing or beads above the hook a great little trick particularly when fishing into the night. Further up river the deep holes have been producing estuary cod, grunter and the odd mangrove jack on whole sprat and whole prawns during the run out tide. With the full moon delivering some big night time tides the crabbing is going to be well worth capitalising on so make sure the pots are in the water before these tides slow back down.
Angie Nickerson with a monster 87cm flathead caught in the Elliot
Baffle Creek
The flathead have been one of the more consistent performers throughout the Baffle this week with fish being caught across the sand flats and drop offs around the mouth and around Winfield and Pig Island on soft plastics. Covering ground has been the key to finding the better concentrations of fish with those working their way along the flats finding the most fish. Natural coloured lures and lighter fluorocarbon leaders have been making a noticeable difference in the cleaner winter water so it is worth keeping that in mind before heading out.
The whiting have been responding well to the incoming tide across the shallow sand flats and yabbie beds with fresh yabbies the standout bait as always, and having beach worms and pippies as a backup has also been a reliable approach when yabbies are hard to come by. The grunter have been well spread throughout the system with slow rolling paddle tail and curl tail soft plastics across the shallow sand flats and yabbie beds getting some solid results, while those bait fishing the deeper rock bars and holes have been finding the better quality fish on live bait, whole sprat and strips of mullet fillet. The mangrove jack have continued to show up around the deeper rock bars and snaggy banks during the run out tide with live bait the most effective option and strips of mullet fillet a reliable alternative.
Brendon Dern with a nice beachworm which he managed to turn into a solid feed of whiting. Well done mate!
Lake Gregory
With the weather improving over the last week the fishing at Lake Gregory has responded well with the bass coming back on the chew after a tough week of unsettled conditions. The late afternoon bite window has been the most reliable trigger for getting these fish feeding actively with the sessions during this period significantly better than earlier in the day, and those getting on the water specifically for this window have been having the most consistent results.
For those fishing without a sounder the timber bays and deeper weed edges during the early morning and late afternoon has seen some great action with most fish being caught on deep diving crank baits and small paddle tail soft plastics. Despite plenty of fish being schooled in the deep, these areas still have plenty of fish on them particularly during the low light periods.
Those running sounders have had the clear advantage though with the ability to locate schools in the deeper water and ensure every cast is going through them making a real difference. Soft and hard vibes have been very effective lately, with the more subtle approach compared to metal spoons or jigs helping to get these bass chewing. But like always, it is well worth having a few options rigged up as what they bit yesterday is not always going to get the job done today!
Reed Rodgers with a very healthy Lake Gregory bass
Lake Monduran
Lake Monduran has had a great week of fishing with some serious numbers of fish being caught by anglers giving it a red hot crack. These fish are still quite spooky, but we are seeing some much better reactions this week, with the stable weather likely being a key reason as to why these fish have played ball.
Finding sheltered bays away from boat traffic with calm conditions has continued to be the most reliable starting point for locating fish willing to commit this week. Wiggle Bay, White Rock, H, and Jacks have all been very consistent areas and are worth spending quality time in during the prime bite windows. The late afternoon window and fishing right into the night continues to be the standout session, with these fish rising higher in the water column once the light drops, however the first hour or 2 of daylight is also a great window at the moment.
Approach and presentation angle have remained more important than lure selection this week with getting the lure to intercept the fish on the right angle well before it knows the lure is there being absolutely critical. A lure coming directly at a fish or passing over its shoulder remains a recipe for a spooked fish so positioning the boat correctly to allow casts well past the fish and bringing the lure across its nose is still the most important factor in getting a good reaction. The fish following lures right to the boat without committing has continued to test the patience of even the most experienced anglers on the dam. Very slowly lifting the lure as if the bait is escaping has been one of the more reliable ways to trigger a bite in those final moments, and doing slow circles or figure eights with the rod tip when using fly lures or strolling soft plastics has also been producing results when fish are right at the boat and refusing to eat.
Like always, just keep on casting, persistence is key at Mondy. These fish are the most pressured barramundi in Australia, and for good reason with the average fish being over 1m in length!
Brock Honor with a cracking 113cm barra caught at Lake Monduran
From the team at Tackle World Bundaberg
Live the Tackle World L.I.F.E - Local Independent Fishing Experts
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