**CATCH OF THE WEEK **
Kale Osborne with a nice barra caught locally!
Congratulations Kale, please call into the store to collect your $50 gift card.
Catch of the week winner - Kale Osborne
Inshore & Offshore
As mentioned last week the weather was looking promising and it has well and truly delivered, with Wednesday through to Monday all providing solid conditions for boats to get out the front. It has been great to see so many anglers making the most of it and the reports coming back have been very encouraging across both the inshore and offshore grounds.
The smaller tides this week have been particularly favourable for those fishing the wider grounds above 30 metres with some great reports of big venus tusk fish, sweetlip and red emperor being caught on isolated patches east off Bundy. Fresh flesh baits and live bait have been the standout options for the better quality fish, though whole squid and cuttlefish have also produced some cracking sessions for those using them. There has also been plenty of variety in the flat country east off Bundy with hussar, cod, coral trout, spangled emperor and cobia all being quite commonly caught using the same baits. A number of boats have also made the run north and launched off 1770 to fish the Bunker Group, with some stonking coral trout and red throat emperor still being caught around the islands. Those hopping from spot to spot quickly have had the best results, constantly fishing new ground and staying away from the sharks. For those heading out over the weekend it is well worth having bright coloured soft plastics rigged and ready for the shallower reef edges as the trout in particular have been unable to resist them.
The inshore grounds south around Elliott Heads have continued to produce strong pelagic activity with big queenfish, golden trevally and school mackerel all very prevalent at different stages of the tide. Jerk shad soft plastics and vibes hopped around the bait balls and current edges have been the standout for the queenfish and trevally, while the school mackerel have responded much better to metal spoons. There have also been some solid mulloway caught up to 80cm with most of these fish coming from around Burnett Heads. The last of the run out tide and first push of the incoming tide have been the prime windows with fresh squid or cuttlefish the go to bait and a soft vibe or prawn imitation soft plastic the standout lure options. Be sure to check the latest forecast before heading out this weekend and good luck out there!
Nelson Philips with a nice blackspot tusk fish
Burnett River
The mangrove jack have come back on the chew in the Burnett in a very encouraging way this week with some cracking fish being caught throughout the river. Live bait has been the clear standout for these fish and targeting them during the bottom half of the run out tide in areas with good structure and a solid amount of current running through has been the recipe for success. The warming water has these fish pushing back towards the edges and the snaggy banks which is a great sign of what is to come over the next few months.
The mulloway have also been a real talking point this week with some nice sized fish being caught in the deeper holes and along the rock walls throughout the system. The North Wall has been the standout location but solid fish have also been caught around the Port and as far downstream as Fairymead, which gives anglers plenty of water to target when chasing them. The barra continue to be found throughout the system in good numbers with plenty of fish being located by those with modern sonar technology, however getting them to commit to a bite remains a real challenge. Targeting these fish around a tide turn, moon rise or moon set with prawn imitation lures and soft vibes has been the most reliable approach for getting bites. The prawns are also still thick in the system and well worth chasing towards the low tide turn when they are most concentrated, and if you are into live bait fishing rigging one of these fresh prawns on a hook and presenting it in front of a barra is about as good a chance as you will get at getting one to eat at the moment.
David Alexander with a nice flathead caught in the Burnett
Kolan River
The Kolan has had another solid week of fishing with the summer species really starting to steal the show as the water temperature continues to creep back up. The barra, jack and cod have all been caught on live baits and whole prawns with the deeper areas throughout the system being the most consistent locations to find them. Targeting these fish around a tide turn has been the key to getting bites, however the key is to be fishing areas where there is still plenty of structure left in the water, especially when fishing near the bottom of the tide.
The bread and butter fishing across the sand flats and yabbie beds has continued to produce well with bream, whiting and flathead all being caught consistently on the incoming tide. Fresh yabbies and beach worms have remained the standout baits for the bream and whiting with those casting shallow diving hard bodies and paddle tail soft plastics covering ground on the flats finding the best numbers of flathead. If you don't mind a bit of trolling, a few anglers have been finding some cracking numbers of flathead in this system lately with trolling brighter coloured hard bodies along the sandy drop offs producing most of the fish.
The pelagic action around the mouth has also continued to provide some exciting sessions with queenfish and trevally both showing up around bait schools and pressure edges during the bigger tides. The crabbing has also been very consistent in this system recently so it is well worth getting the pots in when you get the chance.
Paige Bagnall with a 64cm flathead caught in the Burnett
Elliott River
The Elliott has continued to produce some exceptional fishing this week across a great variety of species. The summer species in particular have been the talking point with some good numbers of barra being found up river in the deeper holes and banks. Targeting them around a tide turn with live bait has been the most reliable approach and those who have put in the time to source quality livies before heading out have been well rewarded. The threadfin salmon have also been showing up in better numbers throughout the system with those using side scan and Live Scope to locate them doing very well. Targeting these fish around a tide turn and fishing prawn imitation lures along the bottom with a slow natural presentation has been the standout technique for getting bites from them whilst the water is still on the cooler side.
The mangrove jack and estuary cod have also come on the chew in the deeper holes during the run out tide with whole prawns and whole sprat both proving to be reliable bait options. For the lure anglers, prawn imitation soft plastics rigged weedless and fished deep into the structure have been getting some great results on both species.
The bread and butter fishing has remained strong throughout the system with whiting and bream showing up consistently on the incoming tide across the shallow sand flats and yabbie beds. Fresh yabbies with a light fluorocarbon leader of around 8 to 10lb and a touch of pink or red tubing above the hook has been the most reliable setup, and fishing through into the night on the incoming tide has consistently produced the better quality fish.
Tom Martin with a monster 72cm mangrove jack caught landbased
Baffle Creek
The Baffle has continued to tick along nicely this week with the summer species starting to show themselves alongside the reliable bread and butter fishing that has been a feature of this system throughout winter. The mangrove jack have continued to be found in the deeper rock bars, snaggy banks and holes with live bait the most effective option by a clear margin and strips of mullet fillet a solid alternative for those who cannot secure live bait. A prawn imitation soft plastic rigged weedless and bounced through the deeper structure has also been a productive lure option for those targeting these fish, and as the water continues to warm we should start to see these fish push back to the shallower edges which will make for some very exciting fishing. A few whispers have already started spreading of solid numbers of barra being found in this system too, which is a really good sign for the next few months before the annual closure.
The grunter have remained consistent throughout the system with the incoming tide seeing fish up on the shallow sand flats around Pig Island and Winfield before retreating into the deeper channels and drop offs as the water recedes. Live bait, strips of mullet fillet and whole prawns have all been reliable bait options depending on where you are fishing and what stage of the tide you are targeting. The flathead have also been a consistent performer across the sand flats and yabbie beds around the mouth with lure anglers covering ground on finesse curl tail soft plastics in natural colours getting the most consistent results in the clear winter water.
Blake Hutchison with a solid barra caught locally
Lake Gregory
Lake Gregory is going through a very exciting transition at the moment as the water temperature begins to climb and the fishing adapts to reflect the changing season. The edge bite has really started to come alive with some great sized fish being caught along the weed edges, drop offs and up in the timber areas of the lake. Topwater lures have started to get plenty of attention during the early morning and late afternoon low light periods with these fish pushing shallower as the water warms, and over the next few weeks this style of fishing is only going to improve as we head into the warmer months.
The deep water bite is still very much worth pursuing for those with sounders with good schools of bass still being found in the open water. An interesting shift has occurred in what these fish want to eat though with the metal spoons and jigs that dominated throughout winter starting to become less effective as these fish have seen plenty of lures over the season. Strolling jerk shad soft plastics and slow rolling small paddle tail soft plastics have been getting considerably better results from the schooled up fish, so it is worth making that adjustment before heading out. Those without sounders are actually in a great position right now as the edge fishing only continues to improve, with accurate casts into weed pockets, around weed towers and along the deeper edges all producing quality fish for those willing to put in plenty of casts.
Team member Seth with a nice yellowbelly caught locally
Lake Monduran
Lake Monduran is really starting to fire and there has been a noticeable increase in the number of anglers making the trip up to the dam as word spreads about the exciting season ahead. It is shaping up to be an enormous season at the lake so if you are planning a trip it is well worth getting in early before the crowds arrive and the fishing pressure builds.
The early morning continues to be the prime window at the moment with a lot more fish sitting higher in the water column during those first few hours of daylight and being considerably more willing to eat than at any other time of day. Strolling soft plastics have been doing a lot of damage during these sessions as these fish have now seen plenty of fly lures over the winter period and a slightly different presentation has been getting better results. Strolling also offers a real advantage as you can impart exactly the right amount of action depending on how the fish are reacting, ranging from a very subtle presentation right through to something more aggressive if the fish are showing interest but not committing. The water remains very clear so stealth continues to be absolutely critical with long casts, the correct presentation angle and a quiet approach all still very much the priority.
The night time sessions are still producing fish however a lot of the barra have been pushing deeper as the season transitions which makes some techniques considerably more difficult to execute effectively. Strolling has again proven to be the most adaptable approach for these night sessions as it can be fished effectively at a range of depths depending on the weight used, making it a very reliable option regardless of where the fish are sitting in the water column. There are some very exciting months ahead at Monduran so get up there and enjoy the lake while the pre-season crowds are still manageable!
Team member Mason with a solid Lake Monduran barra caught recently
From the team at Tackle World Bundaberg
Live the Tackle World L.I.F.E - Local Independent Fishing Experts
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