Fish Report - 19th January 2010

The fishing in the local Bundaberg area is on the improve after the very welcome Christmas rains. 

It seems to have stirred the bream into a feeding frenzy.  Some bream to one kilogram have been caught quite regularly with most averaging 500-800 grams.  There are still a few large grunter about in the local rivers, but please be aware of the new size limits for this species.  Spotted grunter (javelin fish) have a minimum size of 40cm, but don't confuse these with the small spotted grunter which have a size limit of 30cm.  If you are at all confused, drop into the shop and pick up a Recreational Fishing Size and Bag Limits for Queensland leaflet.

Most of the sand bars and sand flats in the rivers and estuaries have been producing some nice flathead with soft plastics being the preferred lure.  Down around the river mouths there are still scattered numbers of school mackeral.  Trolling 4-5 inch diving lures and floating pilchards should result in a feed.

Inshore reefs are producing some small squire/snapper and some large grunter.  Also, on the good days when the weather allows us to get offshore, there has been some large spanish mackeral and cobia caught, as well as some prize reef fish such as red emperor, coral trout, sweetlip and parrot.

With the water level in Lake Monduran only rising a metre or so from the rains, this hasn't affected the fishing at all, and some large barra have been caught quite regularly, by trolling the main basin with 15-20 feet diving lures.  For those who like to cast lures, soft plastics have been taking their fair share of barra.