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Finally the waters are back to a beautiful crystal clear state, just what the angling doctor ordered! Baitfish are a sure sign that the rivers and estuaries are a happy, healthy consistency of salt water and freshwater. The past week has seen schools of herring and mullet moving up the deeper channels on a high tide, with hungry predators not too far behind. With reports and photos as proof, it looks like the water and temperatures are just right for flathead, mangrove jack and even tailor in the estuaries.
By following the bait, most anglers are making a meal out of their catches on both high tide and as the sun sets in the creeks up river. On the falling tide and in the shallows, plenty of good size whiting are to be had. Best to head to Frying Pan in Noosa, Channel and Chambers Island in Maroochydore, along the sand flats opposite La Balsa in Mooloolaba/Kawana and just about anywhere there is exposed sand in the Pumicestone Passage right up to Caloundra Bar. Flathead have been lurking in all the abovementioned spots also!
As the beautiful clean water in the rivers, turns and heads back to sea, as do the baitfish. With schools surging towards the Noosa, Maroochy, Kawana and Caloundra Bar’s, hungry predators are on the prowl- which is great news for mackerel fans.
Post Christmas with all the brown, freshwater in the rivers, the baitfish schools were on the move around the close reefs and bays along the coastline which attracted the attention of schools of long tail tuna, mac tuna, spotty and spanish mackerel.
With some fairly light winds forecast over the weekend it means that a few boats will be able to have a fish offshore. Spanish mackerel follow the bait schools of bonito, frigate mac tuna, slimy mackerel, big yakka and tailor. They readily take trolled baits and big lures. Some days lures work better and other days troll baits, so it always pays to try your luck with both.
A lure that is always a sure-fire hit with mackerel is the Berkeley Frenzy Mungo. These deep diving minnows are about the same size as a big slimy mackerel and have a great tight action when trolled. They come in a variety of good mackerel colours and will be a sure winner this season, so why not give them a try.
Michael Lucio was fishing in Mountain Creek over the weekend when he caught this 3kg mangrove jack.
Tyler Stanfield was fishing in the Maroochy River Cod Hole with live yabbies when he hook this elbow slapper whiting.
