Fishing Report 27-03-2013

FISHING REPORT   – 28-03-2013

Cressbrook Dam will remain closed to boating over the Easter long weekend, due to the dam’s water level rising after the storms on Sunday. The camping and picnic areas are open, and shore based fishing is also allowed.

BASS

Somerset Dam is slowly settling down and has again produced a few smaller Bass around the timber at Kirkleigh and in the Queen Street area, reaction lures, like the TN60 Jackall’s and spinnerbaits have been effective, this dam is also seeing good numbers of big redclaw filling the traps. Anglers have again had some success at Maroon over the past week with some good quality Bass hitting surface poppers early morning and then switching to blades as the sun hit’s the water has been effective as well. Bjelke Peterson and Boondooma Dams haven’t really settled yet, and are still fairly quiet, using bait in the dirtier water will give anglers a better chance of landing a fish, reaction lures around the timber and the edges would be worth a try as well, and for those of you that like your Redclaw, they are still out in big numbers in both of these dams.

GOLDEN PERCH AND COD

Cooby Dam is still seeing pretty good numbers of Golden Perch throughout the dam, use your sounder to find the fish around points and drop-offs, and target them with ice jigs or blades hopped along the bottom, live worms and frozen Saltwater Yabbies have worked in the same areas, and a few fish have been caught off the shore as well. Glenlyon has again produced stacks of Golden Perch, trolled lures worked fairly close to the boat has seen the best results. There’s still quite a lot of smaller Cod about, live shrimp on an unweighted hook, fishing in about 15 feet of water has worked best and there have been some good size Silver Perch providing some fun for the anglers as well. Coolmunda has been a bit quieter this week, with only low numbers of fish caught, mainly around the timber and along the wall. Leslie Dam has also seen a decline in numbers landed over the past week, with regular anglers to the dam, only picking up a couple here and there; however what has been caught has been good quality. Connelly dam has been a little better, with reports of a few Golden Perch and the odd Cod getting about, mainly early morning and late afternoon, with bait proving to be the best option.

As for the rivers, our local waterways are still a bit unsettled at the moment, but they are fishing alright. The Ballone River at St.George is still fishing well, with good size Golden Perch and some Cod around the 60cm mark taking a variety of baits, working the back eddy’s has seen the best results. Don’t forget the Goondiwindi Weir to Weir Fishing Clubs, Team Yellowbelly Challenge, which will be run over the Easter weekend. Registration fees for the event are; Teams of 3 Anglers $50, Family (2 Adults, 2 Children) $40, Adults $20, Juniors $5, proceeds from the weekend will go towards fish restocking. There will be cash prizes and goods and loads of give-aways, for more information, contact John on 0428 714 117.

GOLD COAST AND TWEED

With some half decent weather for a change, offshore fishing has finally picked up this week, with heaps of Spanish Mackerel and Yellowfin Tuna getting about the 24 fathom line and Mermaid Reef has produced large numbers of Spotty Mackerel. While inshore fishing has seen plenty of Mulloway and Trevelly in the seaway on the run-in tide, Flathead at Kalinga Bank and the Aldershots, heaps of Whiting at the Council Chambers and the lower reaches of the Coomera River and the creek mouths have produced good numbers of Mud Crabs.

SUNSHINE COAST

Offshore fishing has been productive this week, with plenty of Red Throat Sweetlip, Spotty Mackerel, Grassy Sweetlip and a few Parrot Fish caught on the closer reefs and North Reef has seen some good size Snapper to 4kg as well as a few Cobia. Inshore, the Boardwalk at Caloundra is producing big Flathead and the odd Queenfish on live bait in the mornings, while the afternoons have seen some decent Bream landed there as well, Whiting on surface lures in Bells Creek, small Trevelly and Bream in the Pelican Waters canals and the Noosa River has seen good size Flathead, Trevelly and Whiting throughout the system.

 

 

 

FISHING REPORT   – 21-03-2013

GOONDIWINDI TEAM YELLOWBELLY CHALLENGE

If you’re looking for something to do over the Easter long weekend, head to Goondiwindi for the Weir to Weir Fishing Clubs, Team Yellowbelly Challenge, which will be run on the 3oth and 31^st of March. Registration fees for the event are; Teams of 3 Anglers $50, Family (2 Adults, 2 Children) $40, Adults $20, Juniors $5, proceeds from the weekend will go towards fish restocking. There will be cash prizes and goods and loads of give-aways, for more information, contact John on 0428 714 117.

Cooby Dam has again produced good numbers of Golden Perch around the edges for land based and boating anglers. Live worms and frozen Saltwater Yabbies have worked the best for the bait anglers, as for the lure anglers, casting Jackalls and smaller Spinnerbaits, tight to the edges, has enticed a few decent fish out as well. Cressbrook Dam remains closed to boating due to the volume of water flowing over the spillway, at the time of writing this report; there was 180mm of water going over it, council is unsure as to when it will open, as the natural springs are feeding as much water into it, as there is spilling out of it. The dam is open to camping and the picnic areas are open as well, shore based fishing is allowed also. Somerset Dam remains a little dirty, but has produced a few smaller Bass and the odd Golden Perch, mainly around the timber at Kirkleigh, reaction lures, like the TN60 Jackall and spinnerbaits have been effective. Anglers have again had some success at Maroon over the past week with some good quality Bass being landed on blades and surface poppers. Bjelke Peterson and Boondooma Dams haven’t really settled yet, and are still fairly quiet, using bait in the dirtier water will give anglers a better chance of landing a fish, while the Redclaw are still out in big numbers.

Glenlyon has again produced stacks of Golden Perch, they have moved away from the shallows into a little bit deeper water, where trolled lures, worked fairly close to the boat has seen the best results. There’s also quite a lot of smaller Cod about, live shrimp on an unweighted hook, fishing in about 15 feet of water has worked well. Coolmunda has seen plenty of Golden Perch landed throughout the dam, using bait, Spinnerbaits are still picking up some decent fish around the timber.

Very similar to last week at Leslie Dam, with reports of some good catches of Golden Perch and Murray Cod.  Bait anglers are seeing the best results, with shrimps being the favourite bait to use.  There were some good fish caught in the main basin as well as up towards the "Black Boys". TN60 Jackalls and Spinnerbaits are working well when used around the structure. There are still a few fish being landed in the deeper water on Mask Vibes, while at Connelly, Cod have been hitting surface lures early morning and late afternoon.

As for the rivers, our local waterways are still a bit unsettled at the moment, but they are still fishing alright. The Ballone River at St.George is still fishing well, with good size Golden Perch and some Cod around the 60cm mark taking a variety of baits. Things are still a bit slow on the Macintyre, but a few Golden Perch have been caught off the banks, using bait, this should improve as we get closer to the Easter break and the Dumeresq River at Texas has fished extremely well for Golden Perch and Eel-Tailed Catfish, up and downstream, within the town reaches.

COASTAL FISHING

Offshore fishing is still patchy, due to the poor conditions, there has been the odd GT taken on Mermaid Reef on the Gold Coast, while at the Sunshine Coast, 12 Mile Reef has produced a few Pearl Perch, Sweetlip and Squire.  Inshore has seen Flathead and Bream around the headlands in the Tweed River and also around the Pin, a few Tailor have been caught off Cabarita, while the mouth of the Tweed and the Seaway have produced quite a few Mulloway, Trevelly and also the odd small Snapper The Boardwalk at Caloundra has been fishing well for Bream and a few Queenfish, Whiting to the south of Bells Creek, Kawana lake is still fishing well for Jacks and Bream on small minnows and surface poppers, while up at Noosa, on the run in tide, the river mouth has produced Tailor, Trevelly and Queenfish on live bait and the upper reaches have seen the odd Jack and Flathead getting about.

 

 

FISHING REPORT   – 14-03-2013

It’s been a nice change to have had some reasonable weather this past week and the sun has finally managed to peak through a few times. This has certainly seen a few anglers taking advantage of the better conditions and heading out to wet a line.

After re-opening last week, Cooby Dam has produced good numbers of Golden Perch around the edges for land based and boating anglers. Live worms and frozen Saltwater Yabbies have worked the best for the bait anglers, as for the lure anglers, casting crankbaits, like the STRADA Aife and Quika, also Jackalls and smaller Spinnerbaits, tight to the edges, has enticed a few decent fish out as well. Cressbrook Dam remains closed due to the volume of water flowing over the spillway, at the time of writing this report; there was 300mm of water going over it. Somerset Dam is open according to the SEQ Water website, but we haven’t had any reports since it re-opened last Thursday. Bass anglers had some success at Maroon on the weekend with some good quality Bass being landed on spinnerbaits, there were also a few fish landed on Cultiva Rippin Minnows late afternoon. Bjelke Peterson and Boondooma Dams haven’t really settled yet, and are still fairly quiet, using bait in the dirtier water will give anglers a better chance of landing a fish, while the Redclaw are still out in big numbers.

Due to the rise in water level at Glenlyon, again there have been stacks of Golden Perch getting up and around the newly covered grass on the edges, casting smaller hard bodies off the bank or casting them towards the edges if you’re in a boat and working the lure over the newly covered vegetation has produced big numbers of fish from 1.5 to 2.5kg. There’s also been a few Cod about, in the deeper water, with trolled hard bodies picking up a few fish. Coolmunda has seen plenty of Golden Perch landed throughout the dam, using bait, Spinnerbaits have also picked up some decent fish around the timber.

Leslie Dam is fishing reasonably well at the moment, with reports of some good catches of Golden Perch and Murray Cod.  Bait anglers are seeing the best results, with shrimps being the favourite bait to use.  There were some good fish caught in the main basin as well as up towards the "Black Boys". TN60 Jackalls and Spinnerbaits are working well when used around the structure. There were also reports of a few fish being landed in the deeper water on Mask Vibes.  A couple of guys landed a beautiful Murray Cod, weighing in at 31 pounds and measuring 97cm, on a shrimp.

As for the rivers, our local waterways are still a bit unsettled at the moment, but they are still fishing alright. Despite water from the Condamine reaching St.George, the fishing is good, with good size Golden Perch and some Cod around the 60cm mark taking a variety of baits. Things are still a bit slow on the Macintyre, but a few Golden Perch have been caught off the banks, using bait and the Dumeresq River at Texas has fished extremely well for Golden Perch and Eel-Tailed Catfish, Cod have been a bit quiet, but a few smaller fish have been caught released.

GOLD COAST AND TWEED

Offshore fishing hasn’t improved too much this week, with only a few Marlin and Wahoo taken on some of the bigger charter boats, there has been limited opportunities to get out, due to the weather. Inshore has seen Flathead and Bream around the headlands in the Tweed River and also around the Pin, while the mouth of the Tweed and the Seaway have produced quite a few Mulloway, Trevelly and the odd Tailor.

SUNSHINE COAST

Offshore fishing has been limited, due to the conditions; however the inshore fishing has improved. The Boardwalk at Caloundra has been fishing well for Bream, plenty of Whiting on the sand flats and just outside the bar entrance has produced some nice Trevelly and smaller Mackerel. Kawana lake is still fishing well for Jacks and Bream on small minnows and surface poppers, while up at Noosa, on the run in tide, the river mouth has produced Tailor, Trevelly and Queenfish on live bait and the upper reaches have seen the odd Jack and Flathead getting about.

 

 

 

Fishing Report 8-03-2013

FISHING REPORT   – 07-03-2013

Due to the weather over the past week, some dams have remained closed, a couple were re-opened yesterday, while others have had inflows, making them fairly dirty, however a few of the surrounding dams are fishing alright.

Cooby Dam at Loveday Cove was reopened at 9am yesterday. An easing of wet weather has reduced the Cooby Dam level to below 100mm above the spillway, making it safe to reopen for recreational boating.

Cressbrook and Perseverance Dams remain closed due to the volume of water flowing over their spillways.

Lake Somerset also re-opened to water based recreation activities from 6.00 am yesterday, 7 March 2013.

Bjelke Peterson and Boondooma Dams are currently spilling and are open, but the fishing is fairly quiet with only a couple of Yellowbelly, reportedly landed using bait, however the Reclaw have been out in force at both of these dams, with big numbers filling the traps.

Glenlyon has risen from 75% to 92%, this has seen stacks of Yellowbelly getting up and around the newly covered grass on the edges, casting smaller hard bodies off the bank or casting them towards the edges if you’re in a boat and working the lure over the covered grass has produced big numbers of fish from 1.5 to 2.5kg. There’s also been a few Cod about, with the biggest fish for the week, tipping out the brag mat at 102cm.

Land based anglers at Leslie Dam are bagging a few fish at Rocklands on bait.  There haven’t been many boats launched recently due to the bad weather.  There were reports of anglers landing a few good Golden Perch opposite the dam wall on live shrimps. Connelly has had a good flow of water into the dam.  When the weather conditions have been right, good numbers of Golden Perch have been landed on live shrimp and frozen Saltwater Yabbies. Fish are being landed all over the dam, both morning and afternoon.  However, the southern end of the dam seems to be fishing the best at present. There were a few under sized Cod landed over the past week.

As for the rivers, most are at some sort of flood level at the moment, which has made things quiet, the flood water is yet to hit the Balonne at St.George, it is still a bit dirty from the previous rise in the system, so bait has been the best option for a few Yellowbelly and Eel Tail Catfish, however there have been a lot of Carp getting about, since the last fresh.  The Condamine River was fishing alright until the last rise, with some good fish being landed from Scots Weir through to the Mill hole at Warwick. Some quality Golden Perch have been landed on worms and shrimps. Again, once the weather settles down, fishing should return to normal.

COASTAL FISHING

Coastal fishing has been nearly non-existent, thanks to the weather, I have had no reports from the Sunshine Coast, but there has been a few from the Gold Coast. For those who have been able to venture offshore, they’ve managed to pick up a couple of Spanish Mackerel on the 24’s and the odd Spotty Mackerel and Black Marlin have shown up on Mermaid Reef. Inshore has seen the Seaway produce some Mulloway on live bait, Sand Whiting and Dart off the sand pumping jetty, while most of the river and creek mouths have produced good numbers of Mud Crabs.