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.