FISHING REPORT   – 10-05-2013

BASS

Cressbrook is producing a few Bass around the edges, early morning and late afternoon and through the main part of the day, try around the points and drop-offs throughout the dam, soft plastics and blades have been the popular lures to use, while live shrimp have been the pick of the baits. The fish are still quite scattered at Somerset at the moment, Pelican Point has been about the best spot to target, with slow rolled soft plastics and blades picking up a few fish, but it’s also worth a try around the edges casting TN60 Jackals, with reports that some decent fish have been caught using this method. At Maroon, the weed beds have again produced a few Bass, with blades and smaller spinnerbaits getting the best results. No change at Bjelke Peterson and Boondooma Dams this week, they are still fairly dirty, using bait will give anglers a better chance of landing a fish, reaction lures around the timber in the Stuart and Boyne arms would be worth a try as well, and as far as the Redclaw go, all of these Bass dams are producing good numbers at the moment.

YELLOWBELLY AND COD

Cooby Dam continues to produce good numbers of Yellowbelly, there are several schools scattered throughout the dam and targeting these fish with blades, ice jigs and soft vibes has been the best option for lure fishing, while frozen Saltwater Yabbies have again been the pick of the bait. The fishing has finally started to slow at Glenlyon, but it has still produced a few Yellowbelly around the 35-40cm mark, Eel Tail Catfish and Spangled Perch have been prominent as well, with frozen saltwater yabbies, live shrimp and worms landing the most fish, while bigger spinnerbaits and deep trolled lures have again been effective on Cod. Frozen prawns and saltwater yabbies have been the bait of choice for picking up a few Yellowbelly at Coolmunda this week, while trolled hard bodies are still picking up the odd fish as well, below the dam in the Macintyre Brook, has been fishing well for Cod, walking the banks, casting spinnerbaits. Leslie Dam is still not breaking any records, with a few Yellowbelly and Silver Perch landed, live Shrimp and frozen saltwater yabbies have been the best baits, fishing from the bank at the Washpool camp area has been a favoured spot. As for the rivers, the Macintyre at Goondiwindi continues to improve, with some quality Yellowbelly taking frozen saltwater yabbies and also trolled hard bodies, the Cod fishing is still going well, with a lot of fish hitting trolled lures, as well as spinnerbaits worked around structure, some bigger fish, over the 35lb mark have been landed. The Balonne River at St.George has seen heaps of Yellowbelly taken on saltwater yabbies, while some decent Cod have been taken on spinnerbaits, the Dumeresq River at Texas has picked up a bit, with a few Yellowbelly taking bait and lures and the weirs along the Condamine River have again produced a few Yellowbelly and Cod on live bait, frozen saltwater yabbies and spinnerbaits.

GOLD COAST AND TWEED

Offshore, Squire have been taken on the closer reefs, the 36’s and Fidos Reef have produced Snapper and Mahi Mahi, the 24’s and Mermaid Reef have seen the odd Mackerel getting about, while the 50’s have produced some quality Kingies and larger Snapper. Inshore fishing has seen plenty of School Jew around the headlands on the Tweed Coast and Boyds Bay has produced a few Trevelly and Flathead, while on the Gold Coast, Tuna, Mulloway and smaller Mackerel have been taking metal lures in the Seaway, plenty of Gar on the sand flats near Seaworld, Sand Crabs throughout the Broadwater and Mudcrabs are still prominent in the mid to upper reaches of the Coomera and Pimpama Rivers.

SUNSHINE COAST

Offshore fishing has been good again, with the wider reefs fishing well for Cobia, Mackerel, Snapper and Tuna, trolling lures and drifting live baits has been effective and the Barwon Banks has seen some quality Red Emperor taken, using big baits, right on the bottom has produced the most fish. Inshore, most of the estuaries have produced decent numbers of Whiting, Bream and Flathead again, the Maroochy and Noosa Rivers have fished well throughout and the Boardwalk at Caloundra has been quite good as well, while Mulloway and Trevelly have been out in numbers at the mouth of the Noosa and Maroochy Rivers and the Pelican Waters canals have produced a few Trevelly and Mangrove Jack.

HERVEY BAY

The outer reefs have been fishing well for Snapper and Reds, with the odd Coral Trout thrown in, while the inshore reefs have also fished well for smaller Snapper, School Mackerel and Tuna.