Fishing Report 02-01-2014

FISHING REPORT – 02-01-2014

BASS

Cressbrook Dam is still fishing quite well for Bass, soft plastics and spinnerbaits are still working, looking along the buoy line and across to Deer Island, where the fish are suspended at about 20-30ft is still a good option, it’s also worth a look near the eagles nest and into the Cressbrook Creek arm of the dam, the fish are by no means easy to catch, but if you happen to hook a few, there are some quality fish getting about. Somerset Dam saw some good catches over the past week, the deeper water in the timbered part of the dam saw the fish suspended at about 20ft and working Spinnerbaits through these fish produced some good results. Queen Street, Pelican Point and Bay 13 have also been popular spot’s for the anglers, where hopping blades and Soft Vibes has been effective. Trolling hard bodies from the junction to the start of the timber in the Stuart arm has been very productive at Boondooma, while casting Spinnerbaits and Jackalls around the trees, in the upper reaches of both arms has been good as well. Bjelke Peterson has also produced good numbers of Bass this week, working the edges, leading into the timber, with spinnerbaits, Jackalls and Blades has been good, while trolling hard bodies through the main bays of the dam has produced some good fish as well, and down at Moogerah Dam, the excessive boat traffic is not doing anglers any favours.  Maroon continues to fish quite well with some nice Bass being landed over the past week or so.

YELLOWBELLY AND COD

Cooby Dam is still fishing well for Yellowbelly, around the weed edges, trolled hard bodies and spinnerbaits have worked well again, while blades, live Shrimp and frozen saltwater yabbies have been effective on the deeper schooled fish, the land based anglers have also caught a few, with bait being the best option for them. Glenlyon is firing at the moment, with good numbers of Yellowbelly and Silver Perch landed, live Shrimp have again been the pick of the baits, while trolled hard bodies and Spinnerbaits have been a good option, there’s also been a few Cod caught, which have mainly been around the 60-70cm mark. Coolmunda has produced a few Yellowbelly on Jackalls and Spinnerbaits, worked around the timber, while frozen Saltwater Yabbies and trolled hard bodies have been effective along the old creek beds. Leslie Dam is fishing very well at the moment with anglers reporting some nice fish on both lures and bait.  There have been some nice Golden perch landed as well as some quality Murray Cod, Shrimps are working the best for the bait anglers with saltwater yabbies bringing good results, anglers are having success in approximately 4 to 6 metres of water trolling bibbed lures, and in the South Burnett, both Boondooma and Bjelke Peterson dams have again produced good numbers of Yellowbelly, in Boondooma, bait and trolled hard bodies have been effective around the junction, while casting spinnerbaits around the timber and to the edges in both arms has produced some quality fish, while at Bjelke Peterson, casting reaction lures, like spinnerbaits and Jackalls around the timber has been a popular method and trolled hard bodies have worked well in the main basin.

GOLD COAST

Offshore fishing has again produced plenty of Kingies on knife jigs on the 50’s, good numbers of Dolphin Fish on the 36’s and 50’s and out the front of the Pin has again seen some smaller Black Marlin getting about. Inshore fishing has seen smaller Kingies and Trevally, early morning on the run in tide, in the Seaway, Whiting are still prominent around the mouth of the Coomera River and near the Council Chambers in the Nerang River, Jacks around the bridges throughout the canals and Hinze Dam has been firing for Bass.

SUNSHINE COAST

Spotty mackerel are all the talk at the moment and the Spanish mackerel are starting to build in numbers as well, with more and more reports of these fish coming in of late. Mahi Mahi are in good numbers on the mid to wider marks, with some of the better fish being reported going around the 8-10 kg mark. Red Empororer and Coral Trout should be nice and active now up on the northern reefs and there has been a few small to mid-sized Snapper, Sweetlip and Cod being caught along the closer reefs around Sunshine and south to Caloundra. Mack tuna are also around in good numbers, mostly appearing in the same areas as the spotty mackerel. The local beaches have shown nice recent activity from whiting in the gutters from Point Cartwright down to the Currimundi lake mouth, the better time to target them being early morning on the run out tide with either live yabbies or sand worms. There is also a few Dart getting about in the wash, mostly smaller fish, however a few bigger fish are getting about on the afternoon high tides. A few mid-sized flathead and bream too, but not as many as you would expect for this time of year. Estuary fishing has seen the numbers of Mangrove Jack on the increase of late, with the hotter, summer water temps rising. Parrearra lake , Kawana lake and around the local bridges and rock walls are providing some quality fish. Many of these have been hooked on live bait, however they are also quite happy to take a well presented 3 to 4 inch paddle tail or jerk bait. Big eye Trevally are in good numbers in Parrearra lake, with most of the activity being late afternoon along the edges. The average size is around the 40cm mark, however there is a few bigger fish amongst them. Jewfish should be worth a shot with the recent rain, the deeper holes and river mouths are the best place to start. Some solid wild bass are on the move in the upper reaches for those who can find them, bigger walk the dog type lures in green colour schemes are working well.