Fishing Report 25-02-2016

FISHING REPORT – 25-02-2016

BASS

Cressbrook Dam has seen a few fish around the Eagles Nest and into the Cressbrook Creek arm of the dam, where working spinnerbaits and Blades tight to the bottom have been very effective. At Boondooma, trolling spinnerbaits out from the rocky bank, on the left, before you head up the Stuart arm has produced good quality fish, from 40 to 50cm. At Bjelke Peterson, trolling hard bodies and casting blades around Bass Point, Treasure Island and the quarry has picked up good numbers, however there is quite a few smaller fish getting about. Somerset Dam has produced good quality Bass again; Pelican Point and Kirkleigh are the best spots to target, hopping mask vibes in 15-20ft of water has been effective and morning seems to be the better time to fish. Working soft plastics around the weed edges has picked up some nice Bass at Maroon and if you like your Redclaw, head up into the timber at Somerset as there are big numbers filling the traps at the moment.



Quality Yellowbelly!! 57cm specimen caught by
Joseph Theaker at Wivenhoe Dam recently.

YELLOWBELLY AND COD A little quiet at Cooby Dam this week, working lures over the top of the weed, in deeper water has picked up a few decent fish again. Cressbrook has also produced some quality Yellowbelly this week, the Eagles Nest area has been the best spot, while hopping Blades has been the best method. Boondooma has produced good numbers around the timbered area of the Stuart arm; live shrimp, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits have given the best results. Trolling hard bodies have been effective around the points and drop-offs at Bjelke Peterson. Glenlyon is also a bit quiet at the moment, with low numbers of Yellowbelly taken on frozen Saltwater Yabbies, a few Silver Perch on worms and a couple of Cod, up around the 100cm mark were caught on the night before the full moon. Frozen Saltwater Yabbies have been the popular bait at Coolmunda this week, with good numbers of Yellowbelly and Eel-tailed Catfish landed on these, there’s also been a few Cod taken on spinnerbaits around the timber. Leslie Dam saw low numbers of fish landed over the past week; live shrimp and trolled hard bodies accounted for a few Yellowbelly on Sunday afternoon in the main basin, on the southern side of the wall, the land based anglers also picked up a few legal sized Yellowbelly and Silver Perch off the bank on worms and shrimp. As for the rivers, a few Yellowbelly on Spinnerbaits in the Balonne at St George, the upper reaches of the Condamine has seen a few Cod and Yellowbelly taking saltwater yabbies and spinnerbaits, and the Dumeresq at Texas has produced Yellowbelly downstream on bait, while heading upstream towards the Bonshaw Weir has produced some Cod and Yellowbelly on Spinnerbaits.

Dal Green with a PB Bream, caught on a recent trip
to Noosaville.

COASTAL FISHING

Offshore fishing at both coasts has basically been non-existent, due to wind and now a big swell. At the Gold Coast, the Seaway has produced Jewies, Jacks and Trevally on the run in tide, along the north wall, also a few Spangled Emperor on Mullet strips. Plenty of Jacks in the Nerang and Coomera Rivers, 50 – 70cm Flathead in Tipplers Passage, Sand Crabs at the southern end of the Broadwater and the Coomera River has produced good numbers of Muddies, while at the Sunshine Coast, inshore fishing has seen good sized Trevally and Queenfish taking live Herring off the Boardwalk at Caloundra, Jacks under the bridges at Pelican Waters on live Mullet and soft plastics, the Maroochy River has seen quality Whiting taken on surface poppers, plenty of Bream and small Trevally on soft plastics and the Noosa River has seen Jacks and Trevally taking live bait, Whiting and Flathead on soft plastics and the river mouth has seen Trevally, Tailor and Queenies taking surface lures, as well as mullet strips and Hardy Heads.

 

Fishing Report 18-02-2016

FISHING REPORT   –   18-02-2016

BASS

Dave Burke with a couple of Cania Dam Bass.

Cressbrook Dam is still a bit quiet, so use your sounder to find the fish, out from the boat ramp and across to the buoy line would be worth a look, the Cressbrook Creek arm is still worth a look as well and if you find the fish, try casting blades, spinnerbaits, Jackals, and hopefully you might pick up a few.  Boondooma Dam has again produced some decent catches of Bass, with the biggest reported, being 51cm. Most of the fish have been caught around the points and timbered areas, in the Stuart and Boyne arms of the dam, with a variety of lures including Jackals, Spinnerbaits and Blades working well, but you could also try trolling hard bodies in about 15 - 20 feet of water. At Bjelke Peterson last weekend, there were plenty of fish showing on the points but they weren’t very active, a few smaller fish were caught on spinnerbaits and tailspinners, while trolling hard bodies saw a few landed as well. Somerset Dam has produced some quality Bass over the past week, these fish have mainly been taken in deeper water on spinnerbaits, soft plastics and blades. Moogerah produced low numbers of Bass on live shrimp, blades and trolled hard body lures, mainly in and around the timber and there were some quality Bass landed at Maroon over the past week, casting Spinnerbaits and minnows around the weed edges worked well and spinnerbaits and Jackalls picked up some decent fish around the timber.

YELLOWBELLY AND COD

Son Matt, with a couple as well.

Cooby Dam has been a little quiet, but there is the odd Yellowbelly and Silver Perch about. Try working smaller hard bodies over the top of the weed beds for the best results, while late afternoon, right on sunset, has been the best time for fishing. Boondooma and Bjelke Peterson have again produced good numbers of quality Yellowbelly, the majority of fish are being caught on bait, but casting Jackalls, Blades and Spinnerbaits, or trolling hard body lures should pick you up a few fish as well. Coolmunda Dam is fishing quite well for Yellowbelly with some quality Cod in amongst them. Frozen Saltwater Yabbies and live Worms seem to be the best bait, but also try casting Jackalls, Spinnerbaits and hard bodies around the timber if you want to chase Cod. Leslie Dam saw an increase in numbers this week, with a few Silver Perch taken on bait, from the bank just north of the concrete boat ramp, there was also some good quality fish taken on live shrimp in the shallow water up near the “Black Boys”, while trolling hard body lures along the eastern bank in the main basin, picked up some decent fish as well. Glenlyon is still producing good numbers of Yellowbelly on bait and Spinnerbaits, plenty of Silver Perch on worms, the Cod have been a bit quiet, but hopefully this will improve as we run into the full moon on Tuesday and the Macintyre River at Goondiwindi has fished well for Yellowbelly over the past week, live Shrimp and frozen Saltwater Yabbies have produced the most fish, but trolling hard bodies and Spinnerbaits should also get you a few.

Matt also landed this Saratoga. Not a bad by catch.

COASTAL FISHING

Offshore fishing at the Gold Coast has continued to produce Mackerel on trolled lures and drift baits from the front of the Seaway right through to Mermaid Reef and a few small black Marlin and Pearl Perch have been landed on the 50’s. The Seaway has produced stacks of Jewies at night, on live bait, plenty of Whiting in the Nerang and Coomera Rivers, Jacks around structure throughout the estuaries and the southern Broadwater has again produced good numbers of Sand Crabs, while at the Sunshine Coast, if you can get out, Spanish and Spotty Mackerel are still about in big numbers, right along the coast, trolling lures has been the best method, while inshore fishing has seen plenty of Whiting on the flats and good size Bream around the pontoons in the Passage at Caloundra, plenty of Jacks in the Pelican Waters canals, and there are plenty of Flathead and Whiting throughout the Noosa River.

Fishing Report 11-02-2016

FISHING REPORT – 11-02-2016

BASS

What a catch!!! Mark Reinbott landed this cracking GT
on a recent trip to 1770.

With the rain finally clearing and the wind easing as the week progressed, the fishing has been pretty good around the local area. The South Burnett dams are still fishing quite well, at Boondooma, trolling hard bodies through the narrows and around the junction and just into the start of both arms has produced good size fish to 49cm, using Ice Jigs on the fish hugging the bottom in the same areas produced as well, while working blades and spinnerbaits around the timber in the Stuart arm, has been good also. At Bjelke Peterson, working Blades and Spinnerbaits to the edges has been good, soft vibes have also worked around Bass Point and Treasure Island, while trolling dark coloured hard bodies in about 12ft of water has again produced some good fish. Cressbrook Dam has again been on the quieter side this week, but it’s still worth a look for suspended fish in the main bay, out from the boat ramp and picnic area and the Eagles Nest area would be worth a look also. If you find fish, try hopping soft vibes or blades, trolling smaller profile hard bodies, or working spinnerbaits tight to the bottom. Somerset Dam has produced good quality Bass again this week; Pelican Point and Queen Street have been the areas to target, hopping Soft Vibes, blades or plastics has been effective, but working spinnerbaits slow and tight to the bottom has picked up the better quality fish, while afternoon has been the best time to target these fish, and Maroon has again seen fairly good numbers landed on spinnerbaits, soft plastics and surface lures worked around the weed edges.

YELLOWBELLY AND COD

Boondooma and Bjelke Peterson have continued to produce good numbers of Yellowbelly, working the same areas as with the Bass, will see you pick up some quality Yellowbelly also, and these fish will fall for the same tactics as used for the Bass. Glenlyon is still producing good numbers of Yellowbelly around the structure that is now visible, live Shrimp and frozen Saltwater Yabbies have been the pick of the baits, while trolling hard bodies and spinnerbaits about 5-6m behind the boat has picked up a few as well and trolled spinnerbaits have accounted for a few Cod as well. Coolmunda has improved a bit this week, there has been the odd fish taking frozen saltwater yabbies and trolled hard bodies, on the drop offs to the old creek beds. Leslie Dam has produced a few Yellowbelly on frozen Saltwater Yabbies, in front of the Washpool camping area, good size Silver Perch on live worms and there were a couple of Cod, around the 70cm mark, landed as well. As for the rivers, the Macintyre at Goondiwindi has seen a few Cod and Yellowbelly taking saltwater yabbies and spinnerbaits, the Cod are ranging from 60-85cm, the Dumaresq from the Bonshaw Weir downstream to Yelarbon has fished alright for Yelowbelly and Cod. These rivers should keep improving as the water continues to clear up.

COASTAL FISHING

Offshore fishing has improved with slightly better conditions this week. At the Gold Coast, still plenty of Mackerel taking trolled hard bodies and pillies, on all of the close reefs and out wider there has been quite a few Black Marlin and Dolphin Fish taking live baits. The Seaway has produced Tailor and Trevally on the run in tide, Whiting in the middle reaches of the Nerang River, and at the mouth of the Coomera River, Flathead at the Pin and Kalinga Bank and Sand Crabs have been about the southern Broadwater, while at the Sunshine Coast, there are a few small Black Marlin and Mackerel at 12 Mile Reef, the Boardwalk at Caloundra is fishing well for Bream and smaller Trevally, School Jew at night, in the passage, Jacks throughout most of the estuaries, Trevally in the Mooloolah and Noosa Rivers at night and the beaches have seen some good quality Dart and Whiting getting about.

 

Fishing Report 04-02-2016

FISHING REPORT – 04-02-2016

BASS

David Barrett landed this nice Murray Cod on a
recent trip to Coolmunda Dam.

The South Burnett dams have continued to fish quite well this week, at Boondooma, trolling hard bodies and working Silent TN60 Jackalls and spinnerbaits in and around the timber and weedy edges has worked well from the junction into both the Stuart and Boyne arms. At Bjelke Peterson, casting Blades and plastics to the edges has been successful; while trolling hard bodies around Bass Point and Treasure Island has also produced some reasonable fish. Cressbrook Dam has been pretty quiet this week, working the edges with spinnerbaits early morning/late afternoon has produced a couple of fish, and working the rock wall at the Eagles Nest with spinnerbaits and smaller profile hard bodies has picked up the odd fish as well. Somerset Dam has produced good quality Bass again this past week; Pelican Point and the start of the timber at Kirkleigh have been the areas to target, rolling spinnerbaits and blades through suspended fish in the deeper water has been effective and working the same lures tight to the bottom has worked well in 25-30ft of water, while afternoon has been the better time to target these fish. Moogerah has fired up as well, the flats out from the timber on the western end of the dam and the ridge out from the camp ground boat ramp have been holding good numbers, while tailspinners and Wasabi spoons have been the best lures to use and Maroon has again seen good numbers landed on spinnerbaits and surface lures worked around the weed edges.

YELLOWBELLY AND COD

Cooby Dam has seen the odd Yellowbelly being caught off the steeper banks running out from the dam wall buoy line, while jigged blades, Jackalls, worms and live shrimp have all been effective. Boondooma and Bjelke Peterson continue to produce pretty good numbers of Yellowbelly, working the same areas and using the same tactics as with the Bass, will see you pick up some quality Yellowbelly also. Glenlyon has been a bit quieter this past week, trolling hard bodies and spinnerbaits have picked up a few Cod, with a 110cm fish caught last weekend, while shrimp have been the best option for Yellowbelly. Coolmunda is still a bit patchy, with the odd fish taking frozen saltwater yabbies and live worms on the drop offs to the old creek beds, while working green and yellow lures around the timber has produced a couple of Cod. Leslie Dam has seen low numbers of fish landed over the past week, due to the windy weather conditions. Bait seemed to work a little better than lures, with live shrimp working the best, but trolled hard bodies did pick up a few Yellowbelly and a couple of Cod. There were also reports of a few quality Silver Perch taking worms, fishing from the bank towards the northern end of the dam. As for the rivers, the Condamine produced fairly good numbers of Yellowbelly and Cod on bait and darker coloured spinnerbaits, the Macintyre and Dumeresq had flows through them this week; this has made them pretty quiet; the best bet would be targeting back eddies with live baits, as the natural bait would be accumulating in these areas.

COASTAL FISHING

The Gold Coast has been fishing quite well when conditions allow, Black Marlin are on the 50’s, while Mahi Mahi, Spotty and Spanish Mackerel are getting about the 24’s as well as Palm and Mermaid Reefs. Inshore fishing has seen the Seaway producing School Jew and smaller GT’s on live bait, a few Whiting in the Nerang River, Jacks around Sovereign Island and Flathead at Kalinga Bank and Crusoe Island, while at the Sunshine Coast; those lucky enough to get out in a window of fishable weather have been rewarded with good numbers of Spanish mackerel around North and Sunshine Reefs and the rain has stirred up numbers of Coral Trout on Sunshine Reef. Inshore has seen Whiting taking live worms and live yabbies throughout, the sandbanks near the river mouths have produced flathead on the run out tides. Jacks have been firing at night on fresh mullet, along the rock walls and the rain has stirred up plenty of Mud Crabs.