Inshore/Offshore
Just like last week Cyclone Alfred has meant the inshore and offshore scene has been left alone whilst this wind is blowing.
Fortunately it has moved South so we may get some windows of opportunity in the coming weeks so fingers crossed!
We know how good our inshore and offshore ground was fishing so for now, focus on maintenance to ensure that when the weather does turn good you are ready to go.
Burnett River
This week has seen the Burnett continue to fish well particularly around the river’s mouth.
Despite strong winds caused by the cyclone, anglers have been landing quality fish, with grunter, cod, flathead and bream being the main targets.
The best action has been during the run-out tide, especially along rock walls and deeper structures with all of these species responding best to mullet fillet, whole sprat, and whole prawns, while soft vibes and curl tail soft plastics worked along the structure have also been effective.
Further upstream, barramundi have been active, particularly in the Town Reach section of the river.
Live mullet and prawns have been the most reliable baits, while prawn imitation soft plastics and 4 to 5 inch paddle tails have been working well for lure anglers.
Fishing around tide changes and into the night has been the best strategy for targeting barra.
Mangrove jack have been another standout species, particularly around rock bars and submerged structures during the run out tide.
Live bait has been the go-to option, but deep-diving hard bodied lures and soft plastics fished close to structure have also been getting good results.
In addition to quality fish, there have been good numbers of prawns around the Port area, with the late afternoon low tide being an ideal time to target them.
Kolan River
The Kolan River has been fishing well, offering a variety of species for both lure and bait anglers.
This weeks reports indicate that grunter, flathead, bream, and whiting have been on the bite, especially towards the river mouth along the shallow sand flats.
Fishing these areas during the incoming tide with soft plastics or fresh yabbies has been a reliable way to land quality fish.
The drop offs and deeper channels have also produced good catches with some of the larger grunter and flathead caught in these areas on soft vibes.
Mangrove jack have been a standout in the Kolan, with plenty of anglers hooking into solid fish around rock bars and fallen trees.
Live poddy mullet has been the go to bait, while paddle tail soft plastics and prawn imitation lures have also been successful.
The run out tide has been the best time to chase them, and anglers have reported a fair bit of by-catch, including cod and the occasional grunter.
Mud crabs have also been on the move, with plenty being caught in this system recently. Fresh bait like fish frames or chicken carcasses have been working well.
Elliott River
The Elliott is producing some good catches this week with mangrove jack, flathead, grunter, whiting and pelagic’s like queenfish and trevally all being caught.
Mangrove jack are being taken near big structures like rocky outcrops and fallen trees and have been responding to paddle tail lures in natural hues.
If you are into bait fishing live mullet or prawns positioned close to structure on the run out tide have also been very effective for bait anglers.
Flathead and whiting have been common on the shallow sand flats and banks near the estuaries mouth, biting soft plastics retrieved slowly along the bottom or fresh yabbies.
The prime time for these fish has been the start of the incoming tide, especially around the yabbie beds!
Some nice grunter have also been in the deeper holes with plenty of cod being caught as by-catch.
The pelagic fish have been active towards the mouth of this system along the rocky banks with surface lures around dawn or dusk proving to be the most effective way to catch one of these speedsters.
Baffle Creek
Baffle Creek has been fishing exceptionally well, offering anglers a variety of species that have been eager to bite.
The standout fish recently have been mangrove jack, grunter and some ripper sized whiting.
These mangrove jack have been firing up, particularly around rock bars and mangrove lined structures, smashing big paddle tail soft plastics like 3 to 5 inch models in natural colours.
For bait anglers, live offerings like poddy mullet or whole prawns fished near structure during the run out tide have been irresistible to these jack.
Flathead are plentiful across the shallow sand flats and drop offs, with lure fishers scoring well by hopping soft plastics or small vibes along the bottom.
If you are targeting the whiting getting some fresh yabbies or beach worms and fishing the incoming tide over the shallow sand flats has been working well.
Adding red tubing or beads to your light leader can boost the bites, while topwater lures retrieved across the flats are the ideal way to catch these fish for the lure enthusiasts.
Don’t be afraid to put some pots in with this river producing some nice results on the crabbing front!
Lake Gregory
The Lake has had some more nice captures this week with bass up to 45cm being caught!
Anglers have found success targeting these fish in deeper waters off the weed edges or within schools located centrally in the lake.
Given the current dirty water from recent rain, dark-coloured lures have proven most effective.
Fishing along the lake’s edges remains productive, though it has often resulted with plenty of smaller fish.
Optimal times for edge fishing have been during early mornings and late afternoons, which also present excellent opportunities for topwater action.
Casting topwater lures over the shallow weed beds during these low light periods has had some great reactions from these bass and even the odd saratoga if you’re lucky!
Lake Monduran
Lake Monduran is definitely producing some really good fish again this week with the majority of the fish getting caught all being over the magic metre mark!
Plenty of barra have still been in the Main Basin, Bird Bay and up into Bass Straight.
These fish have bit during the day around the key bite times but the go to time to target these barra is throughout the night.
For those with live scope big swimbaits slow rolled past their nose or at times a suspended hardbody lure twitched very lightly has got the bites.
Trolling in the main basin and into bass straight has still been rewarding anglers with some trophy fish.
Remember if you are trolling the key speeds have been between 3 and 3.5km/h.
