The April Fishing Report, Week Four 2005, Noosa, Queensland, Australia, brought to you by River2Sea Quality Fishing Tackle.

OFFSHORE: The moderate to fresh (20 to 25 knot) South Easterly wind pattern continued to haunt the offshore brigade with 2m seas and a 2m+ swell making conditions on the outside reefs almost impossible until halfway through the weekend. Having said that, Wednesday presented one brief opening when the winds dropped below the 15 knot mark and those who took advantage of the opportunity found the Barwon Banks producing Squire, Pearl Perch, Moses Perch, Parrot Fish, Amberjack and Hussar while closer in on Chardon's Reef the catch was Spanish Mackerel, Spotted Mackerel, Shiny (School) Mackerel, Snapper, Mackerel Tuna, Moses Perch, Sweetlip and Maori Cod. Needless to say, the relative shelter of Laguna Bay was once again a blessing although the swell on the Noosa River bar limited the mid-week activity to the 'yak' anglers. Mackerel Tuna, Spotted Mackerel and Northern Bluefin Tuna were on the bite throughout the bay and as close in as 50 metres from the river mouth bar, in the surf on Main Beach and within casting distance from the National Park cove points over the last two days.

Brisbane yak angler Gerard 'Shoey' Shoesmith (above right) scored an impressive 'double' while working the waters West of the shark nets with some of our local Perception Yak Anglers yesterday morning. Trolling a gold Reidy's B52, 'Shoey' hooked and boated a 10.4kg Northern Bluefin Tuna and 15 minutes later another 7.3kg specimen. He was armed with a Silstar Power Tip rod and a Daiwa Capricorn 4000 reel loaded with 20lb braid to a 32lb wire trace. And the Spotted Mackerel were really on fire just out from the bar this morning as young Weyba Downs angler Matthew Farge (above left) found around 9am. Matthew was casting a Rio's metal slug lure at one of the boils when the 2.5kg 'Spotty' he's pictured with slammed it hard. He was kitted out with a Penn Power Stick and a Penn Power Spin reel loaded with 10kg line.

ONSHORE: The coastal surf beaches were worth a look this week with some quality Tailor coming from the area around the Second Cutting on the North Shore after dark and Whiting during the day. As mentioned earlier, Spotted Mackerel were well within easy casting range from the National Park coves over the last few days while further South; Sunshine Beach produced Bream and Whiting, as did Marcus and Castaways beaches but with the added bonus of Tailor.

In the river, Flathead and Bream were pretty much the bread and butter species and were well spread from Lake Cooroibah to the river mouth. Local lad Chris Bland (above left) landed the 600gm 'Lizard' and 600gm 'Yellowfin' he's posing with while fishing from one of the Gympie Terrace jetties near the boat ramp yesterday lunchtime. Chris christened his newly purchased Wilson SureCatch rod and Quantum reel combo (purchased from Davo's) in fine style. His bait was live Herring. Bream were also on the bite down around the Frying Pan as young Brisbane visitor Jack Cabassi (above right) found yesterday afternoon. Jack was another angler who was christening his new outfit (also from Davo's); a Jarvis Walker Sovereign 2000 threadline combo loaded with 6lb line. His bait? Whole Prawn on a No.4 longshank hook. Apart from that, the odd Mangrove Jack made its presence felt at the top of Lake Cooroibah, Trevally were active in the Woods Bays and Whiting and Tailor (to 2.5kg) were on the bite down at the river mouth. On the freshwater scene there were quality Bass chasing gold beetlespins (rigged with Slider soft plastics) around the weed edges of the 'Three Ways' area.

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