The August Fishing Report, Week Three 2006, Noosa, Queensland, Australia, brought to you by Shimano Australia.

OFFSHORE: Yippee yahoo!. It's been quite a while since we've been able to boast of an uninterrupted run of idyllic Snapper conditions but at last we can. A whole week dominated by light to moderate variable winds meant that every day was a winner as far as the offshore brigade were concerned. The icing on the cake, of course, was that the reef fish were well and truly on the bite with Squire, Snapper, Pearl Perch and Moses Perch all in good numbers at most of the visited reefs. In addition, out wide, The Hards yielded Rosy Jobfish and Parrot Fish while across at Double Island Point the bonus species was Maori Cod. Closer in, North Reef was a worthwhile option, producing Gold Band Snapper, Sweetlip, Spotted Mackerel, Parrot Fish, Estuary Cod, Cobia and Teraglin Jewfish. Chardon's Reef was a standout for the common species already mentioned (plus Teraglin Jewfish, big Pearlies and Maori Cod) while at 'The Coffees' the extras were Cobia, Scarlet Sea Perch, Maori Cod, Estuary Cod and Sweetlip. Young Jarrod Polzin from Toowoomba (above right) was on a full day Cougar One charter to 'The Coffees' on Saturday when he boated the 3kg Snapper he's pictured with. He was kitted out with a Wilson Live Fibre rod and a Shimano Baitrunner 6500 reel loaded with 20lb line.
Cobia or Black Kingfish
And Ena Greenslade (above) from New Zealand boated this 12kg Cobia while out there the day before on a three quarter day Cougar One charter. She was armed with a Wilson Live Fibre rod and an Alvey 825C reel loaded with 35lb line. Not far from home at Sunshine Reef the bonus species were Coral Trout and Railway Perch while in Laguna (around Hall's Reef in particular) large schools of baitfish attracted Snapper and the odd quality Northern Bluefin Tuna. Please Note: The river bar crossing is now shifting to, and running parallel with, the North Shore. It is still easily crossable but may become a little difficult if it continues north as it did a few years ago. Check with the crew at Davo's for more information.

ONSHORE: The coastal surf beaches were good for the bread and butter species this week. On the North Shore Whiting and Dart were well spread although the waters around Teewah were particularly attractive. Across the other side of Laguna Bay the National Park headland was the spot for a few quality Bream as Dave Andrews (below) from Peregian Beach discovered early on Tuesday morning. Dave, who was using Tuna fillets as his main draw card, caught a number of these great table fish, dropped a thumper, and brought in this top weight 1.15kg specimen for a quick pic. He was armed with a SnyderGlas rod and an Alvey 600 reel loaded with 12lb line. Further south, Sunshine and Castaways beaches both produced Bream, Dart, Tarwhine and Whiting while at Marcus Beach the standouts were Dart and Whiting. In the river, there were plenty of good size Flathead taken around the Munna Beach caravan park foreshore (along with Whiting) with live baits, silver spoons, soft plastics and Prawn baits all working well. The river mouth was another Flathead hot spot as young Owain Ritson (right) found much to his delight late on Friday afternoon. Owain was floating out a Pilchard on 3x2/0 ganged hooks when this 1.65kg 'Lizard' came to the party.
Bream

Whiting were the other standout species this week and were well spread throughout the system. The hot spots, however, were (apart from Munna Point) around Goat Island and up at Lake Cooroibah. The Tailor and Trevally action dried up as far as lures were concerned but there were still fish to be had in the Woods Bays at night using Pilchards and live fish baits. There were also a few quality Trevally (to 2.5kg) taken on live Worms in the deeper waters in the vicinity of 'The Wharf'.

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