OFFSHORE: It's hard to believe from the photo of the Noosa Bar above (taken around lunchtime today) that offshore was pretty much a no-go zone for most of the week. Last Tuesday, in fact, was really the only fishable day we had, ahead of a rather monotonous run of moderate to fresh, then strong South/South Easterlies, accompanied by 3m seas and a 2.5m+ swell. Way out-wide (you don't have to be crazy but it helps) 'The Muds', produced Snapper, Amberjack, Parrot Fish and Red Emperor while in-close, Sunshine Reef posted the only other returns of any note. Mick Thompson from Buderim (right) was one of a few lucky anglers who managed to wet a line before the blow, spending a good part of Tuesday aboard Cougar Too at Sunshine Reef where he boated the 9kg Cobia he's pictured with. This quality Black Kingfish was the 3/4 day charter's standout, with the rest of the catch being Squire, Moses Perch and Parrot Fish. Mick was kitted out with a Wilson Live Fibre rod and an 825C Alvey reel loaded with 15kg line. His bait was the ever faithful Pilchard. The only other reports were of Tailor and juvenile Shiny and Spotted Mackerel schooling between the Boiling Pot and the Shark nets in Laguna Bay.

ONSHORE: The coastal surf beaches took a bit of a pounding as the week progressed but nevertheless there were still plenty of keen anglers prepared to brave the elements. On the North Shore there were reports of Tailor, Whiting, Dart and Tarwhine up around the township of Teewah and the old Cherry Venture site, plus Whiting, Bream, Tarwhine, Tailor and Flathead in the gutters opposite the 2nd and 3rd Cuttings. Across the other side of the bay, the waters of the Granite Bay headland had a bit of Yellowtail Kingfish action while further South; Sunrise Beach was the spot for Whiting and Bream, as was Castaways Beach but with the added bonus of Dart. Marcus Beach yielded Dart and Whiting. In the river, Whiting and Flathead were well spread with the best results coming from the river mouth (along with Tailor), Noosa Sound and up at Lake Cooroibah. Apart from that the Woods Bays were the spot for Bream, Trevally and, as you can see by the photo on the right, Tailor and Whiting. Young Jordan Harrison (and his mentor Scott Jenkins) did well there yesterday morning when their live Prawn baits attracted the attention of this elbow slapping 550gm Whiting and very nice 1.8kg Tailor. Their outfit was a Shakespeare Ugly Stik and a Shimano 1000 threadline reel loaded with 2kg line and 6kg trace.