The January Fishing Report, Week Four 2006, Noosa, Queensland, Australia, brought to you by Daiwa.

As at Monday January 23rd 2006

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OFFSHORE: While the week started off well enough with very light to moderate (5 to 15 knot) north easterlies bringing near TGO conditions for the first couple of days, by Thursday it was a whole new ball game with heavy rains, a 2 metre swell and moderate to strong south easterlies hammering the coastline. It wasn't a total washout, however, with many boats braving the Noosa River bar and the choppy, blustery conditions to at least chase a few pelagics in Laguna Bay.
Mahi Mahi or Dolphin Fish

When fishable, 'The Hards' produced Snapper, Parrot Fish, Pearl Perch and, as as you can see by the photo above, Mahi Mahi. Tewantin angler Ben Nothling was out there in glassed out conditions on Wednesday when the 10kg Dolphin Fish he's posing with monstered his live Slimy Mackerel floater. He was armed with a Fenwick rod and a Penn Senator reel loaded with 25lb line and an 80lb trace. Closer in, Chardon's Reef also yielded Mahi Mahi plus Moses Perch, Squire, Teraglin Jewfish, Parrot Fish, Maori Cod, Sweetlip and Pearl Perch while earlier in the week, Sunshine Reef was the spot for Spotted Mackerel, Moses Perch, Parrot Fish and Snapper. Laguna Bay ran hot and cold (but at least offered a bit of protection from the later blustery south easterlies) with Spotted Mackerel and Mackerel Tuna on the bite around the drum lines, Granite Bay, Jew Shoal, Little Hall's Reef and at Big Hall's Reef, where Spanish Mackerel were also active. Cast slugs, floated Pilchards, plus trolled Gold Bombers and River2Sea Min120F shallow divers worked best on the Spotties and Mackerel Tuna while Spaniard Special troll rigs loaded with Slimy Mackerel baits got the attention of the Spaniards.

ONSHORE: The coastal surf beaches lost a certain amount of their appeal as the week progressed but were still a

worthwhile option for those wanting a feed. The 'weed' on the North Shore seemed confined to the top end with quality Dart and smallish Bream on the bite north of Teewah and Whiting in quite good numbers further south The middle groyne on Main Beach was a good option for Tailor, Bream, Dart and Flathead while over on the east side, Marcus Beach produced Tarwhine and Dart. In the river, the murk and fresh water in the system from the recent heavy rains didn't seem to deter the Mangrove Jack population with catches of quality fish being reported from the river mouth side of the Woods Point (live and fresh baits), the inner Woods Bay (on surface poppers) and up between the lakes, which was where Dalby visitor Jeff Hirning struck gold. Jeff was drifting fresh Davo's Prawns around midnight on Friday when his rig was slammed twice by the 1.2kg and then 2kg 'Dog Bream' he's pictured with. He was armed with a Shimano 6000 threadline combo loaded with 12lb line. Apart from that there were Chopper Tailor on the bite down at the river mouth, Trevally (on poppers) and quality Tailor (cast slugs) to 70cm in the Woods Bay, Trevally near the Noosa Yacht Club (live fish baits) and up around Tewantin where soft plastics were working well. On the freshwater scene, the Lake MacDonald Bass were chasing gold Jackals around Stumpy Point while at Borumba Dam there were Saratoga around the Eagles Nest and the upper reaches of the Yabba Arm which also yielded Bass as an added bonus. Gold Jackals got most of the attention.

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RAY SCHOLES
MARINE

DAVOS BAIT
AND TACKLE