The January Fishing Report, Week Five 2007, Noosa, Queensland, Australia, brought to you by Daiwa.

OFFSHORE: Apart from yesterday's brief south easterly (20 to 25 knot) blow we had an offshore week blessed with light to moderate variable easterlies. TGO days, in fact, were more the norm rather than the exception although the morning sessions were best, ahead of the more blustery afternoon north easterly sea breezes. All in all it was a top week on the offshore scene with boaties reporting Parrot Fish, Cobia and Moses Perch in good numbers at all local reef locations. In addition, for those prepared to make the effort, The Hards was the spot for Amberjack, Sweetlip and Snapper. Closer in, North Reef produced Maori Cod, Spotted Mackerel, Mahi Mahi, Railway Perch, Teraglin Jewfish and, as you can see by the photo above, some of the better Cobia. Father and son team Mark and John Helston from Maleny were out there on a full day Cougar One charter on Saturday when the Black Kingfish they're posing with jumped their Pilchard floater. They were kitted out with a Wilson Live Fibre rod and a Shimano TLD25 reel loaded with 25lb line. Chardon's Reef was another good medium distance option, yielding Scarlet Sea Perch, Pearl Perch, Maori Cod, Red Emperor, Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi Mahi and, as you can see by the photo on the right, quality Snapper. Tim , who is a chef at BBQ King in Noosaville, boated this 8.5kg 'Knobby' while out there on a three quarter day Cougar One charter on Friday. He was armed with a Wilson Live Fibre rod and a Shimano Baitrunner 6500 reel loaded with 20lb line. Apart from that, Sunshine Reef was popular with the small boat brigade with Squire, Yellowfin Tuna, Spotted Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Coral Trout and Black Marlin quite active. ONSHORE: The North Shore coastal stretch showed a little bit more life this week with Whiting and Chopper Tailor on the chew from the Third Cutting upwards. On the east side; Marcus Beach was the spot for Whiting and small Dart.

In the river, Whiting and Flathead were still worth targeting around the river mouth sand flats and, along with Bream and Grunter Bream, in the stretch from Goat Island to Munna Point. Karl Enchelmaier (above left) from Whiteside, used a live Yabby to attract a 1.4kg 'Grunter' near Goat Island on Thursday morning, taking out the Davo's 'Fish of the Week' prize into the bargain. He was armed with an Alvey combo loaded with 4kg line. Trevally and Tailor were on the bite in Weyba Creek and in the Woods Bays at night (as were Mangrove Jack) with live baits and surface poppers getting best results. Mangrove Jacks were also on the bite around Makepeace Island (along with quality Bream) and, as per the photo above right, in the stretch between the lakes. Terry Ellwood boated this 1.5kg 'Jack' yesterday morning using a Tilsan 'Barra' lure as his draw card. On the freshwater scene, the Lake MacDonald Bass were active along the 'Bubble Trail' (Jackalls and trolled HB's) and around 'Fry's Run' where Jackalls worked over the top of the weed beds got best results.