OFFSHORE: The offshore scene was a bit patchy this week with blustery 25 knot south easterlies the norm rather than the exception. In between the blowy days, however, light to moderate (5 to 15 knot) variable westerlies smoothed out the chop and provided some quite fishable, though at times rather chilly, conditions on the local reefs.
The Barwon Banks were an option for a few of the bigger boats with squire, snapper, pearl perch, teraglin jewfish, moses perch, parrot fish and, gold band snapper on the bite.
Bryce Jones from Wynnum (top of page) boated this 9kg gold band snapper while out at 'The Banks' on a full day Cougar One charter on Friday.
He was kitted out with a Wilson Live Fibre rod and an Alvey 825C reel loaded with 30lb line.
Closer in, Chardon's Reef and North Reef performed pretty much on par, producing squire, pearl perch, Maori cod moses perch, teraglin jewfish, parrot fish, sweetlip and railway perch. Eleven year old Jackson Barton from Peregian Springs (above) was out at North Reef on a half day Cougar One charter on Saturday and while conditions were a bit rough, he was happy to pose with his 2kg squire once back in the calm waters of the Noosa River. He was armed with a Wilson Live Fibre rod and a Shimano TLD20 reel loaded with 20lb line. Apart from that, Sunshine Reef was very disappointing, yielding only a few moses perch, squire and railway perch.

ONSHORE: When conditions permitted, the coastal surf beaches were certainly worth the effort and the North Shore was as good a place as any to wet a line. Dart were in good numbers and well spread from the river mouth to the top end while quality whiting (to 40cm) were on the bite just past Teewah. Across the bay, Dolphin Point was good for a few sweetlip and the National Park headland produced squire and bream. Heading south down the coast, chopper tailor were active at North Coolum and at Castaways Beach while at Marcus Beach the standout species were whiting, dart and bream.

The estuary was deathly quiet with bream being the high profile species in the lower reaches. Flathead were an option down around the river mouth although they were of pretty average size. The Woods Bays produced the odd surprise with the 2kg trevally that Brooke Falvey from Clayfield (above) boated on Wednesday being the week's standout. Brooke tempted this quality fish with a prawn bait. Apart from that, Mangrove Jacks were chasing Jackalls between the lakes.

The latest Noosa Bar crossing photo, as of last Thursday, has now been posted. To check it out, CLICK HERE.