The March Fishing Report, Week One 2005, Noosa, Queensland, Australia, brought to you by Black Magic Tackle.

OFFSHORE: It was a bit of a mixed bag this week with moderate to strong South Easterlies gradually easing as the week progressed then swinging around to light to moderate North Westerlies for the weekend ahead of another strong Snapper, Sweetlip and Spotted Mackerel.

South Easterly change late on Sunday morning. A 2m rolling swell (which dropped to 1.2m over the weekend) did little to deter the die-hards although unpredictable conditions on the river mouth bar crossing certainly punished a few of the less experienced boaties. Squire, Pearl Perch and Parrot Fish were common to most of the visited reefs. In addition, Double Island Point fired well, producing Gold Band Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, Spotted Mackerel, Moses Perch, Rosy Jobfish, Hussar and Gold-spot Wrasse while Chardon's 'Wide' yielded Red Emperor, Gold Band Snapper and Hussar. Closer in at North Reef and Massoud's Reef the bonus species was Moses Perch and across at Chardon's Reef the extras were Cobia, Hussar and, as you can see by the photo above left, Snapper. Local angler 'Barney' boated this 3.5kg specimen while out there on a full day Cougar Too charter on Saturday. He was kitted out with a Wilson Live Fibre rod and a Shimano TLD15 reel loaded with 20lb line. Even closer in, Sunshine Reef was the spot for Mowong, Moses Perch and, as per the photo above right, Sweetlip and Spotted Mackerel. Young Alex Van DePitte, visiting Noosa from the Gold Coast, was out there on a half day Cougar Too charter yesterday morning during which he boated the 2.5kg 'Lipper' and 3.5kg 'Spotty' he's posing with. Alex was armed with a Wilson Live Fibre rod and a Shimano 6500 Baitrunner reel loaded with 8kg line. Apart from that, Laguna Bay had Mackerel Tuna, Bonito and Yellowfin Tuna boiling just out from the river mouth, in the middle of the bay just out from the Shark nets and over near the Boiling Pot, Little Cove and (along with Chopper Tailor), First Point.

ONSHORE: The coastal surf beaches were certainly worth a shot this week with the surf gutters off the first and second

cuttings on the North Shore producing quality Tailor and the waters just North of Teewah and near the Cherry Venture yielding Whiting, Dart and Bream. Over on the East side; North Sunshine Beach was the spot for Bream Whiting and Tailor, at Sunrise Beach it was Whiting and Dart while at Marcus Beach the standouts were Whiting and Tarwhine. In the river, the action was a little more subdued although there was still a feed to be had. Flathead and Whiting were the high profile species down around the river mouth (on live Worms and live Prawns) and in the Frying Pan, while in the Woods Bays it was mostly Trevally and Tailor going for surface poppers and live baits. Mangrove Jacks were the other profile species, with the stretch between the lakes (live baits and gold deep divers) and the Munna Point Bridge producing the best results. And it was at Munna Bridge shortly before midnight on Friday that Darrin Marinelli (above) boated the 2kg 'Jack' he's pictured with. Darrin, visiting Noosa from Woolongong, NSW, tempted this quality 'Dog Bream' with a whole Garfish on a 5/0 hook. He was armed with a Silstar threadline combo loaded with 15kg braid and 35lb leader. On the freshwater scene, Lake MacDonald continued to produce juvenile Bass on spinnerbaits while at Borumba Dam it was business as usual with Bass off the points in the main basin (beetlespins and Jackals) and Saratoga in the upper Yabba Arm.

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