OFFSHORE: There certainly wasn't a lot to crow about on the offshore scene this week with most days dominated by moderate to fresh (and at times strong) south/south easterlies and a 2 metre outside swell. There were, however, a few fishable days (isn't that nearly always the case in Noosa?) although under the circumstances not many boaties ventured much beyond the middle reef belt.

North Reef, in fact, was as far as anyone cared to go this week and while the pickings were rather slim there was (fortunately) the odd Spanish Mackerel on the prowl, as Shawn Andrews (below) discovered on Wednesday. Shawn was doing a spot of bottom bashing when his floater rig, a Pilchard/Squid combo on 3x5/0 hooks, was monstered by the 11kg Spaniard he's posing with. He was armed with a 10kg-15kg Shimano Taipan rod and a Daiwa GS9 reel loaded with 20lb line.

Sunshine Reef was the only other producer outside the shelter of Laguna Bay with Spotted Mackerel, Shiny Mackerel, Moses Perch and Parrot Fish the standouts.

Apart from that, Jew Shoal in Laguna Bay fired sporadically and on its good days produced Sweetlip, Parrot Fish, Shiny Mackerel and, as you can see by the photo on the right, quality Spanish Mackerel. Local yak angler Bill 'Billybob' Watson hooked up with this 19.5kg specimen just before 6am on Thursday morning while trolling a Yellowtail Pike behind his Swing Angler fishing kayak. He was using a Wilson 6kg-8kg Live Fibre rod and a Shimano 4500 Baitrunner reel loaded with 20lb Fireline and 30lb trace. His troll rig? The ever faithful Davo's Spaniard Special.