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Anything is possible in March
  |  First Published: March 2012



March can be an interesting month in our dams and rivers, with big pushes of fresh through January and February coupled with seasonal change. This means anything is possible!

North Pine and Kurwongbah are still showing good numbers of bass, saratoga and goldens, while Somerset has been hot and cold. Lower reaches below dams should fish well with the injection of fresh stocks due to gates being open on many impoundments. Before waters clear up and the visibility improves, fishing the surface at any time of day, rather than the early or late session can be productive.

Red claw are usually good around March, so keep your pots handy and remember that a salty brine or fresh seawater will improve the end result when cooked. Don’t forget a lot of debris will be present along riverbanks, so when out on foot care needs to be taken walking through these obstacles. As waters clear both above and below our dams, fishing should improve with our natives increasing their feeding to obtain maximum body fat for the start of cooler conditions.

The Bay

Moreton Bay is nearly in the same situation as this time last year regarding the amount of fresh water. This can slow things down on many fronts, but improvement is only a matter of time. As sediment levels drop and clean seawater floods in, our regular March targets will show up. The mackerel season so far has not been too exciting but there’s still time to put some on the board or in the box.

Cobia and yellowtail kingfish are usually good around now with both taking very similar if not the same offerings. Lightly or unweighted drift baits are one of the most basic ways to catch kings, but if artificials are more your thing beacons, markers and other defined structure are worth a go.

The northern side of Mud Island has fished very well through January and February in the past with some outstanding catches of cod on lures and baits. Try fishing just outside heavy cover for cod when using bait, as this can draw the fish away from home and reduce the risk of being bricked.

Prawns are usually being chased in March and the shallow areas of Moreton Bay are popular spots. Once prawns are located they can receive a lot of attention. Common courtesy is a must in this situation and please remember to check all closures before heading out.

Estuary

March is here however the official end of summer doesn’t mean the finish of summer targets. Jacks, flathead, whiting and queenfish are all very much on offer. In Pumicestone Passage and surrounding areas the queenfish regularly patrol entrances to creeks and linking sand flats. A high tide with little to no movement is the pick time for chasing queenfish on plastics, lures or flies.

Flathead and whiting will still be present and your approach should stay the same as it was earlier in the season. Not long ago, the boss’s son Liam had a great session on whiting using top water hard bodies in very shallow water, with the Atomic K9 Walker 60 in orange wanderer producing the best results.

Crabs have been great with all the fresh around earlier to stir things up. The northern end of Pumicestone is better for mud crabs, while Donnybrook and the southern areas are doing well for sand crabs.

Offshore

Offshore anglers over the past two months have not had it easy. That being said some have done well due to persistence and time on the water. Others have missed out due to bad weekend conditions. Spanish mackerel and wahoo will always get plenty of hearts pumping this month, with high speed trolling still popular and effective.

Amberjack and samson fish will always fish well through March and due to some closures on the reefs, these two give anglers another option on the water.

Mahi mahi are another great top and mid water target. I have seen these fish show up anytime, anywhere offshore and sometimes in huge numbers. Mahi mahi are easily kept in the area with the use of berley and they tend to buzz your boat for long periods. Some serious fun can be had with these fish, as many anglers will agree. They produce blistering runs from right beside the boat as they pick up a well hidden 5/0 in a pilchard tail or similar size cubed bait. Once again check all closures and good luck to all.

Brisbane river

The Brissy River in general has fished well considering our recent weather. Threadfin, cod, bream and jew fish are all regular catches. Local reports from the past six weeks suggest that most activity is around the mouth and foreshore. One local angler spoken to recently pointed to large corrugated sections in the river’s entrance as prime threadfin ground. Plastics still seem to be the number one choice for searching these areas.

At the Tackle Shop we are continually expanding our range. We now have a lot of new products in store at very competitive prices. Also we still have one of the largest ranges of fresh and frozen baits in Brisbane. Our business hours are 5.30am-6pm Monday to Friday, 4am-6pm Saturday and 4am-4pm Sunday.

If you would like more information on techniques, locations or an up to date fishing report, please give us a call on (07) 3862 9015 or just call in and say hello. My team and I are all made keen fishos and are always happy to help.

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