The weather gods have been pretty good to us lately, for a change. Over two months of crystal clear weather and warming water has delivered the goods, particularly in the Noosa River.

Mangrove jack have been showing up in respectable numbers in the river. Most of the fish have been coming from upstream structure, such as rock bars and submerged snags. The ever-reliable Gladiator Prawn has been a standout lure to cast and retrieve, and trollers have been getting a few quality fish also in the first ski run and up at Johns Landing.

Further downstream there has been a very good show of flathead as they start to build in numbers for the annual spawning run. Fish of 60-65cm have been pretty common, with a few larger specimens of 85cm or so turning up from time to time.

Cast plastics, such as the Gladiator Prawn or the very effective Gastronomic 3.5” shad tails, have nailed their fair share well and truly. The outer Woods Bay, river mouth and Weyba Creek are good areas to prospect for a feed of tasty flathead.

In the lower reaches there have been hairtail in very big numbers along with cale cale, big eye and diamond trevally. Munna Point and the Woods Bay areas are worth a look, particularly at dawn and dusk. Trolling, working poppers during periods of low light, and bouncing plastics around are getting a few.

Bream and some seriously good whiting to 500g have kept plenty of families entertained along the Gympie Terrace stretch and from various land-based points in the Noosa Woods area. Live beach worms have been a great bait, along with pink nippers. The new rock wall at the spit has opened up a whole new world of fishing opportunities with heaps of room for anglers to try their luck. We would hope that once marine growth and all the usual critters are in place this area will be a great safe place for families to relax and wet a line.

The offshore scene has been a bit hit and miss of late. For the most part conditions couldn’t be much better and the bar has been very good to us.

There are still reasonable numbers of northern bluefin and yellowfin tuna hunting in Laguna Bay. They will surely start to thin out soon, unless the warmer conditions and the bait they follow keep them on until the pelagic season gains momentum around Christmas time.

Generally a small slug will do the trick with these brutish fish when they are up on the surface crashing through the bait schools. Live baits or even a gar or pilchard drifted away from the boat often deliver the goods too.

On the bottom there have been Moses perch, small snapper, pearl perch, sharks, cod and a few respectable mulloway caught, however the snapper season hasn’t really kicked in as yet.

Those capable of heading out wide to the Hards, Banks or up to Double Island Point have located some quality snapper along with cobia, kingfish and sweetlip.

Sunshine Reef has delivered quality grassy sweetlip and a few red throat, but mostly at night around the full moon. North Reef has probably been more productive of lately, but most of the charter fleet are fishing this area for that very reason.

In the fresh, there have been plenty of Australian bass caught in Lake Macdonald, a few saratoga up at Borumba Dam and occasional Mary River cod in quiet isolated stretches of the Mary River.

If you need assistance with any locations or advice drop in to Davo’s Compleat Angler in the Homemaker Centre on Mary Street for up to date info and maps on where to try your luck along with what to do once you get there!

The Davo’s Compleat Angler monthly managers comp is growing by the month! There are some great prizes on offer, freebies and lucky door prizes not to mention tucker and refreshments at both ends of this relaxed family friendly competition. Drop in to the shop for more info.