Big barra and mangrove jack are blowing anglers away in the salt and freshwater off Bundaberg. In the saltwater the jacks are on the chew with most systems producing good jack action on the bottom of the tide and the first of the run-in. The Baffle will be a must do trip before the Christmas holidays: concentrate on the upper reaches and watch for bait, as the most active fish will be where the baitfish are the most prolific.

This time of the year hard-bodied lures like Tilsan Barra’s, Laser Pro’s and Skin Deep Scorpion 90’s will be worth a cast, if you like a softer option the always successful Prawnstar Junior in Honey pot and the new Blood up colour will be good options.

Other good jack systems that fire well in November are the Elliott River in the upper reaches and around Fallons rocks. The Burrum with the rock bars in the Gregory is a good hangout for big jacks. The Burnett also will fire while the river is clean. Big hard-bodied lures around Toft rocks and, if your game, big lures cast around the old trawler jetties in the town reach will get you hooked up but its just sheer luck if you get a big fella out.

For those who like to travel, some of my favourite creeks in the Great Sandy Straights will be well worth a look. Big and Little Tuan are great jack creeks as is Poona and Kauri creeks. These creeks are relatively untouched and are not only great fishing creeks they also offer the angler an adventure. The best fishing is done at the last of the outgoing tide and the start of the incoming tide and all of these creeks are virtually non-navigable at low water so timing is everything and the rewards are high.

November is also the start of the harsh sun so once again I will try to impress on you all especially our younger readers that staying protected from the sun with sunscreen, wide brimmed hats and long sleeve sun shirts is very important if you don’t want to become another skin cancer statistic.

Well as predicted the barra fishing is going off at Monduran Dam with anglers hooking up to 10 fish in a session including some very magical meter plus models. The stand out technique is casting hard-bodies around the now abundant weed edges in the shallow warm bays, with smaller lures attracting the smaller class of fish and the larger lures accounting for the more quality specimens. The B arm of the dam seems to be producing some outstanding sessions around mid-morning with the gun colours being gold’s, whites, silver and green. As far as lure choice my favourite Laser pro 120, the B 52 and the Tropic angler are all taking quality fish. If you wish to lose some expensive lures the Jackel’s and Mega bass bibless lures are working but are being sucked down pretty deep and bitten off in most cases, but if your flush with funds give them a go as they will work.

Don’t forget if you’re heading to the dam to call in at Foxies Barra Haven on the highway in Gin Gin. He will have all the gossip and has all the right gear to set you on the way to a magic Monduran barra.

1. Mangrove jacks like these are firing up in the saltwater off Bundaberg.