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Downtime rewards
  |  First Published: July 2010



The fishing at Lake Monduran is still tough, but there are a few occasional fish being caught.

We have caught mainly smaller fish on the Rapala suspending lures up close to the edge and the backs of bays.

Fish are also being caught on the larger plastics worked in deep and shallow water, but it’s best to have a good side scan sonar to find those fish.

Some big fish between 120cm and 130cm have been caught in the last months but they’re few and far between.

The constant pounding southeasterly winds (also known as trade winds) that batter the coast during the winter months seem to be more of an advantage to fishing at Lake Awoonga than at lake Monduran.

Winter fishing at Awoonga has been a lot better with fish being caught consistently on the windward shores and the back of the windward bays.

On a recent trip to Awoonga with my son and friend Ben Durkin we caught some decent fish with a couple of standout fish measuring 113cm and 114cm. Some fish were caught on 130 Slick Rig black gold colour and the others on glass ghost Rapala suspending lures. While we were at Awoonga, a local guide, Jason Wilhelm, caught a massive 132cm fish.

This capture gives good reason to believe when the weather warms there will be more and more fish caught in the 120-130cm range, and maybe even bigger.

Lake Monduran has some great weed beds growing along the edges and with recent rains this extensive waterway will make for some great fishing this summer, especially when the first of the warmer weather hits in August and September.

Looking back over the years we have seen some great fishing at this time of year.

I believe there will be lots of the 110cm plus fish caught this year and some consistent catches in the 120s. There should also be some bigger fish in the 130s caught and we might break the 140cm barrier, but you will also see plenty of 90-100cm fish that will smash some lures.

These smaller fish are generally more aggressive. They attack lures fast and tear off line manically making long, tough runs into the surrounding areas, while their bodies tremble and scales shimmer and flash. Top this off with the boof of the lure being engulfed and the splash of water as the hook is set and I think you’ve got all the sensations that make barra fishing so addictive.

Offshore Fishing

The reefs off Bundaberg are fishing great for all the reef species.

This time of year produces ideal weather patterns, which bring flat seas that are perfect for safe travel on the ocean. The southwesterlies usually drop out after lunch to generate safe conditions to venture out in the afternoon and early evening to catch snapper.

These fish are great on the plate and are usually complimented with some decent reef fish, which also make a great meal.

Snapper and reefies can be caught on soft plastics or baits, but it’s worth trying the plastics if you haven’t already, as it is great fun deceiving these fish on lures.

The game fishing slows down around this time of year but you can still catch large blues off the shelf. The smaller light tackle fish such as sailfish and small black marlin start to move in on the Spit around September; I usually find the barra fishing and the light tackle fishing seem to coincide.

When the coast is being beaten by repeated trade winds and you can’t move offshore, remember to keep your options open and choose another place to fish. When visiting the area bring some alternative tackle, as there is great creek fishing and impoundment fishing to compliment offshore fishing.

It can also be tough to find your way and catch fish, so this is where you need a guide. It is very important part to having a successful holiday having the snaps with a few fish is a bonus. A guide will not only catch you fish but will give you some positive alternatives to catching fish in all areas.

As a guide this is my specialty so if you want to improve your angling holiday give me a call on 0427 590 995.

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