The December Fishing Report, Week Five 2002, Noosa, Queensland, Australia, brought to you by Wilson SureCatch and Live Fibre.

OFFSHORE: The first two days of the week were pretty much all that were available to those anglers wanting to hit the outer reefs. Then, from Boxing day on, it was effectively a no go past the shelter of Laguna Bay as steadily strengthening

South Easterlies limited any further outside activity. The weekend conditions, in fact, were noted for 25 to 30 knot South Easterlies, strong wind warnings and a 3m+ swell. Many of those anglers who got out ahead of the Southerly change made a beeline for Chardon's Reef and were rewarded with catches of Squire, Moses Perch, Mackerel Tuna, Bonito and as you can see by the photo on the right, quality Sweetlip. Brisbane angler Anthony Watson came up with this 4kg specimen there last Tuesday morning while on a half day Cougar One charter. North Reef was also popular while the weather held, yielding Cobia, Squire, Maori Cod, Mackerel Tuna and Spotted Mackerel. In close, Sunshine Reef was also a good option for Spotted Mackerel and the odd Snapper. Laguna Bay, which stayed relatively calm all week regardless of the very ordinary conditions out wide, was (understandably) the most popular destination judging by the number of small and large boats on the water. The results were also there with Bonito, Mackerel Tuna, Spotted Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel working the bait schools and responding well to trolled baits, lures and floaters.

ONSHORE: With the East side beaches copping a pounding from the strong South Easterlies, many surf anglers pinned their hopes on a trip to the North Shore and in most cases were suitably rewarded for their efforts with reports of Chopper Whiting

Tailor around the Second Cutting. Most of the action, however, was up above Teewah with Whiting, Tarwhine and the odd Flathead coming from the surf gutters about 10km up from the village and Chopper Tailor up near the camping grounds. In the river, Whiting were one of the main target species and as you can see by the photo on the right they were pretty good quality. Young Brisbane angler Ryan Pollock was just out from Goat Island on Tuesday morning when he boated half a dozen of these excellent table fish ranging in weight from 355gm to 415gm. He was armed with an Alvey junior combo loaded with 6lb line. His bait? Live Yabby on a No.6 longshank hook. Other Whiting hot spots were down around the river mouth (along with Flathead, Bream and the odd Chopper Tailor at night), the Woods Bays ( together with Trevally and Mangrove Jacks), the back of Noosa Sound and Munna Bridge (which also yielded Bream, Yellowtail Pike, and early in the morning; Trevally) and Lake Cooroibah where Flathead were responding to soft plastics. Apart from that, there was a bit of Flathead action in the lower Weyba Creek area while up river at Kin Kin Creek the Tarpon were on the bite. On the freshwater scene the Bass at Borumba Dam (which, incidentally, is still very much 4x4 access only) were found to be favouring green C-Lures extra deep divers.

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