The rain throughout the Wide bay Burnett area continues to poor more run off into our upstream
dams and barrages. This week has again seen many inches of rain fall in the catchment areas of the
Burnett River.
Mundubbera Weir and paradise Dam are over flowing at 100% and this water runs down stream to
the Walla Weir which is overflowing too. From here the water flows down to the Bingera weir
which is under the current water surface level and then finally onto the Ben Anderson Barrage at
Sandy Hook. This man made retaining wall is also full to the bream and as a result the salt water
sections of the Burnett River are filled with fresh water from the upstream rainfall.
The chocolate brown colour will continue for a couple weeks yet, as the rain water runoff and
upstream dams are likely to remain at full capacity for some time yet. After things do settle down,
the rain eases off and the clearer salt water pushes back up to the Sandy hook barrage, the estuary
fishing this summer should be awesome.
The fresh water brings with it nutrients and bait fish from the upper reaches, and I am sure that
some Barramundi fingerlings that have been stocked above the barrages will make their way to the
salt water areas.
Last weekend seen the running of the Lake Monduran comp, and we fished it for our 12th year.
Although we did not manage any prize winners in the trying windy conditions, Margie Charteris
missed out on the heaviest Jew fish prize on day two by 60 grams, and we did manage to catch a
bucket of catfish and three jewfish on the weekend which were great fun for the kids.
No barra or Bass could be enticed by our lures, and as always, the weekend was enjoyed by the
members of the Bundaberg Sport Fishing Club that attended this event.
Congratulations to John Finlay and the other MASA members for a well run event. We will hopefully
see you again next year at this great locally based impoundment fishing competition.
Whilst we are in between seasons of summer fish and winter fish, things are looking great for the
billfish season, with this month and November being the most productive in our local waters. The
Hervey Bay Game fishing tournament is approaching and this will be one of my most anticipated
ventures of my fishing year. I am already rigging up some more new lures and setting up the boat
for the change from the usual bottom bashing outings to outriggers and teasers for the pending
billfish arrivals.