Fishing Lake Cootharaba
Tidal flows are highly active through this upper lake system, with water levels dictated by the incoming ocean currents pushing from the Noosa River mouth. Seasonal shifts bring a diverse range of target species, with winter welcoming outstanding yellowfin bream, tailor, and flathead, while summer triggers explosive mangrove jack, giant trevally, and sand whiting action. Dusky flathead remain highly consistent year-round residents, shifting their feeding positions along the shallow drop-offs in response to changing tide cycles.
Land-based anglers are well catered for with extensive parklands, boardwalks, and public beaches along Boreen Point. Wading the shallow flats on a falling tide is a highly productive way to target trophy whiting and flathead on light tackle. Anglers must exercise extreme caution when walking the banks, as the muddy substrate can be unstable and deep current gutters exist near the creek inflows.
For boat and kayak anglers, the deep current lanes, reed margins, and rocky structures provide endless tactical options. Navigating the channel runs and current seams requires a high-quality fishfinder to locate the baitfish schools pushed up against the timber. The deep-water gutters drop to over five meters, holding schooling flathead that feed aggressively during the brief early morning hours.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Boreen Point Shallows: Cast unweighted live yabbies on a size four long-shank hook into the shallow ripples. Retrieve with a slow, continuous twitch to target active sand whiting on a flooding tide. Use a two-kilogram fluorocarbon leader to maximize your bite rate in the clear water.
- Mill Point Timber: Pitch lightly weighted strips of mullet tightly against the submerged timber and log snags. Allow the current to sweep the bait naturally into the deeper undercut banks where estuary cod hide. Run a minimum of seven-kilogram leader to pull hooked fish out of the woodwork.
- Elanda Point Drop-offs: Slow-roll three-inch paddle tail soft plastics along the muddy drop-off transitions during the run-out tide. Let the jig head bump the bottom to kick up puff clouds of silt that mimic fleeing prawns. Focus your casts around the isolated weed clumps where flathead wait in ambush.
- Cootharaba Parklands: Fish fresh strip baits of mullet or whole prawns on a light running sinker rig. Cast directly into the deeper current seams running parallel to the grassy shoreline. Use a small size two bait-holder hook to secure quality yellowfin bream late in the afternoon.
- Kabi Creek Shore: Wading the sandy creek mouth on an incoming tide is productive. Cast soft plastic grubs parallel to the overhanging mangrove roots. Focus on the small sand ridges where baitfish gather.
Offshore
- Lake Center Channel: Drift the deep navigation channel casting three-inch soft vibes on light seven-gram jig heads. Lift and drop the lure with sharp rod sweeps to imitate a wounded baitfish. Keep your sounder active to locate schooling flathead holding in the deeper sandy depressions.
- Teewah Creek Mouth: Position your kayak near the creek mouth and cast surface walkers tightly against the reed lines. Walk the dog with an erratic retrieve to trigger explosive strikes from giant trevally. Target the first two hours of the run-in tide when bait is pushed upstream.
- Elanda Bay Gutter: Set up a slow drift with the wind, dragging live herring close to the bottom. Keep your reel in free-spool with your finger on the line to detect subtle flathead taps. Run a ten-kilogram fluorocarbon leader to withstand the raspy teeth of trophy-sized females.
- Boreen Point Gutter: Anchor your vessel just outside the main current seam and cast down-current into the deep water. Deploy fresh squid baits on a running sinker rig using a size two-zero bait-holder hook. Use just enough weight to keep the bait pinned securely along the channel floor.
- Kin Kin Creek Junction: Troll deep-diving hardbody minnow lures parallel to the mangrove-lined channel edges at three knots. Select lures that dive to three meters to bounce along the muddy bottom transition. This is a highly effective tactic for targeting active summer mangrove jack.
Hot Spots
- Boreen Point Shallows: Sandy beach flats offering productive wading access for sand whiting.
- Mill Point Timber: Submerged timber snags providing excellent structure for estuary cod and bream.
- Elanda Point Drop-offs: Muddy drop-off transitions holding ambush-feeding dusky flathead.
- Teewah Creek Mouth: Deep current gutter holding active giant trevally and mangrove jack.
- Lake Center Channel: Deep-water lake channel dropping to five meters holding resident flathead.
Local Bait Tips
- Yabbies: Pumped using a stainless steel yabby pump on the sand flats near Boreen Point at low tide. Hook them through the tail and up the body for whiting.
- Poddy Mullet: Cast-netted in the shallow mangrove margins of the lake on a rising tide. Keep these hardy live baits in an aerated tank to attract flathead.
- Live Herring: Cast-netted around the deeper channels near Boreen Point on high tide. Pin them through the nose to keep them swimming naturally in the current.
Boat Ramps
- Orchard Avenue Boat Launch, Boreen Point:
Orchard Avenue Boat Launch: Located at Orchard Avenue in Boreen Point, this concrete boat ramp provides excellent upper reach canoe and light boat launch access.
- Elanda Point Canoe Launch:
Elanda Point Canoe Launch: Located at Habitat Noosa on Lake Flat Road, this premium 2WD-accessible unsealed sand launch is dedicated to canoes, kayaks, and light hire boats. It provides direct entry to the upper Noosa River and the Everglades, though operators should note that the shallow waters of Lake Cootharaba can become extremely choppy on windy days.
Bait and Tackle
- DAVO'S TACKLE WORLD NOOSA: Shop 5, Cnr Mary & Thomas St, Noosaville QLD 4566 | Phone: (07) 5449 8166
Basecamp & Accom
- Boreen Point Campground: Esplanade, Boreen Point QLD 4565 | Phone: (07) 5485 3244
Emergency & Safety
- Marine Rescue Noosa (QF5): Munna Point, Noosaville QLD 4566 | Radio: VHF 16, 67 | Phone: (07) 5474 3695
