WEIPA
The past week has seen a mixture of weather with a lot of wind early in the week followed by some calm weather for the weekend. Early in the week a lot of anglers concentrated more on the estuary fishing and found the seasons are definitely changing with water temperatures rising. For those chasing Barra on lures have been encountering plenty of fish although mostly small, for those other anglers who have fished live baits have produced some larger sizeable fish especially on the tide change when it first starts to run in. Not only are there Barra out there to keep anglers entertained there is also plenty of other species like the high flying and hard pulling Queenfish, both Blue and Threadfin Salmon, quite a few Mangrove Jacks, some reasonable Fingermark and of a night done at Evans Landing Wharf this full moon has produced quite a few nice sized jewfish for the locals and visitors alike.
Offshore Mackeral are still high on the list both Grey and Spanish with the areas producing best down south around Boyds Bay and out from the new ship loader. There has also been quite a few Manta Rays starting to show and by following them around anglers have been able to pull some excellent sized Cobia off them.
For those wishing to fish the reef it has been a little hard going however there is some reasonable Tusk fish to be captured along with Grassy Emperor and also have heard of some nice Coral Trout coming off the deeper reefs out from Pera Head.
The past week has seen a mixture of weather with a lot of wind early in the week followed by some calm weather for the weekend. Early in the week a lot of anglers concentrated more on the estuary fishing and found the seasons are definitely changing with water temperatures rising. For those chasing Barra on lures have been encountering plenty of fish although mostly small, for those other anglers who have fished live baits have produced some larger sizeable fish especially on the tide change when it first starts to run in. Not only are there Barra out there to keep anglers entertained there is also plenty of other species like the high flying and hard pulling Queenfish, both Blue and Threadfin Salmon, quite a few Mangrove Jacks, some reasonable Fingermark and of a night done at Evans Landing Wharf this full moon has produced quite a few nice sized jewfish for the locals and visitors alike.
Offshore Mackeral are still high on the list both Grey and Spanish with the areas producing best down south around Boyds Bay and out from the new ship loader. There has also been quite a few Manta Rays starting to show and by following them around anglers have been able to pull some excellent sized Cobia off them.
For those wishing to fish the reef it has been a little hard going however there is some reasonable Tusk fish to be captured along with Grassy Emperor and also have heard of some nice Coral Trout coming off the deeper reefs out from Pera Head.
BERMAGUI
It is always the way, you go through the winter blues having a fish when you can and await for the weather to improve. That feeling of warmth in the air as the seasons change is now the indication to dust off the winter and just go fishing, so what is on offer?
This is the time things start to move in the estuaries with fresh stocks of fish moving in from the ocean regenerating life back into our coast lakes and rivers now open to the ocean after being land locked for so long. Some of the more common species to return are flathead, bream, whiting or blackfish where you will find that they will make their way up into the shallower margins further up the systems where they seek out the warmer water being heated by sun and the land. Lure fishing can be good as will bait fishing with live nippers over the flats, also start looking as it is shaping up to be one of the best prawn seasons in many years and you will have a multitude of lakes and estuaries to choose from to target them.
There is also some movement about the beaches although not in full swing anglers are having no trouble in finding schools of salmon to keep themselves entertained. It doesn’t matter what you use, lure or bait, just find a decent gutter on any beach and it is likely to hold fish. Mixed in are some lovely bream, tailor a few mullet and for those wanting to brave the elements of a night may be rewarded with the odd jewfish or gummy shark.
Still there is some action from the stones as those salmon schools are not only patrolling the beaches and lures are best here where you may also encounter a bonito or a stray king that has been feasting on the many pilchard schools along the coast. Drummer are the number one focus on the rocks with plenty to be found, cunjevoi or cabbage weed will produce with the later also accounting for its share of luderick.
Out on the briny reef or bottom fishing is excellent with plenty to be found. In our area snapper or morwong are the main stay around the reefs and there is plenty to be had. South of Bermagui is best with a multitude of reef complexes to choose from while up north you have Montague Island which not only hosts reef fish it also has its share of pelagics, in the form of kingfish, bonito and small tuna. The kings are responding well to jigs while the bonnies are taking a liking to trolled lures. Now everywhere in between the reefs you have sand or mud and this means flathead and plenty of them. Spring sees the return of the tiger flathead where there is plenty to be found and the deeper you go the bigger they get. Keeping that deep water in mind try the Twelve Mile Reef, not only for the big flatties there is a strong likelihood of some nice tassie trumpeter.
If game fish is your thing it is arguably not the best time of year for them but if you are willing to put in the effort it is possible you might come up trumps on a few good fish, most of which are likely to be tuna in the form of mainly albacore, the odd blue and yellowfin, quite a lot of strippies or if you can find some decent weather burleying mako sharks may result in some big fish.
It is always the way, you go through the winter blues having a fish when you can and await for the weather to improve. That feeling of warmth in the air as the seasons change is now the indication to dust off the winter and just go fishing, so what is on offer?
This is the time things start to move in the estuaries with fresh stocks of fish moving in from the ocean regenerating life back into our coast lakes and rivers now open to the ocean after being land locked for so long. Some of the more common species to return are flathead, bream, whiting or blackfish where you will find that they will make their way up into the shallower margins further up the systems where they seek out the warmer water being heated by sun and the land. Lure fishing can be good as will bait fishing with live nippers over the flats, also start looking as it is shaping up to be one of the best prawn seasons in many years and you will have a multitude of lakes and estuaries to choose from to target them.
There is also some movement about the beaches although not in full swing anglers are having no trouble in finding schools of salmon to keep themselves entertained. It doesn’t matter what you use, lure or bait, just find a decent gutter on any beach and it is likely to hold fish. Mixed in are some lovely bream, tailor a few mullet and for those wanting to brave the elements of a night may be rewarded with the odd jewfish or gummy shark.
Still there is some action from the stones as those salmon schools are not only patrolling the beaches and lures are best here where you may also encounter a bonito or a stray king that has been feasting on the many pilchard schools along the coast. Drummer are the number one focus on the rocks with plenty to be found, cunjevoi or cabbage weed will produce with the later also accounting for its share of luderick.
Out on the briny reef or bottom fishing is excellent with plenty to be found. In our area snapper or morwong are the main stay around the reefs and there is plenty to be had. South of Bermagui is best with a multitude of reef complexes to choose from while up north you have Montague Island which not only hosts reef fish it also has its share of pelagics, in the form of kingfish, bonito and small tuna. The kings are responding well to jigs while the bonnies are taking a liking to trolled lures. Now everywhere in between the reefs you have sand or mud and this means flathead and plenty of them. Spring sees the return of the tiger flathead where there is plenty to be found and the deeper you go the bigger they get. Keeping that deep water in mind try the Twelve Mile Reef, not only for the big flatties there is a strong likelihood of some nice tassie trumpeter.
If game fish is your thing it is arguably not the best time of year for them but if you are willing to put in the effort it is possible you might come up trumps on a few good fish, most of which are likely to be tuna in the form of mainly albacore, the odd blue and yellowfin, quite a lot of strippies or if you can find some decent weather burleying mako sharks may result in some big fish.
